I would like to preface this review by saying this is the first instance of me playing a Hideo Kojima game, and while I have had no prior experience with his works, Kojima's stentorian reputation of making unique and impactful pieces of art has duly been maintained with Death Stranding.

Death Stranding's mien is just that: a piece of art. This descriptor is not necessarily that of praise, but rather something to be experienced and digested. Not everyone wants to sit and tacitly absorb a game, but rather get into the action right away, and that's fine. But Death Stranding is at the aphelion of that. In fact, Death Stranding's gameplay is largely secondary to the plot and story, and Hideo Kojima could have easily indited the plot as a novel, and the experience and sentiments I had at the end of the game would have largely been the same.

I don't want to turn this review into a full-on harangue, so I'll now surmise my thoughts: Death Stranding is a slow burn, giving the player gratification through their own arguably herculean efforts of hauling freight across a conspicuously small America. If you enjoy games like Subnautica, where you progressively acquire minute augmentations and slowly unravel plot, you will most likely enjoy Death Stranding. Beware that there are stints of the game where I would recommend a podcast or video to listen to.

Overall, this game receives accolades from me and an emphatic recommendation. The forty-five hours of gameplay to eighty dollars Canadian I spent was well worth it, and I look forward to further games Hideo Kojima has in store.

I would like to preface this review by saying this is the first instance of me playing a Hideo Kojima game, and while I have had no prior experience with his works, Kojima's stentorian reputation of making unique and impactful pieces of art has duly been maintained with Death Stranding. Death Stranding's mien is just that: a piece of art. This descriptor is not necessarily that of praise, but rather something to be experienced and digested. Not everyone wants to sit and tacitly absorb a game, but rather get into the action right away, and that's fine. But Death Stranding is at the aphelion of that. In fact, Death Stranding's gameplay is largely secondary to the plot and story, and Hideo Kojima could have easily indited the plot as a novel, and the experience and sentiments I had at the end of the game would have largely been the same. I don't want to turn this review into a full-on harangue, so I'll now surmise my thoughts: Death Stranding is a slow burn, giving the player gratification through their own arguably herculean efforts of hauling freight across a conspicuously small America. If you enjoy games like Subnautica, where you progressively acquire minute augmentations and slowly unravel plot, you will most likely enjoy Death Stranding. Beware that there are stints of the game where I would recommend a podcast or video to listen to. Overall, this game receives accolades from me and an emphatic recommendation. The forty-five hours of gameplay to eighty dollars Canadian I spent was well worth it, and I look forward to further games Hideo Kojima has in store.