Walking the fine line to greatness
By Paul Hunter
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach shows up not just as a sequel, but as one of the PS5’s biggest swings yet. Kojima Productions, supported by Sony, takes everything that worked in the original and tightens it up while aiming even higher. Kojima feels more focused here, with a complex story and gameplay that flows better from moment to moment. It doesn’t just revisit old ground—it reshapes what this universe can become.
You can tell it’s a Kojima game right away—offbeat, stylish, and completely hypnotic. This sequel really finds its rhythm, pulling you in scene by scene, whether it’s a quiet moment between Sam and BB Lou or something bizarre with newcomer Neil Vana. The cutscenes feel tighter and more deliberate, landing with real weight. Kojima’s clearly in his zone here, telling the story on his terms—and honestly, it might be his best yet.
The rocky cliffs and mountains of the first game’s America are gone. Instead, you get the harsh heat of Mexico and the rough, unpredictable landscape of Australia. These places don’t just sit in the background—they feel alive. The solitude and challenges remain, but now there’s a stronger sense of moving forward as you expand the Chiral network into new areas. You’re doing more than making deliveries—you’re slowly rebuilding hope with every connection.
You’ve crossed mountains, braved timefall, and maybe even cried a little—but is it time to lace up those boots again? Let’s find out!
Kojima Productions picks up not long after the events of the first game, placing Sam and Lou in a quieter moment far removed from their past journey. Settled in Mexico, they’ve carved out a life away from the chaos—until Fragile reappears with a request that sets everything in motion again. The story wastes no time pulling you back into its world, shifting the focus to a new continent and a familiar mission: to reconnect a fractured society. This time, though, the stakes feel different, and the surprises hit harder.
The narrative shifts its backdrop to Australia, offering a fresh setting for what is essentially a new leg of a longer journey. The task may sound familiar, but the characters’ motivations have evolved. Sam’s return to the role of porter isn’t just duty—it’s a choice grounded in personal growth. Fragile’s involvement is more than functional, with Lea Seydoux’s performance adding weight to the smallest exchanges. While the broader ideas about connection and rebuilding remain, the tone this time feels more grounded in individual relationships and less about big, heady concepts.
Kojima doesn’t stray from what he’s known for. Expect some pretty long cutscenes, especially in the final stretch. A few of them run past twenty minutes, but they’re purposeful, not just indulgent. The story connects better this time, giving you real emotional moments while still moving things along. There’s no wild shock tactics here—it’s all pretty focused and organized, which helps make those lengthy scenes feel worth your time.
New faces really help carry the emotional weight here. Luca Marinelli’s Neil adds layers without hogging the spotlight, while Shioli Kutsuna’s Rainy lightens some of the darker scenes. Returning characters like Higgs also get plenty of room to make an impact. The story feels more focused on character growth than flashy moments. It not only reaches that big, prophetic moment some were hoping for—it delivers a payoff that’s bigger, deeper, and more resonant than expected.
Death Stranding 2 keeps the basics—hauling cargo over rough land and avoiding threats—but now you have a lot more freedom in how you get it done. Deliveries are still the main objective, but there’s more gear, more routes, and more ways to tackle each trip. You might sneak past enemies, brave a sandstorm, or just roll across the plains in a tricked-out battle-ready vehicle. Either way, every delivery feels like a problem you can figure out in different ways.
Combat takes a noticeable step forward without overshadowing the main focus. You can still avoid violence entirely, but when conflict becomes unavoidable, the controls are smoother and the options broader. Sam now has better evasive movement, and the variety of weapons—including some with a bit of humour—offers choices that weren’t available in the first game. Stealth is also more viable, thanks to smarter enemy AI that reacts based on sight and sound instead of automatically knowing where you are.
One moment stood out during a base infiltration mission. I'd removed a backback full of cargo just outside a compound and snuck in to scout the area. While I was busy slipping past guards, the riverbank flooded and swept most of my cargo downstream. It was frustrating at first, but also impressive how naturally it happened. That small failure ended up becoming part of someone else’s success—another player likely found that cargo and benefited from my mistake. It’s the kind of indirect interaction that makes this series feel different.
Weather plays hardball this time in a much bigger way. Sandstorms and floods don’t show up for every delivery, but when they do happen, they’re total party crashers. Forecasts try to give you the heads up that nasty weather is ahead, but half the time they’re just guessing. It makes each delivery feel like a surprise adventure—you never know what mother nature will throw at you.
Boss fights have their place, though they follow familiar patterns. Visually, they’re impressive—especially on newer PS5 Pro hardware—but they don't push far beyond what the original game offered. The main story missions are supported by a long list of optional deliveries and side quests. Some involve familiar faces from the last game, while others introduce fresh mini-narratives and well-known celebrities. These smaller arcs often pulled me in more than I expected. I'd tell myself I’d stop after one mission, only to sink another hour into finishing “just one more run.”
Death Stranding 2 carries over one of the most distinctive features from the original—the indirect connections between gamers. While you never meet anyone else face-to-face, the world constantly reflects the presence of others. You’ll see bridges, zip-lines, watchtowers, and roads built by other people in your world, and your own contributions can appear in theirs. These shared structures aren’t just cosmetic—they can completely reshape how you approach deliveries.
Every piece of equipment or infrastructure placed in the world feels meaningful. Something you leave behind might make a tough route easier for someone else. In one play session, I built a series of ladders to help navigate a steep cliff. The next time I logged in, those same ladders had dozens of likes and had been added to by others, forming an even easier shortcut. There’s a simple satisfaction in knowing your actions directly helped someone else, even if you’ll never know who they are.
The system rewards practical thinking without forcing you into competition. Rather than racing against others or comparing stats, your success becomes part of a larger shared effort. You might start out planning to take the shortest path, only to find a highway someone else built that makes the trip easier—even if it’s a detour. This sense of community grows naturally as the game progresses.
The asynchronous social stuff in Death Stranding 2 makes a larger impact the further you get into the story, as you unlock new buildings and means of transportation. Every route you shore up, every structure you care for, and every delivery you pull off contributes to a bigger picture beyond just your own journey.
This game’s graphics got Australia down, with all its varied landscapes making the trip feel like a legit photorealistic adventure. Visuals go beyond just backgrounds. Character models are detailed, and the performances hit their mark. Returning faces feel right at home, while new characters bring fresh energy. The voice acting is strong but occasionally restrained, highlighting the story’s quieter moments. Luca Marinelli as Neil delivers a standout role, adding a focused intensity that lifts the entire experience.
The soundtrack’s like that friend who knows when to hype you up and when to chill. You get a mix of original tracks and licensed tunes, with synth-heavy beats that build tension and some songs that pop in for the big moments—without hogging the limelight. Low Roar makes it return with tunes from the first game, along with plenty of new tracks composed by Woodkid. It’s music that’s got just the right amount of swagger to keep you motivated through long and arduous treks.
Movements and combat animations got a serious upgrade—everything feels finessed and smooth. You can pull off slick evasive moves, and the fresh batch of weapons throws in some cheeky humour to lighten the mood. The AI’s no joke either; enemies actually flank and track you, making stealth and straight-up brawling equally tempting.
Boss encounters strike with cinematic force, dazzling on powerful hardware. The battles may follow a familiar rhythm—dodge, strike, repeat—but their grandeur shatters monotony. These set pieces don’t rewrite the rules, yet their flawless execution commands attention and never outstays their welcome.
Final Score: 10/10 - Masterpiece
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach shows up not just as a sequel, but as one of the PS5’s biggest swings yet. Kojima Productions, supported by Sony, takes everything that worked in the original and tightens it up while aiming even higher. Kojima feels more focused here, with a complex story and gameplay that flows better from moment to moment. It doesn’t just revisit old ground—it reshapes what this universe can become.
You can tell it’s a Kojima game right away—offbeat, stylish, and completely hypnotic. This sequel really finds its rhythm, pulling you in scene by scene, whether it’s a quiet moment between Sam and BB Lou or something bizarre with newcomer Neil Vana. The cutscenes feel tighter and more deliberate, landing with real weight. Kojima’s clearly in his zone here, telling the story on his terms—and honestly, it might be his best yet.
The rocky cliffs and mountains of the first game’s America are gone. Instead, you get the harsh heat of Mexico and the rough, unpredictable landscape of Australia. These places don’t just sit in the background—they feel alive. The solitude and challenges remain, but now there’s a stronger sense of moving forward as you expand the Chiral network into new areas. You’re doing more than making deliveries—you’re slowly rebuilding hope with every connection.
You’ve crossed mountains, braved timefall, and maybe even cried a little—but is it time to lace up those boots again? Let’s find out!
Kojima Productions picks up not long after the events of the first game, placing Sam and Lou in a quieter moment far removed from their past journey. Settled in Mexico, they’ve carved out a life away from the chaos—until Fragile reappears with a request that sets everything in motion again. The story wastes no time pulling you back into its world, shifting the focus to a new continent and a familiar mission: to reconnect a fractured society. This time, though, the stakes feel different, and the surprises hit harder.
The narrative shifts its backdrop to Australia, offering a fresh setting for what is essentially a new leg of a longer journey. The task may sound familiar, but the characters’ motivations have evolved. Sam’s return to the role of porter isn’t just duty—it’s a choice grounded in personal growth. Fragile’s involvement is more than functional, with Lea Seydoux’s performance adding weight to the smallest exchanges. While the broader ideas about connection and rebuilding remain, the tone this time feels more grounded in individual relationships and less about big, heady concepts.
Kojima doesn’t stray from what he’s known for. Expect some pretty long cutscenes, especially in the final stretch. A few of them run past twenty minutes, but they’re purposeful, not just indulgent. The story connects better this time, giving you real emotional moments while still moving things along. There’s no wild shock tactics here—it’s all pretty focused and organized, which helps make those lengthy scenes feel worth your time.
New faces really help carry the emotional weight here. Luca Marinelli’s Neil adds layers without hogging the spotlight, while Shioli Kutsuna’s Rainy lightens some of the darker scenes. Returning characters like Higgs also get plenty of room to make an impact. The story feels more focused on character growth than flashy moments. It not only reaches that big, prophetic moment some were hoping for—it delivers a payoff that’s bigger, deeper, and more resonant than expected.
Death Stranding 2 keeps the basics—hauling cargo over rough land and avoiding threats—but now you have a lot more freedom in how you get it done. Deliveries are still the main objective, but there’s more gear, more routes, and more ways to tackle each trip. You might sneak past enemies, brave a sandstorm, or just roll across the plains in a tricked-out battle-ready vehicle. Either way, every delivery feels like a problem you can figure out in different ways.
Combat takes a noticeable step forward without overshadowing the main focus. You can still avoid violence entirely, but when conflict becomes unavoidable, the controls are smoother and the options broader. Sam now has better evasive movement, and the variety of weapons—including some with a bit of humour—offers choices that weren’t available in the first game. Stealth is also more viable, thanks to smarter enemy AI that reacts based on sight and sound instead of automatically knowing where you are.
One moment stood out during a base infiltration mission. I'd removed a backback full of cargo just outside a compound and snuck in to scout the area. While I was busy slipping past guards, the riverbank flooded and swept most of my cargo downstream. It was frustrating at first, but also impressive how naturally it happened. That small failure ended up becoming part of someone else’s success—another player likely found that cargo and benefited from my mistake. It’s the kind of indirect interaction that makes this series feel different.
Weather plays hardball this time in a much bigger way. Sandstorms and floods don’t show up for every delivery, but when they do happen, they’re total party crashers. Forecasts try to give you the heads up that nasty weather is ahead, but half the time they’re just guessing. It makes each delivery feel like a surprise adventure—you never know what mother nature will throw at you.
Boss fights have their place, though they follow familiar patterns. Visually, they’re impressive—especially on newer PS5 Pro hardware—but they don't push far beyond what the original game offered. The main story missions are supported by a long list of optional deliveries and side quests. Some involve familiar faces from the last game, while others introduce fresh mini-narratives and well-known celebrities. These smaller arcs often pulled me in more than I expected. I'd tell myself I’d stop after one mission, only to sink another hour into finishing “just one more run.”
Death Stranding 2 carries over one of the most distinctive features from the original—the indirect connections between gamers. While you never meet anyone else face-to-face, the world constantly reflects the presence of others. You’ll see bridges, zip-lines, watchtowers, and roads built by other people in your world, and your own contributions can appear in theirs. These shared structures aren’t just cosmetic—they can completely reshape how you approach deliveries.
Every piece of equipment or infrastructure placed in the world feels meaningful. Something you leave behind might make a tough route easier for someone else. In one play session, I built a series of ladders to help navigate a steep cliff. The next time I logged in, those same ladders had dozens of likes and had been added to by others, forming an even easier shortcut. There’s a simple satisfaction in knowing your actions directly helped someone else, even if you’ll never know who they are.
The system rewards practical thinking without forcing you into competition. Rather than racing against others or comparing stats, your success becomes part of a larger shared effort. You might start out planning to take the shortest path, only to find a highway someone else built that makes the trip easier—even if it’s a detour. This sense of community grows naturally as the game progresses.
The asynchronous social stuff in Death Stranding 2 makes a larger impact the further you get into the story, as you unlock new buildings and means of transportation. Every route you shore up, every structure you care for, and every delivery you pull off contributes to a bigger picture beyond just your own journey.
This game’s graphics got Australia down, with all its varied landscapes making the trip feel like a legit photorealistic adventure. Visuals go beyond just backgrounds. Character models are detailed, and the performances hit their mark. Returning faces feel right at home, while new characters bring fresh energy. The voice acting is strong but occasionally restrained, highlighting the story’s quieter moments. Luca Marinelli as Neil delivers a standout role, adding a focused intensity that lifts the entire experience.
The soundtrack’s like that friend who knows when to hype you up and when to chill. You get a mix of original tracks and licensed tunes, with synth-heavy beats that build tension and some songs that pop in for the big moments—without hogging the limelight. Low Roar makes it return with tunes from the first game, along with plenty of new tracks composed by Woodkid. It’s music that’s got just the right amount of swagger to keep you motivated through long and arduous treks.
Movements and combat animations got a serious upgrade—everything feels finessed and smooth. You can pull off slick evasive moves, and the fresh batch of weapons throws in some cheeky humour to lighten the mood. The AI’s no joke either; enemies actually flank and track you, making stealth and straight-up brawling equally tempting.
Boss encounters strike with cinematic force, dazzling on powerful hardware. The battles may follow a familiar rhythm—dodge, strike, repeat—but their grandeur shatters monotony. These set pieces don’t rewrite the rules, yet their flawless execution commands attention and never outstays their welcome.
The Verdict
Death Stranding 2 grabs everything that worked in the first game, supercharges it, and delivers an experience with sharper pacing, smoother combat, and enemies that actually respond to how you play. The social systems keep players helping each other in subtle but powerful ways, and the voice acting plus soundtrack are as strong as ever. While boss battles stick to what’s familiar, the game never loses its grip, making it a total essential for any PS5 owner. Newcomer or veteran, this is one of the best PlayStation adventures out there—a true game of the year contender and one of the console’s most unforgettable stories.Final Score: 10/10 - Masterpiece
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach details
Platform: PS5Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.