Death Stranding Gameplay Trailer Breakdown

First announced at E3 2016, Hideo Kojima’s “Death Stranding” has tantalized us for three years with the most enigmatic trailers ever. The fact it’s the “Metal Gear” creator’s first game after leaving Konami has brought anticipation to a fever pitch. Babies, beached whales, Norman Reedus naked . . . how do they all fit together?! Well, hold onto your butts. The 9 minute trailer that dropped on March 29th revealed not only a release date of November 8th, 2019, but also more gameplay and story details than ever before. From the moment an unborn baby gives us a thumbs up from the womb . . . and Mads Mikkelsen sings us a lullaby . . . it’s GO TIME. The trailer provides a much fuller look at the game’s post-apocalyptic setting. In the wake of mysterious explosions, the US has fragmented into the UCA - the United Cities of America, led by the bedridden President Bridget. Ravaged by the mysterious “Death Stranding”, the country is haunted by spectral “Beached Things” - or “BTs” - connected to rainfall. In a previous trailer, rain was also associated with “the time-fall” - a force that “fast-forwards whatever it touches”. We see this in action during the new trailer’s storm scene. With the country fractured and in ruins, cynical deliveryman Sam Porter Bridges is sent West to reconnect America, following in the footsteps of Lindsay Wagner’s character Amelie. A photograph reveals happier times, showing Sam with a pregnant woman and the President. Kojima has described the theme of the game as “forging connections”, and Sam’s last name and quest seems to reflect that; it’s also the name of his company, which seems to be headed by Tommie Earl Jenkins’ hilariously named “Die-Hardman”. Kojima . . . you’re crazy, but we love you for it. Along the way, Sam needs to evade the BTs. Fortunately, he has a snazzy BT detector . . . and a baby. Or, maybe babies. They’re called “Bridge Babies”, and the trailer reveals a little about what they do. SB [“Makes me feel like shit every time I use them” “Well, you are plugging into the other side, freaks me out too.”] The “other side” is an “upside-down realm”, a sort of underworld in which Sam experiences a dark reflection of other times and places. (Sooo basically it’s “Metal Gear” meets “Stranger Things”???!) The babies seem to play a role in BT detection, and perhaps to tether Sam so that he can return from the “Death Stranding”. The trailer also introduces human enemies, including terrorist group Homo Demens, led by Troy Baker’s “Higgs”. That’s “demens” as in Latin for “mad” by the way, not “demons” as in, well, “demons”. Higgs, who we’ve seen before exerts some sort of power over the inky “Death Stranding” phenomenon, steps in to taunt Lea Seydoux’s character “Fragile”. Oh, and to shed a black tear as a whale floats over his shoulder . . . naturally. In fact, pretty much everyone is crying - be it tears, blood, or black stuff. Higgs isn’t the only baddie with a connection to the “Death Stranding”. As Cliff, Mads Mikkelsen appears as both a paternal researcher-type, and a sinister soldier with dark powers. Other characters include Margaret Qualley’s “Mama”, Guillermo Del Toro’s “Deadman”, and Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Heartman”. They’re incredibly well-rendered using motion capture and facial scannings. In fact, the whole game looks great, including the terrain and cityscapes. We’ve had glimpses of gameplay before, but the new trailer provides a much closer look. Using a radial menu, Sam can use inventory items to traverse the environment, including a ladder and climbing anchor - showing just how interactive the open world environment will be. When it comes to enemies, stealth plays a key role. Seems that Sam’s unknown cargo can be tracked. He has some impressive melee combat skills, and can use vehicles to flee. He’s also armed with an assault rifle - but Playstation’s game description warns that “killing your doe is almost never the solution - and every death carries a consequence”. Will enemies come back, wiser than before? Or appear in the “upside-down”? We’ll have to wait to see. And frankly, we’re on the edge of our damn seats. The trailer manages to be mysterious, confusing, and straight-up awesome all at the same time - no mean feat. SB [“I’ll show you the real thing soon. I promise . . . “The whole wide world will be yours to explore. You’ll be able to go wherever you want - even the moon.”] Wait . . . the MOON?!!!!!