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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

However, the creator says this puts him in a conflicting situation, since he's not motivated by "making something that appeals to everyone".

The original Death Stranding, which has players delivering packages across a serene landscape, was one of the most polarising blockbuster games in recent memory, with critic scores ranging from perfect tens, to fours out of tens. With On the Beach, Kojima Productions says it's created a more action-oriented sequel, which should appeal to a broader range of players.

Speaking in the latest issue of Edge Magazine, which is on sale now, Kojima claimed On the Beach is scoring much higher with test audiences. He said Sony is pleased with the On the Beach test reviews so far, but admitted that he wished the sequel were a bit more controversial with audiences.

"I do listen to criticism, if the controls need tweaking or if a camera pan is too slow or too fast. But I don't alter themes or story based on feedback," Kojima said. "Of course, I want people to play my game, so I must listen to them to a certain extent. But also, I'm not interested in making something that appeals to everyone."

Asked about audience review testing and how much he pays attention to it, Kojima replied: "In fact, I did a lot of monitoring tests for the original Death Stranding. I'd find that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game. For me, I think that's a good balance. But with the playtests for Death Standing 2: On the Beach, everyone seems to be positive."

He added: "Sony is pleased, of course, but I do wish I was a bit more controversial. Blockbuster films need an 80 percent approval rating – I don't want to make games like that. I'm not interested in appealing to the mass market, or selling millions of copies… That's not what I'm aiming for."

Kojima laughed: "Of course, I can't afford to make a failure, either. I must take care of my studio, my staff, and our production budget. But in essence, I don't want to simply recreate something that's already in the world. I want to make something new."

Test Death Stranding 2 reviews are scoring far higher than the original, claims Kojima | VGC

But Hideo Kojima wishes the PS5 sequel was more controversial with test audiences…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[PlayStaytion]

"Do we need women?"


Hideo Kojima,

 

[Davevil]

 

[SJRB]

I'd find that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game.

lmao

 

[Astray]

This is why he's one of the GOATs.

 

[Cakeboxer]

"but I do wish I was a bit more controversial."

Call Druckmann and ask for some tips.

 

[Shubh_C63]

Yeah. Now that people know what the game was all about.
DS PC and Directors Cut releases really made people understand the brilliance of the original. Now, it nowhere to go but up.

 

[Punished Miku]

He's exactly right about universal appeal not really being a good thing. There are always exceptions of course. Similar sentiment with GOTY awards, high MC ratings, etc. Universal appeal means it is pretty dang good, but also that you've likely sanded off any offensive rough edges, which are usually the most interesting parts. Most stuff rated 90+ has that stuff sanded off. Most, not all.

 

[Arachnid]

I'm very interested to see how he's evolved the stealth and combat from the first. Both were terrible. Give me sticks.

 

[Miles708]

YEEAAHH I LOVE FOCUS GROUPS!

 

[AJUMP23]

Now that everyone knows it is delivery simulator they know what to expect.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

He's exactly right about universal appeal not really being a good thing. There are always exceptions of course. Similar sentiment with GOTY awards, high MC ratings, etc. Universal appeal means it is pretty dang good, but also that you've likely sanded off any offensive rough edges, which are usually the most interesting parts. Most stuff rated 90+ has that stuff sanded off. Most, not all.

I agree with this when it comes to movies, but games are usually much less subjective. Very few games illicit vastly different responses from gamers. A gameplay loop either works or it doesn't.

Death Stranding and Doom Eternal are probably the two biggest recent examples of AAA games having very polarizing responses by gamers. By all accounts, DS2 seems to similar Tears of the Kingdom, where they enhanced everything about the games systems, but at its core it is the same gameplay loop. I think Kojima is just humble bragging, honestly. Everything we have seen so far in DS2 seems to be addressing the criticisms many people had with the first game

 

[vaibhavpisal]

He is not being honest here, sounds more like marketing material.

He needs to do a couple of things if he wants to be taken seriously with this take.

1. Dont improve action / stealth parts. Improve other systemic things.

2. Reduce budget to a point you don't care even if it fails. Draw in players with other stuff than graphics.

 

[RoboFu]

I'm the exact opposite.

 

[BlackTron]

Now that everyone knows it is delivery simulator they know what to expect.

It's all framing. The Last of Us is a delivery simulator

 

[Ribi]

Well you give the game to people who don't care it's a a walking sim and they will not care it's a walking sim. Shocking

 

[LordBritish]

yea, because pew pew more

 

[Gonzito]

Great to hear. I am very excited

 

[Horseganador]

The game, while maintaining the core gameplay of the first, feels much more varied and fun.

 

[SJRB]

He is not being honest here, sounds more like marketing material.

He needs to do a couple of things if he wants to be taken seriously with this take.

1. Dont improve action / stealth parts. Improve other systemic things.

2. Reduce budget to a point you don't care even if it fails. Draw in players with other stuff than graphics.

Of course it's marketing.

Man who is selling a product tells people his upcoming product is definitely much better than his previous product. Way better in every way!

Pre-order now!

 

[Connificent]

 

[AJUMP23]

It's all framing. The Last of Us is a delivery simulator

But not actual boxes and there is a bit more subtlety and the second one is a vengeance quest.

 

[BlackTron]

But not actual boxes and there is a bit more subtlety and the second one is a vengeance quest.

The second one is what happens when UPS loses your package

 

[LordOcidax]

Probably fans of the part 1 are the testers…

 

[AJUMP23]

The second one is what happens when UPS loses your package

I thought they delivered the golf clubs.

 

[Toots]

It's kind of mindboggling to see the Koj' doing pre release damage control for a huge game like death stranding 2
The first one performed well enough, why is he afraid this one will tank ?

 

[Skifi28]

The second one is what happens when UPS loses your package

More like having the package destroyed in front of your eyes with a golf club.

 

[Shaki12345]

Played DS1 for about 25% of the campaign when something in life came up. Couldn't play for a month and a half. When I came back I wasn't able to understand the mechanics of the game anymore and I simply lost track of how the story was going. If the game was able to help me with what happened and how to play, I could have picked it up. Not sure if I think that's good game design and not sure if I want to revisit it all over again in preparation for DS2.

Nevertheless, I respect his vision as an author. We need more directors like him who stand behind their vision and don't back out because of other opinions.

 

[ResilientBanana]

I guess I'll play the game on a treadmill.

 

[Kvally]

I wouldn't expect him to say any less about his own game.

 

[BlackTron]

I thought they delivered the golf clubs.

So that's where my delivery went. They wouldn't even refund me because they claimed I had it rerouted to some Joel guy. Whatever

 

[Sebastian1295]

Death stranding and death stranding 2 are like art house projects that you enjoy for the bizarre experience of it all and the story comes second to everything. If you're someone who wants a cohesive and coherent narrative then you won't like these games, but if you're someone who can appreciate the art of the game itself and love bizarre and abstract things then you'll love these games.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Death stranding and death stranding 2 are like art house projects that you enjoy for the bizarre experience of it all and the story comes second to everything. If you're someone who wants a cohesive and coherent narrative then you won't like these games, but if you're someone who can appreciate the art of the game itself and love bizarre and abstract things then you'll love these games.

The visual world building in DS is phenomenal. It reminds me of Fromsoft games like Bloodborne or Elden Ring. DS could have no tangible story and the game would 100% work and may even be better for it. I barely paid attention to the intricacies of the story and just focused on the theme of the game, which is connecting the game world

 

[Sebastian1295]

The visual world building in DS is phenomenal. It reminds me of Fromsoft games like Bloodborne or Elden Ring. DS could have no tangible story and the game would 100% work and may even be better for it. I barely paid attention to the intricacies of the story and just focused on the theme of the game, which is connecting the game world

Ya the journey and experience are what make the game and it's unique in that nothing else feels like it at all. It's a one of a kind game in an industry that has become stagnant in alot of cases.

 

[viveks86]

Such a Kojima thing to say

 

[Zacfoldor]

"I'm not interested in making something that appeals to everyone." - That is his Miyamoto quote right there.

Think about it. "Modern audiences," "Woke Games," "video game consultants" Their whole spiel is broadening the landscape of your game. Making your game appeal to everyone.

However, we all know that any game that appeals to everyone will also appeal to no one. Appealing to everyone means arbitrary artificial representation, it means pronouns and body types, it means bisexual lighting, it means social messaging, and it means unattractive characters.

Not appealing to "everyone" is exactly what we preach on here, so Kojima is 100% correct. Nobody should aim to make a game that appeals to everyone. Instead, bespoke artisanal content that targets a certain group of gamers is much more likely to be a great game and win goty.

I wish more people were not interested in creating safe, boring, derivative content that appealed to "everyone." Also usually "everyone" means, "everyone but traditional gamers" and is code for "gamers are dead, you don't have to create games for gamers, you should target the world and leave regressive gamers behind."

 

[consoul]

Modern focus groups are accustomed to the Strand type genre.

 

[Bernardougf]

Yeah mail man walking simulator with a batshit crazy story definitely dosent appeal to me ... maybe his next thing will but I doubt it since I hated MGS5 and DS.