New Death Stranding trailer sheds light on gameplay; less so on what it’s actually about

After years of vague information and beautiful-but-baffling trailers, we got a deeper look into Hideo Kojima’s next video game epic for the PlayStation: Death Stranding.

Its latest trailer revealed earlier this morning revealed more about Death Stranding’s gameplay mechanics and plot, and boy, we’re still confused as hell. Still, it looks pretty bloody awesome. Damn you and your brilliant mind, Kojima. 

Due to hit stores worldwide on Nov 8, Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore confirmed that there’ll be three tiers of the game release — a Standard Edition ($79.90 for disc and digital versions), a Deluxe Edition ($97.90 for disc, $108.90 for digital) and a Collector’s Edition (price to be announced at a later date). 

Pre-orders have already gone live, which will include exclusive golden in-game items for Death Stranding’s protagonist Sam Bridges (portrayed by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus), including shades, armour plates and some kind of exoskeleton. Not a lot of information is available about the bonus incentives arriving with the Special or Collector’s Edition, though it would be pretty funny to get one of those bulky delivery cases to strap on our backs. 

What is Death Stranding? 

Like we said, the new gameplay trailer left us with more questions than answers. Kojima, in his usual dramatically nebulous language, only slightly shed a bit more light into what exactly his game is about. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hen8tPH0A2w[/embed]

“People have created ‘Walls’ and become accustomed to living in isolation. Death Stranding is a completely new type of action game, where the goal of the player is to reconnect isolated cities and a fragmented society. It is created so that all elements, including the story and gameplay, are bound together by the theme of the ‘Strand’ or connection,” commented Kojima in a press release. 

“As Sam Porter Bridges, you will attempt to bridge the divides in society, and in doing create new bonds or ‘Strands’ with other players around the globe. Through your experience playing the game, I hope you'll come to understand the true importance of forging connections with others.” 

From what we can gather from the trailer, we’ll be playing Sam, who’s apparently a really good delivery man who’ll have to fend off unknown assailants — both human and supernatural — across what remains of the United States. You’ll have tools to traverse landscapes (like telescopic ladders and three-wheelers) and detect inky anomalies. 

#DeathStrading #デススト pic.twitter.com/0rD4ib0neG

— 小島秀夫 (@Kojima_Hideo) May 30, 2019

There’re also baby pods to hook yourself up to? Giant goo monsters? Evil scientist Mads Mikkelsen? Time travelling to World War I? Guillermo Del Toro as “Deadman”? 

Classic Kojima, where logical sense makes way for polished gameplay mechanics and convoluted drama. Can’t wait to get lost again in one of his worlds when November comes around. 

ilyas@asiaone.com