[REVIEW] Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

[REVIEW] Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Why Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the Most Important Game of 2025
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sequel to Hideo Kojima's 2019 masterpiece, released on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5. The game has received significant critical acclaim, achieving a Metacritic score of 90, a substantial improvement over the original's 82. The sequel builds upon its predecessor's foundation while addressing many of the criticisms that made the first entry divisive among players.
The narrative picks up eleven months after the events of the original Death Stranding, finding Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) living a reclusive life in Mexico with Lou, the former Bridge Baby who is now a walking toddler. The story has been completely rewritten in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Kojima acknowledging how the global crisis influenced his narrative approach. The sequel explores themes of isolation, connection, climate change, gun culture, and the increasing automation of daily life while maintaining the metaphysical strangeness that defined the original.

Gameplay evolution includes enhanced combat and stealth, as well as traversal and environmental challenges in the Australian setting. Players face new environmental hazards, including sandstorms, earthquakes, flash floods, and avalanches, which significantly impact gameplay. Quality-of-life improvements include streamlined mechanics, simplified menu navigation, and more intuitive cargo management.

Technical excellence and presentation are also notable, with Death Stranding 2 standing as one of the most visually impressive games of the current console generation. Built on Guerrilla Games' Decima Engine, the game showcases exceptional character rendering, environmental detail, and weather effects. Motion capture technology brings unprecedented realism to character interactions, with critics noting the detailed rendering of facial expressions and physical contact between characters.

Critics consistently highlight several strengths of the game, including improved accessibility without sacrificing the unique vision, enhanced combat that feels more integrated with the core gameplay, stronger emotional resonance and character development, technical excellence in visuals and performance, and more varied mission design and reduced repetition. However, some reviewers noted areas for improvement, such as GameSpot's 7/10 rating, which criticized the game for being "fixated on revisiting past ideas" and lacking the novelty of the original.

Performance and accessibility are also noteworthy, with multiple performance modes on PlayStation 5 and comprehensive accessibility options. Critics report smooth performance across different modes, but some noted the lack of meaningful haptic feedback or adaptive trigger support for the DualSense controller.

Bottom Line, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach successfully achieves the challenging goal of creating a sequel that honors its predecessor while addressing its most significant criticisms. Fans of the original game see the sequel as a clear evolution that builds on their fond memories while addressing some of the game's shortcomings. For newcomers or those who struggled with the first game, Death Stranding 2 offers a more approachable entry point without sacrificing the series' unique identity. The consensus among critics positions it as one of the defining games of the PlayStation 5 generation and a testament to Kojima Productions' creative vision.

About the Writer

Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.
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