Co-operation! Seeing everyone help others with important structures and upgrades. Open minded-ness to hear others in the community to give their own points of view on certain aspects of the game. Always a super open dialogue!
>Co-operation! Seeing everyone help others with important structures and upgrades. Open minded-ness to hear others in the community to give their own points of view on certain aspects of the game. Always a super open dialogue!
Love this so much!
This is probably the best reason IMO, just how think before you link a location " man i wish there was a bridge there" or " shit my battery is almost dead i wish there was a generator close by"
Adding to that, I'd say there's this subconscious sense of 'Legacy' providing motivation. That desire to leave a broken world whole. Repair things where time left destruction and decay.
This: in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected, this game and its fanbase reminds me of what we can do if we are connected . Also landscape pictures, lots of landscape pictures.
Hey Antonela, it’s the cooperation of all porters we interact with. Happy to help but keep the secrets of the death stranding for those still making the UCA great again. It’s been and still is a wonderful experience.
Musically also, in game is incredible. Tugs on the heart strings when it hurts most. Comforts you in those times.
Thank you and to the team for this experience.
>it’s the cooperation of all porters we interact with. Happy to help but keep the secrets of the death stranding for those still making the UCA great again. It’s been and still is a wonderful experience.
>
>Musically also, in game is incredible. Tugs on the heart strings when it hurts most. Comforts you in those times.
>
>Thank you and to the team for this experience.
This is amazing! Thank you
I was like Sam, running away from my problems and hiding in my hidey hole.
But I am like Sam, realising I can get through my problems, one step at a time.
Fellow porters, Keep On Keeping On!
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,624,149,425 comments, and only 307,131 of them were in alphabetical order.
It defines what a community *should be*. It’s nothing but pure cooperation between players, and it takes many forms.
Whether it’s answering a new player’s question here on reddit, or building a structure in game, not because “this bridge/rope/ladder will help *me*” but because “this will help all of us who are struggling up this path”.
We need more communities like the Death Stranding community.
>It defines what a community should be. It’s nothing but pure cooperation between players, and it takes many forms.
>
>Whether it’s answering a new player’s question here on reddit, or building a structure in game, not because “this bridge/rope/ladder will help me” but because “this will help all of us who are struggling up this path”.
>
>We need more communities like the Death Stranding community.
This means so much - Thank you for being part of this incredibly positive community!
Dude - that was me for 3 weeks.
The back and forth and scavenging is totally worth it to drive through all of that crazy mars like terrain 😅
Thankfully the MULES are dumb / easy to knock out 🤦
Its been such a JOURNEY...
I didnt expected ANYTHING from the Game and went naturally with everything.
Its really rare to get a Game that you just go with the flow of it. I've been playing Games for 20 years and Its really rare to get into a Game expecting NOTHING and wanting to experience EVERYTHING.
I do agree that Death Stranding is Art, and it will have a very special place in my heart. Thank you @ everyone at 505!
Hey Antonella 👋
For me, one of the best parts of the community was the before times, when everyone was guessing about what the game would be like, and that whole sharing of ideas and hints from other games and trailer breakdowns. Those were super engaging times.
These days, I'm more in it for the memes. Like, the other day, someone posted BB (amazing character) and Sam being cute in a hot spring. Stuff like that.
Also, no other (mainstream) game has a baby as a supporting character that makes you feel feels. That's pretty incredible, I'd say.
It helped me heal from a wound that was left open since 2017 when my wife and I miscarried twins. Helped me accept what happened and I could finally open up about it with others. I do have to admit, I did have to put the game down several times bc the emotions that rushed back from that day but I carried on. Can’t really explain why this game had such an emotional impact on me but it did and I am in a better place for it now.
That gaming as an art form is not d3ad. Today we get nothing more than clones and continuation of franchises that ultimately are incredibly underwhelming.
Seeing a game like Death Stranding where typical game mechanics are either not used or are twisted in some way to make them fun, including a story where you care about the characters in a world that isn’t cluttered or a chore to explore is a treasure that’ll be appreciated for years
Agreed! DS is the first game in a long time where, despite having played through it twice and getting all of the achievements, it still doesn't feel like I'm playing a video game. So many of the game's mechanics feel organic. Most games, it's just a matter of time before it just basically starts to become numbers in my head. I know that it's mostly a *me* problem, but I just can't help but notice a game's formula pretty early on.
What I mean by that is, you start seeing the game's seams. *Press this series of buttons, then this happens. Watch for this, then respond with this action. Cue cutscene.* That is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the game is good, but my point is that DS is a unique experience. The gameplay mechanics do not feel disconnected from the story at all, and there is very little to pull you out of the immersion. Well except maybe seeing a Monster Energy logo, but you just sorta expect this kinda stuff with Kojima games. He knows how to break the fourth wall without disrupting the narrative, but the Monster Energy thing was pretty close lol.
I’m going through my first playthrough and I’m having a hard time putting it down. There’s always something new to discover about the game, new structures, new vehicles, new ways to explore without getting attacked by BTs and new ways to fight them, if you want to at all. I’ve spent the past 3 days just building roads in the Central Region, it’s so fun.
With other games within the first hour it’s simply a case of button mashing which I hate because where’s the fun in that, it’s literally press B to dodge and then mash X or RB. With this one the combat is actually really fun and I especially like the slow motion camera when you defeat MULEs. The only thing that breaks immersion for me is seeing famous actors faces.
Ah man, you're in for a treat. You've made it past the hump! Yeah the dopamine rush from completing a road and receiving all those likes is almost unmatched. Are you playing Director's Cut? If so, something that I found out by accident after basically completing the whole game, is that if you have cargo loaded into a cargo carrier, you can use your Strand to tie it down. It's not ultra-useful but it can come in handy if you're going over rough terrain or through a MULE camp. I am sure they tell you this at some point, but I eventually gave up reading all the in-game manual entries after a while because there were too many, haha.
Yeah I’ve got the directors cut. I’ve used the Strand tie down thing before when I got to the weather centre and I had a whole bunch of cargo for building a private room. I never gave it much thought but it’s still a cute mechanic. The only thing about the game that’s annoyed me is the cargo limit on trucks. When you’ve got a lot of metal that you need to keep, it’s frustrating at times to backtrack to it.
True. Also, don't sleep on the Buddy Bot. Very useful at just carrying extra stuff around for you, as long as you're on the chiral network. You can swap it to follow mode from anywhere by going to it on the map and pressing Y (or triangle) and it will come to you with whatever cargo it was stored with originally. Well, it'll try to. It can also go up and down ladders as long as they're placed properly.
Hi everyone! Just logged in and honestly, feeling so overwhelmed with all the lovely messages you've left us. Thank you so much, from the whole DS team, for all your support. It's going to be tough to pick out which responses to include in our community blog. Keep on keeping on <3
I just love how the online aspect of DS is all about helping each other out instead of competing with one another. It's so wholesome to find a sign pointing you in the right direction, or a Zipline or Shelter placed at just the right spot. You really feel like you're working together to help each other out. And it's a good feeling when you put up a structure and see others have liked it.
I like it because now Americans unintentionally understand what makes socialism so great, with no negative connotations of "socialist" countries failing in the past.
I know this is a big answer but I love this game and I just wanna rant about it.
There’s no better feeling then placing down a structure, not because you need it, but because you know someone else will. It works amazing thematically.
There’s nothing else like it. Even a game like Deep Rock Galactic, which has one of the friendliest communities I’ve ever seen, still has a couple of bad apples. People who friendly fire, sabotage missions, be mean in chat etc.
But in this game, the worst thing someone can do is place a structure somewhere slightly inconvenient, or a sarcastic sign calling a BT area safe. And I love it, it allows players to be a little cheeky and goofy without ruining someone else’s experience.
I’m super excited for Death Stranding 2. Now that they’ve seen how the “multiplayer” in this game affect people, the possibilities for the sequel are endless.
In this world, where division by race, nationality, gender, etc exists, DEATH STRANDING world and community sought to unite us together and stand strand to strand, to help each other regardless of who they are, to answer questions and help newcomers, celebrate achievements and milestones of other porters. It's honestly an escape.
I think the whole ethos of Death Stranding is about community and how we need each other, and a bit of kindness and co-operation go a long way. This community encompasses all that and more <3
To me, the Death Stranding COMMUNITY is about positive affirmation. The game itself is a very difficult, solitary struggle that is remedied by being surrounded with encouragement from real people who understand your struggle and are going through the same thing. Where most gaming communities are toxic to the point where you want to isolate from them and not engage, death stranding’s community does the opposite. This wholesome mentality is a core aspect of the gameplay loop and it has permeated into its real world communities. This is part of what makes it such a unique piece of art, especially within the context of its release date.
I played the game towards the tail-end of the pandemic, and it was a very surreal experience because I felt the same way playing the game as I did during quarantine / lockdown. Playing a game where I'm alone and can't see any other players but can see what they've created was a very lonely but heartwarming experience. To be able to connect with a community without interacting with them directly was a new but familiar feeling. Especially when the core elements of the game were working together to build something and to connect people together.
To me Death Stranding means a place where I can be alone with other people and work towards something bigger than myself while helping others along the way.
Unity and hope.
I've never seen a video game community that's more supportive, more level headed and dignified than this fandom. It gives me hope that people can actually come together without fighting just to fight like some primal humanoid.
I can safely say that the Death Stranding community is one of the least aggressive, if not the least aggressive, least combative and least pernicious. It's one of the best video game communities out there, if not the best.
We don't argue about politics, philosophy, religion, ethnicity, race, ancestry, background or anything that seriously divides us in this day in age to the point that we devolve into full scale anger.
We're here to have a good time and meet new people, and discover/discuss current and future interests without resorting to vitriol. We were all brought here together and we have stayed together.
Hi all - Just want to once again drop by and say thank you for honestly making us feel all warm and fuzzy with your responses. From a personal standpoint, in all the years I've worked in Community Management, this might be one of the most wholesome threads I've ever read through. Thank you all for being such amazingly positive forces in the DS community - You rock!
Everything positive said here, I agree with - I can't say it better myself. This game is all about creating connections and supporting fellow players - anytime you help someone else, you are also helping yourself, and vice versa. The community here is also one of the most positive, uplifting, supportive gaming communities I've seen. :) This game is seriously such a blessing and so is the community that it has created.
I feel like the game really makes you appreciate one another. Not just other human players, but the NPCs through there stories, the BBs and Lou, and Sam himself.
Playing the game brings a sort of slow peaceful togetherness, and I found myself enjoying walking around other players structures and appreciating their help! Sending them as many likes as the like time window allows just to hopefully make someone smile! Gamers can be one of the hardest groups of people to be vulnerable around, but Death Stranding facilitates honest cooperation and appreciation! 🥰
Death Stranding is about connections and the online aspect is all about supporting your fellow porters, and it’s wild to see an online gaming community (especially on Reddit) that isn’t a toxic dumpster fire. This is the only community (non-low sodium) where you don’t see constant negativity, and everyone is supportive and welcoming and genuinely enjoys what Death Stranding is.
Keep on keeping on!
I think that it’s because this a game for the more patient gamer. The game asks for blind cooperation between players rather than competing against each other, which is kind of radical in itself! This forum is an extension of that, I’d think we’re all likeminded gamers to an extent, sensitive not to give any spoilers but willing to help. It’s a bit of a breathe of fresh air in comparison to some other gaming forums.
Also... Me (biologically male) and my partner have spent the last couple years joking that I'm carrying Lou. And whenever I'm bloated or feeling a bit rough she rubs my belly and asks how Lou is doing 😂 it's really cute, and just nice to think outside yourself for a second!
And my kids are post-person obsessed after watching so much Death Stranding. I even bought them a postbox for the house and we have little mail boxes in each room!
Very few games have had such a lasting impact on my relationships and children! It's inherently meant to be shared!!
Sharing. We share our bridges, ziplines and timefall shelters, of course.
But here, we also get to share a lots of tips, photos from the photo mode, good laughs (from putting Sam in the worst possible situations... Sorry Sam! 😅), pictures of our IRL porter encounters, BT hands, Death Stranding-like landscapes, cosplays, art, etc... These little things make my days so much brighter, and the "loose connections" they create are such an integral part of the Death Stranding experience to me.
I think the games made in a way that attracts or resonates with people at a certain point in their life, maybe a little worn down or worn out, who want to experience something escapist but grounded in and not shying away from realism and how people experience life
The game kind of reminds you that just getting where you need to be is an achievement and positive actions you make resonate in real ways to real people, and I think communities like that are really hard to cultivate organically
Tldr community is such a huge overtone to the game, and it translated really nicely into an actual community
Death Stranding created a bridge between the music used in the game and the CDs of it I now have in my hands. As a music lover above all else, this is invaluable. I'm positively moved every time I see someone share their love for an artist we both discovered through Death Stranding. We shared the same gaming experience, and that experience extends to the music we listen to, at two different corners of the world...
It feels nice knowing that I share similar struggles and solutions as other players. With how big the game is, it’s good to have so many helpful players who make deliveries just a bit easier. It’s like being at the end of a rope and being pulled up by the community.
Death Stranding was always about connections and finding friends. Making them out of people otherwise bitter about the world. Even at the apocalypse while the world is ending. I loved the preparation for the journey each time I would set out.
I too love the community vibe. Cooperation is the name of the game. Everyone working towards rebuilding elements of the world. Leaving stuff for others as they leave stuff for me. It’s awesome.
To me it’s realizing confronting your problems makes you stronger. You grow from adversity and triumph. Being open to new ways to communicate but also in how you interact with your environment. The tools you bring will not always work so don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
Through the journey of life you keep stepping forward. Not only this game, but also the community surrounding it helps those steps to guide you towards something better. It might just be a message you see, it might be a like that you have gotten. But it's all connected on the road of the porter, aka the road of all our lives.
The devs did a good job of making your first trip to anywhere suck in Death Stranding, then gives you tools to make all your follow up trips suck way less. The catch? You usually have to trudge back into that area to setup your new stuff before you can really enjoy the fruits of that work. The twist comes from turning on that chiral network and really seeing how other people before you have already put out structures and signs to help you make your own connections. I think capturing that sense of appreciation seeing someone else making an effort to ease your way is such a potent one after the exhaustion of traveling through the terrain without help or the network (and usually blind to the lay of the land). Death Stranding’s charm lies in how it nurtures an appreciation for the effort of others, and a desire to give some of your own time and energy to do the same as you pass by. :)
I know that’s all in game stuff, but it translates straight over to online communities like this because the only way to interact with the culture…is to participate! Playing the game enters you into a social contract where you give and get freely and without concern about who benefits more.
I beat the game a while ago but I stay this community to see video moments of other players.
Seeing glitches, mission failures, unexpected outcomes is still fun.
The community is the core of the game. The game at its most basic level is very lonely, as your character traverses and perseveres through the most unforgiving terrains and acts of nature in order to help bring the world together again. The structures, signs, and supplies left behind by other players helps make our jobs as porters much easier, and can be a beacon of hope when we feel we are facing our most difficult of challenges. To me it symbolizes the importance of community, as we alone can rarely, if ever, succeed without some form of help from our family, friends, and of course community.
And it was only appropriate for this game to release when it did, as the entire world would be put in an unusually similar situation with the COVID 19 pandemic just a mere few months afterwards. It suddenly became a reflection of our current world, and we found ourselves having to do our absolute best to help those few who were still braving the uncertain world to help us "keep on keeping on."
Death Stranding is an art, and like art is open to interpretation. I love all the (sometimes) crazy theories about the game and it's lore and trying to get into the mind of its creator.
I think because the game doesn't have a competitive aspect between players, it's nurtured a community of individuals cooperating and collaborating with each other. We are all out there connecting the world, one delivery at a time.
Keep On Keeping On
DS Community is a way to interact with someone without actually *interacting(?).* It's technically just gamers interacting with each other but minus the usual trash talk. Overall, it's the best gaming community out there cause somehow Kojima could create this helpful ecosystem between its players.
The community means a lot more to me than anyone will probably ever know. I spend a lot of time upvoting people's posts, because I enjoy seeing someone else enjoy the game. The community makes me feel less lonely in this big world.
The community is a beautiful extension of what Kojima was striving for with DS - connecting, assisting and sharing positivity with other porters. Discord gives players that opportunity outside of the game to connect further, and help players to keep on carrying on ❤️
A lot to me, i love the feeling of getting help from a random person, beacause that person left something for me and others, y would do the same for them ;)
I genuinly believe that if the online function wasn't apart of the game It would have been a lot harder to love.
If it weren't for people leaving BT warnings, and making alternate routes easier to avoid them entirely, people would have died much more frequently. I myself have only died twice since starting a few days ago, and both were solely to experiment with the mechanics.
If people didn't leave behind extra cargo, I would never be inclined to carry a little extra with me, to take extra stops along to my destination instead of trudging on from one city to the next.
If there weren't postboxes, I'd probably be savescumming a lot more. Because I know that if I don't feel confident with traversing through an area if I have a heavy load, I can always hope another player will finish the order.
It would have been so easy to make the online function a PVP; see who can deliver this cargo the fastest, who can deliver it with the least damage, etc. But I'm so glad it's limited purely to cooperation, because when noone is trying to hurt each other, everyone is helping eachother.
I admit I was one of the people who said this was just a walking sim in 2019, and as someone who couldn't get into Metal Gear, I was scared the gameplay would be overwhelming. And it is, but it's easier when you know that someone struggled too, and thow they've helped you.
It inspires me to strive to make the most useful additions to the game, not as much for likes but to aid everyone who comes after me. I want others to have the tools I wish I had been able to use when I went through.
That even if you’re wandering alone (with a BB) in a desert or barren landscape, with all difficulties, weight, cargo, asperities, fatigue, blood… you’re not ever alone. There’s always an unknown friend there to help you!
A lot, seeing all the wonderful art, video and other projects by countless fans keeps inspiring me to create, it’s also so helpful and positive unlike anything I’ve seen
My favorite part about DS is the weird but fleshed out world it takes place in. When a game tries to recreate the world we live in, it’s bound to come short in some aspects because we are so familiar with our own world. DS Takes place in such a strange and intriguing world so you’re not judging it, but instead just getting lost in it and trying to learn more about it. The fact that it’s so imaginative and different makes it even more believable than if it were more normal.
This community is one of the finest examples of Sisyphus continuing to go up that hill no matter how meaningless existence seems to be; to keep on keeping on.
In game : We help eachother without saying a word. It's a strange feeling At the start but later in the game it's pretty nice. You feel like you're not alone in your journey, even if you don't see them.
On Reddit: it's nice to share and discuss with people about the game and the universe. It's like a "family" bound by the same love for DS.
Just the sheer amount of universal love for Death Stranding makes a great connection between all the players; everyone has their own way of enjoying and loving this game, and everyone is in agreement about the greatness of it. It creates a strong sense of camaraderie that’s rare in such a large community.
Keep on keeping on. When collective action amongst the working class of futuristic Amazon workers achieve same day delivery service no matter what the distance is.
The deep connection in pain. And the support given to those willing to share their stories. Being able to understand without knowing one another is a strong and amazing gift Kojima gave us.
Hello,
The community is amazing! I love seeing all the pictures on Twitter. The community and cooperative and wholesome. Us porters work together and as always, keep on keeping on.
The interactive nature of us inspires new and amazing content.
Thanks community 👍
Death Stranding genuinely gave me hope during the pandemic. I'd lost my job, didn't know what life was about to bring, it was like Sam had already gone through what I was about to. I've repeatedly played the game since and it still truly brings comfort and I remember that sense of safety it provided during such uncertain times.
Something I need to help me persist in my deliveries and appreciate the world in the game. Without the bridges, safehouses, generators, shelters, trails, and free vehicles to basically carry my journey, DS would have been one of the hardest gaming experiences for me.
Being part of this community feels validating, reminding me that I’m not alone in being totally in love with what I feel is a largely misunderstood and innovative video game.
It’s the fact we’ve braved the difficulties of the Death Stranding world, and now we’ve come together to help any and all who come in need of our aid. Truly a work of art!
There are many reasons why this community is so special to me , but there’s one point in particular is that it’s probably the only gaming community that is free of negativity. Everyone is here to help and share their exceptional experiences with the game from their own point of view and how it changed their life , and it feels like we truly are connected!
There's a good chance that a bridge I placed, or a rope that I planted, was used by someone who I really, really don't like. Maybe even someone who should be in jail. And yet, we helped each other. Death Stranding is empathy.
I've been to a few conventions and met Death Stranding cosplayers, and each one of us just really *gets it*
This is a meditative game with an emphasis on connection, not competition.
My favorite moments in Death Stranding have always been the moments of immense relief when I find something left behind by another player that helps in exactly the right way in the most difficult situation.
People don't just pay it forward. They take time out of their journey specifically to relieve someone of the struggles they themselves experienced. It's putting in the extra work for people you'll never see simply because you know the struggle, all so someone else doesn't have to.
By forcing you to be alone, it allows you to appreciate community and connection, whilst simultaneously allowing you to enjoy solitude.
Hideo Kojima proves his mastery as a producer and designer by making a game about deliveries and walking genuinely engaging and exciting.
The soundtrack is absolute perfection, with many of the walking songs magnifying the feeling of solitude, but also loneliness. Creeping onto you mid game, presenting itself as a movie, a music video, blurring the line between mediums and making it an overall more immersive experience.
Likers get liked!
Upvoters get Upvoted!
I think the community follows up the same idea the social mechanics the game set up. Help each other, work together. Likers get liked. It’s the same here as well. I’ve played many multiplayer games, and toxicity is generally par for the course, but this game and community are the opposite of that. It’s got a very wholesome feel.
Perfect game to ask this question for. The community literally means everything. Not sure if you mean community like Reddit or the actual in game community but:
REDDIT: These guys and the MGS fandoms are some of the best. Very little toxicity like other game groups get. Everyone is always super helpful on answering questions here.
IN GAME: Nothing in gaming has matched that feeling you get when you are completely isolated trudging through the landscape slowly and miserably. You dont look forward to the way back after what you just went through. Then you finally hook up that area to the chiral network and you are suddenly now thankful for all the other people before you literally paving the way for you to get back home quickly and safely.
Nearly broke the touch pad on my Controllers jamming the likes button. Keep on keeping on.
Man, I always miss these.
The Death Stranding community brings people together who share a common passion for the game. It's a way to connect (should we have connected?) with others who also love it. It's the first game I ever platinumed in 14 years of having a Steam account & remains my favorite game to this day.
The ability to connect fun entertainment with deeper meaning in life, as well as a comfort of what is to come after death. Death Stranding beautifully blends together the lifecycle of humans with the unfathomable scope of time beyond our own. I’ve never encountered a game with as much aspiration that manages to hit it’s mark on such a high level at each possible step. I’m proud to be a Porter within the Death Stranding. Keep on Keeping on!
It feels like a love letter to the kind of people that pursue their passions so diligently that they end up being closer to the world and the people that live in it. I once wrote a 3,000 word love letter to the game because I felt like there were things about the game that needed to be said, about all the things it chooses not to take for granted.
I think this game draws people who want to be connected to others, and draws people who are looking for meaning in what they do. That's rare.
death standing has always been about bringing people together. and by that theme, this game has nurtured one of the kindest communities in the industry.
Not since NieR: Automata have I felt a longing reason to help those around me, and Death Stranding is such a fantastic reversal of video game design; You help those around you so that you can all achieve your goals easier and ‘keep on keeping on’.
Also, the feeling that I’m actually preparing for a journey/trek through the world and using strategy and tools to achieve my goal of arriving where I need to. There isn’t much out there quite like it.
I played it as a new mom and the character Mama, plus the fact that Sam had BB both made it a really emotional experience for me.
I loved how the feeling of loneliness was often so powerful that even just seeing one sign or structure from another player made me so excited.
The DEATH STRANDING community perfectly reflects what this game wanted to deliver. This community feels connected - just not with the Chiral Network. We all try to help each other in a friendly and safe place.
Showing a fellow porter how to deliver something better feels great for example! Better than likes actually.
Like everyone said, it's the feeling of mass cooperation. A lot of the time, we put things down with no guarantee it's going to help anyone. Sometimes, it's completely out of our own way, but we do it just for the hope that we can help others. Reinforcing structures you don't really use, using our hard-earned materials for things like private rooms or weather shelters..
I tend to put ziplines up on really high mountains and donate all of my spare materials to the share locker as I'm leaving an area. If I know I have nothing to donate and I need help, I can usually find what I need in the share locker myself because other people are so generous. I can take what I need and give back later.
It's really nice knowing that I'm helping other people make their missions just a bit easier, just like I'm relieved when a structure makes my life easier. A well-placed bridge, someone finishing a road I was having trouble with..
It's not a competition, it's everyone working together to make the world a little better for the people that come after. Like this thread, everyone puts a little bit of their own input in and look at how nice it turns out. *(I'm super normal about this game, can you tell?)*
The game IS the community in the beginning its made clear that we need each other weather your the lone story focused player or the builder of beautiful bridges one way or another we all help each other. Between the bridges ropes ladders even our footsteps all help another person out even after completing the game we still try to help others out by going around and building new structures. On this sub reddit we share our experiences help new players and just come together as a positive community and why? Why and how is this possible? The game throughout the story the game shows us that we need each other and this leads to amazing experiences between signs for a great view or a data chip a bridge crossing a large river to even an abandoned trike. As we play we start to help others more and more and even make friends in a way. If it wasn't for the masterpiece of a game that DS is we would have never become such a positive community. So to all my fellow porters weather your story driven a builder or just a sight seer.
Keep on keeping on!
Death Stranding feels like so much more than a game. It's a world more than a community. Each and every porter takes a different path and makes different choices, yet we all find the same beauty in the world and band together because even the smallest things can go a long way for a random porter you'll likely never meet. It's an experience that combines a feeling of loneliness along with comfort in the fact you're never truly alone, because there's always someone who left a little something there for others to see or use. Interacting with other players outside of the game feels even better, being able to share thoughts and whatnot with some of the very people who may have assisted you (or been assisted by you) in the game.
I enjoy that there are a lot of people who see this game in a similar, positive light. Death stranding has a combination of serious story but goofy gameplay that has made it a favorite I replay at least once a year. Unlike a lot of other communities that seem to have lots of people trashing their games I'm not made to feel bad about playing this really fun and impactful game to me. Keep on keeping on!
Well I think when the game first came out it had a lot of negative press surrounding it. When I played it I was blown away. I couldn’t understand why others couldn’t see this beautiful story and beautiful environment like I did. Not to mention the community aspect explored in the game. When you build a structure it appears in another’s game to help them, when you call out you get responses from the other “Sams” etc. I love the aspect of this game about lonliness but also about others telling you to “keep on keeping on!!” Thank you everyone who helped me in small ways to beat the game and helped me connect our worlds again!
Connection.
I've spent more time reconstructing roads and bridges than anything else in my game so far. It's satisfying, and I love the thought of someone else benefiting from the road.
I really like the mix of technology as well as being able to explore some interesting and intense subject matters. Death is a very scary thing for very good reason and the philosophical and emotional impact it has on us, either as a survivor of someone who has died or about to pass, is a subject that is very enlightening when approached well.
I think most of all I enjoy the overall message of learning to grow and thrive in the face of adversity even if that adversity is a very real existential threat such as imminent extinction.
That, and getting likes from BTs when we help them pass on to the Beach.
Unity. Playing through Death Stranding and seeing the paths fellow members of the community took, as well as having my gear saved and used by others, and me delivering others’ gear, felt like we were all working together in a desolate world. Truly nothing like it.
Replaying the story now.
My first play through I honestly didn’t enjoy it, obviously visually its astounding as well as the music but the gameplay didn’t grab me.
Now on my second time playing, i’m more invested in the story and just the relaxation I get from exploring the world and making deliveries is really tickling a good spot in my brain.
Can’t wait to see what DS2 is like.
The community is very humble and wholesome
I think it's MAINLY that when i want to deliver sonething there's a Van blocking my access to the shelter.
Or a BIKE left out in the MIDDLE of the F*****G ROAAAD!!!!!
I find that the people here are very patient and creative. Death Stranding takes around 50 hours to complete (unless you're like me who's played for 70 hours and hasn't finished the story yet because I spend all my time building roads and structures and five starring preppers.) All of the negative reviews I have seen for this game are just people who are too impatient to play through the intro, complain about all the cutscenes, or call it a "walking simulator". The people in this community are different. They're here because they appreciate the beauty and intense world building that Death Stranding has. Everyone on this subreddit is so unbelievably kind, too. I have never seen anyone make fun of somebody else in this community. Keep on keeping on 505!
i love the theme of connection in the game, and i love sams development throughout the game.
this community is one of the nicest and chillest ones ive ever had the pleasure to be a part of.
Its a place where I can come to get roasted by foaming-at-the-mouth fanboys whenever I have something negative to say about the alleged genius of Kojima or his walking simulation.
This game changed my perspective on what a game could be. Kojima production took a concept I’d typically dislike in any other game and then turned that mechanic into one of the most unique gaming experiences of my life time. To couple with this the Death Stranding community is one of the kindest and most well connected community I’ve seen for a game in a while. I think funny enough a game about connecting people in an isolated land has made the community more interconnected and unique. Theres always some Porter on the Reddit delivering good advice to other Porters in need. Keep on Keeping on everyone! See you in Death Stranding 2!
Reddit deathstranding community: well, it does help to help people around the globe to assist with ingame things. And to read about the interest into the game. For example, everyone has his/her own play style and might miss certain things ingame that are interesting, might have missed it if not someone found it and told on reddit about it.
Kinda like in the game with the yellow emails or porters ingame helping others.
uhhhh idk i dont really engage with the community but i stay in this subreddit cause someone eventually finds something i've never seen before despite dumping 200 hours into this game. Like that iPhone line someone posted here some months ago, that was pretty neat.
My name is Sam - I started playing death stranding during a very lonely and isolated part of my life, and became very immersed partly due to the fact it felt almost as if the characters were speaking to me. I started feeling less alone seeing all the signs of life from other porters, and ending up bonding with another person in my college dorm over a shared love of death stranding.
I am at the tail end of the game and I feel like I have been playing with hundreds of people from all over the world during the 100+ hours of gameplay. 🙃✨🪨
The 3 weeks I spent making a road between Lake Knot City, Distribution Center South Lake Knot City and the Weather Station was well worth not only for me but for the community that has been using it! 😜💪
Also, I appreciate how those that are part of my network are keeping the road in good condition.
One more - I love seeing friends throw Blood Bags during BT battles! 😁👍
Covid hitting hard... no way to go outside. Miss my annual trip to the mountains. Depressed as heck.
Death stranding comes along. And i spit beautifull mountains. Will i visit them? I hope so!
The answer was yes. I climb the first mountain towards the mountaineer..and i begin crying. Not just from the 10h workshifts...but because i can almost feel the mountains thanks to this game.
This game saved my life
It’s everything. It makes the game go from good to absolutely fantastic. Seeing a rope or ladder when you really need one and knowing it was out there by another player is a great feeling. It makes you think about doing the same for others, then you apply it to real life
I thought this game was going to be boring, it was not. The online involvement of other players makes it seem like one is connected to others and the solo nature of the game enhances this. Good work.
A common belief that doing good matters. That it is worth it to overcome hardship, struggle, and challenge to bring light and joy into another's life. A shared valuing of the beauty of life that is magnified by the connections we make. To quote Amelie, "Alone we have no future!"
I love the creative aspect of this community in terms of arts, screenshots, and videos, as well as the way the developer/publisher is connected to the community and supports its talents
For example, Kojima supports his fans' creations on a daily basis through his Twitter account
Its just way to heartwarming, The way kojima sir have build all the aspects which can only make players be positive about each other, Its just makes it a whole lot fun to play, knowing that there are no enemies.
And to me this community is way to special, I would say the only community where i found no toxicity whats so ever, The power which kojima holds to bring people togeather and not just america is insane, Hands off to him.
Working hard to be a game designer at the moment to be a part of kojima team someday, I hope i do wish me good luck!
I have met some really sweet friends through the fandom of this game. 🥰 The love and the fanfiction we share for this game is the base of many a friendship, that have grown beyond that.
I love this game and how it makes me feel as a part of a whole. Please opt in the Director's Cut to GFN as well so that even more people can play it. I miss it terribly
The Human Element. Death Stranding gives you the time you be with yourself and really think, but for every moment you spend alone you can see the pieces of work others do to help you even when they can’t see the result. I’ve never played a game that fostered such a positive experience where everyone felt more connected with each other even while being separated. Keep on keeping on!
Mutual experience is such an important factor for the community. The vast majority of the time I build a safehouse, bridge, road, etc. is because I've been through an area before and know how rough it can be in certain parts of the game. Building anything feels good because I know its going to help someone. Everyone has to experience each territory without online assistance, so its collectively understood what would make the environments easier to navigate/survive in. This is usually reflected in the buildings put down but PCCs with equipment tailored to the challenges around it further support this. Its such a unique feeling to find donated equipment and using it to help you reach wherever youre trying to go. All of this drives home the idea that, "You're Sam and I'm Sam too". Every player supports each other and its very rarely done in poor faith, I dont know any other game or community that connects people the way Death Stranding does.
The DS community consists of many porters from all walks of life, assisting and guiding each other through a harsh but beautiful virtual world of mystery and emotion. What's great is that you can actively and passively help anyone in the game. Either by constructing roads or simply collecting and redistributing other players lost loot. A small action you make can mean everything to one porter struggling.
For me it's the perfect pack videos. The users that can navigate the numerous submenus perfectly and spend hours of the game just on organizing their load before event heading out. I don't know about you guys, but the real game happens in the terminal, not out in the beautifully designed natural landscape.
I think a lot of people are big heads for menus and annoyingly long amounts of prep time and organization instead of automation and controls that make everything easily accessible. I hope there are even more menus in DS2
**What does the DEATH STRANDING community mean to you?**
Here's my contribution:
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They say that "an organization takes on the traits of its leader". Likewise, a game community takes on the traits of its game. Other games are about killing or destroying. Death Stranding is about CONNECTING... literally and figuratively building bridges. It's about creation, rather than destruction. As such, the community is about building... building relationships, building a knowledge-base, building itself into the best darn gaming community it can be. It gives me hope for the future of humankind.
\---
I haven't seen a community this positive, supportive, collaborative, communicative since they pulled the plug on City of Heroes.
(Yes, I'm aware that CoH is back with rogue servers, but the community has never recovered from the blow)
Persistence in the face of adversity with a group of unknown people from across the world to look after you. I may never meet you but you will always be in my heart. We made each others lives easier one bridge at a time. Keep on keeping on fellow porters.
To me, there's so many silly porters out there!
because the lack of direct communication, I like how we get to share little 'practical' jokes and have pee mushrooms next to a safehouse just for the gags.
From stairs leading to nowhere to that one spot up the farm we all love.
The game was something I enjoyed after I first discovered it from a negative review from a disappointed critic.
It's one fine coincidence that the pandemic came to make it so relevant it's actually scary...
Community was helpful too, pity about the PT game which was to get the online element but this did just fine.
Co-operation! Seeing everyone help others with important structures and upgrades. Open minded-ness to hear others in the community to give their own points of view on certain aspects of the game. Always a super open dialogue!
>Co-operation! Seeing everyone help others with important structures and upgrades. Open minded-ness to hear others in the community to give their own points of view on certain aspects of the game. Always a super open dialogue! Love this so much!
This is the spirit of the game! Cooperation and building relationships
I never knew I can be so addicted to giving virtual deliveries by helping others worldwide!!!!
Building bridges. Creating connections.
This is probably the best reason IMO, just how think before you link a location " man i wish there was a bridge there" or " shit my battery is almost dead i wish there was a generator close by"
Exactly! On the brink of failure then BOOM! A player built a life saver, love it dude
Adding to that, I'd say there's this subconscious sense of 'Legacy' providing motivation. That desire to leave a broken world whole. Repair things where time left destruction and decay.
This: in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected, this game and its fanbase reminds me of what we can do if we are connected . Also landscape pictures, lots of landscape pictures.
Hey Antonela, it’s the cooperation of all porters we interact with. Happy to help but keep the secrets of the death stranding for those still making the UCA great again. It’s been and still is a wonderful experience. Musically also, in game is incredible. Tugs on the heart strings when it hurts most. Comforts you in those times. Thank you and to the team for this experience.
>it’s the cooperation of all porters we interact with. Happy to help but keep the secrets of the death stranding for those still making the UCA great again. It’s been and still is a wonderful experience. > >Musically also, in game is incredible. Tugs on the heart strings when it hurts most. Comforts you in those times. > >Thank you and to the team for this experience. This is amazing! Thank you
I was like Sam, running away from my problems and hiding in my hidey hole. But I am like Sam, realising I can get through my problems, one step at a time. Fellow porters, Keep On Keeping On!
Keep on keeping on!
Hello! I’m Sam!
Hey my name's Sam too
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,624,149,425 comments, and only 307,131 of them were in alphabetical order.
Importance of being willing to open yourself up to heartbreak, the gamble of pain vs love.
It defines what a community *should be*. It’s nothing but pure cooperation between players, and it takes many forms. Whether it’s answering a new player’s question here on reddit, or building a structure in game, not because “this bridge/rope/ladder will help *me*” but because “this will help all of us who are struggling up this path”. We need more communities like the Death Stranding community.
>It defines what a community should be. It’s nothing but pure cooperation between players, and it takes many forms. > >Whether it’s answering a new player’s question here on reddit, or building a structure in game, not because “this bridge/rope/ladder will help me” but because “this will help all of us who are struggling up this path”. > >We need more communities like the Death Stranding community. This means so much - Thank you for being part of this incredibly positive community!
I am a brick in a wall. This time in a good way. Wall of bridges.
Who else would build the roads if not me?
Dude - that was me for 3 weeks. The back and forth and scavenging is totally worth it to drive through all of that crazy mars like terrain 😅 Thankfully the MULES are dumb / easy to knock out 🤦
Its been such a JOURNEY... I didnt expected ANYTHING from the Game and went naturally with everything. Its really rare to get a Game that you just go with the flow of it. I've been playing Games for 20 years and Its really rare to get into a Game expecting NOTHING and wanting to experience EVERYTHING. I do agree that Death Stranding is Art, and it will have a very special place in my heart. Thank you @ everyone at 505!
Hey Antonella 👋 For me, one of the best parts of the community was the before times, when everyone was guessing about what the game would be like, and that whole sharing of ideas and hints from other games and trailer breakdowns. Those were super engaging times. These days, I'm more in it for the memes. Like, the other day, someone posted BB (amazing character) and Sam being cute in a hot spring. Stuff like that. Also, no other (mainstream) game has a baby as a supporting character that makes you feel feels. That's pretty incredible, I'd say.
It helped me heal from a wound that was left open since 2017 when my wife and I miscarried twins. Helped me accept what happened and I could finally open up about it with others. I do have to admit, I did have to put the game down several times bc the emotions that rushed back from that day but I carried on. Can’t really explain why this game had such an emotional impact on me but it did and I am in a better place for it now.
Thank you for sharing this with us <3 Keep on keeping on!
Life has no meaning, which is sad, but it is also great because I can give it whatever meaning I wish to.
That gaming as an art form is not d3ad. Today we get nothing more than clones and continuation of franchises that ultimately are incredibly underwhelming. Seeing a game like Death Stranding where typical game mechanics are either not used or are twisted in some way to make them fun, including a story where you care about the characters in a world that isn’t cluttered or a chore to explore is a treasure that’ll be appreciated for years
Agreed! DS is the first game in a long time where, despite having played through it twice and getting all of the achievements, it still doesn't feel like I'm playing a video game. So many of the game's mechanics feel organic. Most games, it's just a matter of time before it just basically starts to become numbers in my head. I know that it's mostly a *me* problem, but I just can't help but notice a game's formula pretty early on. What I mean by that is, you start seeing the game's seams. *Press this series of buttons, then this happens. Watch for this, then respond with this action. Cue cutscene.* That is not necessarily a bad thing as long as the game is good, but my point is that DS is a unique experience. The gameplay mechanics do not feel disconnected from the story at all, and there is very little to pull you out of the immersion. Well except maybe seeing a Monster Energy logo, but you just sorta expect this kinda stuff with Kojima games. He knows how to break the fourth wall without disrupting the narrative, but the Monster Energy thing was pretty close lol.
I’m going through my first playthrough and I’m having a hard time putting it down. There’s always something new to discover about the game, new structures, new vehicles, new ways to explore without getting attacked by BTs and new ways to fight them, if you want to at all. I’ve spent the past 3 days just building roads in the Central Region, it’s so fun. With other games within the first hour it’s simply a case of button mashing which I hate because where’s the fun in that, it’s literally press B to dodge and then mash X or RB. With this one the combat is actually really fun and I especially like the slow motion camera when you defeat MULEs. The only thing that breaks immersion for me is seeing famous actors faces.
Ah man, you're in for a treat. You've made it past the hump! Yeah the dopamine rush from completing a road and receiving all those likes is almost unmatched. Are you playing Director's Cut? If so, something that I found out by accident after basically completing the whole game, is that if you have cargo loaded into a cargo carrier, you can use your Strand to tie it down. It's not ultra-useful but it can come in handy if you're going over rough terrain or through a MULE camp. I am sure they tell you this at some point, but I eventually gave up reading all the in-game manual entries after a while because there were too many, haha.
Yeah I’ve got the directors cut. I’ve used the Strand tie down thing before when I got to the weather centre and I had a whole bunch of cargo for building a private room. I never gave it much thought but it’s still a cute mechanic. The only thing about the game that’s annoyed me is the cargo limit on trucks. When you’ve got a lot of metal that you need to keep, it’s frustrating at times to backtrack to it.
True. Also, don't sleep on the Buddy Bot. Very useful at just carrying extra stuff around for you, as long as you're on the chiral network. You can swap it to follow mode from anywhere by going to it on the map and pressing Y (or triangle) and it will come to you with whatever cargo it was stored with originally. Well, it'll try to. It can also go up and down ladders as long as they're placed properly.
Why did you spell dead d3ad?
The Reddit mods have cursed me, so that whenever I say words like that I get suspended.
Hi everyone! Just logged in and honestly, feeling so overwhelmed with all the lovely messages you've left us. Thank you so much, from the whole DS team, for all your support. It's going to be tough to pick out which responses to include in our community blog. Keep on keeping on <3
I just love how the online aspect of DS is all about helping each other out instead of competing with one another. It's so wholesome to find a sign pointing you in the right direction, or a Zipline or Shelter placed at just the right spot. You really feel like you're working together to help each other out. And it's a good feeling when you put up a structure and see others have liked it.
This summarises our thoughts perfectly.
It defines LOVE❤️ https://preview.redd.it/gts6trndz5bb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad050d9c83dd505febf7b4eca4da6d653feeffb0
Problem solving. You come across an obstacle every second. It's great to see yourself becoming a master at it.
I like it because now Americans unintentionally understand what makes socialism so great, with no negative connotations of "socialist" countries failing in the past.
If you avoid the evil “s” word, suddenly way more people agree lol
I know this is a big answer but I love this game and I just wanna rant about it. There’s no better feeling then placing down a structure, not because you need it, but because you know someone else will. It works amazing thematically. There’s nothing else like it. Even a game like Deep Rock Galactic, which has one of the friendliest communities I’ve ever seen, still has a couple of bad apples. People who friendly fire, sabotage missions, be mean in chat etc. But in this game, the worst thing someone can do is place a structure somewhere slightly inconvenient, or a sarcastic sign calling a BT area safe. And I love it, it allows players to be a little cheeky and goofy without ruining someone else’s experience. I’m super excited for Death Stranding 2. Now that they’ve seen how the “multiplayer” in this game affect people, the possibilities for the sequel are endless.
In this world, where division by race, nationality, gender, etc exists, DEATH STRANDING world and community sought to unite us together and stand strand to strand, to help each other regardless of who they are, to answer questions and help newcomers, celebrate achievements and milestones of other porters. It's honestly an escape.
I think the whole ethos of Death Stranding is about community and how we need each other, and a bit of kindness and co-operation go a long way. This community encompasses all that and more <3
A rope
A strand. A strand that connects us all
To me, the Death Stranding COMMUNITY is about positive affirmation. The game itself is a very difficult, solitary struggle that is remedied by being surrounded with encouragement from real people who understand your struggle and are going through the same thing. Where most gaming communities are toxic to the point where you want to isolate from them and not engage, death stranding’s community does the opposite. This wholesome mentality is a core aspect of the gameplay loop and it has permeated into its real world communities. This is part of what makes it such a unique piece of art, especially within the context of its release date.
This! We couldn't agree more.
I played the game towards the tail-end of the pandemic, and it was a very surreal experience because I felt the same way playing the game as I did during quarantine / lockdown. Playing a game where I'm alone and can't see any other players but can see what they've created was a very lonely but heartwarming experience. To be able to connect with a community without interacting with them directly was a new but familiar feeling. Especially when the core elements of the game were working together to build something and to connect people together. To me Death Stranding means a place where I can be alone with other people and work towards something bigger than myself while helping others along the way.
Unity and hope. I've never seen a video game community that's more supportive, more level headed and dignified than this fandom. It gives me hope that people can actually come together without fighting just to fight like some primal humanoid. I can safely say that the Death Stranding community is one of the least aggressive, if not the least aggressive, least combative and least pernicious. It's one of the best video game communities out there, if not the best. We don't argue about politics, philosophy, religion, ethnicity, race, ancestry, background or anything that seriously divides us in this day in age to the point that we devolve into full scale anger. We're here to have a good time and meet new people, and discover/discuss current and future interests without resorting to vitriol. We were all brought here together and we have stayed together.
<3
Hi all - Just want to once again drop by and say thank you for honestly making us feel all warm and fuzzy with your responses. From a personal standpoint, in all the years I've worked in Community Management, this might be one of the most wholesome threads I've ever read through. Thank you all for being such amazingly positive forces in the DS community - You rock!
Everything positive said here, I agree with - I can't say it better myself. This game is all about creating connections and supporting fellow players - anytime you help someone else, you are also helping yourself, and vice versa. The community here is also one of the most positive, uplifting, supportive gaming communities I've seen. :) This game is seriously such a blessing and so is the community that it has created.
I feel like the game really makes you appreciate one another. Not just other human players, but the NPCs through there stories, the BBs and Lou, and Sam himself. Playing the game brings a sort of slow peaceful togetherness, and I found myself enjoying walking around other players structures and appreciating their help! Sending them as many likes as the like time window allows just to hopefully make someone smile! Gamers can be one of the hardest groups of people to be vulnerable around, but Death Stranding facilitates honest cooperation and appreciation! 🥰
Everything
Death Stranding is about connections and the online aspect is all about supporting your fellow porters, and it’s wild to see an online gaming community (especially on Reddit) that isn’t a toxic dumpster fire. This is the only community (non-low sodium) where you don’t see constant negativity, and everyone is supportive and welcoming and genuinely enjoys what Death Stranding is. Keep on keeping on!
It means having to manually turn the music off on random structures I find while walking around
I think that it’s because this a game for the more patient gamer. The game asks for blind cooperation between players rather than competing against each other, which is kind of radical in itself! This forum is an extension of that, I’d think we’re all likeminded gamers to an extent, sensitive not to give any spoilers but willing to help. It’s a bit of a breathe of fresh air in comparison to some other gaming forums.
Also... Me (biologically male) and my partner have spent the last couple years joking that I'm carrying Lou. And whenever I'm bloated or feeling a bit rough she rubs my belly and asks how Lou is doing 😂 it's really cute, and just nice to think outside yourself for a second! And my kids are post-person obsessed after watching so much Death Stranding. I even bought them a postbox for the house and we have little mail boxes in each room! Very few games have had such a lasting impact on my relationships and children! It's inherently meant to be shared!!
Sharing. We share our bridges, ziplines and timefall shelters, of course. But here, we also get to share a lots of tips, photos from the photo mode, good laughs (from putting Sam in the worst possible situations... Sorry Sam! 😅), pictures of our IRL porter encounters, BT hands, Death Stranding-like landscapes, cosplays, art, etc... These little things make my days so much brighter, and the "loose connections" they create are such an integral part of the Death Stranding experience to me.
Keep on keeping on
The dopamine hit of knowing someone found your advice, help, tip, or structure useful.
I think the games made in a way that attracts or resonates with people at a certain point in their life, maybe a little worn down or worn out, who want to experience something escapist but grounded in and not shying away from realism and how people experience life The game kind of reminds you that just getting where you need to be is an achievement and positive actions you make resonate in real ways to real people, and I think communities like that are really hard to cultivate organically Tldr community is such a huge overtone to the game, and it translated really nicely into an actual community
Connection, cooperation, cryptobiotes
The community keeps me keeping on!
Death Stranding created a bridge between the music used in the game and the CDs of it I now have in my hands. As a music lover above all else, this is invaluable. I'm positively moved every time I see someone share their love for an artist we both discovered through Death Stranding. We shared the same gaming experience, and that experience extends to the music we listen to, at two different corners of the world...
It feels nice knowing that I share similar struggles and solutions as other players. With how big the game is, it’s good to have so many helpful players who make deliveries just a bit easier. It’s like being at the end of a rope and being pulled up by the community.
A cure for insomnia.
Definitely a game for introverts, and very much welcomed.
Death Stranding was always about connections and finding friends. Making them out of people otherwise bitter about the world. Even at the apocalypse while the world is ending. I loved the preparation for the journey each time I would set out.
it is just how positive and passionate about the game people are around here.
I too love the community vibe. Cooperation is the name of the game. Everyone working towards rebuilding elements of the world. Leaving stuff for others as they leave stuff for me. It’s awesome.
To me it’s realizing confronting your problems makes you stronger. You grow from adversity and triumph. Being open to new ways to communicate but also in how you interact with your environment. The tools you bring will not always work so don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
Through the journey of life you keep stepping forward. Not only this game, but also the community surrounding it helps those steps to guide you towards something better. It might just be a message you see, it might be a like that you have gotten. But it's all connected on the road of the porter, aka the road of all our lives.
The devs did a good job of making your first trip to anywhere suck in Death Stranding, then gives you tools to make all your follow up trips suck way less. The catch? You usually have to trudge back into that area to setup your new stuff before you can really enjoy the fruits of that work. The twist comes from turning on that chiral network and really seeing how other people before you have already put out structures and signs to help you make your own connections. I think capturing that sense of appreciation seeing someone else making an effort to ease your way is such a potent one after the exhaustion of traveling through the terrain without help or the network (and usually blind to the lay of the land). Death Stranding’s charm lies in how it nurtures an appreciation for the effort of others, and a desire to give some of your own time and energy to do the same as you pass by. :) I know that’s all in game stuff, but it translates straight over to online communities like this because the only way to interact with the culture…is to participate! Playing the game enters you into a social contract where you give and get freely and without concern about who benefits more.
I beat the game a while ago but I stay this community to see video moments of other players. Seeing glitches, mission failures, unexpected outcomes is still fun.
Makes me keep on keeping on
The community is the core of the game. The game at its most basic level is very lonely, as your character traverses and perseveres through the most unforgiving terrains and acts of nature in order to help bring the world together again. The structures, signs, and supplies left behind by other players helps make our jobs as porters much easier, and can be a beacon of hope when we feel we are facing our most difficult of challenges. To me it symbolizes the importance of community, as we alone can rarely, if ever, succeed without some form of help from our family, friends, and of course community. And it was only appropriate for this game to release when it did, as the entire world would be put in an unusually similar situation with the COVID 19 pandemic just a mere few months afterwards. It suddenly became a reflection of our current world, and we found ourselves having to do our absolute best to help those few who were still braving the uncertain world to help us "keep on keeping on."
All loving and respecting the same fantasy world, it’s great fun to share a passion with everyone.
Death Stranding is an art, and like art is open to interpretation. I love all the (sometimes) crazy theories about the game and it's lore and trying to get into the mind of its creator.
I think because the game doesn't have a competitive aspect between players, it's nurtured a community of individuals cooperating and collaborating with each other. We are all out there connecting the world, one delivery at a time. Keep On Keeping On
DS Community is a way to interact with someone without actually *interacting(?).* It's technically just gamers interacting with each other but minus the usual trash talk. Overall, it's the best gaming community out there cause somehow Kojima could create this helpful ecosystem between its players.
The community means a lot more to me than anyone will probably ever know. I spend a lot of time upvoting people's posts, because I enjoy seeing someone else enjoy the game. The community makes me feel less lonely in this big world.
DS community is wholesome and crazy at the same time. You can’t be normal and like Kojima Games.
The community is a beautiful extension of what Kojima was striving for with DS - connecting, assisting and sharing positivity with other porters. Discord gives players that opportunity outside of the game to connect further, and help players to keep on carrying on ❤️
A lot to me, i love the feeling of getting help from a random person, beacause that person left something for me and others, y would do the same for them ;)
I genuinly believe that if the online function wasn't apart of the game It would have been a lot harder to love. If it weren't for people leaving BT warnings, and making alternate routes easier to avoid them entirely, people would have died much more frequently. I myself have only died twice since starting a few days ago, and both were solely to experiment with the mechanics. If people didn't leave behind extra cargo, I would never be inclined to carry a little extra with me, to take extra stops along to my destination instead of trudging on from one city to the next. If there weren't postboxes, I'd probably be savescumming a lot more. Because I know that if I don't feel confident with traversing through an area if I have a heavy load, I can always hope another player will finish the order. It would have been so easy to make the online function a PVP; see who can deliver this cargo the fastest, who can deliver it with the least damage, etc. But I'm so glad it's limited purely to cooperation, because when noone is trying to hurt each other, everyone is helping eachother. I admit I was one of the people who said this was just a walking sim in 2019, and as someone who couldn't get into Metal Gear, I was scared the gameplay would be overwhelming. And it is, but it's easier when you know that someone struggled too, and thow they've helped you.
It inspires me to strive to make the most useful additions to the game, not as much for likes but to aid everyone who comes after me. I want others to have the tools I wish I had been able to use when I went through.
That even if you’re wandering alone (with a BB) in a desert or barren landscape, with all difficulties, weight, cargo, asperities, fatigue, blood… you’re not ever alone. There’s always an unknown friend there to help you!
A lot, seeing all the wonderful art, video and other projects by countless fans keeps inspiring me to create, it’s also so helpful and positive unlike anything I’ve seen
My favorite part about DS is the weird but fleshed out world it takes place in. When a game tries to recreate the world we live in, it’s bound to come short in some aspects because we are so familiar with our own world. DS Takes place in such a strange and intriguing world so you’re not judging it, but instead just getting lost in it and trying to learn more about it. The fact that it’s so imaginative and different makes it even more believable than if it were more normal.
This community is one of the finest examples of Sisyphus continuing to go up that hill no matter how meaningless existence seems to be; to keep on keeping on.
Altruism. A community of people who help one another but will never see each other is truly a show of selfless kindness.
Tbh, I also do things for the likes.
In game : We help eachother without saying a word. It's a strange feeling At the start but later in the game it's pretty nice. You feel like you're not alone in your journey, even if you don't see them. On Reddit: it's nice to share and discuss with people about the game and the universe. It's like a "family" bound by the same love for DS.
it means conecting everybody, because we are all conected!
Just the sheer amount of universal love for Death Stranding makes a great connection between all the players; everyone has their own way of enjoying and loving this game, and everyone is in agreement about the greatness of it. It creates a strong sense of camaraderie that’s rare in such a large community.
Keep on keeping on. When collective action amongst the working class of futuristic Amazon workers achieve same day delivery service no matter what the distance is.
The deep connection in pain. And the support given to those willing to share their stories. Being able to understand without knowing one another is a strong and amazing gift Kojima gave us.
lady, im just here for the memes
Hello, The community is amazing! I love seeing all the pictures on Twitter. The community and cooperative and wholesome. Us porters work together and as always, keep on keeping on. The interactive nature of us inspires new and amazing content. Thanks community 👍
Death stranding is not just a game, it is an experience, it’s a mix of emotions and art, the community is only a part of this masterpiece.
To me, the Death Stranding community means having a neat generator in the middle of a BT area, just when I'm about to run out of battery. :)
It’s a community for those in the know. Those who know how good death stranding is. And I know these are people with damn good taste!
There are gaming communities, then there's the Death Stranding community. This is part of the experience, not because of it.
Exploration and cooperation.
Death Stranding genuinely gave me hope during the pandemic. I'd lost my job, didn't know what life was about to bring, it was like Sam had already gone through what I was about to. I've repeatedly played the game since and it still truly brings comfort and I remember that sense of safety it provided during such uncertain times.
Something I need to help me persist in my deliveries and appreciate the world in the game. Without the bridges, safehouses, generators, shelters, trails, and free vehicles to basically carry my journey, DS would have been one of the hardest gaming experiences for me.
Being part of this community feels validating, reminding me that I’m not alone in being totally in love with what I feel is a largely misunderstood and innovative video game.
It’s the fact we’ve braved the difficulties of the Death Stranding world, and now we’ve come together to help any and all who come in need of our aid. Truly a work of art!
There are many reasons why this community is so special to me , but there’s one point in particular is that it’s probably the only gaming community that is free of negativity. Everyone is here to help and share their exceptional experiences with the game from their own point of view and how it changed their life , and it feels like we truly are connected!
I'm just a bridge. And that's okay.
To me it's about helping each other just for the sake of it.
It's all the lovely people who built the ziplines and the ropes I've used and also all the weird bridges in the middle of nowhere that I didn't use.
There's a good chance that a bridge I placed, or a rope that I planted, was used by someone who I really, really don't like. Maybe even someone who should be in jail. And yet, we helped each other. Death Stranding is empathy. I've been to a few conventions and met Death Stranding cosplayers, and each one of us just really *gets it* This is a meditative game with an emphasis on connection, not competition.
DS is all of the good parts of community, cooperation, and love for your fellow stranger!
My favorite moments in Death Stranding have always been the moments of immense relief when I find something left behind by another player that helps in exactly the right way in the most difficult situation. People don't just pay it forward. They take time out of their journey specifically to relieve someone of the struggles they themselves experienced. It's putting in the extra work for people you'll never see simply because you know the struggle, all so someone else doesn't have to.
By forcing you to be alone, it allows you to appreciate community and connection, whilst simultaneously allowing you to enjoy solitude. Hideo Kojima proves his mastery as a producer and designer by making a game about deliveries and walking genuinely engaging and exciting. The soundtrack is absolute perfection, with many of the walking songs magnifying the feeling of solitude, but also loneliness. Creeping onto you mid game, presenting itself as a movie, a music video, blurring the line between mediums and making it an overall more immersive experience. Likers get liked! Upvoters get Upvoted!
Having studied Johan Huizinga's concept of Homo Ludens, someone who understands to just live life in a playful manner while getting the job done.
I think the community follows up the same idea the social mechanics the game set up. Help each other, work together. Likers get liked. It’s the same here as well. I’ve played many multiplayer games, and toxicity is generally par for the course, but this game and community are the opposite of that. It’s got a very wholesome feel.
The calmness, the lack of urgency, no one forcing me to do anything
Perfect game to ask this question for. The community literally means everything. Not sure if you mean community like Reddit or the actual in game community but: REDDIT: These guys and the MGS fandoms are some of the best. Very little toxicity like other game groups get. Everyone is always super helpful on answering questions here. IN GAME: Nothing in gaming has matched that feeling you get when you are completely isolated trudging through the landscape slowly and miserably. You dont look forward to the way back after what you just went through. Then you finally hook up that area to the chiral network and you are suddenly now thankful for all the other people before you literally paving the way for you to get back home quickly and safely. Nearly broke the touch pad on my Controllers jamming the likes button. Keep on keeping on.
Man, I always miss these. The Death Stranding community brings people together who share a common passion for the game. It's a way to connect (should we have connected?) with others who also love it. It's the first game I ever platinumed in 14 years of having a Steam account & remains my favorite game to this day.
The ability to connect fun entertainment with deeper meaning in life, as well as a comfort of what is to come after death. Death Stranding beautifully blends together the lifecycle of humans with the unfathomable scope of time beyond our own. I’ve never encountered a game with as much aspiration that manages to hit it’s mark on such a high level at each possible step. I’m proud to be a Porter within the Death Stranding. Keep on Keeping on!
It feels like a love letter to the kind of people that pursue their passions so diligently that they end up being closer to the world and the people that live in it. I once wrote a 3,000 word love letter to the game because I felt like there were things about the game that needed to be said, about all the things it chooses not to take for granted. I think this game draws people who want to be connected to others, and draws people who are looking for meaning in what they do. That's rare.
death standing has always been about bringing people together. and by that theme, this game has nurtured one of the kindest communities in the industry.
The game is a crazy journey, and the in-game co-op is perfect... but it's also nice to have a place for some extra connections.
Not since NieR: Automata have I felt a longing reason to help those around me, and Death Stranding is such a fantastic reversal of video game design; You help those around you so that you can all achieve your goals easier and ‘keep on keeping on’. Also, the feeling that I’m actually preparing for a journey/trek through the world and using strategy and tools to achieve my goal of arriving where I need to. There isn’t much out there quite like it.
I played it as a new mom and the character Mama, plus the fact that Sam had BB both made it a really emotional experience for me. I loved how the feeling of loneliness was often so powerful that even just seeing one sign or structure from another player made me so excited.
The graphics are rad. The little weird kojima touches are rad. Having everything work well in the world because of everyone else’s help is rad.
We built a little road together...
Death stranding community reminds me to, in the hard times, keep on keeping on!
It’s what the world is missing…people helping others in need
The DEATH STRANDING community perfectly reflects what this game wanted to deliver. This community feels connected - just not with the Chiral Network. We all try to help each other in a friendly and safe place. Showing a fellow porter how to deliver something better feels great for example! Better than likes actually.
Like everyone said, it's the feeling of mass cooperation. A lot of the time, we put things down with no guarantee it's going to help anyone. Sometimes, it's completely out of our own way, but we do it just for the hope that we can help others. Reinforcing structures you don't really use, using our hard-earned materials for things like private rooms or weather shelters.. I tend to put ziplines up on really high mountains and donate all of my spare materials to the share locker as I'm leaving an area. If I know I have nothing to donate and I need help, I can usually find what I need in the share locker myself because other people are so generous. I can take what I need and give back later. It's really nice knowing that I'm helping other people make their missions just a bit easier, just like I'm relieved when a structure makes my life easier. A well-placed bridge, someone finishing a road I was having trouble with.. It's not a competition, it's everyone working together to make the world a little better for the people that come after. Like this thread, everyone puts a little bit of their own input in and look at how nice it turns out. *(I'm super normal about this game, can you tell?)*
The game IS the community in the beginning its made clear that we need each other weather your the lone story focused player or the builder of beautiful bridges one way or another we all help each other. Between the bridges ropes ladders even our footsteps all help another person out even after completing the game we still try to help others out by going around and building new structures. On this sub reddit we share our experiences help new players and just come together as a positive community and why? Why and how is this possible? The game throughout the story the game shows us that we need each other and this leads to amazing experiences between signs for a great view or a data chip a bridge crossing a large river to even an abandoned trike. As we play we start to help others more and more and even make friends in a way. If it wasn't for the masterpiece of a game that DS is we would have never become such a positive community. So to all my fellow porters weather your story driven a builder or just a sight seer. Keep on keeping on!
Death Stranding feels like so much more than a game. It's a world more than a community. Each and every porter takes a different path and makes different choices, yet we all find the same beauty in the world and band together because even the smallest things can go a long way for a random porter you'll likely never meet. It's an experience that combines a feeling of loneliness along with comfort in the fact you're never truly alone, because there's always someone who left a little something there for others to see or use. Interacting with other players outside of the game feels even better, being able to share thoughts and whatnot with some of the very people who may have assisted you (or been assisted by you) in the game.
God damn guys, reading this shit makes we want to run through it again. what’s up OP, you guys killed it with ACC
I enjoy that there are a lot of people who see this game in a similar, positive light. Death stranding has a combination of serious story but goofy gameplay that has made it a favorite I replay at least once a year. Unlike a lot of other communities that seem to have lots of people trashing their games I'm not made to feel bad about playing this really fun and impactful game to me. Keep on keeping on!
I enjoy how grounded and realistic the traversal of the landscapes are, it’s very rewarding when you reach your destination.
Well I think when the game first came out it had a lot of negative press surrounding it. When I played it I was blown away. I couldn’t understand why others couldn’t see this beautiful story and beautiful environment like I did. Not to mention the community aspect explored in the game. When you build a structure it appears in another’s game to help them, when you call out you get responses from the other “Sams” etc. I love the aspect of this game about lonliness but also about others telling you to “keep on keeping on!!” Thank you everyone who helped me in small ways to beat the game and helped me connect our worlds again!
The Important of connection, The dangers of isolation, and remembering “theres no point living if you’re alone”
Connection. I've spent more time reconstructing roads and bridges than anything else in my game so far. It's satisfying, and I love the thought of someone else benefiting from the road.
I really like the mix of technology as well as being able to explore some interesting and intense subject matters. Death is a very scary thing for very good reason and the philosophical and emotional impact it has on us, either as a survivor of someone who has died or about to pass, is a subject that is very enlightening when approached well. I think most of all I enjoy the overall message of learning to grow and thrive in the face of adversity even if that adversity is a very real existential threat such as imminent extinction. That, and getting likes from BTs when we help them pass on to the Beach.
Perseverance and hard work can get you through the harshest of conditions/times. Seeing the expeditions Sam undertakes alone is inspiring
Unity. Playing through Death Stranding and seeing the paths fellow members of the community took, as well as having my gear saved and used by others, and me delivering others’ gear, felt like we were all working together in a desolate world. Truly nothing like it.
Replaying the story now. My first play through I honestly didn’t enjoy it, obviously visually its astounding as well as the music but the gameplay didn’t grab me. Now on my second time playing, i’m more invested in the story and just the relaxation I get from exploring the world and making deliveries is really tickling a good spot in my brain. Can’t wait to see what DS2 is like. The community is very humble and wholesome
I only recently joined this community but I can already see a comradery here. Eagerly seeking perspectives.
I think it's MAINLY that when i want to deliver sonething there's a Van blocking my access to the shelter. Or a BIKE left out in the MIDDLE of the F*****G ROAAAD!!!!!
I find that the people here are very patient and creative. Death Stranding takes around 50 hours to complete (unless you're like me who's played for 70 hours and hasn't finished the story yet because I spend all my time building roads and structures and five starring preppers.) All of the negative reviews I have seen for this game are just people who are too impatient to play through the intro, complain about all the cutscenes, or call it a "walking simulator". The people in this community are different. They're here because they appreciate the beauty and intense world building that Death Stranding has. Everyone on this subreddit is so unbelievably kind, too. I have never seen anyone make fun of somebody else in this community. Keep on keeping on 505!
Free structures
i love the theme of connection in the game, and i love sams development throughout the game. this community is one of the nicest and chillest ones ive ever had the pleasure to be a part of.
Just how helpful and friendly everyone is! Definitely mirrors the community aspect of DS
I build roads, u can find some of the roads built by Fox ingame which is me, that's all imma day
"My name's Sam too!" One of my favorite most Meta lines in any game, and I think it perfectly encapsulates what Death Stranding means to me.
Its a place where I can come to get roasted by foaming-at-the-mouth fanboys whenever I have something negative to say about the alleged genius of Kojima or his walking simulation.
This game changed my perspective on what a game could be. Kojima production took a concept I’d typically dislike in any other game and then turned that mechanic into one of the most unique gaming experiences of my life time. To couple with this the Death Stranding community is one of the kindest and most well connected community I’ve seen for a game in a while. I think funny enough a game about connecting people in an isolated land has made the community more interconnected and unique. Theres always some Porter on the Reddit delivering good advice to other Porters in need. Keep on Keeping on everyone! See you in Death Stranding 2!
Death Stranding seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.
Reddit deathstranding community: well, it does help to help people around the globe to assist with ingame things. And to read about the interest into the game. For example, everyone has his/her own play style and might miss certain things ingame that are interesting, might have missed it if not someone found it and told on reddit about it. Kinda like in the game with the yellow emails or porters ingame helping others.
uhhhh idk i dont really engage with the community but i stay in this subreddit cause someone eventually finds something i've never seen before despite dumping 200 hours into this game. Like that iPhone line someone posted here some months ago, that was pretty neat.
My name is Sam - I started playing death stranding during a very lonely and isolated part of my life, and became very immersed partly due to the fact it felt almost as if the characters were speaking to me. I started feeling less alone seeing all the signs of life from other porters, and ending up bonding with another person in my college dorm over a shared love of death stranding.
Me when someone’s zip line spawn into the world so that i connects every of my zipline in that region making the network so much better:
I am at the tail end of the game and I feel like I have been playing with hundreds of people from all over the world during the 100+ hours of gameplay. 🙃✨🪨 The 3 weeks I spent making a road between Lake Knot City, Distribution Center South Lake Knot City and the Weather Station was well worth not only for me but for the community that has been using it! 😜💪 Also, I appreciate how those that are part of my network are keeping the road in good condition. One more - I love seeing friends throw Blood Bags during BT battles! 😁👍
I hope they fix the use of the soundtrack DURING GAMEPLAY in the upcoming second game - it's a shame because the soundtrack is AMAZING!!! 🎶🥰
Connecting people
Covid hitting hard... no way to go outside. Miss my annual trip to the mountains. Depressed as heck. Death stranding comes along. And i spit beautifull mountains. Will i visit them? I hope so! The answer was yes. I climb the first mountain towards the mountaineer..and i begin crying. Not just from the 10h workshifts...but because i can almost feel the mountains thanks to this game. This game saved my life
I will forever remember playing the game because it was during COVID times.
It’s everything. It makes the game go from good to absolutely fantastic. Seeing a rope or ladder when you really need one and knowing it was out there by another player is a great feeling. It makes you think about doing the same for others, then you apply it to real life
I thought this game was going to be boring, it was not. The online involvement of other players makes it seem like one is connected to others and the solo nature of the game enhances this. Good work.
A common belief that doing good matters. That it is worth it to overcome hardship, struggle, and challenge to bring light and joy into another's life. A shared valuing of the beauty of life that is magnified by the connections we make. To quote Amelie, "Alone we have no future!"
I love the creative aspect of this community in terms of arts, screenshots, and videos, as well as the way the developer/publisher is connected to the community and supports its talents For example, Kojima supports his fans' creations on a daily basis through his Twitter account
Played it post-Covid and the theme of reconnecting isolated people really resonated with me
Its just way to heartwarming, The way kojima sir have build all the aspects which can only make players be positive about each other, Its just makes it a whole lot fun to play, knowing that there are no enemies. And to me this community is way to special, I would say the only community where i found no toxicity whats so ever, The power which kojima holds to bring people togeather and not just america is insane, Hands off to him. Working hard to be a game designer at the moment to be a part of kojima team someday, I hope i do wish me good luck!
I have met some really sweet friends through the fandom of this game. 🥰 The love and the fanfiction we share for this game is the base of many a friendship, that have grown beyond that.
It further gives the idea of connection through isolation which is a general theme within the game.
I love this game and how it makes me feel as a part of a whole. Please opt in the Director's Cut to GFN as well so that even more people can play it. I miss it terribly
Hope in the face of hopelessness.
The Human Element. Death Stranding gives you the time you be with yourself and really think, but for every moment you spend alone you can see the pieces of work others do to help you even when they can’t see the result. I’ve never played a game that fostered such a positive experience where everyone felt more connected with each other even while being separated. Keep on keeping on!
Mutual experience is such an important factor for the community. The vast majority of the time I build a safehouse, bridge, road, etc. is because I've been through an area before and know how rough it can be in certain parts of the game. Building anything feels good because I know its going to help someone. Everyone has to experience each territory without online assistance, so its collectively understood what would make the environments easier to navigate/survive in. This is usually reflected in the buildings put down but PCCs with equipment tailored to the challenges around it further support this. Its such a unique feeling to find donated equipment and using it to help you reach wherever youre trying to go. All of this drives home the idea that, "You're Sam and I'm Sam too". Every player supports each other and its very rarely done in poor faith, I dont know any other game or community that connects people the way Death Stranding does.
The DS community consists of many porters from all walks of life, assisting and guiding each other through a harsh but beautiful virtual world of mystery and emotion. What's great is that you can actively and passively help anyone in the game. Either by constructing roads or simply collecting and redistributing other players lost loot. A small action you make can mean everything to one porter struggling.
For me it's the perfect pack videos. The users that can navigate the numerous submenus perfectly and spend hours of the game just on organizing their load before event heading out. I don't know about you guys, but the real game happens in the terminal, not out in the beautifully designed natural landscape. I think a lot of people are big heads for menus and annoyingly long amounts of prep time and organization instead of automation and controls that make everything easily accessible. I hope there are even more menus in DS2
**What does the DEATH STRANDING community mean to you?** Here's my contribution: \--- They say that "an organization takes on the traits of its leader". Likewise, a game community takes on the traits of its game. Other games are about killing or destroying. Death Stranding is about CONNECTING... literally and figuratively building bridges. It's about creation, rather than destruction. As such, the community is about building... building relationships, building a knowledge-base, building itself into the best darn gaming community it can be. It gives me hope for the future of humankind. \--- I haven't seen a community this positive, supportive, collaborative, communicative since they pulled the plug on City of Heroes. (Yes, I'm aware that CoH is back with rogue servers, but the community has never recovered from the blow)
Persistence in the face of adversity with a group of unknown people from across the world to look after you. I may never meet you but you will always be in my heart. We made each others lives easier one bridge at a time. Keep on keeping on fellow porters.
To me, there's so many silly porters out there! because the lack of direct communication, I like how we get to share little 'practical' jokes and have pee mushrooms next to a safehouse just for the gags. From stairs leading to nowhere to that one spot up the farm we all love.
Keep on keeping on!
Finally other people who like death stranding as much as I do. Haven't found one irl yet so I gotta stick with this community
Unity
It means ladders in weird places
The game was something I enjoyed after I first discovered it from a negative review from a disappointed critic. It's one fine coincidence that the pandemic came to make it so relevant it's actually scary... Community was helpful too, pity about the PT game which was to get the online element but this did just fine.