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[Dacvak]

"Every path is a different journey. It's just sublime"

Now that's a right load of wankery right there

 

[Edellus]

In my 2nd attempt to like it, when the 2nd area opens up.

The tutorial area does feel a tad obtuse (for this game) and slow. It does give a good example of the vibe the game is going for, but not a particularly engaging one (at least for me). It was after the I managed to push through to the 2nd area and saw the sights it's when this game turned into sort of an enjoyable "hike" for me. Then I took my sweet time, as with every game, I platinumed it and here I am playing DS2 and I'll will likely platinum it too. I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

If it's not for you, it's understandable. I wouldn't say this game has a mainstream concept of "fun". To me it's more like contemplative engagement or something of the sort.

 

[adamsapple]

I guess that about sums it up.

 

[lughnasadh123]

I went into it fully expecting to hate what it had to offer: dumb story, fetch quests, wandering around a big empty world, etc but actually found everything to be oddly sublime instead. It's a game that really is greater than the sum of it's parts that while not perfect just felt so fucking good to play. That's what made me stick with it. Getting upgrades to make it easier to make deliveries is satisfying. Sound design is top notch. UI is soooo damn good to. Even though the story was dumb I really do appreciate the level of bat shit crazy they delivered with a straight face. In a time where people bitch about the sameness of games this one really stood out.

 

[Ovek]

This is the exact moment for me

 

[Heisenberg007]

The moment when the first Low Roar song came on when I was getting to Port Knot City.

I understood the game at that point. I said, "I get it now."

The gameplay loop in Chapter 3 got me addicted with the bridge building and all.

 

[Critical Hit]

By adding these individuals to our "network", we enrich our shared culture and community. Kojima wants to share these treasures with us

What treasures? Treasures in this context are pieces of art: paintings, books, music, movies and games too. In the game we have scanned model of Lea Seydoux.

Building roads or zipline networks involves some initial effort

Usually, it's called grind.

 

[Zathalus]

As soon as Low Roar kicked in. Damn, what a band.

 

[SILKYSMOOTH30FPS]

For it to click, there must be a button or a switch, and it's simply not there. Walking in empty environment and building bridges is not gameplay.

These games will never click with me.

 

[Sentenza]

I was something like three hours into the game and what felt like 30 minutes into the nth endless cutscenes when I finally clicked.
On the quit button, that is.

 

[Arsic]

Right when the intro is playing and Sam is saying "once there was an explosion."

 

[Clear]

What treasures? Treasures in this context are pieces of art: paintings, books, music, movies and games too. In the game we have scanned model of Lea Seydoux.

Yeah, you are typically rewarded with pieces of music, references to movies and culture etc. And usually some new gadget or ability upgrade to enhance the playing experience.

A perfect example is the Pizza Atami sub-plot. Where a standard delivery leads to a wonderfully choreographed Jackie Chan inspired fight sequence, which in turn leads to themed weapons, outfits, and additions to the melee combat system. Also the character uses the likeness of Mamoru Oshii. None of these elements are connected in any way thematically to the plot and scenario, but is nonetheless a fun and charming tip-of-the-hat to cultural totems that Kojima likes.

The second game approaches this referential stuff much more elegantly then the first game did with its simple collection list of "inspiring things", but its function is mostly the same.

As to the issue of "grind". Yes, there is grind but its mostly optional. Like I wrote earlier I'm north of 160 hours in, and still haven't seen everything despite finishing the story part 100 hours ago. Its very RPG-like in that respect.

 

[Sgt.Asher]

Half menu simulator, half fed ex simulator, with the dumbest story breaking up moments in between. The fucking trench part with mads constantly whispering bb in my ear was when I dropped. I was fine with the mailman parts, there is an appeal there, indie shit music not withstanding.
I could not stand the story, the characters, and the baby.

 

[mayham2199]

Yea this was when it was for me.

 

[ByWatterson]

As soon as the first bit of music kicked in when wandering the wilderness

This but without the emoji. As soon as that first non-cutscene Low Roar kicked in I was hooked.

 

[Chuck Berry]

For me, the crack set in around Chapter 3 of the first game. I believe that's the one where you're introduced to building roads, you can get a truck, and then just start making the rounds dropping stuff off and getting upgrades and new toys on a regular basis. It becomes addicting real fuckin quick.

 

[Loomy]

For me the narrative was whatever but I was in the mood for a planning / trecking game so it clicked in maybe the first or second mission.

Of course I looked into the game extensively before purchasing it so I knew what to expect from the gameplay or the way the narrative was presented.

As soon as the first bit of music kicked in when wandering the wilderness

It clicked for me when I stopped paying attention to the plot and just focused on building my package delivery empire.

Pretty much this.

The narrative was peak Kojima, which is probably a little bit too much Kojima for me, but the gameplay - minus the occasional goop monster fighting - was really relaxing and weirdly fun, for some reason. Few games actually capture what it feels like to be out walking in the middle of nowhere by yourself. Death Stranding nailed it. At some point when I'm in the right mindset, I will sit down and zone out with DS2.

 

[ecosse_011172]

I really tried, I liked the great visuals, the cool intro with fancy actors, the baby creepiness etc. but after 6 hours or so I realised I was so bored and had no desire to keep playing.
Obviously the usual cringeworthy dialogue didn't help.

 

[Arachnid]

Second playthrough of the first game. I genuinely hated my first playthrough lmao

Eventually it clicks if you approach the right way. Still, can't say I ever want Kojima to make another Death Stranding game.

 

[Raven117]

The first one kinda did due to how weird and unique it was.

The second one, yeah, no. That game is solid 7. The whole thing is a slog. The way the story is told is irritating. The story beats are unearned. And the initial creepiness of the first game lost its creep factor as we have all been there done that...and nothing happened kinda thing. It was sniffing its own farts.

Time to move on.

 

[Cramoss]

From the start of the first game.

 

[Facism]

I was something like three hours into the game and what felt like 30 minutes into the nth endless cutscenes when I finally clicked.
On the quit button, that is.

Everything little action having a fucking cutscene is what eventually got me to uninstall. Game should have had an option to skip all of that automatically and let you just press x to do a delivery/shower/drink etc without having to mash buttons to skip them for the nth time. So much wasted time.

Ironically there's a mod for MGS5 that strips out all that cutscene nonsense and makes that game literally 20 times better because of it.

 

[Edmund]

It never did. I played Ds1 for the 3rd time and got to chapter 9 and still didn't enjoy it.

I'm not going to continue or try a 4th time.