DEATH STRANDING Creator Hideo Kojima "Really Wouldn't Recommend" Playing Offline
There are only a few days left until the highly anticipated launch of Death Stranding, and now creator Hideo Kojima has revealed that he doesn't recommend playing the game offline. Hit the jump for more info.
With a story and style that Hideo Kojima argues makes the game the first of a whole new genre, Death Stranding is already poised to be the famed directors most ambitious project yet. And as if the surreal plot wasn't enough, the game also features a multiplayer component that's unlike the ones in most titles.
In your average game, multiplayer often incorporates a competitive element of sorts, but in Death Stranding, this element isn't present at all. Instead, the Kojima title takes a more cooperative approach to multiplayer, as complete strangers are able to utilize the structures built by other players during their adventures and gift them with a like.
While this feature further separates Death Stranding from more conventional titles, the lack of competitive play has caused some prospective players to consider playing the title offline. Normally, this wouldn't be a questionable decision, but Kojima recently shared that he doesn't recommend an offline experience.
"You completely lose the support of other players, and it becomes an entirely standalone, single-player experience," Kojima told Famitsu, "We imagine lots of people have their PlayStation 4 systems connected to the internet, so my vision for the game has always been to make it feel like a single-player experience while naturally connecting you to other players. You won't magically reveal a new or interesting wrinkle in the game by not connecting to the internet. People who don't have an internet connection or people who don't like playing online can still play the game, but I really wouldn't recommend it."
In short, although playing online or offline remains entirely up to the individual, not having access to other people's resources may prove to be a hinderance while on your journey. And considering some of the early responses to Death Stranding, this may make the gameplay even more frustrating.
Furthermore, the Metal Gear Solid director has stressed on multiple occasions that this project is largely about the connections between people, so by not playing online you may potentially miss out on some of the game's more thematic elements.