PixlBit

I rented this today from the library as part of my new objective to play games that have the highest relevancy. I'm using Metacritic's Best Games from the last 90 days list. I wrote down 10 games I might be able to play without a lot of money. 

Death Stranding is a very interesting game. The basic gameplay has you deliver technology on foot to isolated bases across the U.S.. It's interesting that there was so much thought put into just the mechanics of hiking with a large pack across rocky and hilly terrain and across rivers. You have to keep your balance and control your momentum when walking or running down a slope or fording a river. You get ropes and ladders to get across unclimable or unswimable obsticles. 

In addition to just staying on your feet, you have to watch out for BT, these undead invisible creatures that once were people. You can't fight them in the beginning. You can only sneak past and hold your breath to avoid getting caught. The fetus in a jar you carry around increases your ability to see them. Yeah, there's a fetus in a jar. If it gets upset its cry is heard through your controller. Rock the controller and you soothe it. There's an explanation for the fetus as delivered by Guiermo del Torro's character. It relates to the connection with this other realm of the dead. I don't understand it quite yet. 

There are also roaming bandits of a sort who try and steal your stuff. I ran from some of them and then snuck up on some others and tied them up with some weird tool that's like a garrot. 

You can build stuff in the environment and leave signs for other players. It's like the Dark Souls games where players leave messages in the world. They can also leave equipment for you too.  

I got stuck trying to build a large bridge. I needed materials, I got them, but couldn't figure out how to apply them to the bridge so I could build it. I read all the tutorials trying to figure it out but couldn't do it. I probably missed something obvious but it was annoying enough for me to stop for the time being. 

This is not a fast paced game. It's very contemplative and full of long walks across beautiful desolation filled with occational danger. It made me think of all the ways the game is commenting on current issues in the world. Very interesting. Some of these menus, though, very detailed and complex. I had a little bit of stumbling to get missions assigned and select new equipment. It all works though. I have to figure out my bridge building problem though.