Death Stranding 2: A More Accessible yet Uneven Experience

During the development of Death Stranding 2, creator Hideo Kojima made significant changes to the game after playtesting results were deemed 'too good', leading to a more polarizing experience. The game has received critical acclaim, with a 90 average on Metacritic, but critics have noted issues such as uneven writing, heavy exposition, and a reliance on familiar story beats. Despite this, many have praised the game's narrative, calling it a major highlight, and have commended the step up in action compared to the first game. The game's accessibility has also been improved, making it easier for new players to join the series, although some critics have noted that the game's difficulty can be lacking, particularly in combat encounters.