Death Stranding 2: On the Beach AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!!

One point that stood out during the game's hands-on was its fast-paced narrative and gameplay. The story in the first Death Stranding took things slowly in order to set the scene and carefully lay out the state of the world to the player. However, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's story unfolds at a faster pace, and players will get access to new equipment and structures much earlier in the game as well. New players can catch up on the story of the previous game via 'Death Stranding Recap' from the title menu and look up game terminology from the in-game 'Corpus' feature.

Enhanced visuals coupled with a standout soundtrack

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes full advantage of PS5's capabilities to deliver stunning graphics. The depiction of nature is especially striking — right from the opening scene set in Mexico, where players walk along a rugged desert ridge. The rocky ground and billowing dust at Sam's feet are rendered with such precision that the harshness of the terrain truly comes through.

The game depicts the diverse Australian nature and wildlife in vivid detail, including an animal sanctuary with lush vegetation that is home to animals like kangaroos, koalas and wallabies.

There's also an option to switch to an 'aerial camera' that captures Sam from an elevated bird's-eye view, which allows players to take in the vastness of the environment as they slowly make their way across the terrain.

The game's soundtrack is also outstanding, and players will be moved every time the beautiful music plays when reaching a new delivery point.

This game gives the player more choice and freedom in terms of strategy and decision-making. 

One reason for this is the wide variety of equipment and structures that are available early on, a list that will continue to grow as the game progresses. This is the same for methods of transportation, as an array of infrastructure, motorcycles, and trucks will become available relatively early in the game.

In terms of combat, there are many bola guns and firearms to choose from, but if combat is not the player's forte, they can assemble transportation devices to strategically avoid the danger zones. Players can also use smoke grenades to avoid combat as much as possible while navigating through dangerous territories. 

Players can also leverage the newly implemented day/night cycle to their advantage. During the day, the terrain and enemies are more visible, but it is also easier for threats to locate the player. On the other hand, enemies are less likely to spot the player at night, and it is easier to sneak around, but they also must proceed with caution since there’s less visibility.

Players must also be prepared for various natural hazards triggered by the environment. When an earthquake occurs, they may lose their balance due to strong tremors and falling rocks. If they are planning to trudge through rough terrain in the mountains, it would be a good idea to reduce the load in case of earthquakes. They’ll also need to steer clear of flooded rivers when there's heavy rain. For example, players can extinguish wildfires with the ‘tar cannon’, a new piece of equipment available in the game.

In the previous game, Sam's stats improved depending on his Porter Grade, but Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features 12 new 'proficiency' levels. 

Similar to how players can upgrade their weapon proficiency by using them more often during combat, their playstyle will directly impact Sam's stats and abilities. For example, if they spend more time travelling through rough terrain with unstable footholds, Sam's ability to traverse rough terrain will improve faster. Every player's stats will be different depending on the choices they make.

Customise Sam’s traits with APAS Enhancement

Another component that modifies Sam's abilities is the new Automated Porter Assistant System Enhancement. By consuming 'memories' acquired during the game, players can enhance four different traits: porter, combat, stealth, and servicemanship. The number of memories players can pick up are limited, so it's up to them to decide which traits they want to acquire and upgrade.

New enemies, new weapons, and even more compelling combat

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach introduces a new type of BT called the 'watcher,' which detects and attacks Sam through sight. There are also several new human antagonists, including a group called 'Armed Survivalists,' who assault with lethal firearms. 

To take on these formidable threats, players can utilise a variety of new weapons that have been added to the game. Electrified poles that were the MULE’s weapon of choice in the previous game, can be used to strike or be thrown in this game to electrocute vehicles and enemies. In addition, various holographic grenades can be leveraged to avoid combat. A BT holographic grenade projects a hologram of a BT when activated, causing human enemies to flee. The robust selection of firearms allows for exhilarating combat, but many of these weapons are also ideal for stealth and ambush.