Really enjoyed the game but tbh I preferred it from the start having less gear in the inventory, it got too easy and less about route, inventory management once you started to unlock alot.

The biggest quality I look for when deciding on buying a new game is if it makes me want to take a drill to my temple due to boredom. Yup, numero uno best feature a game can have is just being plain and outright unfun.

I'm glad opinion piece stories like this exist so we can all see the best opinions in the market place for ideas. Unfun and repetitive games... if only every game could be a Hideo Kojima "Masterpiece"!

one day i'll buy this game but that day is awhile off.

I found it fun, so...

I can't stop playing. It's highly addictive

Alot of games are not fun but that doesn't mean they r not good. Havent played yet but definitely buying. I didn't think outer worlds was fun but i loved it and was a great experience. Same with Detroit. Wasnt fun but i loved it.

The gameplay is certainly engaging if you take your time and try to understand all of the systems in place. it regularely introduces new tools and strategies, but leaves it to the player to experiment with them. Some things are only hinted at and some are not explained at all. I'm still discovering new stuff almost everyday, whether it is a mechanic I didn't know about, a function of the HUD I didn't pay attention to or even a strategy I come to understand after playing the game long enough.

Here are some examples (Spoilers obviously):

- It took me a long time to understand the effects of EX grenades.

- Yesterday I discovered that there is a double jump in this game I never knew about. If you're wearing an exoskeleton and jump on an even or slightly down-sloped path while sprinting you can actually get a slight boost in midair. The prompt is only there for a very short period of time and I don't think I ever got a tip on how to do it so I never noticed it.

- Did you know that there is a center of mass indicator under Sam's feet in the menu?

- Navigating using the compass is much more interesting. I only opoen the map to look at the general path I want to take and get a look at the topography by tilting the map. The compass functons are incredibly valuable, which might take a while to appreciate. Set a custom mark where you want to go first. Switch between markers in compass mode using left/right on D-pad. It'll show you the distance to the mark but more importantly the altitude changes of the direct path to the mark from where you are standing.

- Riding a carrier to descent from mountains is an incredibly efficient way if you find a good path.

- While structures of other players don't use up bandwidth, I'd still recommend dismantling the ones you don't need for two reasons: The first one is that they might just be in the way. Ziplines that you aren't using are only gonna add a selectable zippoint you'll have to skip every single time. 2 Generators in the same area aren't useful either. The second reason is that I think that the map gets repopulated after a while and might spawn some structures that are more useful to you. Remember that you can desmantle structures from the minimap.

- When finishing up the road remember that you have a lot of chiralium lying around at stations. Especially on the eastern part of the map where you might not need it as much anymore.

There are so many more things I've learned but I think one of the most "fun" aspects of this game is trying to find better ways to traverse the game world on your own. I've seen videos of people playing the game mindlessly, just stumbling from A to B until they find a vehicle and then take that everywhere they go without actually thinking about game mechanics or reading any tips the game proovides. Death Stranding isn't holding your hand and I think hta's a big problem for many people that aren't used to think on their own when playing a game.

bollocks. This is an incredibly engaging AND fun game

Define fun? Killing people, exploding planes, buildings and cars or fighting against terrorists in COD games doing the same raid over and over and over again... or pending countless hours in Minecrap? For me the game is Fun...

Why do a lot of reviewers sound like they're trying too hard to justify liking the game despite not enjoying the experience?

If you had a good time with it and enjoyed yourself then it is by default a fun game. No need to torment one's self and play mental gymnastics because claiming a game isn't fun and subsequently giving it a high score wouldn't make someone's taste in video games and art look more refined.

I had SOME fun, but it was mostly a blend of stress, tension, frustration, and sorrow. But more often than not, the game pulled those strings at the right time. I felt immersed in surreality. I muttered "c'mon Sam..." during "the fight." A game doesn't have to be fun to be enjoyed, just needs a context. If I want fun, I'll play Saints Row.

Wow that fanboy mentality

I never understood the question: is a videogame fun? Is it good or bad is the real question. Some of the classic movies are serious in subject and content and yes they are good and great movies and only and idiot would ask themselves if it was fun. That is a non sensical and irrelevant question.

But in a nutshell, a very small shell, I would call Death Stranding the PlayStation's Breath of the Wild in terms of its progressive open world design and concept. People will have their opinion on the gameplay for each game of course. A lot of Zelda fans felt abandoned by Nintendo with BOTW and so did Kojima fans, because each game is a departure of what we've come to expect.

So many similarities between the two when it comes to macro design and reception of the players..

What’s important to me is that a game is engaging and rewarding. If fun is the right term for that then great. If not, then there are plenty of other adjectives that may be a better fit. I guess I’ll find out if Death Stranding is fun after the holidays this year.

I'm enjoying the game & I've put 35 hrs in & I just started ep 4. The game is definitely different & I can see some folks may not understand the game & think it's boring but for me I find the game unique,intriguing & the experience is rewarding in a fun way.

Speak for yourself because I'm having a ball! Absolutely love it and my main takeaway is that in an industry where very powerful companies chase fads it's refreshing to see others actually taking chances.

Kojima is on record before release that detractors would say "it's a walking simulator " and that's within their right (though it'd be taken more seriously if they'd actually played it) but for us who do get it it's an incredible experience!

My main takeaway is the push to make people work together and instead of tearing each other down we're working together and helping each other in out place playthroughs.

Honestly Death Stranding is some of the most fun I've had this generation. I love being forced to get off my Trike, and scale a massive mountain while having to balance myself and figure out the best route, not necessarily the shortest route. Also being able to bring items such as ropes and ladders to help make the journey slightly less daunting.

People seem to love downplaying this game from a design and mechanical perspective, but its actually one of the best designed games of this console generation. Other standouts include MGS V, Hitman 1 & 2.

Mental gymnastics

This is how AI should be used. As a companion rather than a replacement.

It all depends how its used. If its putting people out of work no. But if it can be used to take years off development times by automating stuff such as world making (as long as it looks human designed) then I dont see an issue

Don’t we all Hideo.

Lol queue in the "Hideo will only use it for good" commentary. Cutting development time and costs means cutting people. Cutting people is still cutting people.... Go suck a wet philanthropy sock Hideo.

Again, what other people have said, as long as people don't lose jobs and it just makes their life/game development easier then bring it on.
AI can be used for some really time saving/cost affecting stuff, just don't get rid of hard working people, simple.

Kojima is contributing to the dead internet.... Hack.