While it is likely that fans will be getting a preview of the music to come in Death Stranding 2 when more trailers release, this aspect of the game is as up in the air as the continued storyline. The upcoming title even has more music from returning artists like Low Roar or Silent Poets to draw from, including some new songs that released after Death Stranding launched in 2019.
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How Music Sets the Scene in Death Stranding
The original Death Stranding’s music is part and parcel of the experience of the game. In many cases, the songs chosen aren’t just something pretty to listen to, or a reflection of what is currently happening within the game. While music will appear to set the mood of a fight or a location like any other game, the use of copyrighted songs goes a step further than ordinary sound design.
The song choice in Death Stranding is often a form of communication from the game itself, as it tries to speak through this music what the world and characters are thinking and feeling. Early on, players are greeted with Low Roar’s Don’t Be So Serious right when they are first given control of protagonist Sam Porter Bridges. This comes as Sam is shaking off his first meeting with Fragile and an encounter with a BT, where the disjointed opening of the song leading into a calm rhythm really grasps at what the character is feeling internally as he returns to his delivery.
What Death Stranding 2 Will Need to Push the Music Quality Forward
While timing is often the most important aspect of the slow drip-feed of music in Death Stranding, the second game is going to need to push above and beyond simply giving players a pleasant tune after escaping BTs or reaching a new set piece. This could take many forms, such as finding all new artists who will better emulate the themes being expressed in Death Stranding 2. Alternatively, this could also mean even more carefully crafting the timings for when music will play and these songs will heighten moments that go beyond what the first game accomplished.
There are also some opportunities that the first Death Stranding had that it didn’t take full advantage of in terms of bringing the emotional highs to their full potential. Moments like the final boxing match against antagonist Higgs, or some of the confrontations against Cliff Unger could be enhanced by not only having regular background music, but also these licensed songs. Considering that many of the boss encounters are more about the spectacle and scope over the gameplay, these are moments that could be greatly improved by songs with lyrics that emphasize the action on display.
The final touch that Death Stranding 2 could add that could elevate the music and make every player’s experience unique is the addition of an older concept from the later Metal Gear Solid titles. This has also been a highly requested addition to the original Death Stranding, where many players hoped to see a music player of sorts added during an update or the Director’s Cut. Having the ability to listen to the music in the private rooms is nice, but with the majority of the game being spent outside and roaming around, a novelty Walkman would be perfectly in line with Kojima’s style and synergize with Sony being a publisher.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development for PS5.
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