I really don't know how to feel about this game.
On the one hand, the marketing material in this game really annoyed me. This game looks like it might really not be for me. I wouldn't say I prefer gameplay over story or vice versa, but having gameplay that might feel like a waste of time is the last thing I want (wasting time in a badly done open world is probably the most common issue I have with this gen).
On the other hand, Tim Roger's and Easy Allies reviews bring up some really compelling points. Games are and always will be art, I don't think it's unfair to say that Death Stranding might be a much more enjoyable experience as a whole than it is to play. I think if the gameplay is flat out never fun, that might be crossing the line a bit, especially in a 50 hour title. But if the issue is more so that the payoff of the entire experience is better than the journey along the way, I don't know how'd I feel unless I actually play it - which would require a lot of time and dedication.
I also feel like this is where the separation between fun and enjoyment might be worth noting. I can enjoy watching a tragic scene in a movie pretty similarly to how I can enjoy a funny scene in a movie. I might not be feeling the same emotions or enjoying it for the same reason, but there's still some level of loving the experience there.
It's cool to see a game that basically addresses what critics like Matthewmatosis has said about the disconnect between narrative driven AAA games and their gameplay. He has an entire Bioshock Infinite video on it. At the same time, is it really worth it to this extent? Will it be worth it if I pick up the game and feel bored for 50 hours? I don't know.
I think what's most troubling is the narrative issues some people have listed. The Giant Bomb podcast particularly makes it sound more like Kojima is expressing simple ideas in an eccentric way, instead of building upon those ideas in complex and abstract manner. Every theme I guess can technically be simple if you just reduce them to a few sentences of summary, but if Death Stranding doesnt build upon that, and has themes as simple as a random friendship is magic anime game, I don't really see myself loving the narrative/story (because the themes of a story matter to me). Tim Roger's and Easy Allies reviews do convince me a bit, but at the same time I can't say I've bought any games per their recommendation, just that I like their reviews, so I'm not sure if my opinions would match.
I dunno, man. I dunno.
