Key Takeaways:
- Death Stranding 2‘s gameplay loop remains uniquely satisfying—but only when left uninterrupted.
- Kojima’s storytelling once again proves divisive, dragging down the pacing with bloated and confusing scenes.
- Skipping the cutscenes may be the secret to unlocking the game’s full potential—and player happiness.
For many players, Death Stranding 2 promised more of the same meditative, terrain-traversing gameplay that made the first title a cult favorite. But for one fan, the magic only returned after making a radical choice: skipping every cutscene.
A Beautiful, Frustrating Experience
From the outset, the player attempted to engage with Death Stranding 2 “the right way,” investing over a dozen hours watching Kojima’s famously cinematic storytelling unfold. Traversing Mexico and Australia delivering packages was captivating—until the cutscenes kicked in. Long, disjointed, and emotionally hollow, the scenes constantly disrupted gameplay flow, replacing joy with fatigue.
Despite their visual splendor, the cutscenes dragged. One notable low point was the introduction of “Rainy,” whose baffling and irrelevant dance sequence, sudden backstory, and zero impact on gameplay perfectly embodied the narrative’s incoherence.
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When Skipping Becomes Liberation
In a moment of desperation, the player began skipping cutscenes. At first, it was a cautious experiment—cutting only the most egregiously long or directionless scenes. But the relief was immediate. The experience transformed. Freed from the narrative’s dead weight, the player enjoyed six straight hours of immersive, uninterrupted play.
Gone were the headaches from trying to decipher plot threads that never tied together. Instead, the joys of delivery, construction, and exploration were allowed to shine, unobstructed by overwrought storytelling.
Learning from the Past
This isn’t the first time Kojima’s storytelling has tested fans’ patience. The player recalls sitting through the infamous post-credit gauntlet of Metal Gear Solid 4, the unfinished finale of MGSV, and the cinematic bloat of the first Death Stranding. But unlike the past, there’s now a refusal to endure narrative indulgence for the sake of completion.
At 38, with a sharper sense of what brings joy, the player found peace in muting Kojima the writer—while continuing to celebrate Kojima the designer.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of GameDegen.com. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. GameDegen.com is not responsible for any financial losses.
