Well, I did it everybody…

I’ve spent the last X years as a Death Stranding skeptic. I bought into the “walking sim” thing and really didn’t pay it much attention… Seemed like a good game for some, but not my style.

Enter 2024, where I had a total of 88 air travel hours within 6 weeks. I had no portable gaming device, but I did have my iPhone — so I began to hunt for AAA titles that I could play, and figured I’d give this walking sim a try. If anything, I’d be able to put a couple hours in to say I played and move on to Resident Evil 2.

… Well, I was hooked from the first song that plays. Believe it or not, I put in 20+ hours via iPhone (Razer Kishi controller). I was suspended between: being amazed that my phone was able to actually run this game, how beautiful and expansive the world felt, and the storytelling - both the overall arc and the way that details are withheld to inspire a sense of mystery.

Once things settled, I finished the game off on my M3 Pro MacBook Pro, which played the game at max settings.

I play a lot of AAA titles and only finish a handful because I lose interest. Somehow, out of all games, Death Stranding is then only game I’ve completed in the last year. And it’s now in my top 10 of all time.

What an incredible story. The third act was fantastic, and the final hours of the game almost had me in tears.

So, I guess I’m just here to say — you guys were right. And I’m glad to be a part of the club, just in time for Death Stranding 2.