Hideo Kojima is not only a genius, but also the king of sequels: each of his games with the number 2 in the title turns out to be noticeably better or at least much more ambitious than the original. Judging by the reactions of the press, the second part of Death Stranding is by no means an exception to the undocumented rule.
Yesterday, the embargo on reviews and overviews of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach ended. Critics more or less unanimously recognized the new courier simulator as a masterpiece: it earned 90 points on Metacritic , and a little less on OpenCritic – 89.
Almost all experts agree that On the Beach is noticeably better than its predecessor: the graphics have improved, the gameplay has become much more diverse and better, the scenery finally resembles a post-apocalyptic reality, and not just the landscapes of Iceland. The only thing that positively minded journalists disagreed on was the script. Some found it too confusing, while others compare the story with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and call it Kojima’s most coherent work in the last 20 years.
There are, however, those who felt that Death Stranding 2 was too predictable. They say that it is a safe sequel in which Kojima Productions simply took into account the fans’ complaints about the original, rather than offering something unique, and given the track record of its founder, such an outcome is disappointing.
“Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the greatest games of all time, combining freedom of gameplay and a story with music that will be remembered for decades to come.” – Loot Level Chill, 100 out of 100.
“Death Stranding 2 is a visually stunning and incredibly addictive action courier game that builds on its predecessor with deeper combat and a vast world. However, overlong cutscenes and a muddled narrative can tire even the most dedicated fans.” – This Is Game, 82 out of 100.
“Death Stranding 2 is not a bad game. It is a great game. But it disappoints in precisely the ways in which the first one was so impressive: it has become more accessible, it has leveled out the difficulty so that the journey feels mundane rather than a complex and unforgettable experience. It is as if Kojima gave in to temptation and created a title that is not meaningful, but simply accessible. On the Beach does not demonstrate new facets of the vision of a genius, but shows that he has begun to run out of steam,” – IGN France, 60 out of 100.
The full-scale premiere of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will take place on June 26. Owners of the Deluxe Edition can start delivering packages now: access to the game opened last night.