I'm streaming right now if you wanna come share your thoughts on the video with me! Agree, disagree, I wanna hear it. www.twitch.tv/barryisstreaming 👍 EDIT: If you missed the stream the VOD is now live on the second channel! th-cam.com/video/SkGwsgQrla8/w-d-xo.html
@@hw_yozoraVODS Sam Porter Bridges isnt Solid Snake. also kojima is anti-war. the most violent ways, make stuff harder. and besides when you unlock vog boxes its fun, to leave a prize for a MULE to pick up.
@@lindinle I don't mean that way, you can still shoot people. Its just very janky watching your management and fighting colide, having to open menus all the time to change weapons, equip bloodbags eat byotes. I just think it needed refinement.
i want it known that one of my suggested titles for this video was "Death Stranding Or: How I Learned To Stop Complaining And Love The Walking" and Barry didn't go with it
THANK YOU for talking about the trail-making and adaptive terrain where players travel! You're the only one I've seen talk about it and It's an incredible feature!
Yeah, that's a really neat feature that's kind of easy to look over. It blends into the map well enough that I didn't notice until about halfway through. Eventually I started thinking to myself, "I'm sure this pass through the rocks wasn't here when I ran through yesterday!" Sure enough, the game is generating desire paths based on asynchronous player movement data.
And if you didn't know that, I can assure you that there are a lot of other things you don't know about this game, knowing the fact that this mechanic was explained into the game, instead of some that you'll have to discover by yourself. Did you know that you can use the rope in your inventory to bind MULEs for example, or if they attack you, you can counter their strike?
Look I knew this was a “how about this game” but hearing that intro hit me in the feels like “it’s 2016 again and things are much better than they are in 2020”... maybe I need therapy if this is what’s hitting me in the feels
It's compelling as soon as it starts. You appreciate the later tools and gears you have to uplift to make journey better and better. It doesn't get "good" 20 hours in, it just starts off slow for you to understand how hard the difficultly will be struggling and managing cargo will be.
@@freindmaker4473 Like I said it just starts off slow, you want to be able to do all the side content and delivery more packages because the tech you have will grow to make it more satisfying of delivering each package.
@@Gadget-Walkmen yeah what im saying is i wasnt that into it until i got the bike, which sped up the walking and made the backtracking through the map a lot less frustrating, which only gets better the more you play and the more you unlock
I think that one thing you missed ( and understandably so due to the spoiler free nature of the vid ) is the story and how much the intro was fueled by that. For many of us that was also a very enticing reason to keep pushing further. I honestly hardly noticed how bare-bones the first part of the game was because I was so immersed in this alien world with its remarkable lore and fascinating story. Great video though :D !
This is the first review/analysis of death stranding I’ve ever seen that taught me anything about the game and although I am more decidedly against ever buying this game, I can now understand and respect people that like this game. Good shit Barry.
Wow, this is like the first strand-type review that actually talks about the gameplay from the perspective of someone who actually knows how the game is supposed to work.
Yeah, a lot of reviews I've seen *cough*Dunkey*cough* realize that it's borderline impossible to drive a truck or bike up a rocky mountain, but then bafflingly act as if that's a problem.
@@Whovian1029 Well I mean, if a game gives you a bike, and your terrain is commonly rocky, you're very likely to expect to be able to use that bike on that rocky terrain. Like, the gameplay is tedious, and you think "yes finally I can get to places faster" but then there's just so much uneven terrain that it's more trouble than it's worth and you start to wonder what is even the point of the bike.
@@NukkuiskoHyvinVaiPois the strategy is to brave through terrain without cargo, to even the terrain first, then go with cargo when it’s more traversable. Or rushing the network so already trodden paths appear. The bike works phenomenally well on the road or in even-ish terrain, and got even better with the ramps, but it doesn’t solve almost any problem itself. It’s a way to speed up, save stamina, and maybe carry some cargo. After the truck is unlocked, this “evening the terrain” usually takes one single car trip over the trips. This works for rocks, snow, fields and the like. The bike is also fairly light, so you can even use regular ladders as ramps (clumping 2 or 3 side by side), and they take forever to degrade, and use no network cost. This game is a lot more minecraft than it is spider-man, and it shows.
"End game is, how do I best work with an invisible online collective to play the game as little as possible?" Great line lol, that was totally my experience too
To those saying "OH GOD IT'S HIM." ....He streams on twitch. He's not dead.... Okay he might be dead after he made this video BUT HE'S STILL GOT MORE CONTENT SO THERE'S THAT.
Started this game last month after putting it off since it released. After really not enjoying the first 10 hours or so, I am now over 100 hours in and it's hands down one of the best games I've ever played. You summed up perfectly what makes this game special. Everything you struggle through at the start pays off later in the game!
Barry, your thoughtful commentary on games through "How 'Bout This Game?" Makes me excited about games and the gaming community. After seeing how Pokémon Sw/Sh was handled and how disappointed I was with the direction the Pokémon and GF is heading, your videos make me feel like I shouldn't walk away from gaming entirely. I love seeing your perspective. You are so careful to cover many details, and incorporate subtle comedy to make the review so magical. So thank you for this series, and I hope you continue making "How 'Bout This Game?".
"Opps! I made a straw man." Seriously though, this is great; I was actually on the fence about wanting to play Death Stranding but watching this, and the bits you played on stream, confirms that I would probably like it... in a weird... Kojima sorta... way.... now if only I have the funds and tech to play it :'(. Could I interest you in a ladder?
Get if for Ps4. I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
@@Gadget-Walkmen That would require a PS4; I would much rather update my PC to handle it but that would require funds... Definitely something to keep in mind when situations change.
I think if you're the type of people who hate helping people on games, or who is a real fan of competitive games, you'll never like it. If not, then you'll probably like it. But seriously the game requirement is pretty low for a 2020 game, so you don't have to spend a lot to be able to play it. Look for the requirement on Steam, you can have this setup for $300, even less if you search deep on the internet.
Its kinda weird how "a game about walking isn't for everyone", but nearly everyone walks--and even if you can't walk, navigating terrain is nearly a universal experence
Played the entire game without knowing what the circle was; I just badly calculated the weight on each side... on the fly. Boy, I really should've noticed that.
Two years ago I put this video in my watch later list. It sat in the bottom of it since. I waited because I wanted to finish Death Stranding first. And now that I did, I watched the video. And now that I did, It was a neat video. Thanks Barry.
@@Gadget-Walkmen Apparently at our feet when we're in the menu where we organize our equipment/packages. This entire time I was wondering how I could better tell if I was keeping balance or not and I was standing on my answer the entire time!
This is one of the few games where I can casually listen to podcasts without even needing to worry about missing any important/good dialogue. I love it.
i gotta admit i loved doing that in breath of the wild but i just couldn’t get into death stranding idk why for sure but i still liked the concept and story so i just ending up watching jacksepticeye play it.
@@MaskedKittyYT Didn’t think for a second this game was gonna be enjoyed by everyone as it’s different in its slow paced terrain traversal approach. I personally love it a lot but it’s understandable that some others are not gonna so much. It’s understandable if you find it boring or uninteresting but to me and a lot of people can find it engaging and compelling to find traversal and land exploration calming and a relaxing experience.
It's worth giving it a try! I love landscapes & hiking with music, so i even enjoyed watching other people play it so I could focus on my favorite parts, but obviously my opinion is kind of weird.
Yeah but it's not the same thing. I mean, if you do that in BOTW, it's a pretty good step but it's not because you like doing that in BOTW that you'll obviously like Death Stranding. It's really a special game, not just about walking.
I really didn’t want to play this game. Hell, I don’t really want to play it now. But this commentary is so spot on it gives me a whole new sense of admiration for kojima. I’ve never been too fond of his games but I love how they’re designed and that goes fro death stranding too know!
I think the opening hours are the best with the parts around mountain Knot being a close second. The run to Lokne is my favorite mission. So cathartic to finally reach her.
Am I the only one who didn't get instantly turned off by the walking? I found it really refreshing, most games don't really consider walking as a legitimate mechanic, something you can... Fail at (ie fall on your goddamn face), and that alone makes traversing stuff in this game infinitely more engaging for me than it would ever be in a different game. In DS when you approach a mountain, you're actually thinking about how you're going to scale that thing and not just horse-glitch the slope skyrim-style or whatever, the only other game that used terrain in similar fashion I can think of was Breath of the Wild, and even in that game it was fairly simplified. The game WOULD BE extremely boring and uninteresting IF the walking was made like in any other triple AAA game, instead, here it's a balancing act of actually navigating the uneven terrain and keeping your stuff unharmed. I personally was having a lot of fun, even in the early hours, precisely because of that mechanical depth.
I was excited by it. I immediately thought of the possibilities of a (so far) very detailed traversal-focused game. We already knew bikes existed, so was looking forward to that, but also looking forward to what other stuff would be introduced. Immediately noticed the center of gravity mechanic after moving around cargo on my body (and using common sense). Also remembered, and contrasted the game with skyrim (and others where you could just walk up slopes and cliffs), and got excited that DS actually considered mountain traversal in more detail than most games. "I personally was having a lot of fun, even in the early hours, precisely because of that mechanical depth." This. Same. Amazed at the detail they put in traversal, which is ignored in most games; and the challenge put forth to set aside the object of most (or a lot) games which is to "kill your enemies".
Holy crap, when I went up to the Mountaineer the first time I felt like Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mount Everest and then I went from there to the Spiritualist and had a complete whiteout on the way. Good Times. Porter Grade 331 Master Deliverer right now and still have to finish chapter 9. XD
Buddy, I played this game for hundreds of hours across months, made videos about it, and NEVER saw those balance circles! Thank you. 🙏 A gamesman and a scholar you are. Also, please make more like this; you have such great presentation.
I like Death Stranding. I wouldn't call it one of the best games of all times, but it's absolutely one of my favourites. I didn't even have online when I played it first, so I'll probably play it again. Also, when you're just walking around, you can listen to podcasts or music.
I love the game myself. It has an amazing story that's emotional gripping and compelling gameplay of the grind. Didn’t think for a second this game was gonna be enjoyed by everyone as it’s different in its slow paced terrain traversal approach. I personally love it a lot but it’s understandable that some others are not gonna so much. It’s understandable if some people find it boring or uninteresting but to me and a lot of people can find it engaging and compelling to find traversal and land exploration calming and a relaxing experience.
One thing that makes DT so interesting is that a lot of the things that are designed to help you out are only designed to help you out in the bit you just finished, e.g. *you got a car/bike* the terrain ahead is too rocky too make good use of it, but the terrain behind you is largely open planes and the occasional river, Kojima said before the game came out that he wanted to take some of the power away from the players, and I think that this is a perfect example, you now have a car or bike or extra floaty platform or zip lines or whatever, but it's so that you can explore the area you just finished better, do the side quests etc. The main story always wants to challenge you as much as possible, and I think that's a really interesting idea.
Barry, I agree with you... I spent a LOT of time perfecting the zip lines in the mountains, and not only that, going back a week later to repair and make sure they weren't rusting too much. Such a positive feeling from seeing a structure I placed used by over 7,000 players.
@@kylerclarke2689 I enjoyed the red mage quite a bit when i finally got off the conj. havent played in a good year or two though so things might be different
I think part of why it's hard to explain why death stranding is so good is because so much of the gameplay extends beyond what you're physically doing with the controller. Some of my favourite parts are the planning that goes into deciding a route, and the feeling of leaving behind a bike for someone else who might need it is just satisfying
You nailed this on the head for me. I literally picked this up a week and a half ago (for the second time) and I’m now just two achievements away from completing it. The first time I played when it released I didn’t “enjoy it” just like you say in the video, but I was super interested. Something did not click. I restarted my save this second time and almost sped run through the opening because I had done it once before and it immediately felt better. And then I got to roads and BAM I fell in love. Like you say the tedium allows for mechanical nuance early and then it just becomes this meditative flow through both gameplay growth and story. I actually get a similar feeling from early mid to late mid game (and then post game) death stranding that I get when playing minecraft. And I love it. In fact in this regard, my biggest complaint is that I cant put the fire soundtrack on loop while grinding deliveries in the overworld. You don’t mention it here and I think, just like gameplay, the story is really good but not for everyone. Im not big into convoluted stories to the extreme and this is one... but the individual moments are just so gripping (CHAPTER 5 JESUS H CHRIST) that I just got more addicted to see more. Anyway, this video came at the perfect time and I agree wholly with everything you say!
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
One issue is that every single thing you do that ties into the multiplayer network slowly degrades which means that eventually new players will not have a multiplayer network the tap into because there simply aren't enough people playing and keeping these structures healthy or building new ones.
I thought I heard once that the game replicates online functionality if there aren't enough players (so you still might find built things) but I don't know if that's true or not
There's some A.i. here and there who can help players along the way. Also the online feature can be turned off so it can be more satisfying to do all the work on your own.
Very nice summary. A few things: 1) DS greatly rewards playing it a second time after you've finished it and completely understand the mechanics. The beginning game is *far* less tedious when you have the map memorized and know how to handle the terrain, MULEs, and BTs. 2) The progression with the "ghosts" is more accurately "get eaten by them/avoid them by stealth", then "can kill them but it's kind of a drag", then "farm them for crystals". 3) The zip-tie gun is super-useful once you understand that you need to go kick the enemies you hit with it in the head to make sure they stay tied up.
@@acetrigger1337 I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone but you should recommend to those who are interested.
Oh Barry, I love your reviews, the way you explain objective and subjective opinions and trying to have a spoiler free video. You are the best. I'd love to hear you talking about Outer Wilds!
Question tho: Were you eaten by a ghost? Also, I'd love a small scale actual coop mode where you take on particularly difficult deliveries with a buddy and have to divvy up the cargo to balance each other out or take a truck through heavy enemy territory
I think Barry described my biggest issue with the game when it comes to Death Stranding. "Working with an online community to play the game as little as possible." The weird thing is, I was okay with the walking mechanic and the style of game it was trying to be. But when I plan a route out and really stress over what to bring like Barry described, I would already find what I needed along the way. It would be already placed, already set up. So wheres the challenge? Even fighting BTs other "players" would just give you what you needed to defeat them. I could get through this entire game without bringing any equipment. I dont want peoples help. Im playing a single player game and I want it to feel like that. If there were other players running around this world in real time that would be a different story.
I got to a point on this where I kinda didn't want the ghost guys and the weird package thieves and just wanted to walk to places. It was kinda nice just working your way over the countryside, clambering over rocks and stuff, just to deliver a package. Felt like a post-apocalyptic Postman Pat game and I liked that.
"Play Death Stranding for yourself before watching this" _Looks at my laptop. It shakes in fear._ _Looks at my PC. It shakes it's head disapprovingly._ I think, I'll continue watching.
My laptop and PC are just too weak to play this game. I'm not saying I don't want to or not planing to play it at some point. It just will happen so much later in my life, I'll better watch this video now, than try to find it then.
I remember when the game was first released and people were calling fans “mindless Kojima fanboys”, but the plot does tie in well with the gameplay loop where Sam has a rough but necessary job of crossing America step by step, reconnecting it along the way and receiving help from his fellow delivery men
This is hands down the best explanation I've heard for Death Stranding's gameplay. Most others just amount to..."Yes, it is a walking simulator made by Kojima, go buy it/don't buy it." Still don't want to play it mind up but the video was very good at expressing why someone would or wouldn't like the game. A+ Barry!
This video sold me on Death Stranding and I’m having a great time, especially after getting to the part with the roads and zip lines. Thanks! Also I love the moment at 4:58 so much for some reason.
13:35 What genre conventions? This is a quintessential "strand-type game" Kappa 14:20 If all you have are ladders, I guess everything looks like a mountain (or a river) :P
I legit love the idea behind the design. I get it, it's good. But if I played this game for five minutes I would be looking for something to jab through my eyes until I was physically incapable of stabbing anymore.
Barry thank you for making this video you have such a great community and such a great personalty that you are one of only streamers I watch though there full stream. You have worked hard on this video ever since June and I thank you for this. Barry you are the best and you deserve it.
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
It's always a relief to see someone actually understand why the game is the way it is. A _lot_ of people have a problem with this when it comes to Kojima.
Welp, i really really tried this game, at some point i was enjoying the relaxing time of building roads and seeying tons of other players using my roads and generators and bridges... so i took it upon myself and actually built every single patch of road in the game... i found the most efficient way was to just go to the Mule camps, beat the crap out of em with ladders as melee weapon or a non lethal assault rifle and load my truck full of materials from their storage box then drive to the next Auto-road machine to fill it as much as possible, before go fetch more in the next camp while using my big long roads to charge the truck battery and get as close as possible. I built bridges that lead throug and from the camps to the roads the fast as possible, and always loaded the truck full, which was the absolutelly most effective manner, and after hours and hours and millions of likes (that were completely useless), i had filled the entire game with roads... and i felt nothing out of it... yeah the part of my brain that wanted to see it "complete" was satisfied but... it really really was not worth it. Yeah i only got myself to blame but still... after doing that i was collecting stars from deliveries and did, along with online players, a complete zipline system that would go between 5 diferent shelters whitout having to walk longer than a minute. Efficient but... why i am doing this ? It was never as satisfiying as i was pushing myself to believe it would ever be. And when i completed the story and said to myself "wait... this is stupid... it contradicts itself and makes no sense" just managed to settle down the feeling of wasted time as i could have played so many others of the games that we all have in our own backlogs. I got that hyped feeling that kept me going as i played and it did get a bit better progressevely, but never so good it was worth it. I have to disagree with Barry and NOT reccomend.
I'm streaming right now if you wanna come share your thoughts on the video with me! Agree, disagree, I wanna hear it. www.twitch.tv/barryisstreaming 👍
EDIT: If you missed the stream the VOD is now live on the second channel! th-cam.com/video/SkGwsgQrla8/w-d-xo.html
sooo, do we leave the house? do we stay? honestly don't know when to leave if Barry doesn't tell me
Thank you for finally giving me some quiet time at home from my girlfriend ;)
Aww I missed it
I really miss these kinds of videos.
This channel is that friend you see once a year, have a great time, and then just kinda wish you saw them more
Man that feel is way too real my dude.
You should come around his streams! Or the VODs of his streams at BarryWasStreaming - he’s a good egg 🥚😊
I wish I had friends
So basically the two friends I have...
This is like the most accurate description of this channel, I love it
can't wait to see a dancepad speedrun where someone actually walks to walk in game
Where do you get these ideas from
Allen Pan actually turned a treadmill into a controller for death stranding for this exact reason
@@dylon.edmunds The real workout game
I believe I recall someone customizing the ring con to play the game
Or you could use the NES Power Pad made for World Class Track Meet
This is literally the first piece I've seen about Death Stranding that has actually made me interested in playing the game
do it. its great.
Its great, but has big flaws as well, i think the game should have better combat.
Its the best worst game I've ever played
@@hw_yozoraVODS Sam Porter Bridges isnt Solid Snake. also kojima is anti-war. the most violent ways, make stuff harder. and besides when you unlock vog boxes its fun, to leave a prize for a MULE to pick up.
@@lindinle I don't mean that way, you can still shoot people. Its just very janky watching your management and fighting colide, having to open menus all the time to change weapons, equip bloodbags eat byotes. I just think it needed refinement.
i want it known that one of my suggested titles for this video was "Death Stranding Or: How I Learned To Stop Complaining And Love The Walking" and Barry didn't go with it
that movei is actually referenced in peace walker since koji loves old films like that.
Mistakes were made. "Death Stranding : a walk odyssey" would also have been accepted
Simon Blanjean take out the walk in the title and that title actually sounds pretty badass.
@@Gadget-Walkmen then I guess you'll really like the sequel to the Illiad
Simon Blanjean it’s cool and I think it’s more adventurous compared to the illad. Odysseus is crazy and his family.
"mark of approval from Joseph Campbell's ghost."
**chef's kiss**
Barry: The circle under Sam shows his center of gravity!
Me who's played through the game 3 times: *THERE'S A CIRCLE?????*
I FELT THE SAME WHEN I SAW THAT
ME TOO OMFG
Add me to the list XD
THANK YOU for talking about the trail-making and adaptive terrain where players travel! You're the only one I've seen talk about it and It's an incredible feature!
Yeah, that's a really neat feature that's kind of easy to look over. It blends into the map well enough that I didn't notice until about halfway through. Eventually I started thinking to myself, "I'm sure this pass through the rocks wasn't here when I ran through yesterday!" Sure enough, the game is generating desire paths based on asynchronous player movement data.
Probably because most people don't play the game long enough before reviewing.
Caedo... watcha doin homie
For THOUSANDS OF YEARS, I'VE LAID DORMANT. WHO HAS DISTURBED MY-
_Oh hey Barry, good to see ya again with Sequelitis:Reborn._
a very smart use of a nice quote.
good job!
Sequalitis:reborn? Lmao
Sequelitis: good edition
sequelitis: the sequal
@@thememelord6510 Sequelitis 2: Electric Barryaloo
I hope you brought enough ladders for the whole class Barry.
honestly i've played over 100 hours and didn't know about the centre of mass circle, and that's why i love this game
And if you didn't know that, I can assure you that there are a lot of other things you don't know about this game, knowing the fact that this mechanic was explained into the game, instead of some that you'll have to discover by yourself. Did you know that you can use the rope in your inventory to bind MULEs for example, or if they attack you, you can counter their strike?
Ditto for me.
@@rigierish3807 i think that is actually explained. What i think is never told is that you can use wasted, empty or decoy cargo to attack them
Look I knew this was a “how about this game” but hearing that intro hit me in the feels like “it’s 2016 again and things are much better than they are in 2020”... maybe I need therapy if this is what’s hitting me in the feels
11:25 - Yeah that's me. When I hear "it gets good 20 hours in" I say "okay, I'll just go play a 20 hour game that's good the whole time instead"
It gets good once you get the motorcycle, which is only about 3 hours if you dont do any side content
It's compelling as soon as it starts. You appreciate the later tools and gears you have to uplift to make journey better and better.
It doesn't get "good" 20 hours in, it just starts off slow for you to understand how hard the difficultly will be struggling and managing cargo will be.
@@freindmaker4473 Like I said it just starts off slow, you want to be able to do all the side content and delivery more packages because the tech you have will grow to make it more satisfying of delivering each package.
@@Gadget-Walkmen yeah what im saying is i wasnt that into it until i got the bike, which sped up the walking and made the backtracking through the map a lot less frustrating, which only gets better the more you play and the more you unlock
I'm a funny boy and you are not!!!! Yeah that too. I just love the traversal so much in the game. “Keep on keeping on”.
Coming back to this wonderful breakdown again a year later and I think you're spot on.
Also, that Tom Hanks bit at the end absolutely cracked me up.
Ladies and Gentlemen, he did it, he did the thing, celebration is needed immediately!!!
I think that one thing you missed ( and understandably so due to the spoiler free nature of the vid ) is the story and how much the intro was fueled by that. For many of us that was also a very enticing reason to keep pushing further. I honestly hardly noticed how bare-bones the first part of the game was because I was so immersed in this alien world with its remarkable lore and fascinating story. Great video though :D !
"It's been 3000 years"
Welcome back old friend!
“TH-camrs can’t be friends.”
Now that's a reference if I ever saw one.
Can I get a high five? Can a brother relate?
He doesn’t post on his main that often but he does stream a lot I think
You could call this game "Man VS Rocks" and no one would argue with you.
*new Kingdom Hearts trailer drops*
Barry’s gettin’ UPSET.
@@Naruto_from_the_Naruto_show *slapped in face* Well if you wanna say it like that I mean I guess that is how it's gonna be.
13:06 PROW! A boulder! Totally not on its way to kill a certain hyuck...
I got the platinum trophy for this and never knew about that circle.
Literally same. I saw that and I was like HUH???
“So your hero’s journey gets the mark of approval from Joseph Campbell’s ghost”
Genius
This is the first review/analysis of death stranding I’ve ever seen that taught me anything about the game and although I am more decidedly against ever buying this game, I can now understand and respect people that like this game. Good shit Barry.
Funny way to admit that you get manipulated by masses opinions , instead of laying hands on a controller and test the game for yourself
Thommsen ok
Derek Cullen ok?
Thommsen ok
Safety Films if you didn’t try it yourself , then your opinion is nothing worth.
Oh my gosh, someone finally gets it.
Love the game so much! wished more people appreciated it and were engaged.
@@Gadget-Walkmen ikr ??? Lot's of haters are the ones who never were going to play it, the Reddit and steam forums are so wholesome ! (99% time)
Wow, this is like the first strand-type review that actually talks about the gameplay from the perspective of someone who actually knows how the game is supposed to work.
Correct. Dunkey's review was borderline trolling
Yeah, a lot of reviews I've seen *cough*Dunkey*cough* realize that it's borderline impossible to drive a truck or bike up a rocky mountain, but then bafflingly act as if that's a problem.
@@Whovian1029 Well I mean, if a game gives you a bike, and your terrain is commonly rocky, you're very likely to expect to be able to use that bike on that rocky terrain. Like, the gameplay is tedious, and you think "yes finally I can get to places faster" but then there's just so much uneven terrain that it's more trouble than it's worth and you start to wonder what is even the point of the bike.
@@NukkuiskoHyvinVaiPois the strategy is to brave through terrain without cargo, to even the terrain first, then go with cargo when it’s more traversable. Or rushing the network so already trodden paths appear. The bike works phenomenally well on the road or in even-ish terrain, and got even better with the ramps, but it doesn’t solve almost any problem itself. It’s a way to speed up, save stamina, and maybe carry some cargo.
After the truck is unlocked, this “evening the terrain” usually takes one single car trip over the trips. This works for rocks, snow, fields and the like. The bike is also fairly light, so you can even use regular ladders as ramps (clumping 2 or 3 side by side), and they take forever to degrade, and use no network cost.
This game is a lot more minecraft than it is spider-man, and it shows.
"End game is, how do I best work with an invisible online collective to play the game as little as possible?"
Great line lol, that was totally my experience too
Barry, I don't care how long it takes for your videos to come out. I'm just glad it's here. I know you're working very hard. Thank you.
To those saying "OH GOD IT'S HIM." ....He streams on twitch. He's not dead.... Okay he might be dead after he made this video BUT HE'S STILL GOT MORE CONTENT SO THERE'S THAT.
Started this game last month after putting it off since it released.
After really not enjoying the first 10 hours or so, I am now over 100 hours in and it's hands down one of the best games I've ever played.
You summed up perfectly what makes this game special. Everything you struggle through at the start pays off later in the game!
return of the king
Barry, your thoughtful commentary on games through "How 'Bout This Game?" Makes me excited about games and the gaming community. After seeing how Pokémon Sw/Sh was handled and how disappointed I was with the direction the Pokémon and GF is heading, your videos make me feel like I shouldn't walk away from gaming entirely. I love seeing your perspective. You are so careful to cover many details, and incorporate subtle comedy to make the review so magical. So thank you for this series, and I hope you continue making "How 'Bout This Game?".
"Opps! I made a straw man."
Seriously though, this is great; I was actually on the fence about wanting to play Death Stranding but watching this, and the bits you played on stream, confirms that I would probably like it... in a weird... Kojima sorta... way.... now if only I have the funds and tech to play it :'(.
Could I interest you in a ladder?
Get if for Ps4. I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
@@Gadget-Walkmen That would require a PS4; I would much rather update my PC to handle it but that would require funds... Definitely something to keep in mind when situations change.
@@Gadget-Walkmen why PS4 and not PC? The only advantage is to be able to sooth the baby with an pretty good precision compare to the PC.
I think if you're the type of people who hate helping people on games, or who is a real fan of competitive games, you'll never like it. If not, then you'll probably like it.
But seriously the game requirement is pretty low for a 2020 game, so you don't have to spend a lot to be able to play it. Look for the requirement on Steam, you can have this setup for $300, even less if you search deep on the internet.
Its kinda weird how "a game about walking isn't for everyone", but nearly everyone walks--and even if you can't walk, navigating terrain is nearly a universal experence
Played the entire game without knowing what the circle was; I just badly calculated the weight on each side... on the fly.
Boy, I really should've noticed that.
Two years ago I put this video in my watch later list. It sat in the bottom of it since. I waited because I wanted to finish Death Stranding first. And now that I did, I watched the video. And now that I did, It was a neat video. Thanks Barry.
Oh my God I never knew those gravity circles even existed!
where?!?!
@@Gadget-Walkmen Apparently at our feet when we're in the menu where we organize our equipment/packages. This entire time I was wondering how I could better tell if I was keeping balance or not and I was standing on my answer the entire time!
@@dandandowntown yeah how did you not know that? I thought you a gravity obstacle in the game that pushes you away.
This really captures exactly what I felt playing this game, and what I think so many people missed out on. Thank you Barry!
Man you've kept those boys waiting a long time for their magazines by walking
Woohoo Barry's back! I love his voice and sense of humour! The Grumps have never been the same without his hilarious edits.
Never knew about the center of gravity circle until this video... Thanks Barry, love your videos! Now I need to finish the game...
This is one of the few games where I can casually listen to podcasts without even needing to worry about missing any important/good dialogue. I love it.
I'm the sort of person who enjoyed deliberately walking everywhere in Breath of the Wild, so I might not hate this!
i gotta admit i loved doing that in breath of the wild but i just couldn’t get into death stranding idk why for sure but i still liked the concept and story so i just ending up watching jacksepticeye play it.
@@MaskedKittyYT Didn’t think for a second this game was gonna be enjoyed by everyone as it’s different in its slow paced terrain traversal approach. I personally love it a lot but it’s understandable that some others are not gonna so much.
It’s understandable if you find it boring or uninteresting but to me and a lot of people can find it engaging and compelling to find traversal and land exploration calming and a relaxing experience.
It's worth giving it a try! I love landscapes & hiking with music, so i even enjoyed watching other people play it so I could focus on my favorite parts, but obviously my opinion is kind of weird.
Yeah but it's not the same thing. I mean, if you do that in BOTW, it's a pretty good step but it's not because you like doing that in BOTW that you'll obviously like Death Stranding. It's really a special game, not just about walking.
I really didn’t want to play this game. Hell, I don’t really want to play it now. But this commentary is so spot on it gives me a whole new sense of admiration for kojima. I’ve never been too fond of his games but I love how they’re designed and that goes fro death stranding too know!
ITS BEEEEEEN EIGHTY SEVEN YEARS
I'd say this needs more view, but with my decade of experience with TH-cam I know why. I love you Barry.
Everyone hates the opening hours of this game but i had a lot of fun figuring out the mechanics of movement.
I thought it was fine. The world was new and unique enough. The beginning is also fairly story dense.
I think the opening hours are the best with the parts around mountain Knot being a close second. The run to Lokne is my favorite mission. So cathartic to finally reach her.
I replayed it and loved thy section, the limitations make it more fun IMO. Plus it’s extremely cozy, something about that first part has a great vibe.
@@Nobutehuhh EXACTLY it's a comforting game of travel and a calming experience and I love it for it.
@@jankbunky4279 I thought the opening was great with the music playing and tense atmosphere. Love the game for it's calm but eerie atmosphere.
It was so satisfying having a finished zipline route through the mountains to reach all the preppers.
Am I the only one who didn't get instantly turned off by the walking?
I found it really refreshing, most games don't really consider walking as a legitimate mechanic, something you can... Fail at (ie fall on your goddamn face), and that alone makes traversing stuff in this game infinitely more engaging for me than it would ever be in a different game.
In DS when you approach a mountain, you're actually thinking about how you're going to scale that thing and not just horse-glitch the slope skyrim-style or whatever, the only other game that used terrain in similar fashion I can think of was Breath of the Wild, and even in that game it was fairly simplified.
The game WOULD BE extremely boring and uninteresting IF the walking was made like in any other triple AAA game, instead, here it's a balancing act of actually navigating the uneven terrain and keeping your stuff unharmed.
I personally was having a lot of fun, even in the early hours, precisely because of that mechanical depth.
I loved it too! Thanks for speaking up. In the assassin's Creed game based in colonial America, I would explore nature for hours!!!
focus of the game man. Like Zelda BOTW's climbing is a very good mechanic but if BOTW's main focus is climbing people gonna freak out.
I was excited by it. I immediately thought of the possibilities of a (so far) very detailed traversal-focused game. We already knew bikes existed, so was looking forward to that, but also looking forward to what other stuff would be introduced. Immediately noticed the center of gravity mechanic after moving around cargo on my body (and using common sense). Also remembered, and contrasted the game with skyrim (and others where you could just walk up slopes and cliffs), and got excited that DS actually considered mountain traversal in more detail than most games.
"I personally was having a lot of fun, even in the early hours, precisely because of that mechanical depth."
This. Same. Amazed at the detail they put in traversal, which is ignored in most games; and the challenge put forth to set aside the object of most (or a lot) games which is to "kill your enemies".
Holy crap, when I went up to the Mountaineer the first time I felt like Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mount Everest and then I went from there to the Spiritualist and had a complete whiteout on the way. Good Times. Porter Grade 331 Master Deliverer right now and still have to finish chapter 9. XD
@@GeorgHaeder And it feels just as good zip lining to those two preppers. Such a great view of the area.
Buddy, I played this game for hundreds of hours across months, made videos about it, and NEVER saw those balance circles! Thank you. 🙏 A gamesman and a scholar you are. Also, please make more like this; you have such great presentation.
I like Death Stranding. I wouldn't call it one of the best games of all times, but it's absolutely one of my favourites.
I didn't even have online when I played it first, so I'll probably play it again. Also, when you're just walking around, you can listen to podcasts or music.
I love the game myself. It has an amazing story that's emotional gripping and compelling gameplay of the grind. Didn’t think for a second this game was gonna be enjoyed by everyone as it’s different in its slow paced terrain traversal approach. I personally love it a lot but it’s understandable that some others are not gonna so much.
It’s understandable if some people find it boring or uninteresting but to me and a lot of people can find it engaging and compelling to find traversal and land exploration calming and a relaxing experience.
One thing that makes DT so interesting is that a lot of the things that are designed to help you out are only designed to help you out in the bit you just finished, e.g. *you got a car/bike* the terrain ahead is too rocky too make good use of it, but the terrain behind you is largely open planes and the occasional river, Kojima said before the game came out that he wanted to take some of the power away from the players, and I think that this is a perfect example, you now have a car or bike or extra floaty platform or zip lines or whatever, but it's so that you can explore the area you just finished better, do the side quests etc. The main story always wants to challenge you as much as possible, and I think that's a really interesting idea.
Barry, I agree with you... I spent a LOT of time perfecting the zip lines in the mountains, and not only that, going back a week later to repair and make sure they weren't rusting too much. Such a positive feeling from seeing a structure I placed used by over 7,000 players.
Good to see another one of Barry's tri-yearly videos!
Yesterday I straight up thought "this mans made one video of this series then dipped" but then he DIDN'T
ABSOLUTE chad
Tetsuya Nomura took over his life for a while but it's still a couple months before Melody of Memory comes out.
This is a perfect explanation of why I love this game even though I haven’t played it for myself and have watched a number of people play it
"It's like playing a Metroid-vania where for the first dozen hours you just have a rock that you throw at enemies"
DUDE, where my FFXIV Conjurers at??
holy fuck being a conjurer made me hate the game so much. i was so happy when i got to lvl 50 (I believe it was) to change my class
@@GuildWars4Ever98 I'm suffering from a combination of sunk cost anxiety and intimidation with how complicated other classes are.
@@kylerclarke2689 I enjoyed the red mage quite a bit when i finally got off the conj. havent played in a good year or two though so things might be different
Oh lmao I just started playing the game and I haven't had any issues with Conjurer, does this mean when I play other classes it's gonna be amazing?
Thank you for this video. I was confused about what the gameplay was like and you were able to explain it in a very upfront way that I understand now.
I still don't believe this video exists even though I'm watching it right now.
I think part of why it's hard to explain why death stranding is so good is because so much of the gameplay extends beyond what you're physically doing with the controller. Some of my favourite parts are the planning that goes into deciding a route, and the feeling of leaving behind a bike for someone else who might need it is just satisfying
Barry may be stinky but this video sure wasn’t.
You nailed this on the head for me. I literally picked this up a week and a half ago (for the second time) and I’m now just two achievements away from completing it.
The first time I played when it released I didn’t “enjoy it” just like you say in the video, but I was super interested. Something did not click.
I restarted my save this second
time and almost sped run through the opening because I had done it once before and it immediately felt better. And then I got to roads and BAM I fell in love. Like you say the tedium allows for mechanical nuance early and then it just becomes this meditative flow through both gameplay growth and story. I actually get a similar feeling from early mid to late mid game (and then post game) death stranding that I get when playing minecraft. And I love it. In fact in this regard, my biggest complaint is that I cant put the fire soundtrack on loop while grinding deliveries in the overworld.
You don’t mention it here and I think, just like gameplay, the story is really good but not for everyone. Im not big into convoluted stories to the extreme and this is one... but the individual moments are just so gripping (CHAPTER 5 JESUS H CHRIST) that I just got more addicted to see more.
Anyway, this video came at the perfect time and I agree wholly with everything you say!
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
Honestly, this game scratches an itch I didn't know I had.
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
I was JUST saying the other day "...I miss Barry." Glad to see you got a new video up!
One issue is that every single thing you do that ties into the multiplayer network slowly degrades which means that eventually new players will not have a multiplayer network the tap into because there simply aren't enough people playing and keeping these structures healthy or building new ones.
I thought I heard once that the game replicates online functionality if there aren't enough players (so you still might find built things) but I don't know if that's true or not
There's some A.i. here and there who can help players along the way.
Also the online feature can be turned off so it can be more satisfying to do all the work on your own.
No online experience lasts forever, and in the grand scheme of things, the time window to play a multiplayer game in it's prime, is really short.
Very nice summary. A few things:
1) DS greatly rewards playing it a second time after you've finished it and completely understand the mechanics. The beginning game is *far* less tedious when you have the map memorized and know how to handle the terrain, MULEs, and BTs.
2) The progression with the "ghosts" is more accurately "get eaten by them/avoid them by stealth", then "can kill them but it's kind of a drag", then "farm them for crystals".
3) The zip-tie gun is super-useful once you understand that you need to go kick the enemies you hit with it in the head to make sure they stay tied up.
If you hit the mules in the head with the bola gun you don't even need to hit them. Instant knock out. ;)
"Play Death Stranding for yourself before watching this"
Me without a PS4: Haha yes
it is on Steam.
buuut, i do not recommend it.
it ain't for everyone, like... at all.
@@acetrigger1337 i heavily recommend it and i think it is for all ages and people
@@SuperCreepyCurlyMan I also don't have a pc lol
@@exzyyd392 WTF? What do you have then only a switch? Get a ps4 it's cheap now.
@@acetrigger1337 I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone but you should recommend to those who are interested.
Holy Shrimp, it came out without warning. I gotta go get the popcorn, really proud of you Barry!
Greetings to all that have survived the Zoomer dance
wut?
ZoomPls
I wish I could express how DELIGHTED I was to see a new video of yours!!!!
WHAT!
He is alive?
Hi.
Every video is a delightful gift, Barry. Thank you!
Doesn't feel the same without being told to get out of his house...
1/10 video
We all live here now. We might not all have keys, but that's okay, someone keeps smashing windows.
Oh Barry, I love your reviews, the way you explain objective and subjective opinions and trying to have a spoiler free video. You are the best. I'd love to hear you talking about Outer Wilds!
“It has a little something for everyone.”
It's been too long Barry, love the vid!
HE’S BACK
And this is why I always listen to Barry when he likes something ❤️ you've got good taste my man
Question tho: Were you eaten by a ghost?
Also, I'd love a small scale actual coop mode where you take on particularly difficult deliveries with a buddy and have to divvy up the cargo to balance each other out or take a truck through heavy enemy territory
i think i could watch this format of Barry talking at me about video games for like 10 hours nonstop
"OOHHH, NEW YORK TIMES, GIVE IT TO ME!" 😂
i am in love with the Personality that you add to your videos, Barry.
please continue... : )
I think Barry described my biggest issue with the game when it comes to Death Stranding. "Working with an online community to play the game as little as possible." The weird thing is, I was okay with the walking mechanic and the style of game it was trying to be. But when I plan a route out and really stress over what to bring like Barry described, I would already find what I needed along the way. It would be already placed, already set up. So wheres the challenge? Even fighting BTs other "players" would just give you what you needed to defeat them. I could get through this entire game without bringing any equipment. I dont want peoples help. Im playing a single player game and I want it to feel like that. If there were other players running around this world in real time that would be a different story.
I too felt the same way. Also the paths other players left kinda ruins the beauty of a lot of the environments
I got to a point on this where I kinda didn't want the ghost guys and the weird package thieves and just wanted to walk to places. It was kinda nice just working your way over the countryside, clambering over rocks and stuff, just to deliver a package. Felt like a post-apocalyptic Postman Pat game and I liked that.
Same here, the mules were mostly annoying. Please stop chasing me and let me be postman.
"Play Death Stranding for yourself before watching this"
_Looks at my laptop. It shakes in fear._
_Looks at my PC. It shakes it's head disapprovingly._
I think, I'll continue watching.
You decided not to play Death Stranding.
*Everybody liked that.*
Its such a good experience
My laptop and PC are just too weak to play this game. I'm not saying I don't want to or not planing to play it at some point. It just will happen so much later in my life, I'll better watch this video now, than try to find it then.
I just want the price to come down by a good amount. It honestly looks like a game I'd enjoy, just not for more than 30 bucks.
@@palecurve its $25 on amazon, friend (:
oh! its so good to know Barry didn't get lost in his house again. Thanks for the video!
I’m gonna show this to Dunkey and he’s gonna have a heated gamer moment
Dunkey took this game personally
dunkey's too much of an impatient dumbass so he couldn't judge the game fairly
@@bloomingteratoma id pay one grand for the opportunity to fight his autistic ass. Fuck him
@@Darkslayer1534 Y'all big mad. Chill the fuck out, you loser.
@@Darkslayer1534 same he's a moron.
I remember when the game was first released and people were calling fans “mindless Kojima fanboys”, but the plot does tie in well with the gameplay loop where Sam has a rough but necessary job of crossing America step by step, reconnecting it along the way and receiving help from his fellow delivery men
"There's no telling what may lay in wait in the comment section."
That should be played before every video ever cuz man dosen't that sum it up.
This is hands down the best explanation I've heard for Death Stranding's gameplay. Most others just amount to..."Yes, it is a walking simulator made by Kojima, go buy it/don't buy it." Still don't want to play it mind up but the video was very good at expressing why someone would or wouldn't like the game. A+ Barry!
OH. MY G OD IM SO EXCITED
This video sold me on Death Stranding and I’m having a great time, especially after getting to the part with the roads and zip lines. Thanks!
Also I love the moment at 4:58 so much for some reason.
13:35 What genre conventions? This is a quintessential "strand-type game" Kappa
14:20 If all you have are ladders, I guess everything looks like a mountain (or a river) :P
Dude comes back after half a year on my birthday. Badass.
what a good video uwu7
Genuinely my favorite review and most helpful review of death stranding. Great vid
I legit love the idea behind the design. I get it, it's good.
But if I played this game for five minutes I would be looking for something to jab through my eyes until I was physically incapable of stabbing anymore.
Barry thank you for making this video you have such a great community and such a great personalty that you are one of only streamers I watch though there full stream. You have worked hard on this video ever since June and I thank you for this. Barry you are the best and you deserve it.
I shall return once I finish playing this game. You may have a like as compensation.
I love the game myself but even I know some other people might not enjoy from its slow paced passive non violent nature so it’s definitely not for everyone.
Come, let us give offerings to the algorithm.
It's always a relief to see someone actually understand why the game is the way it is. A _lot_ of people have a problem with this when it comes to Kojima.
Welp, i really really tried this game, at some point i was enjoying the relaxing time of building roads and seeying tons of other players using my roads and generators and bridges... so i took it upon myself and actually built every single patch of road in the game... i found the most efficient way was to just go to the Mule camps, beat the crap out of em with ladders as melee weapon or a non lethal assault rifle and load my truck full of materials from their storage box then drive to the next Auto-road machine to fill it as much as possible, before go fetch more in the next camp while using my big long roads to charge the truck battery and get as close as possible.
I built bridges that lead throug and from the camps to the roads the fast as possible, and always loaded the truck full, which was the absolutelly most effective manner, and after hours and hours and millions of likes (that were completely useless), i had filled the entire game with roads... and i felt nothing out of it... yeah the part of my brain that wanted to see it "complete" was satisfied but... it really really was not worth it. Yeah i only got myself to blame but still... after doing that i was collecting stars from deliveries and did, along with online players, a complete zipline system that would go between 5 diferent shelters whitout having to walk longer than a minute. Efficient but... why i am doing this ? It was never as satisfiying as i was pushing myself to believe it would ever be. And when i completed the story and said to myself "wait... this is stupid... it contradicts itself and makes no sense" just managed to settle down the feeling of wasted time as i could have played so many others of the games that we all have in our own backlogs.
I got that hyped feeling that kept me going as i played and it did get a bit better progressevely, but never so good it was worth it. I have to disagree with Barry and NOT reccomend.
Love your content Barry. Your reviews are both fair and well researched. I could listen to you talk about games all day.