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Building BRIDGES
#34: What a trip.
Ok I know I’m a couple of years late on this one, but man, Death Stranding eh?
Everyone knows Hideo Kojima is no stranger to excess. His Metal Gear Solid games have been celebrated and derided in equal measure for their complex gameplay, movie-length cutscenes and spiralling narratives. But Death Stranding - which I started playing for the first time this week - is really off the scale.
In simple terms, Death Stranding is about making deliveries across a post-apocalyptic landscape in order to bring America's scattered population back together.
In Kojima terms, Death Stranding is about connecting "Knot Cities" to a "Chiral Network" by helping a company called "BRIDGES" deliver cargo across the "United Cities of America" whilst avoiding "Beached Things", "Voidouts", "MULEs" and "Timefall" rain. All with the help of your personal "Bridge Baby", your "DOOMS" condition and your ability to "Repatriate" from "The Seam" after death.
Make sense? Ok good.
It's a lot. And believe me, there's more.
It's unwieldy, convoluted, and to be completely frank, flat-out ridiculous. It also features nearly everything I hate about modern gaming; menus upon menus within menus, an infinite number of items, systems, mechanics and map icons, endless technobabble and a core gameplay loop consisting of little more than fetch quests.
So why can't I stop playing the damn thing? And why am I always thinking about it when I'm not?
As I'm schlepping across its deserted world at a snails pace, trying not to trip over my own shoelaces and spill all of my cargo into a river - again - I'm constantly asking myself "why the hell am I doing this?"
But man, what an intoxicating, evocative world it all plays out in. A world and narrative that is truly, truly unique. It may not make much sense (at least not during the 10 or so hours I’ve played so far), but it is genuinely impossible to predict what's going to happen next, or how the game is going to evolve as it progresses. That's rare. And it's exciting.
Death Stranding certainly isn't for everyone. But what an incredible thing that the games industry can accommodate a big budget, AAA game that is as bold, daring and risky as this. What an incredible thing that a creator as idiosyncratic as Kojima can not only get the nod to make something so personal and downright bonkers, but also the funds and tools to deliver it at this kind of scale and polish.
Think what you will of the game itself (and honestly, I've yet to make up my own mind about it), but the fact a game like Death Stranding exists at all is a wonderful thing. It shows just how far the video game industry has come, and the sheer variety of experiences it can cater for.
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NEWS
Hot Wheels Unleashed leads October 2022's PlayStation Plus games.
Xbox has announced its next round of Games with Gold for October.
HBO has released the first trailer for The Last of Us, offering nearly two minutes of footage from the upcoming TV adaptation.
Valve has announced when Steam's next autumn, winter and spring sales will begin.
Google is shutting down its cloud streaming service Stadia, and will refund all purchases.
The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon will take over the Trafford Centre in Manchester UK with a unique art experience.
Silent Hill: The Short Message has been rated by South Korea's Game Rating committee. Could this be an as-yet-unannounced Silent Hill game?
Amazon has unveiled October's line-up of games available to Prime members at no additional cost.
Sony has confirmed the new PlayStation Stars loyalty programme will launch in Asia today and in other regions next month.
The 17-year-old reportedly arrested on suspicion of hacking Rockstar Games and Uber has pleaded not guilty to charges of computer misuse.
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has found several mobile phone game adverts likely to cause "serious or widespread offence" due to harmful gender stereotypes.
Shenmue: The Animation, which got its debut season in February, has been cancelled.
EA Motive's Dead Space remake will be "one sequential shot" from beginning to end, according to a new EA blog post.
E3 proper will return in 2023. GamesIndustryBiz have all of the details.
Microsoft has revealed a new Mineral Camo Special Edition Xbox controller.
A free PS Plus pack for Fall Guys gifts players new costumes, a celebration, and 2,300 Kudos to spend on cosmetics.
A Finnish study has claimed that our brains sync-up while gaming together.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure PC reveal trailer confirms October release date.
The first two games in the Dark Pictures Anthology series have been given a major update, alongside the release of new versions for current-gen systems.
Ubisoft has delayed its long-awaited pirate game Skull and Bones yet again - this time until 9th March 2023.
DEALS
Alan Wake Remastered is currently 45% off on both the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store.
Sony has launched a Planet of the Discounts Sale, with up to 45% off a host of games both big and small. There is also a Level Up Sale with up to 60% off DLC and add-ons, and a Games Under £15 Sale.
PlayStation's Deal of the Week sees a 25% discount off the new Saints Row.
Sony are still offering 7-day free trials for their new Extra and Premium PlayStation Plus tiers, if you're not already a subscriber.
Xbox has a Super Saver Sale now on, with up to 75% off a host of games, a Fighter Sale, with up to 80% off fighting games, and an Essentials Sale, with up to 60% off what looks like random indie games.
Nintendo currently has over 1000 games on sale at up to 75% off until October 2nd.
Runbow, The Drone Racing League, Genshin Impact Version 3.1, Fall Guys Season 2 and Rocket League are all free on the Epic Games Store.
Steam has a number of current Special Offers including 25% off Kena: Bridge of Spirits, 50% of Half Life: Alyx and more.
More!
Sable: Design Works
Sable is the star of the first instalment of Design Works, a new series of indie-focused art books from Lost in Cult. Celebrating Sable’s one-year anniversary, Sable: Design Works promises to be a full and comprehensive exploration of the game and its stunning art.
Softcover and Deluxe editions are available to pre-order now, with both due to ship in Q2 2023.
Sable: Design Works
NEW RELEASES:
This week the previously Xbox and PC-only Tunic hit PlayStation and Switch. It's a Zelda-inspired isometric puzzle-adventure, and according to Eurogamer's original review, a marvel.
This week also marked the end of an era; the last FIFA to be developed by EA Sports. VGC called it a last-minute winner in their review.
THIS WEEK:
Grounded (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – September 27
Hokko Life (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – September 27
Life is Strange Remastered Collection (Switch) – September 27
The Fridge is Red (PC) – September 27
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – September 27
Tunic (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) – September 27
Deathverse: Let It Die (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – September 28
Brewmaster (PC) – September 29
Dorfromantik (Switch) – September 29
Let's Build a Zoo (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – September 29
Moonbreaker (PC) – September 29
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – September 29
Valkyrie Elysium (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – September 29
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – September 29
FIFA 23 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – September 30
My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure (PlayStation 5) – September 30
Witchy Life Story (PC) – September 30
NEXT WEEK:
Dakar Desert Rally (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – October 4
Overwatch 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – October 4
Deathverse: Let It Die (PC) – October 5
Nier: Automata (Switch) – October 6
No Man's Sky (Switch) – October 7
GAME OF THE WEEK
A randomly selected game each week! Any and all games are eligible for selection regardless of age, platform, popularity, or otherwise.
This week, the honour goes to…
Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
How far would you go to bring back someone you love? Tasked with defeating sixteen majestic, often peaceful creatures in return for the resurrection of a loved one, Shadow of the Colossus is a rare example of a game that forces you to question the very actions it asks of you.
Fumito Ueda's and Japan Studio's spiritual successor to Ico is another timeless, one of a kind classic that combines subtlety and scale like no other.
RECOMMENDED READS
By Graeme Mason - The Guardian
The developer of the text-adventure game on how, at 20, she overcame 1980s misogyny to turn a Tolkien book into one of the most ground-breaking titles in the gaming canon.
By Jennifer Savin - Cosmopolitan
Games are crossing over with fashion and beauty more than ever before – and entrepreneurs Stephanie Ijoma and Jay-Ann Lopez are leading the way...
By EA Motive Staff - EA
Motive defines what they believe is key to this remake, and their approach to bringing back such a beloved and iconic game.
By Patrick Klepek - Vice
One reason a niche website like RPG Site can pay its writers is because it relies on people showing up for puzzle solutions.
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CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS
RPG Stories
Brave Alice - Campaign ends October 1st
A 3D Virtual Tabletop featuring a massive World Builder and Rulesets for all kinds of TT RPGs.
Fusion Retro Books 2023 Annuals
Fusion Retro Books - Campaign ends October 7th
When 3 Annuals became 6 - time for a bumper Annual Xmas this year!
VM2: The Next-Gen VMU
Dreamware Enterprises - Campaign ends October 9th
The Next-Gen VMU for the Dreamcast with Micro-SD storage, upgraded LCD, embedded Battery and Micro-USB port.
The Mysteries of Monkey Island
Third Editions - Campaign ends October 17th
Behind the scenes, stories, jokes and analysis of the Monkey Island games, including many interviews.
RoadOut
Rastrolabs - Campaign ends October 19th
A post-apocalyptic action adventure game. Explore dungeons, fight bandits, and join life-or-death races in the Dead Zone!
Dono's Tale
Super Item Studios - Campaign ends October 27th
an Action-platformer that borrows ideas from the classic 16-bit and 32-bit games to bring a brand experience with a classic feel.
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