I Have Seen The Enemy And He Is Gravity: Death Stranding Journal Part 2
Image: Sony
There’s some spoilers in here.
Hour 8: The game has finally opened up into what seems like the main map now. The topography has variance and isn’t the same British Isles-esque mossy knolls and crags. There’s been scars of Voidouts here (basically Death Stranding’s version of nukes). One in the South East has decimated one of the few cities America has left. I’m tasked with connecting various “preppers” to the network. Hunkered down in their bunkers, preppers went it alone in the apocalypse. A kindly soul has started constructing a road that helps me traverse the steppe. I really enjoy how the online elements were handled. You will never encounter another player in the game, but you will use their structures. Bridges, power generators, base camps, zip-lines and more let you see the evidence of humanity beyond the ruins. You’re never truly alone, but never truly together either.
Hour 12: This map is massive, the #1 homegirl Fragile, tells me I can fast travel now. I barely use it. I have to take a break and do real life things. Its raining just outside my apartment. I leave to go get groceries. I wish I had one of those automatic hoods like how Sam has in the game. For some reason, as I traverse through the grocery store parking lot, I find myself trying not to be touched by the rain. Timefall in Death Stranding is rain that rapidly ages anything it touches. I’ve been playing this game too much. I get home and boot the game back up. I’m enjoying this more than I ever thought.
(Image: Sony)
Hour 15: WHY AM I CARRYING A THERMONUCLEAR WEAPON?!
Hour 15.3: HOLY DAMN I’VE FALLEN OVER, THE BOMBS GONNA EXPLODE!
Hour 15.2: Thank GAWD. No one died. I’ve yet to die in the game or even fail a delivery. I am a UPS DEITY. I’ve taken all sorts of stuff around the map. Met celebrities, helped craft the beer of the apocalypse, even reunited some folks in love. Time to head to the next Knot cit-ZOMG BOSS BATTLE!
Hour 16: I finally died….freaking MULES.
Hour 17: After that genuinely engaging boss fight, I venture west. What I thought was the natural barrier for the map is actually more map. Mountains in games are usually, put in place of an invisible wall. But here, NOPE walk right on up them thar’ mountains. There’s even settlements up there. The terrain here is oppressive and truly makes you feel like the true enemy of the game is the topography itself. I’ve fallen victim to gravity more than BTs
Hour 19: OH, GOD THERE’S BTs UP HERE TOO WTF?! I CAN’T RUN THERE’S TOO MUCH SNOW, WHY DID THEY DO THIS?!
Hour 22: Some lovely soul has placed Zip-Lines all over this Hoth ass part of the map. I love them and I’ve given them 1000 likes. I’m soaring above the dangerous BTs connecting all the wonderful folks of the Rocky Mountains.
Hour 26: Looks like I’m finally starting to get towards to get “the end of the game”. I feel like the pacing is really great. Music is playing to let me know that the end boss is indeed near. The journey has been amazing. I’m taking the time to finish up some side deliveries.
Hour 30: YO, I’M TRAVERSING A TAR SEA AVOIDING A MASSIVE BT WHALE ENEMY. THIS GAME IS STUPID AND AMAZING!
Hour 32: ANOTHER BOSS FIGHT?! ITS THE GIANT THING. TOO MUCH ADRENALINE! THIS WAS SUPPOSED BE A SLOW GAME!
(Image: Sony)
Hour 33: I’m clearly in the denouement of the game. I’m getting a better vibe of who the real enemy is. An who those 5 weird creepy enigmatic figures are that we’ve seen since the beginning of promo material.
Hour 35: OMG THAT REVEAL! This acting. I want Kojima to make a digital movie like yesterday. Seriously, I’ve never felt that the tech had gotten good enough to make films in a gaming engine. This is it. Sure there are some small issues. But Kojima Production’s mastery of the PS4 really shows off the strength of the console.
Hour 37: I’m all done. Finished with the story of the game. I have no real clue as to who or what is really the “villain” but I enjoyed the journey. I liked this game A LOT. My girlfriend looks at me an finally asks. “What’s up with that weird baby.” I try to explain. I sleep on the couch.