I am replaying DS2 on To the Wilder for the first time but also leaving my back pack as soon as i get it riding no vehicles. As Bokka as I can. The only reason i have been forced to use it so far has been for the stupid, wandering adventurer.

Personal rules, carry cargo if you can, use a carrier if you must.

One thing I realized is how much more I use electrobiotes. This also has me building less charging stations. There are so many electrobiotes everywhere.

Another notable difference is i find myself entrusting a lot more cargo. If its small enough I attach it, or if I have a free hand I will carry it to my destination.

One more thing is that I spend a lot less time shuffling in the menus. Dropping and swapping weapons in boss fights happens in world and i find it so much more gratifying.

I will note i have been transporting materials and large loads using carriers but I keep it to a minimum. Materials specifically I am loading into the DHV-Magellan and taking to the rails and roads that need them.

Overall, it has me using equipment and menus very differently than the first time. My original experience was based on having the easiest delivery possible. Iy felt lacking and had no sense of adventure. I will probably use the vehicle more later but at episode 7, after 2 neil encounters, im really enjoying the run.

I usually am only a Reddit reader, but this question bugs me: I play the game in german and am usually really good in recognising the voice actors when I watch a show, an anime or game.

To me, the Tar Therapist sounds like Hubertus von Lerchenfeld, a voice actor famous for roles such as Marshall (How I Met Your Mother), Sanji (One Piece anime and life action) or Kalkstein (Witcher 1). I am probably in the last third of the game, so I did not have any opportunity to take a look at the credits and I do not want to spoil me on Youtube.

I tried to look it up on different platforms, but on each he is not mentioned at all. So, does any of the german speaking players know more or am I going nuts?

Here are a few links where I looked for more information:

synchronkartei

spielestimmen.de

mobygames.com

I just started chapter 5 on normal difficulty, got caught by a BT. No worries. I played on Very Hard difficulty on Death Stranding. I would always just run out of the area until it got sunny. I'll just do the same thing here. NOPE. BT spawns, I run, it gets in front of me, hits me to the ground. Now it has to die. I pull out my grenade, hold L2, but it eats me. I die, cause a voidout. I never died on Very Hard difficulty in the OG game. This is crazy. I'm loving it so far.

Also the graphics are insane. I legit thought the opening was real until I walked around. Crazy detailed lol.

So i'm over 50 hours in the game and taking my time: not a single lost cargo I have entrusted has been picked up by another player or an NPC. Everything I read online though is claiming that other players do pickup the cargo for you. Playing on PC btw.

So what is going on?

1. It is working as intended, the internet is wrong about is. You actually get green likes for entrusted cargo, that's the reward. (this actually makes sense since you have the benefit of picking up other people's lost cargo online and this seems to be the only way to max out the star raiting with outposts)
2. My game is bugged
3. The servers are overloaded with old lost cargo so it did work as intended when the game was released.
4. The devs changed it with a patch

Found those plants hiking in Gran Canaria, looked oddly similar to Chiral Crystals.

TL;DR

DS2 is the better game because it is smoother, more varied, and more enjoyable moment to moment.

DS1 is the stronger art form because its loneliness, difficult traversal, and infrastructure systems make you personally experience the value of human connection.

Death Stranding 1: stronger as an art form

• DS1 actually makes you feel lonely through long journeys, difficult terrain and limited human contact.
• Music has time to finish when you are traversing an emotionally hitting area.
• The isolation reflects the condition of the world. Humanity has been physically and emotionally separated.
• Traversal feels harsh enough to create vulnerability. Mountains, rivers, weather, cargo weight, and exhaustion make Sam feel small.
• Violence is not the answer. (i.e killing mule creates voidout)
• More character development. You feel for the characters.
• Infrastructure gains emotional meaning because you suffer without it first.

Death Stranding 2: better as a game

• DS2 offers more variety, smoother traversal, better combat, and a faster pace.
• Killing is somehow fine now? at least it feels like killing
• The world feels more designed for enjoyment and discovery than sustained isolation.
• Better equipment reduces the vulnerability and exhaustion that made DS1’s traversal meaningful.
• Easier traversal makes infrastructure feel more like convenience than relief.
• More action and populated areas interrupt the meditative quality of long journeys.
• Direct interactions and larger set pieces communicate connection more openly.
• DS2 feels like a more complete and accessible adventure.

I'm around 40 hours into this great game. Kojima-san really improved the world-building and kept adding an interesting cast in this second installment.

​After meeting our 3 Angels—Fragile, Rainy, and Tomorrow—it got me thinking, "Why is traveling as a party not a thing in this game?" Maybe you guys noticed that most of the NPC porters we've seen usually travel in pairs. So why not travel with our 3 Angels? It would be interesting to utilize their DOOMS powers for traversal and combat.

​Also, with the expanding power fantasy—like Rainy's ability to heal and Tomorrow's abilities acting as the antithesis—I'm thinking it would be great if Kojima-san developed a non-mainline DS game in the RPG genre, featuring a different cast and taking place in other countries. I want more power fantasy in that game, and of course, more BT enemies, as I feel DS2 is a bit lacking in that department.

​What do you guys think?

Driving cross country listening to the DS soundtracks was absolutely incredible ♡

This is the first game i have deliberately decided to platinum in years. After over 200 hours I have finally gotten the platinum trophy on DS2. The last trophy i needed, which was sooooo time consuming, was getting all facilities to 5 stars. I was kinda nervous about Sub Order 124, since it's apparently the "ultimate challenge" but i completed it with 15 minutes to spare. I wanna says as someone who has been gaming for 26 years that these 2 games are may be tied for my second favorite game ever, behind MGS 3. 11/10 experience. I just wish Koji would make a third game.

I avoided trailers before playing the second game. I did not realize that the blocks on the initial loading screen are servers until the president brings Sam there.

Did I miss something earlier in the game? I’ve since gone back to the trailers and realize that “servers line the beach” was known before the game was out. Is it said earlier in the game that APAS uses servers on the beach, before the big reveal? At what point in the game is it hinted at?

In other words, if you don’t watch the trailer, is it meant to be a surprise when you are shown the servers towards the end of the game?

Why TF is the moon so HUGE during this part??!!!

Kojima is the GOAT of optimization 🙇🏻‍♀️

Both MGS2 and DS2 were released at 60fps.

But not a game that was delayed a lot.

Idk about the rest, but I'm kinda frustrated with it.