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

The original Death Stranding follows the story of Sam Bridges, portrayed by Reedus, as he seeks to connect the disparate parts of a post-apocalyptic United States. He does so by delivering packages on foot, by vehicle, or through many other devices. While there is a bizarre story tying it all together, the majority of the gameplay is centered on this concept. The themes of bringing people together was largely supported by Death Stranding's multiplayer component which had players from all over the world working together to build structu

Weeks prior, Kojima fans had speculated that the game may feature aquatic environments. This was mostly fueled by leaks claiming that Death Stranding 2 is being worked on under the codename Project Ocean . Having water as a new type of terrain to navigate would certainly bring new elements to gameplay and make the sequel feel fresh. Nevertheless, with no gameplay shown yet, it is difficult to determine precisely what Kojima has in store for gam

There are many human moments between characters, and Aloy takes the focus in Horizon: Forbidden West . Whether it is the simple acts of human laughter, or something more serious, Aloy has plenty of great facial animations to appreci

The upcoming game appears to embrace a slightly new setting. Unlike the first game which had Sam outdoors at almost all times, Death Stranding 2 seems to embrace indoor environments much more. Fragile is seen sneaking down corridors and through vents, not unlike Snake in Metal Gear Solid . This is a direction that franchise seems to have been going in since the release of Death Stranding Director's Cut , which also features more indoor environme

This was seen, for instance, with Naughty Dog's The Last of Us 2 which features plenty of close-ups that allow facial expressions to convey a breadth of information about characters and their reactions to situations. Oftentimes, words are not needed, because facial expressions are rendered with enough clarity for players to easily read each scene. The game grapples with complicated themes such as revenge, trauma, and justice, and the performances of the characters are integral to properly conveying the st

While the landscape of Death Stranding looks nothing like the America we know today, the changes are mostly explained by Death Stranding’s Timefall phenomenon, apart from the smaller scope of the map. After the titular incident called the Death Stranding took place, the barrier between the world of the living and the dead weakened. Timefall was one of the accompanying symptoms, a form of rain that causes whatever it falls on to age rapidly. In gameplay terms, Timefall can erode the integrity of Sam’s containers, which imperils the cargo within them. The Timefall could also be the reason for the absence of animals in Death Stranding’s America as well as the changes to the landscape. Porters wear protective gear to avoid Timefall aging them prematurely, a process that shapes the backstory of the character of Fragile and her vendetta against Hi

To help the player feel not so alone, or bored while walking, a music player should be integral for the sequel. The game needs to pick the licensing rights to the songs it wants carefully, as some songs may not be to everyone’s taste, but one would think the advanced technology in Death Stranding , one would invent a music pla

Kojima did speak at The Game Awards . Although he kept his lips zipped regarding what to expect from death stranding 2 crafting guide Stranding 2 , he did mention that he had written the game before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after living through the pandemic, he decided to rewrite everyth

Although there were many gaming advancements in the eighth generation, it will likely be the stories it provided that it will be remembered for. From games like God of War that explored the relationship between father and son, to eccentric mind-benders like Control , there was something in every genre for all gamers to enjoy. Gamers can only hope that the current gaming generation will bring as many great stor

Death Stranding's unusual depiction of America proved to be prescient in a number of ways. A country that many of its citizens perceived as invincible was proven to be just as vulnerable to disease and contagion as any other nation, and a country that proclaims itself to be "indivisible" has never been more starkly divided. Civil liberties such as reproductive rights for women, once thought unassailable, have been stripped away, and still more hang in the limbo of future jeopardy. In many ways America has become just as strange and alien as the unrecognizable landscape of Kojima’s game. Some think that poor vehicle options like the Reverse Trike highlight the worst Death Stranding elements the sequel doesn't need or can find ways to fix, but the struggle of transporting goods across the strange landscape was central to the game’s experie