Death Stranding gameplay was unveiled several hours ago at the Tokyo Game Show 2019. With nearly an hour’s worth of footage, the debuted gameplay packed a bevy of insight, from the use of mechanics and specific weaponry to traversal methods and even story beats. What Kojima has in store for us patient fans may very well remain a mystery up until November, but that hasn’t stopped some fans from discovering where and just how far to dig when in search of answers.
While the below video is in Japanese, there is a commentary and translated version available along with a helpful countdown meter, for those of us who simply cannot wait and need to watch the clock run out. As that ticking continues, utilize this time to acquaint yourself with the unruly, yet still mesmerizing, post-apocalyptic world of Death Stranding. Where the monsters are hungry shadows, the humans darker even than their interdimensional counterparts, and the afterlife is almost—if not more—fun than the dreary reality shared amongst the characters of the living world.
Enter the ambitiously bold and extremely imaginative mind of Hideo Kojima…
Kicking things off at the precise moment, unconventionally showing fans their inevitable “gameplay loop,” the preview begins with an overview of Sam’s build. Preparation seems to be of the utmost importance when approaching missions and side quests, as carrying capacity plays a huge part in the game and its level design. The concept has been woven into the very fabric of in-game stealth and maneuverability; weight transference will be a top priority because the slower Sam moves, the harder it will be to get out of trouble (whether that be in the form of BTs or deranged humans).
The trailer also displayed the exoskeleton device, one of which is acquirable simply by pre-ordering the game, and showcases how it aids Sam in traversing this mysterious open-world. It isn’t the only method for transportation, what with the sleek and futuristic sports bike previewed in this and prior trailers, as well as the MULE truck and “Floating Carrier,” a cross between a dolly and a hoverbike. There’s also a plentitude of other modes of maneuverability, as ladders, ropes, boots and many more forms of equipment will be utilized throughout the game for maximized adventure.
The story revolves around Sam literally bridging together the “Chiral Network” across a fractured America. Meaningful connections, lasting relationships, bonds beyond time all serve as the major backbones of the game, pillars to live by in both reality and in the world of Death Stranding. The stated inclusion of an easy feature will help those of us who simply want to lose ourselves in Kojima’a breathtaking unreality simulator, a place where it seems the imaginations of horror can coalesce with that of fundamental concepts on life, delivering a game packed to the brim with symbolic representation and meaning that will transcend video game media itself.
