Death Stranding’s convoluted but interesting world is classic Kojima, in that it poses a lot of odd philosophical questions but remains compelling all the same. Questions about life and death, isolation and connection run through the game as players guide Sam Bridges across a fractured, apocalyptic America. The themes of the game are deep, and strangely current, as Kojima has discussed in interviews recently.
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Reviews for the PC release are starting to come in, and with the jump to PC bringing with it the potential for incredible 4K resolution, the game has never looked better. The reviews are not unanimous in their praise, with some taking umbrage with the pacing of the narrative and some of the menu systems. Overall, the response is positive, and some reviewers are fully invested in Kojima’s wild ride.
Game Revolution (Jason Faulkner)
“Death Stranding uses its post-apocalyptic background to examine the strands that bind the world together. We’re all tied together, person-to-person, individual-to-corporation, a people to its government. If anything, the events of 2020 have made the game’s message more powerful.”
10/10
Windows Central (Carli Velocci)
“The game has only become more relevant in the eight months since its initial release on the PS4, and therefore comes off differently. The PC port also manages to make it fairly easy to play, even if you don’t have the most powerful machine. Whether you want to experience it for the first time or want to replay it on a different platform (the Half-Life and Portal tie-ins on PC don’t change a lot of the game’s foundation, but are charming nonetheless), there’s something here for you.”
9/10
ScreenRant (Leo Faierman)
“But even those most reticent to Kojima’s storytelling will find memorable qualities and encounters. Death Stranding is a game meant to be experienced by all, even those who won’t complete it, and a good PC build makes this the best version to determine if Sam is the right porter for the job”
9/10
PC Gamer (Andy Kelly)
“I can see why Death Stranding is such a divisive game, but every misgiving I have about it is ultimately snuffed out by the magnificence of hiking across that sweeping, rugged wilderness. It’s an unbelievably slow game with an almost comical amount of backtracking, especially towards the end. Yet, somehow, it kept me interested all the way through.”
8.5/10
Attack of the Fanboy (Kyle Hanson)
“Death Stranding is only made better in the transition to PC. Its world feels more vibrant and alive thanks to 4K and 60fps gameplay. Beyond that it’s mostly the same experience as you got on PS4, which was already quite impressive… …There’s no doubt though that Death Stranding is one of gaming’s most unique experiences and it’s fantastic that its audience can grow with this release.”
8/10
PC Mag (Tony Polanco)
“Death Stranding is what happens when you give developer Hideo Kojima free reign to do whatever he wants. Bizarre and not always user friendly, the stealth-action game provides a unique experience that’s laced with social commentary”
7/10
That this version of Death Stranding ups the resolution and frame rate to heightened levels of fidelity will certainly challenge some PCs to deliver at the highest settings. Nvidia is trying to encourage players to upgrade their GPU with a promotion that nets players a copy of Death Stranding if they make a purchase.
Whether or not Death Stranding is worth a GPU purchase is debatable, but if players are fans of the auteur Kojima, or enjoy tackling philosophy-heavy narratives, then Death Stranding is certainly a trip worth taking.
Death Stranding is available on July 14 PC.
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