Internal Death Stranding 2 Reviews Are Tracking Much Higher Than the First Game, But Kojima Isn't Pleased

I’d find that four out of ten people would love the game, but six would say it was a terrible game. For me, I think that’s a good balance.

I will replace "game" with "the work I'm paid to do" and declare Hideo Kojima as my spirit animal.

LOL this is the most Kojima thing I’ve ever read. You know it’s good when 60% of the players hate it.

If he sticks to his vision, then why would he take it as a negative — on any level — that it’s testing better?

Genius, artist …yea yea yea. But put aside the ego a teeny bit. If you didn’t compromise, maybe take a lil joy in that more people appreciate what you’ve done.

If you did compromise, then that’s on you.

"Hideo Kojima has constantly pushed the barrier of video games, spanning as far back as the decision to make Raiden the main character of Metal Gear Solid 2"

I'd say even before that. It was pretty unusual that MG was a game from the 80s where you were NOT meant to shoot or kill everything in sight and were generally meant to avoid enemies. And then the weird meta stuff on MG2 that was revisited towards the end of MGS2.

Later than that, later than MGS1 even, but Boktai was an interesting thing where the cartridge had a solar sensor on it that powered up your weapon the more sun you were in IRL. The idea being to get gamers to get outside (and also leave the UK if they happened to live there...)

So I‘m what Kojima really hates: someone who doesn’t care.

I think it's because people learned to enjoy the gameplay of DS1, but initially it was like "what?" for a lot of people and they will have marked it down because of that. The test reviewers won't be as confused now the formula is a known one, especially if regular gameplay has been made more "fun"

I still expect it will be absolutely bats*** crazy and alienate, confuse and annoy a lot of players for the hell of it 😅 especially if people see the hype and think "oh, I didn't play the first, but i'll try this one" those people, those are the ones that won't know what's hit them 👀

I am happy to help, then; it certainly doesn't appeal to me. I loved the PS2 Metal Gear Solids, but for the solid gameplay of his 'independent' work, I just can't stand the suffocating, self-indulgent, egotist theatre of the presentation.

This guy is so pretentious.

I find it so weird that people seem to love Kojima. I respect and actually admire the fact that he is one of the few people to be able to make games the way he wants to, and they are truly unique experiences, but he is just so unbelievably pretentious as a person it's irritating.

And this is probably controversial, but (with 0 insider knowledge) I am pretty sure Konami, for all its faults, were right to fire him. Creativity is great, but in the business world you have to adhere to the limitations bestowed on you and your projects. That being said though I think he's significantly better off for it so win/win

I didnt play DS but its good that he does what he want and doesn't pander to what others want him to make.

Hes really good at making terrifying robots though.

@themightyant Agreed. Kojima loves to do things differently. Doing things like putting the CODEC frequency for Meryl (IIRC) on the back of MGS1's actual jewel case in a meta moment of the game, or switching controller ports battling Psycho Mantis and the latter even commenting on any Konami save files on the player's memory card. I loved those little things.

His games aren't for me. I respect that he doesn't care tho.

You can tell Kojima is the kind of guy that only listens to Music Albums that have been shunned by the mainstream sites but get a 9.2 on Pitchfork Media and then hates the band when they get “too popular”

Such a pretentious soul.
Don't you worry Kojima, trust me there are plenty that have zero interest in this game. I am firmly one of them.

If he was spending his own money he'd probably feel different.

An artist should never compromise on his art. Been a fan since Metal Gear Solid 1

Would point out that Peace Walker and MGSV are pretty similar in terms of one iteration to the next.

Kojima is the most obnoxious game director of all time. This guy is so f ing full of himself. What a clown. Death stranding 1 is one of the most
Boring games i have ever played. Not gonna fall for their cool trailers ever again

@Cry_Zero you are in the 60% bracket then.

But he's right - games that everybody seems to love often turn out to be hollow experiences. 81-85% open critic score and a group of dedicated haters are usually the trademark of brilliant gaming experiences

This guy! 😂 Hilarious! Love him! Can’t wait to play!

I hope there's a little less friction with this one. There are aspects of the original I really loved, but I just couldn't get over some of the barriers for me - the meandering pace, the mundane storytelling.

How is any of this pretentious lmao. The guy simply wants to create a game that isn't the same souless, empty, husk of a game as many others people love to play. He's mindful of not making a commercial failure and he's done that, what is pretentious here?

The guy has a 40+ year career and I don't think he's created a single bad game. Call it pretentious if you want, but if anything, people should be taking notes on his approach.

Kojima has his own principle and he stick with it to the bone, which i must give him a salute because it's not easy to do it for 40+ years and became successful in a industry that forced a lot of devs to bend the knee to corporate will and mainstream audience demands. Salute to Kojima 🍻

@ItsAlwaysSunnyyy "I am pretty sure Konami, for all its faults, were right to fire him"

Yeah Konami were right to fired one if not their best golden goose. MGS V: Phantom Pain alone sold 3 million copies in the first week and generated $179 million revenue for Konami, which was bigger than Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World opening box office.

With Metal Gear franchise total sales at 62+ million copies, it already generated more than $1 Billion revenue for Konami. To this day, Konami are still living and profiting from Kojima's legacy. MGS Master Collection vol 1 sold well and i bet MGS 3 remake will sell well too. Without Kojima, right now Konami would scrap the barrel from pachinko machines.

But like you said, Kojima is better off from a sh*tty company like Konami who didn't respect their own devs and legacy.

Art made for the creator and minority is usually better than art made for the majority.
The majority likes things watered down and samey. They want things defined and safe. Push boundaries in art. Make new things.

I'm not saying there isn't room for safe but good on Kojima for wanting to keep pushing.

@get2sammyb the man threw an actual tantrum when people complained about the 1st game how he forgets thos part amazes me

I respect Kojima’s form and style so much. He has an almost unmatched understanding of his mediums.

He wants People to play his games but he's not interested in making something that doesn't appeal to everyone, is that the best business approach mindset?

Kojima makes art not just a video game and art is subjective right.. let the man cook

@PuppetMaster calm down buddy it's not that serious lol

I get it was successful but no one has free reign, there have to be boundaries set otherwise it becomes untenable. But you're free to have your opinion, just don't try to emulate him at work lol

I am entirely both unsurprised and completely amused by this article 😹