A bizarre and beautiful apocalyptic sci fi drama. Satisfy progressive exploration through a desolate future with emphasis on strong bonds and connections with people. Ended with a somber and beautiful note that I’m hesitant about the upcoming sequel.
After 4 hours it wasn't boring the story is just told like a madman would make some parts made me cry some cringe and some hilarious and some parts confused but that was it's charm.
I had so many worries before I played this game but it’s amazing. It’s so cool to see hideo kojima just let loose and have no one holding him back. It is not for everyone but it’s truly a special sci fi game
Playing through DS and discovering my love for a new band in Low Roar, only to find out that the lead singer passed away and the group disbanded was a unique sense of loss that will always be a part of my memory of the game
Funny how when Death Stranding came out, so many people went on the bandwagon of calling this a walking simulator *cough Dunkey*, when it's so much more than that. Because it was completely new and foreign to what videogames used to be like, people dismissed it at first glance. But I'm glad this game has flourished as years have passed. Can't wait for DS2!
Dunkey's kinda of a goofball with a legion of mouth breathing fans, though. If it's not an indie game he just makes some abstract "humor" video about how "lame" any given title is.
I hate to be this person because im generally not a depressed guy but I went through my first real adult breakup prior to playing this game. Never really hit me that after spending 5 years with someone always there that they could ever not be there. I lost my best friend. I lost the person that would gladly listen to me and actually cared about my interests. The fact that i no longer had anyone to talk to period, destroyed me and to wake up to an empty bed. I stopped going to work, isolated my self for years i was this isolated mess. Then i played this game.this game helped me not feel alone anymore. Helped me reach out and start being with my family more. To appreciate them more. Even the music "ghost" by auar in the game helped. Its almost bitter sweet because replaying the game again, I'll never feel that warmth i did the first time. But I'll always appreciate it for helping me become a better person.
I'm sorry to hear that story but glad it helped you through it. I played it for the second time during the pandemic and it really opened my eyes to how much I needed a game about connection in a world of people isolating themselves in that moment. It was like a real life ARG. Moments I thought were a bit boring first time around felt like moments of bliss the second time, moments to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of what we have. I don't think there will ever be a game that matched the vibes of the world we were in, and it's nuts that game came out just a few months before those lockdowns. It's hard to put into words how a game full of that positivity, that slowness, that reflection of real life. Learning to enjoy life as it is now. That really transcended just playing a shoot em up or action game
Neverknowsbest dropped a three hour video about the history of JRPG's today and then like 30 minutes after watching that I get a notification about this. This is what sundays are all about!
I had a really interesting experience with this game as I was finishing off the platinum trophy. All of my structures and zip lines were decaying and breaking at the same time, it gave me the feeling that this world that I'd connected over 100 hours was slowly dying as I was getting ready to leave it. Honestly it was incredibly profound, I've never had a video game make me feel that way before.
I played most of Death Stranding sitting in a dark nursery during August and September 2020 over the PS4 remote connection to an iPad while trying to get my then four-month old to nap, who was refusing to do so unless I was holding him and blasting white noise. So imagine this room, blackout curtains with very little light seeping through while I have headphones on, but only loud enough to kind of hear the game so I don't miss him making noises since I can't really see his face the way he wants to be held, playing a highly detailed game on a friggin' iPad, lagging half the time, terrified that my slightest movements would wake him. In the middle of a life-altering pandemic. 3 weeks of that. At the end of the game, I sobbed uncontrollably for hours and still consider it one of the singular greatest gaming experiences of my life.
Before the sea of idiots starts praising you for this story you've shared, it must be said: according to this comment, you sound like an absolutely awful human being. That poor kid deserved better.
@@abachniv bro you trauma dumped a RUclips comment section but the dude who replied with 2 emojis you personally insult? Very glad you’re raising a child…
The moment I set off with President Strand body for my very first proper cargo mission, and I saw that beautiful, green terrain and then a Low Roar song kicked in... I KNEW that I was gonna love this game. And I sure did. It certainly has some issues (some writing is a bit stiff, more characterization, less repetitive exposition dumps), but it is absolutely a game that I will recommend for everybody. It is NOT for everyone, but it is an absolutely unique game that DESERVES to be tried and played. Because one won't know if they will like it until they give it an honest try
Death Stranding is one of the most atmospheric games I've played in my whole life! As I love hiking in real life, but don't have the chance, to do so, very often, exploring it's world was PURE BLISS for me! I really hope, DS2 will capture, what made part 1 great and maybe even improves further on it!
Out of all of the post-apocalyptic worlds in fiction...death stranding would would be the one I would be the most okay with living in. Hell, I'd volunteer to be a porter just for the fun of it lol
I have 634 hours and 23 minutes to my name with that game. It was an experience, I made that game my second life. Ever since I was a child, I wished we could have a giant world we can just walk in. That if I see a mountain, I could scale it. And sure some say that game is Skyrim but for me. It was death stranding. The concept of strands. And how every game is connected with other players is so fantastic. It's truly my game of the PS4 era alongside spiderman
@kevinbonin6173 just keep on keeping on, more random deliveries haha I do enjoy fighting the mules but yeah not much after that, Its been a few years. Maybe I should replay it again
I started playing last month and absolutely in love with this game. I've setup a housing in the mountains where the broken builds are and hunt BTs. i love that you can mess with people an BTs. it takes a great idea to life an death. i would recommend playing this too Just a slight note about causing Voidouts: If a person dies and isn't incinerated within 48hrs, they TURN into a BT. now if they happen to die inside a city with no one knowing, that BT(anti-matter) will go after a living person(Matter) Thats when a voidout happens. people could die far away from any poulation and just be a roaming BT. anti-matter has to touch matter for a voidout to happen. If you are connected to the Internet and have seen other players stuff or equipment, they can also help in BT boss fights. Right click the touch pad to shout and eventually a players white shadow shows up throwing stuff you may need at you! We can help each other fight together, apart!
Certainly not for everyone and not without its issues but I'm glad to see it finally getting its due in recognition. One of the most beautiful, layered, character-driven stories I've ever experienced and unlike anything else on the market! Classic Kojima, for better or worse.
Death Stranding is like the real life We just work and do pir daily job to live by or to get to our own goal, but on the way, we already helping and connecting to each others. I'm a web page programmer, I just create or maintain web page from day to day, nothing fancy and certainly did not save the world. But in my daily life, I could see others code, I could admire someone else solution, and in the end, the code I wrote or the web page I create might help someone else in their life.
Maybe that's why I can't get into it. I work in retail, so the mundane is...well..agonizing. I can't stand boredom or silence. The monotony and tedium, despite a stunning and fascinating world, is painful to play through.
@@leesasuki I've never really thought of video games as art. Mozart is art. Dali is art. I don't think that I would personally call this game good either. It's pretty, but Soooo long.
The most OCD-induced (I gotta get that abandoned cargo), addictive, therapeutic game I've ever played that can be picked up any time and lose hours on. The Director's Cut version really closed the chapter and satisfied gamers with numerous additions to allow this to be played solo w/o an internet connection. If you are organized enough, you can travel the world at your own pace despite the ingenious "time limit" strategic challenge with your cargo via the degradating Timefall climate. I hope the sequel doesn't get too outlandish. Once I saw the electric guitar gun, I got a bit nervous lol.
When I find someone who loves Death Stranding, I know I'm lookin' at a _real_ one. Also, thanks for the movie recommendation; gonna have to check Pusher out!
This game is so unique to me. I've always wanted to play due to the fact that you can setup things for other people to use. It's such a small thing but that kind of connection is so neat to me. It's the same with the ending of NieR Automata. Something about it just makes the brain happy. The story is also very interesting if not confusing haha! I still get confused if I think about it 😂
It's painful that I don't remember who said it in a review, but the phrase 'Death Stranding is the Gran Turismo of walking simulators' is one of the best things said in a history of ever.
to someone that couldnt play more than 5 minutes on zelda botw before getting bored for the lack of story.. i loved every second on DS. on every long transfer there's motive, gravitas.
I played death stranding over 4 months or so. The more the gameplay went on, the more I felt in touch with the world the game presents. The experience of building the roads and ziplines was cathartic. Towards the end of the game, the visuals, along with the incredible music choice made it one of the best experiences I've ever had with any sort of digital media produced to this day.
There's a much smaller channel called 'The Dadliest Man' that does very similar content to yours and on his 'Final Fantasy VII Retrospective' one of the top comments is "I really hope you're YourFavouriteSons Dad". 😂 No kidding, this guy even has a similar delivery and cadence to his voice that makes it all the more uncanny. 😂 Fantastic stuff really.
@YourFavoriteSon1 Aww that's sick mate. Really glad you guys know each other. Another thing you've got in common is you both deserve way more subs than what you've got! 🤣 But it's cool to watch this channel grow man, thanks for all the top-tier content. ✌🏻
It is criminal that you do not have 1M subscribers. The quality you provide vs. that count is criminal on our end, LoL. Keep it up, I know you'll get there.
I'm happy this game is for me, can't imagine not being into this masterpiece, or not having the experience I had playing it. I'm more hyped for Death Stranding 2 than for GTA 6, and I'm hyped for GTA 6.
Hard Same 😃🙌🏽🎮 IDGAF about GTA6 in the same way that I do Death Stranding 2 ... and IDGAF who knows that. Haha I've been defending this game since DAY ONE, and it's felt really good being vindicated, as I watched more & more people over the years give the game a FAIR try, and end up falling in love with it. I f*cking LOVE this game.
Mads Mikkelson really sets this game for me, dudes just a powerhouse and his presence always demands my attention. When he's talking to BB @2:14:50....👨🍳's 💋
Great video. I love this game and have WAY too much time in on it. I loved when the game was over and they let me just travel around and making deliveries. It's a very relaxing experience on that level and I'll play it with almost no sound while listening to a podcast or audiobook.
Yes! 👏🏽😏 Have you challenged yourself to fulfill EVERY order in the game?! I have! There are 540 of them in the Director's Cut! But its sooo rewarding doing all of them, trust me.
I love your analyses of games. Especially when I have played a game, it feels like you are walking me right back through the feelings I had playing it. There are always things I missed (especially some of the media references in a Kojima game). It is just a very cozy experience and I think it helps me appreciate the games all over again
I was born near to the rocky mountains and this game came out at a time in my life when I was living in a city where that kind of nature wasn't accessible. I was homesick for the mountains so much and playing it was such a healing and cathartic experience, brought me back to taking acid and wandering around the lakes and forests surrounding the rockies with my friends. Just incredible
As with other reviews you’ve done of games I played, I cannot wait to revisit this one after hearing your retrospective. And I’m like 30 min in. This is a good one Son.
I just got platinum trophy few hours ago, it took 211h. I really enjoyed this journey, the way you feel after interacting with others. My play through was quite unique, i play few years on the same save, so even when I came back to known location there will be different structures over time. Looking forward to see what Kohima and his team do next. Thanks, good work, really should watch other your retrospectives after that one ❤
Love this video! I watched a lot of Death Standing videos, and none of them explain everything in a way that's as easy to follow as you do! Bless the 2 hour banger video
My God Son another amazing video. Thank you for all the long form content. These videos are awesome and I look forward to everyone. Now I gotta go replay death stranding
One of the most relaxed and satisfactory games I have ever played. If I felt like chilling, I would play death stranding (usually grinding for materials or maxing out deliveries), open a cold one and listen to my favorite hits.
thanks to this video i went back to the game and finished it in the same night since I was closer to the end then I thought. Your videos always are a treat and I thank ya for them
I went to the London part of the Death Stranding World Tour in November of 2019 and met Kojima and Shinkawa. I got up at 3:30am, travelled to London and made my way to the event. I then waited in the rain for 5 hours. I had a PlayStation logo tee shirt on with the word ‘Playstation’ written in Japanese underneath. Kojima smiled widely and put his finger across my chest saying “PlayStation” out loud and I honestly thought I was going to pass out 😆 I’m not that tall, 5’11”, but when I stood between the two of them for a photo I realised I was a hell of a lot taller than both so I took my chance and put my arms around both of them around their shoulders. You’ll never see it but the picture I have of that moment is one of pure joy on my behalf and hilarity/bemusement on the faces Yoji and Hideo. A moment I will never forget.
My guilty pleasure is watching people experience this game for the first time and I still look for new players and reviewers on RUclips. I played this on OG release and it's so special.
Thanks for another great video, I really enjoy watching your breakdowns of games, even for games I have already played. I always learn new things or gain a deeper understanding of the lore, thanks!!!
Great review! I just disagree with the assertion that Bridges/UCA was apparently "good" at the beginning. Ever since Sam reaches Capital Knot, there's an eerie atmosphere in the air: Bridges staff acts a little authoritarian with Sam, they declare openly to him their plan of hiding Bridget's death to the public, they treat BBs like machines, Bridget tricks Sam into signing a contract without his consent, and even the cufflinks are a symbol of the type of society of control they operate - Deadman even makes an excuse for their use to Sam, saying something like "it's for your own good". I think this whole game plays with ambiguity, and the ambiguous moral nature of Bridges just becomes clearer at the end: they connected many people that were stranded on their own, in a clear parallel to the reality of individuals in late capitalism, but the higher-ups were ill intended, and they don't fully know the consequences of this enterprise (like facilitating other death strandings).
Contrary to kojima's vision, i prefer to play this game entirely offline on the hardest difficulty, only benefitting from dev pre-placed items/structures and doing the rest myself. being limited on the network capacity makes planning that capacity more challenging and rewarding. planning all the tools i'll need feels great and the struggle from poor planning punishing. only gripe is the boss battles are kinda a slog on the highest difficulty. funny i was oblivious on my first playthru of the "small thermonuclear device" and just rolled on into south knot and was like "oh..." 😂 more roads were added in the directors cut version that go thru the mountains as well still one of my favorite games i replay every year or two.
after watching this video for 10 minute I decided to buy it. My word I wish I had done so at launch, it's fantastic. I do however upset people by describing it as "ELITE" , on foot.
Even though there are a bunch of D.S. Essays out there, your video really scratched an itch. As someone who loves this game, this was a joy. Can’t wait to see what you do for Death Stranding 2 😁
What perfect timing for the video. Game shadow dropped on Xbox right after this video. I’m loving the game so far. It’s just enjoyable to traverse. It reminds me of Snowrunner in a way, just with enemies, a story, and more complex mechanics. It’s perfect to listen to a podcast (Smalltown Murder specifically) and just navigate the land
my adhd makes it so a lot of games are hard for me to get hooked but i was pleasantly surprised how hooked i got on ds, what got me the most was wanting to learn more about the world which is so rare for me. this game holds a special place in my heart for mainly that reason
My favourite advertising ever for a video game leading up to release. It’s also in my top 10 games ever. It’s an incredible story that I’ve gone through 4 times and I completely buy its melodrama and love its gameplay wholeheartedly.
oooh boi another multiple hour video essay on my favourite game ever (one of them) will fall asleep to this and have to rewatch tomorrow after work will update w thoughts
loved the game. It could be a bit boring at times when you're doing basic deliveries but just progressing constructions or shelters approval felt rewarding enough, especially after you come back the next day and discover other players have contributed to your road construction or completed some other useful buildings on your path. The sensation of playing in cooperation while being alone on the road. At times you could see some other NPC porters traveling on foot. I wish I could pick them up in my truck or just escort them for a while listening to their stories. I wish there were more man-made structures to explore.
I gotta say, I loved Death Stranding. Not everyone's cup of tea and I'm totally OK with people that found boring his gameplay and chaotic is plot I just appreciated the message this game tried to convey, about the importance of connections, so much that I actually lost interest in the plot of the game just to keep feeling good helping other players building structures and leaving materials or equipment. Also, the Bring me the Horizon song used in the promotional material was an absolute banger ❤️ Hoping for DS2 to be as cheesy in his plot and characters as the first title did, can't wait to see what Kojima cooked for Troy Baker's character this time 🤣
Damn fine job on this one son. This game was tricky for me because the story always had my intrigue but I could never get past the gameplay. This video was really good at explaining everything.
I remember accidentally killing a mule and lugging their body all the way to the incinerator just to avoid a void out, death stranding is one of the most special games ive played, one of the few i remember.
This game means so much to me and I don't really know why. It just feels so utterly singular, and important, and just like MGS1 every sound and bit of music in the game conjures the essence of it.
1:21:35 During this fight is when you learn a crucial game mechanic. Other players will throw guns, grenades and blood packs to you. You can enter a fight completely unarmed and exit overloaded with guns ect.
Nah, it's a walking simulator. It was not a bandwagon, it was the honest truth. "Go here, deliver this there, go back and deliver this there, go to this other place and deliver this there" and by doing this repetitive and boring task over and over again you get rewarded with nothing but a cutscene to move the story along. 40-50 hours of this and you can imagine it gets real old. If you're going for the platinum trophy, the repetitive grind is even worse as you get nothing as a reward for doing seemingly endless deliveries over and over again besides getting trophies. Kojima is pretentious and full of himself and his fans will eat up anything he does anyway and Death Stranding is full proof of that. It's more a movie than a video game. Video games are supposed to be fun to play, not feel like work.
This was the first game in years that I 100%, the gameplay was very satisfying and the story was beautifully crafted. They just throw you right in and then you slowly start to uncover this world, cannot wait for DS2!
A theory on why most information in the game is revealed by digging through people past, instead of having them share in game. I'm a Malaysian Chinese here (we have multiple races and cultures in this country), so what I said is just my observation In Asian culture, we don't really share our past with friends, it take some years long best buddy for one to actually share their life story, most of the times. And this is especially very serious in Japanese as they always believe that "don't bother others with your problem", and these past are clearly a "problem" to them. This bring up a lot in Death Stranding as I believe this game is especially targetting Japan culture, or current norm when the game release. Since people don't generally share their story, the gossip culture in Japan is quite severe, how Sams learn about Fragile by hearing from others, or how Deadman learn a lot from Sam by reading online data, and these rumor are generally giving up some bad energy just like how toxic Japanese internet is, when something went wrong, there are always a bunch of people that blame on the victim (people actually suicide cause of this)
i have never understood people that call this walking simulator, like my dude just get on a motorbike, get a truck, dam strap a powersuit on you and sprint jump everywhere, zipline, jump pad, pod launch yourself or something
Because all the people calling it walking simulator either never played it and have bandwagoning opinions or they only played so far into the game without even reaching the bikes.
Simple steps for Death Stranding: Get the game, Pair of good earphones, forget the stress of the day, relax, and enjoy the spiritual journey. Death Stranding for me is a therapeutic experience.
The summary of the game is one of the best ones out there. I mean the summary. And the game itself. It gives description and face to everything we kinda know - but don't want to - without becoming too obvious and preaching. Kojima outdid himself also this time - probably because he wasn't trying to, what he was trying to - was give us something to reflect on. One of the best story-based games out there, with the specific mechanics, beings, world order and logics reflecting what can be described as someone's immaculate view of where the world is heading - both deeply intimately and globally. The cast is unbelieveably good, the polish is true Japan ninja-level and the entire set is tough, grinding but somehow painfully rewarding. For people who call this a "walking simulator" - well, you're kinda lucky that you can call it that, so keep basking in your ignorance (I mean it). Thanks for the video - from Latvia, looking forward to Part II.
This was my main game and escape during the pandemic. I got the platinum trophies for both the base game and then the director’s cut after acquiring my PS5. Such an experience left me eagerly waiting for the sequel.
How do you feel about Death Stranding? 👻
A bizarre and beautiful apocalyptic sci fi drama. Satisfy progressive exploration through a desolate future with emphasis on strong bonds and connections with people. Ended with a somber and beautiful note that I’m hesitant about the upcoming sequel.
After 4 hours it wasn't boring the story is just told like a madman would make some parts made me cry some cringe and some hilarious and some parts confused but that was it's charm.
I had so many worries before I played this game but it’s amazing. It’s so cool to see hideo kojima just let loose and have no one holding him back. It is not for everyone but it’s truly a special sci fi game
After a long time, I felt that gaming felt fresh again. Hideo Kojima is truly a master of his craft.
Gassed
Playing through DS and discovering my love for a new band in Low Roar, only to find out that the lead singer passed away and the group disbanded was a unique sense of loss that will always be a part of my memory of the game
The music in this game is perfect. Many of the songs are on my playlist, still to this day.
They are releasing one last album in Feb. 2025
I think he (it may be another band member) started a whole bunch of amazing, weird bands, among others Godspeed! You black emperor and Sigur Ros.
Are they?! Where did you see that? @@stewartdillard7199
If you like that type of music I would recommend Radiohead. They sound very similar. And I'm pretty sure Low Roar are inspired by them.
Funny how when Death Stranding came out, so many people went on the bandwagon of calling this a walking simulator *cough Dunkey*, when it's so much more than that. Because it was completely new and foreign to what videogames used to be like, people dismissed it at first glance. But I'm glad this game has flourished as years have passed. Can't wait for DS2!
@@TimoFromNorway Kojima and the team made basic things like walking, construction, rain, and load management stressful. That's awesome.
people have finally realized that Dunkey is an idiot and that Death Stranding is great
@@charliebee5154 and road maintenance simulator
@@abachnivStress = fun dipshit, ever played dark souls? thought not 😮😮 I win you lose bye bye
Dunkey's kinda of a goofball with a legion of mouth breathing fans, though. If it's not an indie game he just makes some abstract "humor" video about how "lame" any given title is.
I hate to be this person because im generally not a depressed guy but I went through my first real adult breakup prior to playing this game. Never really hit me that after spending 5 years with someone always there that they could ever not be there. I lost my best friend. I lost the person that would gladly listen to me and actually cared about my interests. The fact that i no longer had anyone to talk to period, destroyed me and to wake up to an empty bed. I stopped going to work, isolated my self for years i was this isolated mess. Then i played this game.this game helped me not feel alone anymore. Helped me reach out and start being with my family more. To appreciate them more. Even the music "ghost" by auar in the game helped. Its almost bitter sweet because replaying the game again, I'll never feel that warmth i did the first time. But I'll always appreciate it for helping me become a better person.
I'm sorry to hear that story but glad it helped you through it. I played it for the second time during the pandemic and it really opened my eyes to how much I needed a game about connection in a world of people isolating themselves in that moment. It was like a real life ARG. Moments I thought were a bit boring first time around felt like moments of bliss the second time, moments to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of what we have. I don't think there will ever be a game that matched the vibes of the world we were in, and it's nuts that game came out just a few months before those lockdowns. It's hard to put into words how a game full of that positivity, that slowness, that reflection of real life. Learning to enjoy life as it is now. That really transcended just playing a shoot em up or action game
what a time to refresh the homepage
so true xD
Lol😂😂
Facts, now my whole shift is covered
Are we all living the same life
Keep on keeping on.
I wasn't expecting this video, son. Thanks for all the hardwork, we truly appreciate it.
Hope you enjoy the video!
As an Xbox player I can finally start my journey too. For a game that dropped 5 years ago looks absolutely stunning
Keep on keeping on!👍
best game ever
You got this fellow porter!
@@SeanHogan_frijole I'm so glad this is on Xbox
It's on Xbox?
Thought it was a PlayStation exclusive this whole time
Neverknowsbest dropped a three hour video about the history of JRPG's today and then like 30 minutes after watching that I get a notification about this. This is what sundays are all about!
You too, eh? ❤
It's pronounced sonday
Never known best is a fraud
@@WhoDaresWinso7how so? Genuinely curious
I had a really interesting experience with this game as I was finishing off the platinum trophy. All of my structures and zip lines were decaying and breaking at the same time, it gave me the feeling that this world that I'd connected over 100 hours was slowly dying as I was getting ready to leave it. Honestly it was incredibly profound, I've never had a video game make me feel that way before.
Oh god are you saying all those zip lines I created are gone now?
I played most of Death Stranding sitting in a dark nursery during August and September 2020 over the PS4 remote connection to an iPad while trying to get my then four-month old to nap, who was refusing to do so unless I was holding him and blasting white noise.
So imagine this room, blackout curtains with very little light seeping through while I have headphones on, but only loud enough to kind of hear the game so I don't miss him making noises since I can't really see his face the way he wants to be held, playing a highly detailed game on a friggin' iPad, lagging half the time, terrified that my slightest movements would wake him. In the middle of a life-altering pandemic. 3 weeks of that.
At the end of the game, I sobbed uncontrollably for hours and still consider it one of the singular greatest gaming experiences of my life.
That was a roller coaster of emotions, love it.
Before the sea of idiots starts praising you for this story you've shared, it must be said: according to this comment, you sound like an absolutely awful human being. That poor kid deserved better.
🤨🙄
@@blackpillz3479 you live a sad life.
@@abachniv bro you trauma dumped a RUclips comment section but the dude who replied with 2 emojis you personally insult?
Very glad you’re raising a child…
The moment I set off with President Strand body for my very first proper cargo mission, and I saw that beautiful, green terrain and then a Low Roar song kicked in... I KNEW that I was gonna love this game. And I sure did. It certainly has some issues (some writing is a bit stiff, more characterization, less repetitive exposition dumps), but it is absolutely a game that I will recommend for everybody. It is NOT for everyone, but it is an absolutely unique game that DESERVES to be tried and played. Because one won't know if they will like it until they give it an honest try
The speed at which you're making these videos is wild, I hope you get some rest in between, son!
What can I say, I'm having fun
Death Stranding is one of the most atmospheric games I've played in my whole life! As I love hiking in real life, but don't have the chance, to do so, very often, exploring it's world was PURE BLISS for me! I really hope, DS2 will capture, what made part 1 great and maybe even improves further on it!
Out of all of the post-apocalyptic worlds in fiction...death stranding would would be the one I would be the most okay with living in.
Hell, I'd volunteer to be a porter just for the fun of it lol
@@User71956 yeah it's so cozy there lol
Are people finally realizing how much Death Stranding rules?
No
Negative. Because it's a walking simulator.
@@RedceLL1978 Not true. Sometimes you run, sometimes you ride motorcycles, sometimes you use ziplines. :)
@@LanBrazil hiking simulator
@@RedceLL1978 :) I like it
I have 634 hours and 23 minutes to my name with that game. It was an experience, I made that game my second life. Ever since I was a child, I wished we could have a giant world we can just walk in. That if I see a mountain, I could scale it. And sure some say that game is Skyrim but for me. It was death stranding. The concept of strands. And how every game is connected with other players is so fantastic. It's truly my game of the PS4 era alongside spiderman
What do you do after 100% completion?
@kevinbonin6173 just keep on keeping on, more random deliveries haha I do enjoy fighting the mules but yeah not much after that, Its been a few years. Maybe I should replay it again
Bruh you do have a world you can just walk in 😂😂 you coulda spent 634 hours exploring the real world.
@@burningheartphotography9752if I try to throw my piss at a ghost in real life, I'll get arrested
@@LaffierTafferI thought it was a ghost but it was really a homeless man 😢
A 2+ hour analysis of one of my favorite games from one of my favorite youtubers? LETS GOO!
Son, I've never been so early on one of your videos. Thank you for your voice and your insights and your passion in every video.
Thanks for watching!
I started playing last month and absolutely in love with this game. I've setup a housing in the mountains where the broken builds are and hunt BTs. i love that you can mess with people an BTs. it takes a great idea to life an death. i would recommend playing this too
Just a slight note about causing Voidouts: If a person dies and isn't incinerated within 48hrs, they TURN into a BT. now if they happen to die inside a city with no one knowing, that BT(anti-matter) will go after a living person(Matter) Thats when a voidout happens. people could die far away from any poulation and just be a roaming BT. anti-matter has to touch matter for a voidout to happen.
If you are connected to the Internet and have seen other players stuff or equipment, they can also help in BT boss fights. Right click the touch pad to shout and eventually a players white shadow shows up throwing stuff you may need at you! We can help each other fight together, apart!
Certainly not for everyone and not without its issues but I'm glad to see it finally getting its due in recognition. One of the most beautiful, layered, character-driven stories I've ever experienced and unlike anything else on the market! Classic Kojima, for better or worse.
I was just looking for another multi hour long retrospective to watch. Thank you, son!
Death Stranding is like the real life
We just work and do pir daily job to live by or to get to our own goal, but on the way, we already helping and connecting to each others. I'm a web page programmer, I just create or maintain web page from day to day, nothing fancy and certainly did not save the world. But in my daily life, I could see others code, I could admire someone else solution, and in the end, the code I wrote or the web page I create might help someone else in their life.
I feel like you nailed it. Death Stranding makes the mundane very powerful.
Maybe that's why I can't get into it. I work in retail, so the mundane is...well..agonizing. I can't stand boredom or silence. The monotony and tedium, despite a stunning and fascinating world, is painful to play through.
@@Johnston212 there is no shame in not liking a "good" game, game is afterall, an art, and art echo with people differently
@@leesasuki I've never really thought of video games as art. Mozart is art. Dali is art.
I don't think that I would personally call this game good either. It's pretty, but Soooo long.
I wasn't expecting a video from you for a while after the metal gear series. But I'm happy
The most OCD-induced (I gotta get that abandoned cargo), addictive, therapeutic game I've ever played that can be picked up any time and lose hours on. The Director's Cut version really closed the chapter and satisfied gamers with numerous additions to allow this to be played solo w/o an internet connection. If you are organized enough, you can travel the world at your own pace despite the ingenious "time limit" strategic challenge with your cargo via the degradating Timefall climate. I hope the sequel doesn't get too outlandish. Once I saw the electric guitar gun, I got a bit nervous lol.
Yeah, Higgs' change was pretty off-putting and i hope the sequel doesn't get too goofy.
When I find someone who loves Death Stranding, I know I'm lookin' at a _real_ one. Also, thanks for the movie recommendation; gonna have to check Pusher out!
I hated it for the first 3-5 hours. Put it down. Jumped backed in a month or so later. Got hooked. Got the Platinum. Can't wait for 2.
This game is so unique to me. I've always wanted to play due to the fact that you can setup things for other people to use. It's such a small thing but that kind of connection is so neat to me. It's the same with the ending of NieR Automata. Something about it just makes the brain happy.
The story is also very interesting if not confusing haha! I still get confused if I think about it 😂
It does feel like this game and NieR share a lot in terms of theme.
It's painful that I don't remember who said it in a review, but the phrase 'Death Stranding is the Gran Turismo of walking simulators' is one of the best things said in a history of ever.
Thatd be the great Tim Rogers epic review
@system0fadowner251 thank you so much, I tried to remember his name to see what's he up to these days
to someone that couldnt play more than 5 minutes on zelda botw before getting bored for the lack of story.. i loved every second on DS. on every long transfer there's motive, gravitas.
I've seen an 8 hr summary of the game, still am planning to play it myself and also am happy to watch your take on it, so let's do this.
I played death stranding over 4 months or so. The more the gameplay went on, the more I felt in touch with the world the game presents. The experience of building the roads and ziplines was cathartic. Towards the end of the game, the visuals, along with the incredible music choice made it one of the best experiences I've ever had with any sort of digital media produced to this day.
Love to play this game high asf
I know i would not like this game nearly as much if i didn't smoke each gaming sesh, turned it into a masterpiece fr
There's a much smaller channel called 'The Dadliest Man' that does very similar content to yours and on his 'Final Fantasy VII Retrospective' one of the top comments is "I really hope you're YourFavouriteSons Dad". 😂
No kidding, this guy even has a similar delivery and cadence to his voice that makes it all the more uncanny. 😂
Fantastic stuff really.
Dadliest Man is great! We've chatted for a while.
@YourFavoriteSon1
Aww that's sick mate. Really glad you guys know each other. Another thing you've got in common is you both deserve way more subs than what you've got! 🤣
But it's cool to watch this channel grow man, thanks for all the top-tier content. ✌🏻
It is criminal that you do not have 1M subscribers. The quality you provide vs. that count is criminal on our end, LoL. Keep it up, I know you'll get there.
Only 160k! I thought he had a million. He will get there I'm positive.
I'm happy this game is for me, can't imagine not being into this masterpiece, or not having the experience I had playing it. I'm more hyped for Death Stranding 2 than for GTA 6, and I'm hyped for GTA 6.
Keep on keeping on
Hard Same 😃🙌🏽🎮 IDGAF about GTA6 in the same way that I do Death Stranding 2 ... and IDGAF who knows that. Haha I've been defending this game since DAY ONE, and it's felt really good being vindicated, as I watched more & more people over the years give the game a FAIR try, and end up falling in love with it. I f*cking LOVE this game.
Mads Mikkelson really sets this game for me, dudes just a powerhouse and his presence always demands my attention. When he's talking to BB @2:14:50....👨🍳's 💋
Oh my god I needed this, ahhhhh KEEP ON KEEPING ON 👍👍👍
My fav channel to sleep to. For weeks the same video from you. The one day I just watch a whole 8 hr video of yours in daytime. So sick.
Great video. I love this game and have WAY too much time in on it. I loved when the game was over and they let me just travel around and making deliveries. It's a very relaxing experience on that level and I'll play it with almost no sound while listening to a podcast or audiobook.
Yes! 👏🏽😏 Have you challenged yourself to fulfill EVERY order in the game?! I have! There are 540 of them in the Director's Cut! But its sooo rewarding doing all of them, trust me.
I love Norman Deedus's performance in this game when he's given more lines, wish he had more but it kinda fits his character.
Kojima has the mind of an indie developer but has the budget of a AAA company.
🤦♂️
I love your analyses of games. Especially when I have played a game, it feels like you are walking me right back through the feelings I had playing it. There are always things I missed (especially some of the media references in a Kojima game). It is just a very cozy experience and I think it helps me appreciate the games all over again
I was born near to the rocky mountains and this game came out at a time in my life when I was living in a city where that kind of nature wasn't accessible. I was homesick for the mountains so much and playing it was such a healing and cathartic experience, brought me back to taking acid and wandering around the lakes and forests surrounding the rockies with my friends. Just incredible
I have a goregous view of the Rockies every time I leave the road I live on. Every winter, when they're covered in snow, I think of this game.
As with other reviews you’ve done of games I played, I cannot wait to revisit this one after hearing your retrospective. And I’m like 30 min in. This is a good one Son.
50:26 - impeccable delivery of 'p*ss and sh*t'. Proud of you, son
I just got platinum trophy few hours ago, it took 211h. I really enjoyed this journey, the way you feel after interacting with others. My play through was quite unique, i play few years on the same save, so even when I came back to known location there will be different structures over time. Looking forward to see what Kohima and his team do next. Thanks, good work, really should watch other your retrospectives after that one ❤
Love this video! I watched a lot of Death Standing videos, and none of them explain everything in a way that's as easy to follow as you do! Bless the 2 hour banger video
Check out white light 7hout video on death stranding. Pretty good.
Thank you for covering the first Strand Type game
Can’t wait for the second Game!
Keep on keeping on! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Played the game for the first time around when you uploaded this great timing
My God Son another amazing video. Thank you for all the long form content. These videos are awesome and I look forward to everyone. Now I gotta go replay death stranding
I love these 2+ hour videos. Good for sleeping
One of the most relaxed and satisfactory games I have ever played. If I felt like chilling, I would play death stranding (usually grinding for materials or maxing out deliveries), open a cold one and listen to my favorite hits.
thanks to this video i went back to the game and finished it in the same night since I was closer to the end then I thought. Your videos always are a treat and I thank ya for them
I went to the London part of the Death Stranding World Tour in November of 2019 and met Kojima and Shinkawa. I got up at 3:30am, travelled to London and made my way to the event. I then waited in the rain for 5 hours.
I had a PlayStation logo tee shirt on with the word ‘Playstation’ written in Japanese underneath. Kojima smiled widely and put his finger across my chest saying “PlayStation” out loud and I honestly thought I was going to pass out 😆 I’m not that tall, 5’11”, but when I stood between the two of them for a photo I realised I was a hell of a lot taller than both so I took my chance and put my arms around both of them around their shoulders. You’ll never see it but the picture I have of that moment is one of pure joy on my behalf and hilarity/bemusement on the faces Yoji and Hideo. A moment I will never forget.
Thanks!
It’s kind of funny that those of us who truly love this game are the MULEs ourselves; addicted to delivery! 😂
................shit that's a good point lol
I love Death Stranding, and the sequel is pretty much the only upcoming game I'm looking forward to.
I also look forward to DS2, but additionally Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Walking Simulator is literally a recognized genre on Steam tons of good ones.
I love this game so much. Well paced story. Love the item management/gameplay loop.
Damn dude. You got a crazy work ethic. KEEP IT UP!!
Awesome video essay. Would love to see a video on zone of the ender series
It's Unger, not Junger.
My guilty pleasure is watching people experience this game for the first time and I still look for new players and reviewers on RUclips. I played this on OG release and it's so special.
Thanks for another great video, I really enjoy watching your breakdowns of games, even for games I have already played. I always learn new things or gain a deeper understanding of the lore, thanks!!!
Great review! I just disagree with the assertion that Bridges/UCA was apparently "good" at the beginning. Ever since Sam reaches Capital Knot, there's an eerie atmosphere in the air: Bridges staff acts a little authoritarian with Sam, they declare openly to him their plan of hiding Bridget's death to the public, they treat BBs like machines, Bridget tricks Sam into signing a contract without his consent, and even the cufflinks are a symbol of the type of society of control they operate - Deadman even makes an excuse for their use to Sam, saying something like "it's for your own good". I think this whole game plays with ambiguity, and the ambiguous moral nature of Bridges just becomes clearer at the end: they connected many people that were stranded on their own, in a clear parallel to the reality of individuals in late capitalism, but the higher-ups were ill intended, and they don't fully know the consequences of this enterprise (like facilitating other death strandings).
Contrary to kojima's vision, i prefer to play this game entirely offline on the hardest difficulty, only benefitting from dev pre-placed items/structures and doing the rest myself. being limited on the network capacity makes planning that capacity more challenging and rewarding. planning all the tools i'll need feels great and the struggle from poor planning punishing. only gripe is the boss battles are kinda a slog on the highest difficulty.
funny i was oblivious on my first playthru of the "small thermonuclear device" and just rolled on into south knot and was like "oh..." 😂
more roads were added in the directors cut version that go thru the mountains as well
still one of my favorite games i replay every year or two.
I've never played the game on higher difficulties, but maybe I'll give it a go on my next playthrough
I do the same. It's great!
after watching this video for 10 minute I decided to buy it. My word I wish I had done so at launch, it's fantastic. I do however upset people by describing it as "ELITE" , on foot.
Even though there are a bunch of D.S. Essays out there, your video really scratched an itch. As someone who loves this game, this was a joy. Can’t wait to see what you do for Death Stranding 2 😁
Eurothug4000 has a good essay vid if you haven't checked it out yet
Encumbered traveling using a tightrope walking mechanic for balancing plus the addition of 10-12 hours of cutscenes sums up the game pretty consicely.
What perfect timing for the video. Game shadow dropped on Xbox right after this video. I’m loving the game so far. It’s just enjoyable to traverse. It reminds me of Snowrunner in a way, just with enemies, a story, and more complex mechanics. It’s perfect to listen to a podcast (Smalltown Murder specifically) and just navigate the land
my adhd makes it so a lot of games are hard for me to get hooked but i was pleasantly surprised how hooked i got on ds, what got me the most was wanting to learn more about the world which is so rare for me. this game holds a special place in my heart for mainly that reason
My favourite advertising ever for a video game leading up to release. It’s also in my top 10 games ever. It’s an incredible story that I’ve gone through 4 times and I completely buy its melodrama and love its gameplay wholeheartedly.
oooh boi another multiple hour video essay on my favourite game ever (one of them)
will fall asleep to this and have to rewatch tomorrow after work will update w thoughts
loved the game. It could be a bit boring at times when you're doing basic deliveries but just progressing constructions or shelters approval felt rewarding enough, especially after you come back the next day and discover other players have contributed to your road construction or completed some other useful buildings on your path. The sensation of playing in cooperation while being alone on the road. At times you could see some other NPC porters traveling on foot. I wish I could pick them up in my truck or just escort them for a while listening to their stories.
I wish there were more man-made structures to explore.
I gotta say, I loved Death Stranding. Not everyone's cup of tea and I'm totally OK with people that found boring his gameplay and chaotic is plot
I just appreciated the message this game tried to convey, about the importance of connections, so much that I actually lost interest in the plot of the game just to keep feeling good helping other players building structures and leaving materials or equipment.
Also, the Bring me the Horizon song used in the promotional material was an absolute banger ❤️
Hoping for DS2 to be as cheesy in his plot and characters as the first title did, can't wait to see what Kojima cooked for Troy Baker's character this time 🤣
I just beat it last week. It took so long because I kept putting it down for so long. This is my favorite game.
Damn fine job on this one son. This game was tricky for me because the story always had my intrigue but I could never get past the gameplay. This video was really good at explaining everything.
"What weapons to we have in the fight against falling down?" This killed me, that has to be a new sentence.
I remember accidentally killing a mule and lugging their body all the way to the incinerator just to avoid a void out, death stranding is one of the most special games ive played, one of the few i remember.
This game means so much to me and I don't really know why. It just feels so utterly singular, and important, and just like MGS1 every sound and bit of music in the game conjures the essence of it.
1:21:35 During this fight is when you learn a crucial game mechanic. Other players will throw guns, grenades and blood packs to you. You can enter a fight completely unarmed and exit overloaded with guns ect.
i couldnt get into the game myself, but i really appreciate the game after watching. great video my friend
Excellent video essay, thank you
Only just started playing it… so will come back to this video in about hundred hours or so.
Nah, it's a walking simulator. It was not a bandwagon, it was the honest truth. "Go here, deliver this there, go back and deliver this there, go to this other place and deliver this there" and by doing this repetitive and boring task over and over again you get rewarded with nothing but a cutscene to move the story along. 40-50 hours of this and you can imagine it gets real old.
If you're going for the platinum trophy, the repetitive grind is even worse as you get nothing as a reward for doing seemingly endless deliveries over and over again besides getting trophies. Kojima is pretentious and full of himself and his fans will eat up anything he does anyway and Death Stranding is full proof of that. It's more a movie than a video game. Video games are supposed to be fun to play, not feel like work.
I refreshed my home page and saw your community post, i wasn't even subscribed, safe to say i now am 😭
I've been waiting for this video since the mgs 1 video. Letsgo
Chirality is about whether the mirror of a molecule is the same as the molecule itself. Fun side that I'm sure matters somehow, knowing Kojima.
Apparently I had to go through a custody battle just to see my myfavoriteson's new videos
This was the first game in years that I 100%, the gameplay was very satisfying and the story was beautifully crafted. They just throw you right in and then you slowly start to uncover this world, cannot wait for DS2!
A theory on why most information in the game is revealed by digging through people past, instead of having them share in game. I'm a Malaysian Chinese here (we have multiple races and cultures in this country), so what I said is just my observation
In Asian culture, we don't really share our past with friends, it take some years long best buddy for one to actually share their life story, most of the times. And this is especially very serious in Japanese as they always believe that "don't bother others with your problem", and these past are clearly a "problem" to them. This bring up a lot in Death Stranding as I believe this game is especially targetting Japan culture, or current norm when the game release. Since people don't generally share their story, the gossip culture in Japan is quite severe, how Sams learn about Fragile by hearing from others, or how Deadman learn a lot from Sam by reading online data, and these rumor are generally giving up some bad energy just like how toxic Japanese internet is, when something went wrong, there are always a bunch of people that blame on the victim (people actually suicide cause of this)
Dang, thank you for the grave warning about watching this before playing. I have to wait for a sale, but it’s something to look forward to!
i have never understood people that call this walking simulator, like my dude just get on a motorbike, get a truck, dam strap a powersuit on you and sprint jump everywhere, zipline, jump pad, pod launch yourself or something
Because all the people calling it walking simulator either never played it and have bandwagoning opinions or they only played so far into the game without even reaching the bikes.
Or play a different game because this one is not for you.
Not at all
Man, I just finished DS. Thank you! Great video
This is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. I was hooked on this game. I wish I can experience that "first time" again.
It's so out of whack I had to love it, even when I didn't finish it because I suck at planning so much, I couldn't plan the routes.
Simple steps for Death Stranding: Get the game, Pair of good earphones, forget the stress of the day, relax, and enjoy the spiritual journey. Death Stranding for me is a therapeutic experience.
The summary of the game is one of the best ones out there. I mean the summary. And the game itself. It gives description and face to everything we kinda know - but don't want to - without becoming too obvious and preaching. Kojima outdid himself also this time - probably because he wasn't trying to, what he was trying to - was give us something to reflect on. One of the best story-based games out there, with the specific mechanics, beings, world order and logics reflecting what can be described as someone's immaculate view of where the world is heading - both deeply intimately and globally. The cast is unbelieveably good, the polish is true Japan ninja-level and the entire set is tough, grinding but somehow painfully rewarding. For people who call this a "walking simulator" - well, you're kinda lucky that you can call it that, so keep basking in your ignorance (I mean it). Thanks for the video - from Latvia, looking forward to Part II.
This was my main game and escape during the pandemic. I got the platinum trophies for both the base game and then the director’s cut after acquiring my PS5. Such an experience left me eagerly waiting for the sequel.