Death Stranding’s America Is Unrecognizable But It Doesn’t Matter

Through video games, creators have been able to make commentary on society and various human experiences, allowing gamers to understand more about their fellow gamers and the world around them. This is the case with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice , which was developed by Ninja Theory and released in 2017. The game features a woman named Senua who goes on a journey to rescue her dead lover's soul. She is plagued by voices of Furies in her head, and she sees the world differently, which can be quite frightening for her at times. However, it never stops her from achieving her goals. Many of Senua's experiences resemble psychosis, and the developers went to great lengths to ensure accuracy. Consequently, by cleverly stimulating the senses, the game weaves a story that both educates and enterta


A simple variation on missions can be a big improvement for those looking for a change of pace from Death Stranding 's walking simulation and cargo management . Perhaps the player has to retrieve a package from BT-infested lands or has to eliminate a particularly strong BT threatening a route. Maybe another Mule had to drop their delivery and Sam has to pick it up and finish it. Anything to change up the mundane formula would be much more fun for those that need the change of pace while ultimately not affecting the overall feel of the g


Since their rudimentary beginnings in the 1950s, video games have rapidly morphed from mere tools of amusement to complex art forms capable of telling compelling narratives. The eighth generation of gaming further advanced the medium by utilizing modern technology to enhance realism and consequently deliver more gripping and believable stories. This has been enabled, for example, by improved graphics and motion capture technology that have helped create more realistic character models capable of conveying convincing emoti


Video games can test reflexes, raise adrenaline, offer up a challenge, and provide a way for friends to have fun. However, video games have also shown themselves to be quite proficient at delivering stories, and with each gaming generation, the medium has been getting better at it. With the eighth generation of gaming, which includes the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, gamers got to enjoy a plethora of games that pushed the medium forward in all aspects, especially in terms of storytell


What makes this game so loved is how the developers worked closely with neuroscientists and people who experience psychosis to help players understand Senua’s mind in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice . Players will be able to feel the grief and despair and everything in between thanks to the facial animat


In a weird bit of worldbuilding, Kojima decided to include product placement in his Death Stranding universe. The world may be a post-apocalyptic wasteland, but at least Monster Energy drinks still exist. It's nonsensical and doesn't make sense even for those sold on the absurd premise that is the rest of the game. For a AAA game, the choice to include Monster Energy or have Sam mention Ride with Norman Reedus is an odd one and takes players out of the experience, especially when Kojima took the time to make an entire soundtrack of in-universe music that includes new tracks by known singers. Death Stranding 's Director's Cut removed Monster from the game, so it may be that Kojima saw this as w


The President of the United Cities of America and the Director of Bridges has quite a burden on their hands. Die-Hardman has a lot of responsibility and a lot of guilt for his past. He is a character that deserves to continue his path on the force for good, as he tries to connect all of America, and perhaps one day, the entire world. His goals are for the betterment of mankind, and he truly doesn’t want anything evil to come of


While Death Stranding will always have its fans that love the game for what it is, a sequel could still stand to improve on its strand-type formula. These are just a few of the worst things about the original Death Stranding that could stand to be improved. It's still very early, with plenty of time for **Death Stranding 2 ** to learn from the mistakes of what came bef


Considering that Lockne is now one with her sister, and their goals align, it would be great to see the character continue her journey in Death Stranding 2 and to further develop great technology for Sam to use as he ventures in his most dangerous mission


The timing of the worldwide pandemic gave Death Stranding another layer of meaning. Death Stranding depicts the lifestyle of isolated "Preppers" living in shelters to avoid the threat of Timefall and Beached Things, waiting on Porters from agencies like Bridges and Fragile Express to deliver vitally needed goods. This hit close to home for the many who were isolated in their homes due to the threat of COVID-19, forced to depend on delivery services like Amazon for their basic needs. Death Stranding 2 vehicles Stranding’s meaning changed over time , due to the pandemic, and other games released during that period like The Last of Us 2 also carried unexpected weight. The America that Sam hikes across in Death Stranding is not the America its residents know, and the real-world country is not the one that they thought they k