Here are nine ways Death Stranding 2: On The Beach improves on the first game.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach sees Kojima Productions once again return to the world of Death Stranding for another bout, putting Sam Porter Bridges on the forefront of another supernatural sci-fi tale that involves Beached Babies, evil robots, and tar monsters.
Fans of the first game won’t be disappointed, but those who disliked its cargo delivery and toned-down action gameplay, compared to Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid franchise, might actually enjoy this sequel a little more. The game feels much tighter across the board, giving players much more freedom in how they want to complete story missions via the many new tools at their disposal. Its story is just as eccentric and exposition-laden as the first game, but it’s also a lot more cinematic and emotional than Sam’s first adventure.
Those who have played a Hideo Kojima-directed game before will know to expect weirdness going in, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is not an outlier in that regard. Here are nine strange things that make Death Stranding 2: On the Beach a better game than its predecessor:
The hot springs are absolutely unhinged
Death Stranding 2 features the return of hot springs, geothermically treated pockets of water which can help Sam rest, recover stamina, and provide a variety of buffs. They are a little different in this sequel, however. Instead of hot springs being readily available around the map, players have to craft Hot Spring Diggers and plant them in a few specific locations to create them from scratch.
After that, things get a little weird. Sam’s little bathing song, Li Yu Da Na) by The Drifters, returns in this game, with a little twist. A musical sequence can now be triggered that transforms Dollman into the comedian Cha Kato, after which both him and Sam sing a more elaborate version of Li Yu Da Na. Additionally, Sam can now teleport from one hot spring to the next by putting a tub on his head. Ah, the wonders of hot spring technology.
There’s more Metal Gear Solid than ever before
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain players might not have felt at home with the first Death Stranding, given that it had a fairly thin spread of weaponry, most of which were effective against BTs rather than humans. Death Stranding 2 feels a lot more familiar for Metal Gear Solid fans in that regard, offering a swathe of weapons and toys for Sam Bridges to play around with.
Now, players are not only incentivised to take down each base they come across (to loot resources, and so that they don’t get stronger later), but they have a variety of options in which to do so. This isn’t exactly the stealth sandbox that Metal Gear Solid V was, but players can still use tools like BT holograms, tranquiliser sniper rifles, and boomerangs to take down all manner of in-game foes. Most of these weapons are also functional against both BTs and humans, with live ammo options available, in case you want to go the lethal route.
It’s kind of a musical
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach features a surprising number of musical sequences, mostly centred on Sam’s friends travelling on the DHV Magellan. In Rainy (Shioli Kutsuna)’s introductory sequence, we see her break into a dance reminiscent of Gene Kelly’s classic Singing in the Rain musical number, to the tune of B.J. Thomas’ Raindrops Are Falling on my Head. Yes, it’s on the nose–but it also serves to introduce players to Rainy’s weather manipulation powers and sunny disposition.
In another missable moment on the DHV Magellan, Dollman can also ask Sam to play a specific song that he finds nostalgic. If players head into Sam’s music player and play the song, Horizon Dreamer by Daichi Miura, they’ll be immediately launched into a truly mind-boggling dance sequence featuring Daichi Miura himself and several Dollman backup dancers.
There are at least two more musical sequences involving key characters in the main story, but we dare not spoil them here–you’ll just have to play and find out just how much of a musical this game is for yourself!
You can wear Junji Ito’s art
Horror manga artist Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima have known one another for decades, and once almost worked together on an ill-fated Silent Hill game. Death Stranding 2 contains an ode to the duo’s friendship, in the form of a Junji Ito Suit which Sam can wear while making deliveries. The suit makes it easier for Sam to escape gazers and watchers, essentially canonising the fact that Ito’s art can frighten BTs too.
That’s not all, though–players can also equip Ito’s art as a skin for the DHV Magellan, or turn it into the wallpaper of his private room.
BB turns into an octopus sometimes
Death Stranding 2 once again pairs Sam with a BB named Lou, who warns him of incoming threats like BTs when they’re within his vicinity. Unlike the first game, however, Lou will sometimes turn into an octopus–or rather, a bunch of tentacles–when he gets upset. The game doesn’t even try to explain this, but it can be surmised that it has something to do with Lou’s connection to the Beach.
There are tarantulas (this is less weird and more terrifying)
Chiral creatures are a new addition to Death Stranding 2, taking the form of a mass of crow-like monsters or tarantulas all over the game’s world. Australia often catches flak for housing terrifying animals, and this game only seems intent on perpetuating that stereotype, given that these chiral creatures were absent when Sam was reconnecting America.
Whatever the case, running into a bunch of tarantulas while making a delivery is always an unpleasant experience.
You can use a coffin as a skateboard
The first Death Stranding allowed players to skate on Floating Carriers while delivering cargo, but its sequel has doubled down on the skateboarding tricks. In Death Stranding 2, players can fabricate Coffins and use them as rechargeable skateboards, allowing them to travel throughout Australia without spending Chiral Crystals.
Players can also sit inside these coffins and surprise enemies with stun bombs, but I personally prefer zooming around on these death boxes instead.
You can take Polaroids of Fragile, Tomorrow, and Rainy at home base
After Sam picks up a vintage instant camera during one of his outings, Fragile asks him to take pictures of herself, Tomorrow, and Rainy at the DHV Magellan. Here, players can engage in a photomode minigame, where the trio will pose in real-time across multiple locations on the ship for Sam. After he takes his photo, he can choose to either gift it to Tomorrow or keep it for himself.
You can make deliveries for someone who turns out to be a bunch of birds
After Rainy decides to make a permanent stay in the DHV Magellan, Sam gets a puzzling request to send bird food to her hideout. Rainy claims that she didn’t make the request, though she is concerned that someone might have broken into her home and garden. After Sam makes the delivery, however, he finds out that a bunch of hungry birds had sent in the request.
Not only that, but the tweeting birds are overjoyed to meet Sam, and would like him to visit again. Sam’s an animal lover (just look at all the kangaroos he’s kidnapped!), so don't worry, dear birds. He’ll be back.
