Alright, so Death Stranding 2: On the Beach kind of broke my brain in the best way. I went in expecting weirdness (because, hello, Kojima Productions made this), but I didn’t expect to get completely hooked on rebuilding society one pizza delivery at a time. But here I am, 60+ hours later, emotionally compromised and seriously considering buying a wide brimmed hat like Sam’s.
If you played the first one, you already know the deal: Sam Porter Bridges, still looking like he’s one good nap away from snapping, is back for another deeply strange journey through a post-apocalyptic world full of ghosts, rain that ages you, and people who really, really need their cargo. But this time, the mission’s gone global. After connecting America’s chiral network in the original game, Sam’s now headed to Mexico and Australia, because apparently the whole world needs some emotional infrastructure.
And wow, what a world. Thanks to the Decima engine (shoutout to Guerrilla Games for lending it again), the landscapes are beyond gorgeous even when they’re trying to murder you with a sandstorm or blizzard. There’s a new day/night cycle and weather that doesn’t just look pretty; it actively messes with your plans. I got caught in a flash flood mid-delivery and nearly rage quit. Nearly.
Gameplay is still classic Death Stranding, a weirdly soothing mix of traversal, balance, and base building but it’s been seriously upgraded. New tools, like monorails (yes, monorails!), help you cover ground faster. I spent an embarrassing number of hours hauling materials just to complete my perfect rail network. Was it necessary? No. Was it deeply satisfying? Absolutely. You’re welcome, future players please Like my structures.
The multiplayer element is still brilliant in that sneaky, asymmetric way. You never see other players directly, but you see what they’ve left behind shelters, ladders, warning signs. It’s like ghostly co-op, and it somehow feels more collaborative than most multiplayer games. Nothing hits like stumbling across a timefall shelter someone built just when you’re about to get steamrolled by a BT storm.
Speaking of BTs, yes, they’re back. And yes, they still freak me out. I avoided them like the plague and leaned hard into stealth, mostly because being chased by invisible ghost blobs stresses me out more than it should. Combat has been beefed up, though. You can sneak, stun, or go full guns-blazing Rambo mode if you’re feeling spicy. And the game rewards your style with subtle RPG mechanics walk a lot, and you get stronger legs; sneak around, and you get sneakier. Like Skyrim, but with more emotional baggage.
Story wise, On the Beach starts slow. Real slow. Kojima slow. But if you hang in there (and I mean really hang in), the final act hits like a freight train. It’s packed with heavy themes connection, death, grief, and whether trying to fix the world actually helps or just makes things worse. It doesn’t hold your hand with answers, but it’s got a lot to say if you’re paying attention.
And the cast? Absolute fire. Norman Reedus is still Sam, and he’s got more to chew on this time around. Lea Seydoux is back as Fragile, and she’s fantastic. But let’s talk about Troy Baker as Higgs. That man devoured every scene he was in. If Kojima were handing out Oscars, he’d already have his. Everyone’s clearly all-in, and that level of commitment shows. These aren’t just famous faces slapped on for star power they’re delivering (pun intended).
Also, yes, it still has those signature Kojima cutscenes cinematic, loaded with symbolism, and somehow both confusing and profound. But this time, they feel more balanced. It’s not a movie pretending to be a game; it’s a game that happens to have a killer script and a deeply existential core.
By the time the credits rolled, I wasn’t just impressed I was kind of wrecked. Death Stranding 2 made me think about the way we connect, what we owe each other, and what kind of world we’re really building. And then it made me cry while delivering a thermos. Classic Kojima.
So yeah. Weird game. Beautiful game. One-of-a-kind experience. If you liked the first Death Stranding, this is everything you wanted and more. And if you didn’t? Well, this one might still convert you. Just don’t expect instant gratification. It’s a slow burn, but the fire is worth it.
