Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Is Better Than It’s Predecessor (Review-In-Progress)

When I reviewed Death Stranding in 2019, my life was different. While searching for a new job, I began doing food delivery gigs to supplement my income. Doing so allowed me to explore this field of work and gain a better understanding of the pros and cons of Sam Porter Bridges’ job.

Fast forward six years to the upcoming launch of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, a sequel I wasn’t sure would become a reality. After spending the last few weeks diving back into this world, I’m enjoying Sam’s second outing and am looking forward to finishing it. Here are more thoughts on Kojima’s latest and why it’s worth checking out if you enjoyed the first game.

Premium Delivery Gear Solid

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a third-person action-adventure game developed by Kojima Productions. Taking place approximately eleven months after the first game, Sam has completed his mission and goes into hiding with Lou, hoping to raise him as his own.

After Fragile finds our hero and recruits him for a new mission, Sam is thrown back into a crazy post-apocalyptic world filled with familiar and new threats. Sam’s main objective is to expand the chiral network coverage to Mexico and Australia.

I’m currently two chapters away from finishing, which is why this piece is a review-in-progress instead of a starred review. Based on what I’ve played so far, I believe fans can expect a gripping, action-packed storyline coupled with several emotional gut punches and some appropriately dark themes to match this universe.

The pacing is better as the action kicks off within the first hour of the game before shifting gears to a deeply emotional hook that will make you want to keep playing to see what happens next. Death Stranding felt like Kojima was finding his footing with a new IP after leaving Konami. With On the Beach, he feels more confident in the world he created and delivers the signature style that we expect from his projects.

Decima Tested And Approved

Death Stranding looked incredible thanks to the power of the Decima Engine. Not surprisingly, On the Beach builds upon this foundation effortlessly with beautifully constructed cutscenes that make you feel like you’re watching a movie. Every character model is painstakingly detailed. The vocal and motion-captured performances also define these unique individuals.

Australia is presented as a massive, dynamic landscape ripe for exploration and uncovering secrets. As Sam traverses through tough terrain, harsh environmental events can impact his travel route and damage his cargo. These unexpected events are captured in great detail and include earthquakes, tornadoes, and forest fires, some of which have been renamed to align with terms used in Kojima’s world.

Playing on a base PlayStation 5 console, I haven’t noticed any graphical hiccups or performance issues yet. The game looks amazing and runs nicely, which is exactly what I would expect for every title releasing this console generation.

If you are fortunate enough to own a PlayStation 5 Pro, you may see a few extra bells and whistles. I don’t personally think you need this console to experience everything this game has to offer, especially if you already own a 4K TV. With that said, you certainly have options if you want the absolute best visual experience possible from start to finish.

Greater Focus On Stealth And Action

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is still built on the fundamental basics of delivering packages to units scattered across Australia and connecting their facilities to the network. If you didn’t enjoy these activities in the first game, then you absolutely should avoid this one. While there are other ways to travel, such as using the Monorail or standard fabricated bikes and trucks, the concept remains the same regardless of what’s being moved.

If you enjoyed making deliveries in the previous game, then you’ll appreciate some of the improvements made to this multi-step process. You have full control over dictating your route and can see all of the obstacles you may face by choosing one path over another. All of these regions are unexplored, so there is still a level of uncertainty before heading out. Knowing this info is crucial because it helps you avoid running into enemies and BTs. You can also fabricate other tools to help you move items more quickly and effectively. The Social Strand system also returns and helps build relationships with other players.

The main component that makes On the Beach stand out is the greater focus on stealth and action. As I mentioned above, Sam comes into contact with threats very early in the game and must use new weapons and tools against them. Some of the same weapons, like Blood grenades, are highly effective against BTs, but the newer tools make these encounters even more fun.

You can also avoid combat altogether by using stealth to sneak around enemies in certain situations. The VR training missions that are accessible when you go back to your private room are very good at preparing you for every combat or stealth scenario you might encounter. These training missions are reminiscent of experiences found in the previous Metal Gear games, which shows Kojima is comfortable leaning back into the espionage sequences he made memorable.

While fights with standard guards are straightforward, the more intense boss battles can be fun and challenging. These encounters can take a while to finish, depending on how stocked up you are on ammo and the right weapons. For the larger bosses, you have to pinpoint their weak spots and wear them down over time. These were among the fights I enjoyed most in the game, as they are solely focused on combat and very little stealth, if any.

The final thing I want to mention about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the great musical soundtrack that complements the game. Composers Ludvig Forssell and Woodkid have crafted an excellent score that illustrates the emotional highs and lows of the storyline and will stay stuck in your head after playing. In terms of length, the campaign should take around 30 hrs to complete. I’ll provide more specific details on this soon.

Verdict So Far

So far, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is better in every way than the game that came before. The more action-oriented gameplay and high-stakes storyline, alongside new and returning characters and enemies, make this a memorable outing. Stay tuned for my updated review after I complete the campaign later this week.

This review-in-progress was written based on a digital review copy of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for the PlayStation 5 provided by Kojima Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment.