'Death Stranding' Review: Is It Worth Playing?

The much-awaited and hyped up game "Death Stranding" has finally been released. The game is the first offering from game developer Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions, following their drama-filled disbandment from KONAMI way back 2015.

However, is the game worth the wait and all the hype or not? The internet has spoken, and here is a round-up of all the reviews from those who have had the game and experienced it for themselves.

In the game, the player is Sam Porter Bridges, and his main task is to deliver cargo around the United States. However, this US is not the US we know but a time and place where humanity is on the brink of extinction caused by what is called "Death Stranding." "Death Stranding’s goal is to rid the Earth of parasites, and the parasite is none other than us: humans.

Gamespot’s review called "Death Stranding" a "hard game to absorb." But this is in a positive way, as they called it as a game that "we really need right now."

Polygon, meanwhile, called Kojima’s writing in the game as "clumsy." They called the game a great game but the story suffered from the writing. Too many details were revealed unnecessarily and there seems to be no regard to brevity or subtlety whatsoever. However, the mystery and all the pieces of the story that Kojima scattered eventually came together and that was what was satisfying about it.

On the other hand, KUNC called the game a "compelling mess." The visuals and the gameplay were good and the feeling that this is "A Hideo Kojima Game" is all over the game, but where they thought it lacked was the writing, especially on some scripts. Still, the game is an "earnest" offering from Hideo Kojima and one that his fans and even those who are not, will truly enjoy, albeit the imperfections.

In a previous interview with TIME, Kojima related his experience with loneliness and isolation with what the game will make players feel.

"You’re all alone playing the game," he said. "And you’re trying to connect this fractured society by yourself. The world is beautiful, but you’re small, just a tiny speck. You feel hopeless and helpless and powerless. You feel so lonely."

"Death Stranding" is now available for the PS4 and will be available for PC sometime around 2020.