After a brief tease of new gameplay shown off at Gamescom, Hideo Kojima promised that more gameplay of Death Stranding would be shown at Tokyo Game Show 2019. The 49-minute gameplay demo showcased new gameplay mechanics, equipment, and a brief look at a new enemy.
The demo started off with main character Sam Bridges preparing to leave on an expedition. He has to get himself ready by gearing up and loading up on the cargo he has to carry to a destination. This highlighted the factor of weight that will play a role in how Sam navigates the world. If players set Sam up with too much weight, it may put himself off balance which will hinder his movement. After plotting a course to his destination, Sam tries to traverse through a river but loses balance and begins to drift but regains his footing and picks up his lost cargo. Here is where we learn that stamina will play a key factor in navigating throughout the world. He brings cargo to another location similar to what was shown off at Gamescom and gets a reward in the form of a harmonica which Sam can use while he rests.
After connecting the location to the rest of the world, things become highlighted throughout the map. Then, Sam has to rest as he shoes can no longer be used revealing that equipment will degrade over time. Sam rests, which helps refill stamina but resting also does other things like provides the opportunity to care for the B.B. in case it needs to be calmed down as it was showcased at Gamescom. You can also message your shoulders and sleep which helps bring Sam back to full strength. As he continues traveling, Sam comes across a Postbox which looks to be placed by other players. Here, you can make deliveries, store and equip other equipment that you don’t use or want to leave for other players. One of the new equipment that has been shown off previously in snippets was a mobile carrier that Sam can attach and drag along. Then, he went to a station where his containers were fully restored. It appears that the station was left by another player as well.
After the exploration section, the demo transitioned into combat where Sam went up against a group. Here, we saw a new tool called a Strand which was used to incapacitate an enemy. Then, Sam opened a Postbox and equipped several new types of equipment. He equipped a Skeleton which, depending on which you equip, will augment Sam in different ways. The two that were revealed were a Power Skeleton, which helps Sam carry more things and a Speed Skeleton which will boost Sam’s mobility. He also equipped a Bola gun which can be used to immobilize targets. After dealing with the group, Sam comes across B.T’s and gets taken to the other side which showcases how the game may deal with death. I don’t know if this happens only when taken by B.T.’s but Sam was not alone. There was a new, dog-like creature B.T. that Sam had to fight. Here, another new tool was shown off with the Hematic Grenade. After running out of grenades, Sam was helped by another player and after defeating the creature returned to the real world. The demo ended with Sam finishing his delivery at another UCA facility where he was able to rest and get fully recovered from his travels.
Before the gameplay demo, a new trailer was released which is called “The Briefing”. The scene essentially reveals what the main story of the game will be about. The official description on the game’s website reads: “In the near future, mysterious explosions have rocked the globe, setting off a series of supernatural events known as the Death Stranding. With otherworldly creatures plaguing the landscape, and mass extinction imminent, it’s up to Sam Porter Bridges to travel across the ravaged wasteland and save humanity from impending annihilation.” Death Stranding will release on November 8, 2019, exclusively for the PlayStation 4.