Reviews are in for the biggest PlayStation 4 game of the year, but critics can't agree if it's good or not

"There's no automatic parkour or physics-defying cliff climbing here. Every step I take needs to be intentional, or I might end up taking a serious tumble. When I overload my pack I have to use the left and right triggers to balance my weight, or else I risk falling over, damaging my goods.

It's equally engaging and frustrating as I topple over after twisting my ankle, forcing myself to restack all my belongings. Death Stranding is a walking simulator in the truest sense." — Russ Frushtick

"Violence is a last resort, and 'Death Stranding' is best experienced in a careful and stealthy fashion, but when the time comes for the silence to break and explosions to ring out, it's powerful." — Heather Alexandra, Kotaku

"It's not a game that makes itself easy to enjoy. There are few concessions for uninterested players. It's ponderously slow, particularly in the early chapters, which largely consist of delivering packages over staggering distances. Early conversations are filled with phrases and words that will be incomprehensible to the uninitiated — and, honestly, much of it remains a mystery after the credits roll." — Andrew Webster, The Verge

"I came away from the game exhilarated, confused and wanting to find others who have played it not only to put together the missing pieces but to commiserate about the experience. In a clever meta twist, Kojima has created a game that begs for a larger discourse, a connection for all those who have played it to share." — Kahlief Adams, The Hollywood Reporter