Maleficus Visificus Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Review

Loved the first game, but it truly feels as though Kojima has perfected the addictive and strategic formulas of said game with a photo-realistic and most welcome sequel. I'm glad to see that—not unlike Metal Gear Solid 2, which received so much hate upon release and took nearly a decade before gamers could realize the brilliance and, like with Death Stranding, what he meant when he'd comment about either game. But I know that—aside from trimming some of the "fat" from the original (more options and less time using the restroom, for example, in Sam's room(s))—if the first installment weren't as revolutionary and, as I said before—strategic—such a new and unique experience: this sequel wouldn't have suffered from almost the exact same controversy and division amongst gamers. I've noticed a lot of people comment on the fact that vehicles and other "quality of life" features are presented to the player quite a bit earlier in this phenomenal sequel; but I'd like to point out to these people that, while I agree—along with enjoy the fact that's pivotal to both gameplay and plot in regards to having access to more "toys" to start with—I didn't have access to a vehicle until a good amount of time later in the first Death Stranding; I don't remember "why", exactly, but I was hooked to that game from the beginning as well, whereas this feels just as I'd hoped after buying both the original, base Death Stranding as well as the Digital Collector's Edition of the Director's Cut, simply because of how much I had enjoyed my experience with it, and even considering it as one of my all-time-favorite games. Perhaps I''m just ahead of the curve, and also, agreed with the mistranslated commentary from Kojima about Americans simply being too "dumb" to understand the complexities of it. After reading and watching numerous reviews: I feel like Kojima was quite right with said statement (although it wasn't quite as brutal as it was made to sound, and not even the first time Japanese developers have said this about "us": Final Fantasy VI was known as Final Fantasy III because Squaresoft, at the time, thought the same thing, and that we wouldn't be able to understand the "job" system. But it's also a misquoted exaggeration, even if I wouldn't blame him, especially after IGN's scathing review: a 6.8? When Dustborn receives a 7 and Assassin's Creed Shadows a 9? Not to mention: Every mainstream MGS received a perfect ten, which shows just how terrible the gaming journalists are, lest we forget the already infamous "7" that Gamespot scored it—using some absurdity about women as a literal negative bullet-point, and like Polygon, liked skipping boss fights and, well, doing their jobs by actually playing the game, checking their frivolous and dying politics out of their "work"; Kojima understands our gov't and country better than we do, clearly, so perhaps these "journalists" should stop the DEI hires and actually find people that have quality credence), but it's good to see that that majority of people are seeing a much-improved and perfected version of his "vision", even if I disagree with a lot of negative aspects that I'll see reviewers talk about. While some seem like valid points, there have been many that I consider on fault of the gamer/journalist/"journalist". For example, a complaint about different environmental effects. I've seen some praise how varied, unique and detailed they are from most, but at least one review has said that they're essentially a gimmick, as they could "count on one hand" how many times various effects happened to the player. This is just part of the beauty of the gorgeous world Kojima has created for us: some gamers could end the game, having experienced little, sometimes next-to-no environmental effects, whereas someone with the same playtime could easily have had said effects effect them numerous times: it's much more random than the first game, and I consider that a major positive, as no two players or play-throughs will be the same. Same with combat, but for entirely different reasons. I'm just glad I no longer dread zones that always have rain, nor bandits and other enemies being impossible to avoid if wanted. Perhaps I'll write a more thorough review when I'm done and make my first YouTube video for my YouTube channel where I mostly just stream games since I have dissociative identity disorder, and although it's horrible: I/we (not a pronoun, at least not in a liberal sense, although altogether we consider ourselves "independent") are blessed with many talents, and have spent most of our money (before being thrust into the suicide-inducing situation we've been at since 2020) went to green screens (plural), lights of all kinds, a Blue Yeti Microphone, and Final Cut Pro on my MacBook Pro, as well as a nice 4K camcorder, just to name a few. So we have more than what we even need: this time we'll do it, and hope that anyone that's made it this far won't mind watching for said review in the next few months on our Channel, officially named "Maleficus Visificus", but technically named "SexXx Drugs and Self-Destruction" (minus the triple X within SexXx: OpenCritic just won't allow such a potty word to be within this "precursor review": my real review will be on my channel within three months), but change "Self-Destruction" with the name of the game being streamed, for anyone interested. Of course, the main game I'm streaming right now is Death Stranding 2 On the Beach, but am also streaming Hitman World of Assassination on PSVR2, and some Helldivers 2, but alas: because of my controversial status—even with brand--naming—I'm not even visible to a lot of people. Anyway, although I'd highly suggest playing through the first game for a thorough take on the plot, specifically: I recommend Death Stranding 2 On the Beach even more than the first, which is in my/our top-ten games of all time (which isn't easy with D.I.D.; picking favorites, that is); it's a brilliant premise using a bold, literally new genre of game, far more tactical and strategic than most would think a *sigh* "walking simulator" would be *grits teeth*, with a plot—thus far—that's as "Kojima" as a Hideo Kojima game can get, and with visuals—that run at a silky-smooth 60FPS, no matter the complexity on-screen (which is amazing, and considering we're also quite adept at 3D modeling, animation, engineering, and the other essentials for game development: we notice more than the average gamer, but are simultaneously more picky and more understanding), and a gameplay loop that's so addictive I and/or we have literally quit smoking whilst playing. Alas, we suggest this even to those that haven't played the first one, nor have intentions of playing it first. There is a brief synopsis, but it'd be best to find a good video on YouTube that can more accurately explain the complexities of a complex, multi-layered narrative. Oh, and lastly, although I've only fought one boss: I adored it, and although it took a while to take down (playing on Brutal difficulty): we had a blast. Don't skip as Polygon and the Gamespot moron have suggested. Especially if playing on the standard difficulty. Anyway, have fun with this mental-mind-fu** of a game! And thanks to Kojima Studios for perfecting a new, revolutionary genre that I'm glad to see so many others finally grasping. —The Les Enfant Terribles System