So we got another one of these. And by many measures it kind of is just that: another Death Stranding. Gameplay is basically the same with some refinements. Progression is basically the same. Your main goal is to extend the Chiral network–this time to Mexico and Australia. The main villain is once again Higgs, despite his apparent death in the first game.

So what is there left to say? Stuff about Metal Gear of course! There’s a multitude of stuff such as:

  • the submarine-like ship you travel in is very reminiscent of Metal Gear REX
  • a cyborg ninja
  • a character who wears a Snake-esque bandana
  • “kept you waiting, huh?”
  • final battle with the villain where you’re both shirtless and fighting with melee weapons

Said final battle did make me realize how objectively homerotic that scene and arguably every other scene of that style that Kojima has done is. Although finally it’s not family members of one sort or another, so we can more easily acknowledge it.

Additionally we get some classic Kojima sci-fi bullshit. Sam loses his baby at the beginning of the game who he named after the baby he lost before but turns out she is actually the same baby. But turns out she’s alive! And is now an adult (Elle Fanning). Sure, whatever.

The plot twist that your employers are secretly evil I could see a mile off, but the details of how and why felt pulled out of a hat. They’re a gestalt consciousness of a combined 4000 people? Sure why not.

The double twist of Die-Hardman (who was masquerading as a character with his own voice) was plotting against them by… Allowing the Chiral network connections to be severed to make sure humans travel in order to help them overcome becoming extinct? Makes about as much sense as any Kojima plot, so why not.

Ultimately I did enjoy it enough to put 50+ hours in and beat it. But it does kind of just feel a bit too much like “just another one”. Not sure how badly we needed this one.