Kojima Productions
- "Death Stranding" is due out on November 8, and it's the biggest PlayStation 4 exclusive of 2019.
- Sony and Kojima Productions have been teasing details about "Death Stranding" for more than three years, but early reviews are starting to dispel some of the mystery.
- "Death Stranding" is a single-player exploration game starring "The Walking Dead's" Norman Reedus as a courier traveling across post-apocalyptic America.
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Kojima Production's "Death Stranding" has all the makings of a video game blockbuster. It's an experience three years in the making, the product of a visionary director launching a new franchise from an independent studio.
But after three years of mounting anticipation, it's still not totally clear what players can expect from "Death Stranding." Sony gave critics an early chance to dive in and see what "Death Stranding" is about, and the reviews have brought back rather mixed opinions.
There's no question "Death Stranding" is a clear departure from Director Hideo Kojima's last game, "Metal Gear Solid V." While "Metal Gear Solid" is a military-focused franchise starring a super soldier, "Death Stranding" puts you in control of a lone deliveryman in a desolate, post-apocalyptic that's wide open for exploration.
Norman Reedus of "The Walking Dead" plays the game's protagonist, and a handful of recognizable actors offer photo-realistic performances for the game's cinematic cut scenes. The story wasn't particularly celebrated among reviewers, though some said the cutscenes were well-acted.
Reviewers ultimately found that the experience would vary depending on the player, since "Death Stranding" takes dozens of hours to complete. Critics noted that the game's first 10 hours can be particularly challenging or outright boring depending on your play-style, but the game changes rather dramatically after the long introduction.
Last year's best-selling game, "Red Dead Redemption 2," had a similar reception - the game's campaign took 40 or more hours to complete and left reviewers with a mixed impression of the game's massive open world. "Red Dead Redemption 2" was still well received by fans for its immersive gameplay and thoughtful storytelling.
Here's what critics are saying about "Death Stranding" so far:
