Summary
To say thatDeath Strandinghas been one of the most divisive games of the last decade is a bit of an understatement, despite its success. Unlike many modern games that encounter divisiveness for reasons like representation and monetization,Death Strandingwas largely divisivebecause of its gameplay. Initially labeled a “walking simulator,“Death Stranding’s core gameplay loop saw players simply making deliveries from one place to another. Regardless of how divisive this might have been, however,Death Strandingachieved success, and nowDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachis doubling down on the series' signature formula.
In light of that, there’s plenty of room forDeath Stranding 2to be just as contentious as the first game was, although recent previews have shown that might not be the case as much this time around. Even so, first impressions ofDeath Stranding 2’s predecessor caused many players to either not stick with it or not play it at all, but it fortunately looks like the sequel might be lowering its barrier to entry with one rather significant change being made to how quickly everything unfolds.
Death Stranding 2 Might Be Easier to Stick With Than the First Game
Faster Story Progression and Early Tools Could Keep Players Hooked from the Start
Early previews ofDeath Stranding 2have indicated that the sequel’s pacing feels comfortably quick, as it not only moves players from the starting region of Mexico toDeath Stranding 2’s new Australialocation quite rapidly, but it also gives them access to better tools sooner than expected. The firstDeath Strandingis widely recognized for its incredibly slow pacing, especially during its early stages, so this is a big step up for the sequel.
Despite the first game’s slow pacing, many players and critics alike still found it to be a relaxing experience, which is most likely a large part of why it achieved such success — that, and its thought-provoking, well-written narrative.
The firstDeath Strandingbegins with a deliberate, almost methodical tempo to teach players the ins and outs of its iconic delivery and traversal mechanics. While that makes sense, givenwhatDeath Strandingis all about, it’s not necessarily a good thing in terms of mass appeal.
DS2’s Streamlined Opening Suggests the First Game Learned From Its Slow Burn
This slow pacing left many players feeling like their experience withDeath Strandingwas dull and boring, particularly during the game’s early chapters when they had less access to better tools and the plot ushered itself forward a little quicker. Certainreviews forDeath Strandingcalled the first ten hours a slog to get through, which isn’t what a new player of any game would want to hear. It’s almost like trying to convince someone to watch a new show but telling them it doesn’t get good until the second or third season. That being said, as is the case with all things, it’s all a matter of perspective withDeath Stranding.
Early previews ofDeath Stranding 2have indicated that the sequel’s pacing feels comfortably quick, as it even moves players from the starting region of Mexico toDeath Stranding 2’s new Australia location quite rapidly.
Fortunately,Death Stranding 2’s faster pacing might alleviate those issues and address the concerns raised by its predecessor’s opening hours. If that truly is the case, and these previews are indicative of the final game’s quality, thenDeath Stranding 2’s barrier to entry may be significantly lower than the first game’s. This would be great news in a way, as it would makeDeath Stranding 2a bit less divisive than its predecessor was. That being said,Hideo Kojimaisn’t known for wanting to make games that appeal to everyone, so perhaps that’s not really what he’s aiming for here in the long run.
