Games of the Year 2019: Death Stranding is not for everyone, and I wouldn't have it any other way

Norman's land.

Eurogamer: Over the festive break we'll be running through our top 20 picks of the year's best games, leading up to the reveal of Eurogamer's game of the year on New Year's Eve, today we look at Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding.

[Elda]

My GOTY.

[SyntheticForm]

Mine as well.

[naruga]

one of the most well made games on PS4 and probably the most unique and diverse game since PS1 era.... easily GOTY

[SyntheticForm]

@Naruga

I agree - it's a very well made game. Very polished and solid in all areas.

All that open world area and I never once fell through the map or saw a floating rock or anything you typically see in open-world (or just open-area) games.

Yes, a very well made game on all levels from polish, to game play, to music and story.

[CaptainHenry916]

I agree with naruga! Very well made and unique

[Veneno]

I like what Naruga said. Now that I think about it Death Stranding does give off the vibe of a PlayStation 1 title with how distinguished it is. Not exactly how Kojima describes it as a new genre but a new "Game Identity", if I may coin a term lol.Very well said.

[IamTylerDurden1]

It's funny how the people who troll against this game claimed that it only received good scores and award nominations because of Kojima's pals.

Well, Death Stranding has over 30 GotY awards already, which is more than any other game right now.

At some point you have to give up the ghost and accept that it's a high quality game that many people loved. How many GotY awards will it take? 60? 80?

If Kojima has more than 50 gaming publications in his pocket than he is far more powerful and wealthy than any of us could've imagined.

[Traecy]

Exactly this. I've only played 2 Kojima games & the one out of the 2 I played wasn't all that. I'm no Kojima fan but to me DS was an enjoyable experience,the production,graphics, gameplay & music was on point.

[UltraNova]

Why is everyone tip toeing around the truth about Death Stranding and Kojima's influence?

The truth is people who played at least one of his game do love and appreciate his work and were willing to see what his new game (unshackled from Konami) was all about. They knew it was going to be anything but conventional or mainstream, hell he gave us all those trailers and interviews on the game for years yet some people today, that vocal group of haters, pretend that the game is not good, its a walking simulator etc and excuses that are so obvious like "its not for everyone" keep being mentioned. I mean what game is for everyone??? Where were they all these years? Why show up now and pretend to be "dissapointed" or "offended" it wasn't what they like or "is not for them"?

I'll tell you why. Because the game is a PS4 console exclusive and because Kojima choose Sony to make his first independent game. That's why they attack the game, its maker, its fans, its awards and its worth as whole. Jealousy is the name of the game here. They are steaming with anger their precious company of choice was not chosen by Kojima and that his game is not on their system of choice.

I guess when it comes out on PC opinions on the game will...change. Kinda like when Hellblade was a PS exclusive the same people who dismissed it then are the same ones who are dismissing Death Stranding today. Then it turned multiplatform and then exclusive to xbox. Now its the best game ever, a "true next gen...launcher".

The jealousy, the hate, the double standards...

[CaptainHenry916]

I enjoyed it

[bluefox755]

No game is for everyone, yet for some reason, it's only said about DS? I loved it. I don't care for Call of Duty, but I don't go around saying "CoD isn't for everyone!".

[NeoGamer232]

I think "not for everyone" is a relative.

And with Death Stranding it seems to be about 50/50 of people who absolutely love it vs absolutely hate it. For me, I am waiting for it to go cheap just in case I am in the do not like crowd. But, this game seems difficult to gauge whether it would be liked or not. And it is difficult to separate the brand fanboys who are trying to slag the game vs the brand fanboys who are trying to trumpet the game. I read the forums and there is very little actual real game information and a lot of fanboys.

[nyu1]

" I don't care for Call of Duty, but I don't go around saying "CoD isn't for everyone!".

because it isn't the same. Not all games are in the situation DS is in. Elite Dangerous isn't for everyone either, and neither is Eurotruck simulator, or MS Flight Sim for that matter. In those cases, everyone already knows that, because they're niche. In the case of DS, the audience was much larger, and many were disappointed with the focus of the gameplay (among other criticisms ofcourse)

[theshredded]

Absolutely fantastic game and my GOTY as well as many others.

[Larrysweet]

My game of decade period omg what a amazing amazing story and end graphic powerhouse addicting and annoying asf

[TheEnigma313]

Amazing game. The game really picks up around episode 4. There are a few filler quest I can do without but it’s an amazing game.

[Sirk7x]

It's like a Kubrick film: A masterclass in film theory and execution, but some people will find it slow and boring.

[ShadowWolf712]

Please don't insult Kubrick like that again.

[Sirk7x]

I don't mean it's equal in greatness, I mean in concept. In game design, execution, graphics, Death Stranding is incredibly polished, and Kojima has decades of experience under his belt. If you were to study game design, games he has created will inevitably be discussed and learned from (MGS changed everything), the same as Kubrick will be discussed in film class. I think Kubrick was a great director, but I also know film nerds who will argue vehemently against me for saying so.

[BoredDemon]

Not sure how people like this game, it's a game based on a side missions in AC games that everyone hates
Glad that people like it tho, not because it's PS exclusive but because we need the era of games with new ideas like PS2
Hope Kojima's next game is aimed for most people not just handful like this one

[Z501]

I hope Kojima's next game is something he wants to do. Not just what a majority plays I.e. battle royale, cod clone, fifa, basketball, or football.

[BoredDemon]

I was thinking more like MGS or make his own version of RPG games like AC Origins...

[Realms]

What where people expecting? It's a Kojima game so I'm genuinely baffled by what people some thought this game would be. Even though MGS became a huge game it's not without it's quirks and every Kojima game is like that.

[Silly Mammo]

Confession. The reason I'll probably never play this game, is because I really dislike Norman Reedus. Having to play him with his squinty eyes and ridiculous haircut for any amount of time is just too much for me to stomach.

[SyntheticForm]

Lol.

That's just mean spirited, bro.

[Traecy]

LOL! That's some strong hate though you're missing out on the DS experience.

[IamTylerDurden1]

Death Stranding is an incredible game and a triumph in creative, AAA, game development.

It follows its own path, it doesn't copy any trends, and it feels like nothing i have ever played. The game is beautiful, the soundtrack is superb, and the gameplay loop is addicting. Death Stranding is an atmospheric dive into a fascinating post apocalyptic future like you have never seen before. The concepts are thought-provoking and the acting is stellar. This game is interactive art.

It's like a AAA mountain climbing simulator was mashed in with a sci fi/supernatural novel, mixed with a stealth action game. Then, the social aspect of the Souls games was turned up to 11 and thrown in. I love it. It deserves the 30+ game of the year awards it has already received.

We need more titles like this in AAA game development. No pressure from publishers, creativity off the charts, risky, with no MTs or forced DLC, polished day 1. All from a team of less than 100 over approximately 3 years.

[Elda]

I agree.

[ShadowWolf712]

Easily the most disappointing game of the year.

[Doink]

This is a very good game but not even close for GOTY

[jznrpg]

What’s your GoTY?

[King_Noctis]

This game is beautiful and fun, but there are other candidates that deserve more this year.

[Tross]

What game is? Lol. Don’t listen to the people stirring up drama where there is none. Some people just can’t handle the fact that some things aren’t for them, yet still appeal to a lot of other people. They can’t seem to understand that not everyone experiences things in the exact same way and/or draws the same conclusions as they do. In any case, you’re entitled to your GotY and this isn’t a bad choice for it.