Initiating the Gamescom gameplay trailer, following a restful nap ("Just a little longer..."), Death Stranding's main protagonist Sam Porter (played by Norman Reedus) listlessly rises from the earth only to turn and immediately urinate into an open river bank.
The new gameplay is replete with all of the best visuals Death Stranding has to offer, from rolling landscapes and beautiful physics to bridge babies and even an unexpected hologram of Gamescom's own Geoff Keighley. The game not only looks astoundingly beautiful, it feels far more real and streamlined than we could have ever believed possible. The excitement, although already at critical levels, is tearing through Germany like a storm, and the only other person there more excited than the rest is the face behind the madness itself.
Returning to Gamescom after a 5-year hiatus, Kojima showed off not only brand new gameplay and 2 extra trailers but his signature witty, fun personality. Kojima stated, in a lighthearted, joking manner, "I'm kind of thinking of showing the gameplay at the Tokyo Game Show." Not long after a few cries of anguish burst from the crowd, Kojima smiles and raises his hands and adds, "But, but, but...Since it's Geoff's show and everyone's so excited, I would like to show you just a little bit."
A "little bit" turned into over 6 minutes of gameplay, along with 2 more character trailers that turned Gamescom into a frenzy. Similar to the Heartman spotlight, these two new showcases were of in-game footage, wherein Sam meets MAMA (played by Margaret Qualley) and Deadman (portrayed by Guillermo del Toro). In both, the worldwide audience is shown some interesting new concepts, like BT babies and bridge baby incubation. Already resplendent with peeing mechanics, two traversable worlds, creative scenarios, ingenious characters, and villains of every shape and size, Kojima's upcoming project intends to revitalize the gaming industry with a whole new look at in-game realism and character functionality.
Aside from the mesmerizing visuals, the gameplay trailer also focuses on these dynamic mechanics. Later in the clip, Sam even falls off a cliff face to display the physics of this world, as well as how pain applies to the character. It looks and feels real. While we all might find the in-game urinating thing quite funny, it actually makes complete sense coming from the brilliant mind of Hideo Kojima. It's something we have never seen before in gaming, one that very well might reshape the very landscape. Think about it: pissing contests with your buddies in multiplayer online matches...I can already see the memes waiting to be born.
Speaking of birth, babies are a huge focal point in the game, as well as the obvious death. Pitting these two themes together, Kojima is displaying creativity in its purest form by bending genres together, reshaping the narrative, and introducing unique concepts that challenge us as players into looking at a game more like an experience. While we all might be playing the same game, every single other player will have loads of varied conquests and choices that make their playthrough special. Not only do I find that ingenious, but I also think it's extremely refreshing in an industry wrought by greed and big business.
I'll probably be holding my pee until November 8th.