Some gaming reviewers and journalists were lucky enough to play Hideo Kojima's next project, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, early. The game is more than a month away from release – on June 26 – but the first impressions of the game have already been formed and they are positive.
According to the first impressions from Game Informer, Death Stranding 2 takes place 11 months after the end of the first part. The main character, Sam Bridges, goes on a new mission, which this time will take place in Mexico and Australia.
Most journalists spent about 30 hours in the game, which is about 40% of the total passage. As the author of Game Informer notes, following the plot has become easier than in the previous part. This is due to the fact that the foundations of the story were laid in the first game, as well as the appearance of the in-game encyclopedia Corpus, which provides additional information about the world, characters and events of both parts.
Death Stranding 2 will feature a more diverse set of locations than the first game. Set in Mexico and Australia (at least in the part of the game that journalists played), players will be able to travel through arid, rocky deserts, lush forests, and many other places. At the same time, the game will feature dynamic weather and changing times of day.
One of the main improvements in Death Stranding 2 was the updated combat system. Kojima Productions added new weapons, which made the shooting more dynamic, and for those who prefer to avoid battles, alternatives are available - for example, stealth. The battles have become more strategic: the player can change tactics right during the fight - from open fire to imperceptible advancement. Spectacular and interesting boss battles are especially noted. In general, the action has become a significant step forward compared to the first part.
In another preview from IGN, it is also noted that Sam Bridges will receive an APAS Enhancement skill tree, which will allow you to improve the character's characteristics, or learn new abilities. These skills will work on weapons, allow you to analyze weather phenomena or even "cover" your own tracks. Players will be able to customize Sam before each outing, choosing exactly how they want to complete the task - just deliver a package, move better or possibly prepare for battles.
Overall, journalists and reviewers who were able to try Death Stranding 2: On The Beach note that Kojima Productions managed to improve most of the elements that were already well executed in the first part, as well as fix the problems that players complained about.
In addition to the first impressions, 30 minutes of gameplay of the upcoming project also appeared on the network. We remind you that the release of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach will take place on June 26, 2025 exclusively for PlayStation 5. On the eve of this, PlayStation even managed to introduce a new custom gamepad.
