Death Stranding 2is poised to flip the first game’s theme on its head.Re-written by Hideo Kojima due to the COVID-19 pandemic,DS2will ponder whether humanity reconnecting was the right thing after all. Fans are expecting a darker narrative that may end up having a less positive message, and the drastic change in tone might just result in a completely fresh gameplay experience for the sequel.
A more violent, action-heavy gameplay loop is one route that Hideo Kojima could take, while another would see players sabotaging their fellow Porters instead of helping them. Though the first game saw players going out of their way to help their fellow members of Bridges,Death Stranding 2may see players rewarded for leaving traps and adding challenges to other gamers’ worlds. Alongside Strand-Type features that make things harder for players instead of simpler, perhaps Kojima will borrow one iconic aspect of FromSoftware games likeElden Ring: invasions.
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How Elden Ring-Like Invasions Would Fit Into Death Stranding 2
For those unfamiliar withthe invasion mechanic ofElden Ringand other Soulsborne projects, the feature sees players entering into the worlds of other Tarnished for a bit of PvP combat. Taking the form of a red spirit, invaders aim to track down and kill a player that is just going about their business, and they can evoke feelings of terror and frustration. With some areas in FromSoftware games more likely to have invaders than others, and players having ways to avoid engaging with the mechanic, it is largely optional. For players who leave it on, though, it can lead to many memorable encounters and unique challenges.
Death Stranding 2’s hypothetical invasions can work largely the same way, only dropping the ethereal red glow of invaders for something more setting-appropriate. Players who invade could take the form of a generic Porter or MULE, or perhaps they can be a member ofHiggs’ enemy faction. Regardless of what form they take, invaders could have one goal: stopping Sam and making his current delivery as challenging as possible.
It is easy to think of ways for aDeath Stranding 2invader to make the journey more problematic for their opponent. Some kind of attractor device could lurethe terrifying BTsinto an area Sam is residing in, while spike traps can sabotage those who rely on the roads a bit too much. Invaders can stun Sam and steal his packages, or attempt to kill him and force him to repatriate. Obviously, letting Sam fight back would be important, as an unkillable invader would hardly be any fun.
Friendly invasions are also a possibility, as there have been plenty of fun instances ofco-op play inElden Ring. However, letting players fully explore the world together feels like something that would be more appropriate for a full spin-off thanDS2, as Sam’s story being interrupted by another player could prove distracting. Further, it would be a shame to lose out on experimental Strand-Type multiplayer mechanics in favor of co-op, as it is hard to imagine them having the same impact if another player who is actually in the game world places traversal tools instead. For that reason, sticking primarily to enemy invasions would be better.
Assuming thatDeath Stranding 2is a relaxing experience like its predecessor, letting players turn off invasions would absolutely be important. After all, gamers may just want to take in the scenery or listen toLow Roaras they journey across the map, not worrying about invasions at all. For those that have finished the game or want a new type of challenge, though, a hostile invader would be a perfect obstacle since it’d offer a different experience every time. The concept perfectly suits the sequel’s theme of how connecting with others can be dangerous, which would be yet another upside to the mechanic.
Death Stranding 2is currently in development for PS5.
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