Death Stranding Director's Cut raised quite a few eyebrows when it was announced during Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest stream. After all, isn't Death Stranding already pure Kojima? What more could the veteran video game creator want to include in a re-release? Well, as it turns out, the Director's Cut is getting a lot of additional content, including new gadgets, new combat encounters, and even new story chapters.
But Hideo Kojima isn't a huge fan of calling the project a 'Director's Cut'. The auteur has taken to Twitter to explain his stance, and the posts make for some interesting commentary. He writes: "A director's cut in a movie is an additional edit to a shortened version that was either released reluctantly because the director did not have the right to edit it, or because the running time had to be shortened."
"In the game, it is not what was cut, but what was additionally produced that was included. Delector's Plus? So, in my opinion, I don't like to call "director's cut".
In other words, Kojima thinks that the term 'Director's Cut' has certain expectations attached to it — expectations that don't necessarily match what you'll find in this new version of Death Stranding. What we're getting isn't Kojima's original vision or anything like that — it's just a bigger, better version of Death Stranding, that includes all kinds of stuff that the team has been working on since its release in 2019.
It's worth noting that Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is also a thing, so 'Director's Cut' could be a Sony initiative that Kojima has to go along with. Could The Last of Us: Part II - Director's Cut be next? At this point, we wouldn't be surprised.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 63
Not played the game but everyone says it’s a walking sim!
Last good game he produced was Metal Gear Solid 4 which I’d love to play again
@Luigia A walking-with-a-very-heavy-backpack sim
@Voltan @Luigia And falling over ALOT sim
@ShogunRok this is an off topic but I haven't seen anywhere that has been reported about the Gran Turismo 7 Beta Test Italia? It's on the PlayStation Experience website, watching a vid for 7 seconds to give you the reward for a Beta code. Think this maybe only available to Italy but I am not sure.
Edit: source https://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-7-beta-test-appears-on-playstation-website/
@lolwhatno
the story? - Batsh*t crazy. I think its the end of the world, some kind of monsters/aliens/ghosts. It's pure Kojima madness. Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
the combat? (heard that there is next to none if any) - Bit of shooting. But hardly any. 100hrs walking, maybe 1 hour combat.
the gameplay? (walking?)... and walking and walking. Some driving (eventually) some building (roads, bases)
can any fan explain the game to me? - I wasn't a fan. I completed it, but it's basically post apocalyptic postman pat, with weird monsters popping up.
However. A fan will say the exact opposite of what I've just said, and will call it a masterpiece.
It's not a Directors Cut. It's a Strand-Type Cut.
What I would love next in the TLOU2 world is a game like Lost Legacy starring Abby and Lev. Either once they hit Santa Barbara or a mid-quel that takes place during their journey as they sailed from Seattle to California.
@nicc83 I play games for the emotion, world aesthetic and music and story. This game just sucked me into the lore it created and the beauty of the gray and rain-covered world was just something I loved exploring. Everyone likes different things.
@lolwhatno It’s sort of an acquired taste. There’s certain aspects to the gameplay loop which almost create a zen state of mind when playing. It’s a soothing game. It’s frustrating and overlong at times, sure, but that’s part of the experience. It’s meant to force you to persevere and take a difficult road sometimes. It’s really unlike anything else in gaming. It’s by no means a simple walking sim as many would attribute to the game.
On top of that, there’s a really interesting story with excellent characters. Sure, it’s off the wall, but that’s what Kojima does. It’s very surreal, but muted. There’s nothing else like it. You’ll either love it or you won’t.
And he’s absolutely right.
Extended Cut would have been the better and more precise way for the naming.
It’s the same with Ghost of Tsushima.
@hoffa007 Yeah we've seen it, we're trying to get more info then we'll probably do a story on it. Thanks for the heads up all the same!
I guess the next in line for these directory cut games could be Bloodborne and the last of us 2 (with Multiplayer mode or even an Singleplayer DLC).
@Steel76 i think Sony are jumping on the 'release the cut' trend. Probably think it sounds fancier than remastered or upgraded
Can't we just forget about these PS4 games now?!?! :-/ You know, 'move on' to spending everyone's time in making new PS5 games??? Saying that I haven't played Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us 2 yet (they are my last 3 big PS4 games I will be playing next and then I will have finally finished my PS4 back-log) Still not sure what version to get of these tho.
@ShogunRok ah ok well that's no worries 😃
Seems like a Sony marketing bad idea to name special editions “director’s cut”. Funny thing one of the most famous director’s cut in movies is Blade Runner’s and you can read the whole story of this here if you’re into these things https://screenrant.com/blade-runner-movie-multiple-versions-cuts-differences-explained/
… where you see that it’s not the first time the Director’s cut is not from the director!
@Carl-G try the Marketing Team Cut lol
Ultimate edition is the next best name for those kind of names.word up son
I entirely agree with this. I LOVE film directors cuts, but a "directors cut" is 100%, inarguably, not what these PS5 games are. I wish they would've used different terminology for sure. A rare miss for Sony though.
Death stranding Subsistances
If Kojima doesn't like it being called Directors Cut, then why did he call the game that then? It's the game he made.
@lolwhatno I'm usually not a big fan of open world games, but this one clicked for me. I think it's because you can essentially set the difficulty yourself. The more cargo you take on your journey, the harder it becomes. But the trade-off is that you can complete more quests simultaneously, or in a shorter amount of time, so I kept pushing myself to go for the limit every time, and the result was a very challenging game.
The reason why ''people'' call it a walking sim is because you do deliveries. But it's not as easy as walking from one place to another. The terrain can be a giant obstacle, and the more cargo you carry, the harder it is to balance yourself. You're always engaged with the game, because you have to keep adjusting your balance and watch the terrain. That's why it's completely different from mindlessly walking from A to B, like in any other open world game.
There are enemies and monsters, and there is combat, you can avoid it, you can engage in combat, it's all up to you. You can get more resources, upgrade stuff, build stuff, build vehicles, roads, charging stations, etc.
The story is absolutely mental. It doesn't make a lot of sense I think. There's some logic to it, but it's all so weird. It was definitely fun to experience, and it wasn't bad, just incredibly weird. But in the end there's coherence in the story, and there is lore that kinda makes sense. But again, it's just very absurd. I liked it quite a lot, but I can see that it's not for everyone.
Pretty genius these new 'directors cuts' Sony's coining. Basically a short cut to a game of the year edition where instead of releasing a steady flow of dlc support for an existing game and then selling it as a full package a year later at usually a lower price, they can throw it all into one full release and charge £60-70 again. Add a nice little upgrade price that you can only get with this 'directors cut' version. And also fill out the calender with a 'new release'. It's pretty cool cause all those that called out remedy at the start of this gen for releasing control 'ultimate edition' under the reasoning that the standard edition couldn't handle the next gen patch...now get to defend Sony for marketing the same as 'directors cuts'.
@Luigia it would have been better as a pure walking sim for me personally the enemies are irritating rather than threatening
@somnambulance I think that's the best way to explain the game. I played it and enj9oyed it and the bits I enjoyed most were the almost zen like traversal through the world. Fixing my load, making sure I was ready for any eventuallity and building my network of zips so I could then easily make deliveries etc. I almost would have preffered it with no combat at all. It's not a perfect game by any stretch of the imagination (any game where you have to inventory management in the middle of a boss fight is a no-no to me) there were sharp cuts in tone and gameplay that left me with whiplash and too many repetitive cutscenes but overall I enjoyed the game. I mean, that moment you crest the hill, after struggling so much, and you see Port Knot City in the distance and then the music kicks in. 'chef's kiss'
Potential spoilers below.
I got as far as the part where I had some ‘strange person that looks VERY familiar’ handed me to deliver a…..let’s call it a ‘boombox’.
Can anyone tell me how far I am into the game? I’ve been meaning to get back into it….but it wasn’t that fun besides the cool looking bosses and cutscenes haha.
@lolwhatno I played a fair bit but need to go back to it. It's an open word game where the aim is to deliver packages in as best a condition as possible - figuring out the best possible path to get there along the way.
There's combat, but it's not the focus.
There's a lot of busy work filling out the game...back tracking ect. The games beautiful, so you may not mind the slow pace so much (I didn't), but there's not a huge sense of discovery.
The cutscenes are pure over the top Kojima greatness. The story is pure over the top Kojima confusing. Basically used as an excuse to show something cool.
The soundtrack is great.
It's biggest selling point is the implementation of 'co-op'...basically other players can effect your world...either positively or negatively (think the hint system in demon souls)...where they can leave bridges for you to cross or ladders ect.
There's some horror elements to it. And a leveling up mechanic to make getting around less frustrating.
It's worth giving a chance to as there's nothing else quite like it out there. It just may not be the most exciting game you'll ever play.
@Bleachedsmiles This is a good description. Unfortunately I found the core gameplay not to be my thing and never got very far but the setting is an amazing piece of very confusing sci-fi, the world is very pretty and the music is fantastic.
Im not a kojima fan but i very much enjoyed Death stranding I didnt get into it till about chapter 4 then something clicked when everyone got together and made a road together which made delivering easier and then it all just clicked deliver it how you want build what you want
loved it
Am I the only one here struggling with "Delector's Plus"? Like, pardon?
@Stragen8 you're about 15-20% there.
If the extra content was planned but not produced by the original release date due to time constraints, then it was cut for time reasons. If Kojima did not have absolute control over the original release date, then one can argue that the original was released before Kojima could get the new content in. If all that, then the new release is a Director's Cut.
@Trisque oh boy….does it get more enjoyable the further you get? Once I got a few vehicles I was enjoying it was more haha.
He's not incorrect. I found the naming to be quite odd due to to reasons given.. But its mainly to capitalize on his popularity as a director.
@Iroha Honestly, Death Stranding may be my favorite game I’ve ever played. Is it flawed? Oh, absolutely, but it just hit me so deeply. I struggled with getting through chapter 3 for a long while (and I do think it was Kojima’s intention to make that section a slog), but then I had a death in my family, and I just zoned out and played the game for a few days in-between everything else going on and it was absolutely therapeutic.
@Luigia Well it is a walking sim... but it's so much more than that, too. It's like calling GTA a game where you steal cars, or Red Dead a game where you ride horses in the Old West.
@Stragen8 well, vehicles and those metal skeletons get upgraded, and more weapons become available to you as you progress, but the combat still isn't very good. You obtain more efficient vehicles, and I liked those. The story really picks up (even if it still doesn't quite make sense), but only after a couple of terribly slow and painful middle chapters in a certain location. You'll have to put up with a bit to get to the (imo) more interesting second half.
@nicc83 @lolwhatno Does every movie you watch have to be full of pew pew action? It’s a very deep and meaningful story. The character development is amazing and the way it all comes together almost had me in tears.
It has a slow pace that sets in you the game and really places you in the role of Sam. He isn’t a glamorous action hero, he has a job to do where things get crazy sometimes, but the game never forgets it’s a courier needed to reconnect America. The game also has plenty of danger sequences, often stealth to avoid BTs or you have crazy people trying to kill you to take your packages. These are best avoided and gotten out of quickly. There’s no big benefit to them, which is the beauty of the game. You want to avoid danger and do your job, and a job it is. Think of a slow paced movie or book that’s considered a masterpiece. It’s the same idea.
The world also starts to make sense over time. It’s very well thought out and gives you answers at the right pace.
It’s a very unusual game, but you go in for art, not for action style entertainment. Not all movies/books need to be that fun, nor do games.
@JapaneseSonic You killed me with that response. 😂
@Trisque thanks! I guess I’ll give it another go! I’m in between some games now anyways so it’ll be a good filler for me! Haha
I’m gonna try it, that state of play trailer actually sold me more than anything else I’ve seen on the game, walkthroughs etc
Let's call it what it is: a little bit of DLC bundled in to stop free upgrades
@Luigia Calling it a walking sim is oversimplifying it by a lot.
Still waiting for it on the PS plus or now lineup. Noway I'm buying something I'm 70% sure I won't like.
Absolutely loved it first time around, one of the best atmospheres I've "felt" since ocarina of time, the original tomb raider, hollow knight... Can't wait to do it again but there's a part of me that is worried a second play through will spoil it for myself. Won't be able to say no though.
TLOU 2 though?... That could do with a director's trim down if anything, felt like it dragged on an turned into a bit of a slog, but maybe that was the point with it being so grim overall.
@somnambulance Absolutely, sometimes you just love a game! For whatever reason. I'm like that with FF15. I know the general concensus is that it's rubbish but I loved every. single. second in it. Don't ask me why cause I can see the points other people make about the game but it just grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. So few games do that nowadays. Anyhoo, I'ma gonna re-download DS and mopp up the last trophies for the plat now. Talking about it has put me in the mood! lol
I think everybody know that Director's Cut is only a branding for this new "ps5 games + dlc of sony 1st party games".
@Iroha FFXV is incredible. I don’t understand the hate on that game at all. Maybe it’s because I played it late after it got patched, but seriously it’s in contention for being my favorite in the series and that’s one of my favorite series. You’ve got good taste!
Well would you look at that, even Hideo agrees with me.
DIRECTOR'S CUT: adv. no way it is a free upgrade. ('it is 70$, Michael. And you already have this game' 'but it is the Director's Cut, mom.)
It would make sense it's a Sony push. They seem hellbent on turning video games into an extension of the film industry. sigh Sony wants games to become movies, EA and Ubi want games to become gambling, Nintendo wants games to become brand memorabilia.....does anybody want to make video games anymore?
I haven't played the game, but imo, years of hype turned out to be a boring walking simulator from the famous MGS director! Now an extended version? And the director not happy about the title? Wake up HK and give us sth interesting instead!
@Luigia Define "everyone".
Confirmation bias at its finest.
@lolwhatno I think that's why I really enjoy the story. It's as batshit crazy as the original Neon Genesis Evangelion, and I love it for that.
@2here2there "I haven't played the game, but here's my opinion on the game"
Makes sense
That was my first reaction too. In the end, it doesn't really matter, but Director's Cut is kind of dumb.
@JapaneseSonic The guy does make brilliant content but he is quite content with himself thats for sure.
the first strand-type director's cut
If there would be a director's cut I suppose it'll still be in development xD
@wiiware @Robbirtles @Bleachedsmiles @Ghostngoblins @Carl-G @Danloaded @Reeneman @ShogunRok It definitely seems like Sony/PlayStation is doing a rebranding of PS4 to PS5 first party remasters as "Director's Cuts".
Hopefully the next two games to get this treatment are Bloodborne and The Last of Us: Part II.
Another two game deserving of this treatment are obviously Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War.
@KidBoruto oh yeah, we're definitely going to see an horizon, last of us, god of war 'directors cut'. Bloodborne is already being rumoured. These re-releases are going to bolster the ps5 library this year as I reckon we can expect the new horizon delay announced soon.
it's not a director's cut when the director wasn't involved in making the extra content...
@guitarpete987 I take back my comments as Red Dead 2 is way more than a cowboy sim 😂
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