Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Review – Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
• Host: Greg Miller
• Guests: Blessing Adeoye Jr., Jerrica Hannah
• Episode: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Review
• Release Date: June 23, 2025

1. Introduction and Context

The episode kicks off with host Greg Miller welcoming listeners to the review of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, alongside guests Blessing Adeoye Jr. and Jerrica Hannah from the JK Games podcast.

Greg Miller (00:07):
"Welcome to Your Death Stranding 2 on the beach review. A kind of funny games cast for Monday, June 23rd, 2025."

The hosts share a lighthearted moment about Blessing’s special notebook provided by Kojima Productions during the game preview, highlighting the unique disconnect theme of the game.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. (00:44):
"You're not allowed to connect while we're disconnecting. Connecting the world, connecting Australia, connecting the disconnected world."

2. Playthrough Experiences

Blessing Adeoye Jr.'s Perspective

Blessing shares her extensive playtime and comprehensive engagement with the game, emphasizing how Death Stranding 2 is a direct sequel that addresses and improves upon criticisms from the first installment.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. (08:58):
"As Buckwild, the rules of this universe are there is such conceptual and emotional buy-in from those crafting this story that I can't help but to buy in myself."

She praises the game's enhanced combat mechanics, dynamic weather, upgrade systems, and narrative clarity, culminating in a high score.

Blessing Adeoye Jr. (10:43):
"If I'm going to give this a score out of 10, I'm going to say it's a 9.5."

Jerrica Hannah's Perspective

Jerrica offers her insights, noting significant improvements in pacing and narrative integration, making the story more accessible even to newcomers.

Jerrica Hannah (12:10):
"I can recommend Death Stranding 2 to someone that hasn't played the first game and it be okay."

She highlights the empowering gameplay mechanics and the seamless introduction of new tools and weapons, which enhance her overall experience.

Jerrica Hannah (14:28):
"9.5."

Greg Miller's Perspective

Greg discusses his evolving experience with the game, initially rating it lower but expressing growing appreciation as he delves deeper into the story and gameplay mechanics.

Greg Miller (08:31):
"But I don't want to start there since I didn't even finish it. Blessing, right back to you."

He reflects on the game's ability to engage players differently based on their playstyle, likening his approach to stealth tactics reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid.

Greg Miller (12:01):
"Very easy and almost maybe to a detriment."

3. Gameplay Mechanics

Styles and Approaches

The hosts discuss their distinct playstyles:

• Blessing adopts an aggressive, action-oriented approach, utilizing a variety of weapons and strategies to navigate challenges.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (19:31):
  "I was really impressed when I started listening to other podcasts this morning as well. They're talking, like, Jordan Miller was talking about how he was stealth around, and, like, he played it like a stealth game."

• Jerrica initially hesitates to engage in combat but grows more comfortable using available tools and weapons, appreciating the game's flexibility.

  Jerrica Hannah (23:43):
  "I actually had a lot of fun with the melee later on."

• Greg emphasizes a stealth-focused gameplay, evoking memories of Metal Gear Solid, and expresses a desire for more immersive combat scenarios.

  Greg Miller (30:46):
  "I feel like it's a great game. I think it's a great, great game."

Navigation and Environmental Interaction

The dynamic environments of Death Stranding 2 play a crucial role in shaping gameplay:

• Blessing commends the game's weather systems and environmental hazards that require strategic navigation.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (56:07):
  "There's a harrowing, like, oh, man. This reminds me of driving in a bad storm in real life."

• Jerrica appreciates the varied terrains and the introduction of new elements like overflowing rivers and expandable environments.

  Jerrica Hannah (54:58):
  "The environment, so obviously it's way larger. But as soon as I'd get a new mission to go to a new spot or the direction was a new outpost that I hadn't been to yet was always super exciting to me."

4. Story and Characters

Protagonist and Support Characters

The hosts delve into the narrative depth of the game, focusing on the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, and his interactions with other characters.

• Blessing expresses a disconnect with Sam's character development, feeling he is too quiet and lacks emotional depth.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (40:57):
  "Sam Porter Bridges is too quiet and too like he doesn't have much going on in terms of."

• Jerrica highlights the elevated roles of female characters, praising their emotional depth and narrative significance.

  Jerrica Hannah (83:17):
  "All the women in this game have something very important they're working through. And just like, it's a, you know, everyone talking through emotions and grief and how humans sort of overcome that and find partnerships."

Boss Fights and Villains

The performance of Troy Baker as Higgs is lauded, showcasing compelling villain dynamics.

• Greg admires Baker's portrayal and the spectacle of boss fights, though he criticizes the gameplay mechanics associated with them.

  Greg Miller (43:29):
  "You have such a good live reaction face that I'd love to see you."

• Blessing agrees, noting the visual and environmental integration of boss battles but suggests a need for more engaging gameplay elements.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (69:19):
  "Spectacle wise the boss fights are like 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10."

5. World and Environment

The immersive world of Death Stranding 2 is a focal point, with enhanced dynamic elements making the environment feel alive.

• Blessing praises the realistic weather changes and their impact on gameplay, such as rising water levels during rainstorms requiring different navigation tactics.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (56:17):
  "They have, like, sandstorms and stuff that'll come through and, like, you know, create a way more aggressive environment."

• Greg echoes this sentiment, sharing personal anecdotes about dynamic events like avalanches and their effect on immersion.

  Greg Miller (56:33):
  "I was like, oh, that's a nice touch of like, oh, that's cool that this is happening so this should happen."

6. Improvements from Previous Game

Significant enhancements from Death Stranding 1 are discussed, focusing on user interface and social features.

• Blessing notes the streamlined menu system and the introduction of a more intuitive D-Pad navigation.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (74:04):
  "I think they improve the menu system, like the, like in game menu system."

• Jerrica appreciates the changes in cargo management, highlighting the auto-arrange feature for easier inventory handling.

  Jerrica Hannah (75:11):
  "I do love the prospect of when the game is out for Everybody, probably seeing YouTube videos or TikToks or whatever of people doing crazy shit as far as like what they're building."

• Greg reflects on the smoother integration of online collaborative features, enhancing the sense of community and shared world-building.

  Greg Miller (62:02):
  "It's only me building my own."

7. Criticisms and Areas for Improvement

Despite high praises, the hosts identify areas where Death Stranding 2 could enhance player experience.

Narrative and Protagonist Depth

• Blessing and Greg feel that Sam Porter Bridges lacks emotional depth and express a desire for more engaging cutscenes and character interactions.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (40:58):
  "I find [...] he [Sam] has a lot more going on [...] it'd be fine if it was like a silent protagonist."

  Greg Miller (34:52):
  "I think the narrative plot point to me of like, hey, we're all disconnected from each other and this is a problem."

Combat Mechanics and Boss Fights

• The repetitive nature of combat and the lack of innovative boss fight mechanics are noted as drawbacks.

  Greg Miller (73:57):
  "I think gameplay wise, like, I could see it."

  Jerrica Hannah (71:23):
  "To your point, really, I was looking for more like environmental, like situations that I've had to figure out to destroy a boss, you know. Yeah. Versus me just trying to shoot this thing as much as I can."

Game Loop and Immersion

• The repetitive delivery missions and gameplay loop may detract from the overall immersion for some players.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (37:18):
  "But yeah, you want to talk about this being the direct sequel to Death Stranding 1, like, this is one of the few times, if not maybe the first time on this level that Kojima is making a sequel that straight up."

8. Audience Q&A Highlights

Listeners submitted various questions addressed by the hosts, providing additional insights into the game.

Story Recaps for New Players

• Greg reassures new players that comprehensive story recap videos are available to help them catch up.

  Greg Miller (86:57):
  "You could watch any of the ones that are there. And then, like, in addition to that, maybe watch the one in the game itself just as, like, a final, like, you know, layer of defense to, like, reinforce that."

Zip Lines and Navigation Tools

• Enhancements to zip lines, allowing for more versatile navigation, are discussed, with Jerrica expressing excitement over the new mechanics.

  Jerrica Hannah (75:55):
  "Like, you can change the trajectory of the zip line itself. Like, it can now curve or go up or down."

Female Characters Representation

• The hosts defend the game's portrayal of female characters, emphasizing their depth and importance to the narrative.

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. (84:05):
  "I really like the core cast of women in this game. In fact, I like their vibe and I like their presence more than normal."

  Jerrica Hannah (83:17):
  "All the women in this game have something very important they're working through."

9. Closing Thoughts and Scores

The episode culminates with both guests offering high praise for Death Stranding 2, though Greg maintains a slightly reserved stance as he continues to explore the game.

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. (89:46):
  "This is, for sure, a contender for me and like, I think a guaranteed lock in my top 10 list."

• Jerrica Hannah (88:00):
  "Death Stranding 2 ... one of my favorite games of the year. And once again, it made me cry a little bit a couple times."

Overall Scores:

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: 9.5/10
• Jerrica Hannah: 9.5/10
• Greg Miller: Tentative 8.5/10, pending further playthroughs.

Greg Miller (89:34):
"I think Death Stranding 2 really lives up as a Kojima game as far as what it's delivering gameplay-wise, what it's delivering story-wise."

Both guests express enthusiasm for future content and collaborations, underscoring their commitment to covering Death Stranding 2 comprehensively.

Conclusion

The Kinda Funny Gamescast episode provides a thorough and engaging discussion of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, highlighting its strengths in narrative depth, dynamic environments, and character performances, while also addressing areas for improvement in combat mechanics and protagonist development. With high scores from both Blessing and Jerrica, and promising ongoing exploration from Greg, the episode serves as a valuable guide for gamers considering diving into this highly anticipated sequel.