WithDeath Stranding 2on the way from Kojima Productions, the game has the chance to address some of the criticism the gameplay of its predecessor received. Both players and critics were divided on the delivery-based gameplay of the game, with many wishing combat had been more fleshed out and some wanting world traversal to be less of a chore.Death Stranding 2has the potential to improve on the walking simulator-like aspects of the previous title by introducing new equipment to help make traveling with cargo more fun.
In the originalDeath Stranding, deliveries could be made easier through the use of a variety of tools and equipment to help the player take on whatever type of environment they may have to face. Standard tools like ladders, climbing anchors, and decoys could be fabricated, but required strategic use since they added to the overall weight of the cargoSam Bridgeswould have to carry. While some more advanced tools like weapons and vehicles were also eventually made available,Death Stranding 2could up the ante even further and create brand-new ways to traverse the game’s post-apocalyptic environment.
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Tools Death Stranding 2 Needs to Include
Death Stranding 2has room to go all out on the kinds of tools it gives players access to, from the practical to the weird and wacky. One of the most beloved items from the first game was theOtter Hood, which allowed Sam to float down streams without the penalty of loosing cargo, as long as it’s secured.Death Stranding 2could iterate on this concept and give players the ability to deploy a fully inflatable raft that they can use to ride down rivers. This type of vehicle could also help support a greater focus on combat as it could allow players to fire weapons while seated in the raft.
While there are a variety of weapons available for players to use when taking onDeath Stranding’s enemies like MULEsor BTs, there aren’t a lot of options for defense aside from the passive armor plates Sam can equip. IfDeath Stranding 2does feature more robust combat scenarios, giving players access to some kind of active defensive item like a shield seems like an obvious choice for a tool. Not only could this item be used for combat, even allowing for a parry mechanic like in theDark Soulsseries, but it could have its uses as outside of battle as a sled, similar to the Floating Carrier in the first game.
Death Stranding 2could even give players the chance to take to the skies with a jetpack-like item that iterates upon the Evolved Stabilizers. Although the series is more centered around overground traversal, tools likezip-lines from the firstDeath Strandinggave players an easy way to quickly get from a high point to a low one by gliding through the air. A jetpack could function inversely giving players a big jump boost to help reach high areas quickly at the cost of very limited fuel supply and the potential to damage cargo if not used carefully.
As Kojima Productions looks to improve upon thegameplay ofDeath Strandingin its sequel, it needs to consider balancing the aspects of delivering cargo that helped support the game’s narrative while also keeping it fun and engaging for the player. Without new twists on established traversal methods,Death Stranding 2could quickly get stale, even for fans for the first game. As such, designing new tools for traversal that iterate on concepts introduced in its predecessor should be a major focal point for the studio when developing this new title.
