Death Stranding

I'd like to know the opinions of quite casual gamers, e.g. 2-3 hours 2 or 3 times a week

tuxy

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd like to know the opinions of quite casual gamers, e.g. 2-3 hours 2 or 3 times a week

You mean the guys that only play Fifa and sometimes COD if they are bullied into it by their mates?
This game isn't on their radar.

Exclamation Marc

tuxy wrote: »

You mean the guys that only play Fifa and sometimes COD if they are bullied into it by their mates?
This game isn't on their radar.

That's a bit reductive and snarky tbh. I think they're referring to people who are adamant gamers and love games but don't have 10/20 hours a week to commit to playing. In other words, is this a game a casual gamer with limited time will take six months to finish.

It's a fair question.

Grumpypants

gizmo wrote: »

So out of curiosity, do you think the shared universe aspect of the game, or even the game itself, will become less interesting a significant period after release?

It kind of sounds like if one comes to the game later, they're going to be less likely to be able to rank up if there are significantly fewer players there to interact with their creations.

Maybe, but a good few years down the line as you only really need a small chunk playing. I'm sure most of it could be fudged from the database to make it look like others are around too.

Ranking up can be done through missions. And even NPCs give "likes" so it all blurs together. The whole time you play it feels like someone came this way before, rather than someone else is here with you. You leave things for the person who will come along in a few days.

tuxy

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

It's a fair question.

If you only had 2 hours a week for gaming would you play this?
I don't think I would.
I'd just watch a few highlights from streamers.

Zero-Cool

I love when Sony studios share custom art supporting each other on exclusive releases (even though they're probably told to do it )

https://twitter.com/BendStudio/status/1192849777781686274?s=19

https://twitter.com/SuckerPunchProd/status/1192828770471727104?s=19

https://twitter.com/Guerrilla/status/1192823786506244099?s=19

goon_magee

Off work so put in a good few hours today, absolutely love the game. On paper it shouldn't work but it does. The mechanics, gameplay and narrative are all woven together in such a way that I actually don't think Kojima saying he has created a new genre was as hyperbolic as many of us thought at the time.

I'm only 8 or so hours in so obviously can't say if I'll feel the same way after 70 hours, but at the moment it feels like GotY material for me.

Edit: One negative (and it's minor) for me is the somewhat bizzare product placement. It doesn't feel right to see cans of Monster littering Sam's quarters, or to see ads for a Norman Reedus' TV show plastered across a shower cubicle. It feels extremely out of place and a little vulgar.

tuxy

goon_magee wrote: »

Off work so put in a good few hours today, absolutely love the game. On paper it shouldn't work but it does. The mechanics, gameplay and narrative are all woven together in such a way that I actually don't think Kojima saying he has created a new genre was as hyperbolic as many of us thought at the time.

I'm only 8 or so hours in so obviously can't say if I'll feel the same way after 70 hours, but at the moment it feels like GotY material for me.

Edit: One negative (and it's minor) for me is the somewhat bizzare product placement. It doesn't feel right to see cans of Monster littering Sam's quarters, or to see ads for a Norman Reedus' TV show plastered across a shower cubicle. It feels extremely out of place and a little vulgar.

Good to hear, I won't get a chance to play this for a few weeks but I'm looking forward to the experience.

Do you think that Kojima is self aware enough to know how stupid the product placement is but he still does it as a joke?
I honestly can't tell.

Grumpypants

The Monster thing might be due to an in joke they have, or more likely a large bag of money.

goon_magee

tuxy wrote: »

Good to hear, I won't get a chance to play this for a few weeks but I'm looking forward to the experience.

Do you think that Kojima is self aware enough to know how stupid the product placement is but he still does it as a joke?
I honestly can't tell.

I think he probably is aware as you say, he loves breaking the 4th wall (and there is a lot of that here) so he probably has decided to have a little fun with it.

Grumpypants

Few tips.

In the cargo menu.
Press triangle to instantly stack in the most efficient way.
If you want to move multiple items, hold in square and move down to select all the items you want to move.
When finished hold X to quickly exit.

If you park near a terminal you can deliver from the back of your truck or bike. You dont have to carry it over.

goon_magee

Grumpypants wrote: »

Few tips.

In the cargo menu.
Press triangle to instantly stack in the most efficient way.
If you want to move multiple items, hold in square and move down to select all the items you want to move.
When finished hold X to quickly exit.

If you park near a terminal you can deliver from the back of your truck or bike. You dont have to carry it over.

Handy to know that you don't have to lift items off the bike, cheers for the tip. There is a whole host of little quality of life touches here and there that I think people will miss easily. If you take your time to read tutorials and fiddle with menus the, UI and menus are really nowhere near as daunting as they seem at first.

goon_magee

goon_magee wrote: »

Handy to know that you don't have to lift items off the bike, cheers for the tip. There is a whole host of little quality of life touches here and there that I think people will miss easily. If you take your time to read tutorials and fiddle with menus the, UI and menus are really nowhere near as daunting as they seem at first.

Quick query, Grumpy you may be best placed to answer!

I've just built a bridge leading onto another bridge which someone else had built. My thinking was it will give myself, and others a full walkway across this body of water, wheras the first bridge only covered half the river.

Is there any guarantee however that those two bridges will appear alongside each other in the games of others though? I just realise if others perhaps only have sight of my bridge, they are going to question my sanity over its placement if they cant see the other one i was aimimg to link with lol

Grumpypants

It will definitely appear for some players, I'm not 100% sure how it works. You do tend to see the same names pop up along with additional ones. I think there is a data base that links people you have connected with and adds x number to fill that instance.

If you like the other bridge and even try make a strand with the other player it will prob stay like that.

goon_magee

Grumpypants wrote: »

It will definitely appear for some players, I'm not 100% sure how it works. You do tend to see the same names pop up along with additional ones. I think there is a data base that links people you have connected with and adds x number to fill that instance.

If you like the other bridge and even try make a strand with the other player it will prob stay like that.

Cool, cheers for the reply. Going to be an interesting few weeks as we discover how this is all working!

Grumpypants

I don't think we'll ever get inside Kojima's head

johnny_ultimate

Got asked for ID when buying this in Argos today, even though I’m in my early 30s.

They must be being overly cautious because of the piss grenades.

Grumpypants

There are some nice stories in the memory clips. One about a song , he said he heard it and instantly saw Sam walking through the landscape. It is by a guy who owns a catering company. So he put the song in the E3 trailer and it went on to top the charts in a few countries. Plus he got him to cater the devs on a few occasions.

Another in Iceland his driver knew a band plating in a record store so they went to see them. Again he liked them so put them in the game.

He seems like a very decent guy.

Zero-Cool

Started the game, tried figuring out the buttons. Found sprint but didn't know how to stop, ran straight off a cliff, WTF moment and back at it. My god the graphics are incredible and the sense of movement is incredible. It might look like MGS V but it feels way more realistic.

Only downside i see so far is the vibration is so strong, will be swapping out my joypads quite a bit i think but this game seems like vibrations would be important.

Zero-Cool

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Also, i too have to listen out for baby crying on a monitor, not looking forward to wondering if that's the monitor or joypad. Finally, baby gone to sleep, time to relax and put on a game where I'm minding a baby....

Actually happened, paused the game to check on the baby monitor, all quiet. Unpaused and put the joypad to my ear, yupp, just bb wimpering away. Volume on controller was low so messed with my head a bit

johnny_ultimate

Only had a chance to play the prologue but I’m definitely in.

There’s absolutely some Kojima bull**** (:() here, but on the plus side it’s also loaded with Kojima bull**** (:)). The man’s a lunatic who wouldn’t know subtle if it came up and smacked him right up in the goddamn head with a mallet (had to laugh at the lad casually exposition bombing the world’s modern history during a cross-country drive), but his team know how to craft a visually marvellous, idiosyncratic and atmospheric world. Some pleasingly creepy, mystifying stuff in that opening gamut of cutscenes. The strange, desolate landscapes were among the only worthwhile things about the Alien prequels a few years ago, and this captures that cataclysmic eerieness and dials it up to 11.

I am an absolute sucker for games that turn traversal into actual mechanics (rather than ‘hold button and parkour’) so the second I picked up the first crates I was satisfied the game had the necessary weight and physicality. All about delivering those packages, friends.

That said, the Monster energy product placement - although mere ‘placement’ is a rather mild descriptor - can get in the ****ing sea at the earliest opportunity

Zero-Cool

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Actually happened, paused the game to check on the baby monitor, all quiet. Unpaused and put the joypad to my ear, yupp, just bb wimpering away. Volume on controller was low so messed with my head a bit

And now the opposite happened. Heard crying, put joypad to my ear, nothing, checked monitor, yupp my other BB. Time to stop for the night.

On chapter 2 and I'm all in. I have so many questions but I'm looking forward to finding the answers. I'm also looking forward to delivering parcels but gonna take the advice on here and not hang around chapter 2 too long.

Grumpypants

Chapter 3 is where it steps up nicely.

Doctor Nick

What's the verdict from those playing? Part of me wants to get it but reluctant to do so as it seems to be based on things I generally can't stand in gaming. Fetch quests, complicated inventory management, over encumbrance. From everything I've read I would hate it yet I'm still genuinely curious about it. I've never played a HK game before (got Metal Gear HD collection but could not adapt to old style controls).

shrewdness

Was off yesterday with time to kill, so I caved and bought this after being on the fence since the reviews came out.

I'm definitely enjoying it so far. I'm on chapter 2, not certain but I'm guessing I'm near the end of it -

I'm just about to start the long order from capital knot city to Port knot city, just after getting the bike working which is a godsend

.

Visually it's stunning, the landscapes look amazing. The story and world is unveiled gradually, alot of questions I had make more sense now, but still alot to be cleared up. Seems like the kind of game you have to experience - I wasn't too keen when I heard the missions were all essentially deliveries, but there's something strangely satisfying about completing a big one over tough terrain when you're under pressure

Love how the mood/tone changes when a MULE spots you, or worse, the BTs show up

. It's not like other games where to get from A to B, you just hold forward on the analog, you have to assess the terrain and plot your route. It sounds boring but in real time it provides more of a challenge than the usual traversal in games. It's also great when you come across a ladder or rope left by someone else, just when you need it most

Early on when I was being chased by MULES the first time, I was running away and came to a huge drop off a cliff, but thankfully someone left a rope going down the cliff face!

.

I guess I'll see if the delivery mechanics become boring over time, but it sounds like the game really steps up in chapter 3, and even in chapter 2 there are new aspects introduced gradually after each mission. Enjoying it so far though.

Grumpypants

Doctor Nick wrote: »

What's the verdict from those playing? Part of me wants to get it but reluctant to do so as it seems to be based on things I generally can't stand in gaming. Fetch quests, complicated inventory management, over encumbrance. From everything I've read I would hate it yet I'm still genuinely curious about it. I've never played a HK game before (got Metal Gear HD coll3but could adapt yo old style controls).

Normal fetch quests are about just wasting time. Pick up item here drive to person there to get the next mission, and you just hold x or push up and the trek is forgettable.

Same with over encumbered in other games it's annoying because if you have 199.99lbs of items you can sprint but have 200.1 you can't move. And you never know what you will need.

But here the journey is the game. You battle the terrain, enemies, gravity. You balance the items and this impacts gameplay. You Help and get help from strangers. When you arrive you feel a sense of completion and those journeys stay with you.

It's kinda like mountain walking. To one person it is time spent at peace, in nature looking at stunning surroundings, testing their physical limits and when you get to the top a great sense of accomplishment.

To others it's just looking at the same boring grass/bushes and drizzle, and all you get is sore legs so why bother.

Zero-Cool

Grumpy thanks for the 'triangle to auto sort' tip. I went from constantly going off balance because all the boxes were stacked vertically to being spread out to shoulders, arms and back. I was faster and more agile, less falling

The music is so good as well and speaking of, really cool of the composer to try help out steamers to keep the integrity of the experience.

https://twitter.com/Ludvig_Forssell/status/1192986703662682112?s=19

Sephiroth_dude

The music is awesome, some dacent choons! I'm loving the game tbh.

Robert ninja

https://nichegamer.com/2019/11/08/death-stranding-windows-pc-version-coming-simultaneously-via-steam-and-epic-games-store/

Simultaneous EGS & Steam release.

Grumpypants

Few other bits for managing items.

Recycle all the time and start trips with a bare minimum amount of items. There isn't really any item you need that can't be built again. And when you recycle the materials go back into that store for you to use.

Use shared and private lockers. If you have non critical mission deliveries stick them in a shared locker and other players will bring them for you. While there look for other player's item to match your journey. You can also get boots, weapons and materials here. But remember to give as much as you take.

Use private lockers to store large amounts of materials. In chapter 3 on you need lots to build a road network. No point lugging them up and down so start storing them while in the area and cone back later.

Zero-Cool

Any tips for avoiding BT's? On chapter 2,

came across my 2nd BT area, got caught again, managed to leg it out of the tar pit again and they disappeared. I crouch, sneak around, hold my breath but i always end up right on top of one. Am i supposed to be going the opposite way that my spinning shoulder thing is pointing?

ShaneU

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Any tips for avoiding BT's? On chapter 2,

came across my 2nd BT area, got caught again, managed to leg it out of the tar pit again and they disappeared. I crouch, sneak around, hold my breath but i always end up right on top of one. Am i supposed to be going the opposite way that my spinning shoulder thing is pointing?

Yes, try using the pulse too

Icaras

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Any tips for avoiding BT's? On chapter 2,

came across my 2nd BT area, got caught again, managed to leg it out of the tar pit again and they disappeared. I crouch, sneak around, hold my breath but i always end up right on top of one. Am i supposed to be going the opposite way that my spinning shoulder thing is pointing?

Use the R1 (pulse?) when crouching and not moving, decide where you going (aim for about 20m) and when you get there repeat. Holding your breath does help too.

Zero-Cool

Thanks lads, yeah i would crouch and pulse, see the BT's and then move in a direction away from them but my shoulder thing would start freaking out and the next pulse would show them right on top of me. Then i don't know if i should do like the cutscenes and stay completely still while holding breath or leg it.

Ah i just need more experience with them.

After that particular encounter, i came across a river where i fell twice and chasing my cargo. Only dawned on me afterward that i could have thrown down a ladder. I'm sure once the systems click with me, it will be gravy.

I'm seeing a similar thing on social media between this and days gone. The majority of posts are negative and from people who obviously haven't played it. I get that the cool thing to do these days **** on, well, anything but don't let all the 'walking simulator' comments put you off trying this. The hiking mechanic is really really good.

Grumpypants

For the BTs. The shoulder thing will point at them. The white side flashes towards the bt. If you stop when it starts going mad, they materialize in the air.

But you can't see them unless you are still. So once you start moving again they will vanish and you run the risk of one landing right on you.

Holding your breath will make it hard for them to locate you. But you kinda have to crouch move slowly 5-10 feet. Keep going away from the direction it is flashing and stop regularly for 3 to 4 seconds to let them form.

If they see you they hit the ground then start chasing you, grabbing your legs trying to drag you to the other world. Hit square to kick them off then just run like crazy

That doesn't include the invisible one that makes the foot prints. You just hear him and see the splodge. Sit still with your breath held until he walks off then move on.

It is so unnerving.

Zero-Cool

BT tips worked a treat. Stumbled upon them while i needed to collect crystals, was able to move around them, get what i need and get away without altering them

Also had my first 'connection' moment. Large River i was crossing regularly, i found a ladder had been put down across half of it. I laid one down for the second half and now it had a clear crossing. Very minor thing but still felt like team work with some stranger and hopefully it will help other strangers.

fixXxer

This game has something. It shouldn't be good just reading the mechanics but when you're hiking across a hillside, checking elevations for the best route, it just works. I don't know how but on chapter three now and just enthralled.

Rob2D

I heard it likened to Shadow of the Colossus yesterday and I would agree with that. A large open world with nothing really in it, but you just can't put it down.

Really enjoying it.

johnny_ultimate

Kudos to the actors who managed to finally say ‘Die Hardman’ with a straight face.

BeerWolf

Grumpypants wrote: »

Few other bits for managing items.

Recycle all the time and start trips with a bare minimum amount of items. There isn't really any item you need that can't be built again. And when you recycle the materials go back into that store for you to use.

Use shared and private lockers. If you have non critical mission deliveries stick them in a shared locker and other players will bring them for you. While there look for other player's item to match your journey. You can also get boots, weapons and materials here. But remember to give as much as you take.

Use private lockers to store large amounts of materials. In chapter 3 on you need lots to build a road network. No point lugging them up and down so start storing them while in the area and cone back later.

Sounds like GeoCaching, the videogame!

Zero-Cool

The trek down to Port Knot City was beautiful, ended way too quickly but then i had trekked fecking miles already. Just about to go through a gate which i think will mean the start of chapter 3 so wanted to wait for more free time as i sense some cutscenes

For the grenades, do you have to drop the empty box before you can equip more grenades? Is there anyway for the box to auto drop so you can just start on the next box of grenades?

Grumpypants

You don't have to drop them. Press right on the d-pad and equip a fresh set of 5. In this menu there can be a few pages. Click Right stick to change page. Sometimes the other set are on page 2 or 3.

Zero-Cool

Grumpypants wrote: »

You don't have to drop them. Press right on the d-pad and equip a fresh set of 5. In this menu there can be a few pages. Click Right stick to change page. Sometimes the other set are on page 2 or 3.

Ah **** thanks. I was wondering why my equipped stayed at 0 when i knew i had other cases, knew the way i was doing it couldn't be normal. But then, i didn't have time to go fiddling around with menus with the predicament i was in

As for Higgs

i usually don't like hearing Troy bakers voice in games as he's a bit overused but just from that first meeting, he nails it. Character seems really interesting.

goon_magee

I may be wrong but I've noticed something that may be of use to others.

If you see an auto paver, contribute something to it as soon as you see it, even if it's just a couple of chiral crystals. It seems as soon as you dump even 1 chiral crystal into it, you will start receiving contributions from other players to the same paver. I'm struggling for mats in chapter 3 somewhat, but just by donating a few crystals to the pavers I've come across, I've still got a quite impressive road network due to the contributions of others.

Grumpypants

Yeah i can't figure it out. I built the first two sections then another one appeared to be built by others, i found one other paver half full so finished that and got a nice road to the south (past the elder and craftsman). But since then ive been struggling by myself. So im wondering if some is tied to story progression. I just got to a new area in the south west with loads more but it looks like no one has been here. I might need to move along a story mission or two.

Retr0gamer

Really Really intrigued by this but going to wait until the PC version as I know I'll never finish it on PS4. The wait will be a pain.

As for the Days gone comparisons.... don't put me off this game please! :pac:

Icaras

Anyone come across the Horizon Zero dawn easter egg near the junk dealer

tallneck hologram walking along

? Was amazing to see.

tuxy

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Really Really intrigued by this but going to wait until the PC version as I know I'll never finish it on PS4. The wait will be a pain.

As for the Days gone comparisons.... don't put me off this game please! :pac:

I figured this would be more of a cinematic experience I should play on my larger TV but I guess I could use my second monitor to do other things while playing past the boring content on PC. Now I'm not sure if I should wait or not...

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Really Really intrigued by this but going to wait until the PC version as I know I'll never finish it on PS4. The wait will be a pain.

As for the Days gone comparisons.... don't put me off this game please! :pac:

Ha, nothing like days gone, just a similar reaction from people who haven't played it

At the start of chapter 3 and totally hooked on the story even though so much is still a mystery. Some long cutscenes but I'm finding them absorbing.

And the music is just incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MLKuc4Rxc

goon_magee

Grumpypants wrote: »

Yeah i can't figure it out. I built the first two sections then another one appeared to be built by others, i found one other paver half full so finished that and got a nice road to the south (past the elder and craftsman). But since then ive been struggling by myself. So im wondering if some is tied to story progression. I just got to a new area in the south west with loads more but it looks like no one has been here. I might need to move along a story mission or two.

I thought it might be tied to story progress as well, but haven't really played any story at all today and they seem to be going up at a crazy rate. I do seem to have hit a slump though towards the southwest, I can see a piece has gone up in the distance, but I'm missing chunks in between. Bizzare!

Love how rewarding it is though, its absolutely liberating once you piece a few stretches together.