Hideo Kojima's new game, Death Stranding, is finally here. One of its main themes is that of connection--and one way that's implemented is through its own version of multiplayer.
In a new video feature, Jess McDonell dives into why she thinks Death Stranding's multiplayer mechanics are so smart and intriguing, even for those who usually stay away from multiplayer elements in games.
Sam, the main character portrayed by Norman Reedus, prefers to go it alone, and the meditative moments while you're walking by yourself through Death Stranding's wide-open spaces present the game's most emotional highs. But the multiplayer elements, which sprinkle your world with helpful hints and even structures and objects from other players, provide for a tangible sense of community and connection. Jess, who typically gravitates toward single-player games, found this to be especially helpful and impactful.
Check out the full video above to hear what Jess had to say about Death Stranding's unique multiplayer elements.
"Death Stranding is a hard game to absorb," Kallie Plagge wrote in GameSpot's review. "There are many intertwining threads to its plot, and silly names, corny moments, and heavy exposition belie an otherwise very simple message. That comes through much more clearly in the game's more mundane moments, when you find a desperately-needed ladder left behind by another player or receive a letter from an NPC thanking you for your efforts. It's positive without ignoring pain; in fact, it argues in both its story and its gameplay that adversity itself is what makes things worth doing and life worth living. It's a game that requires patience, compassion, and love, and it's also one we really need right now."
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