DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH Review – Kojima’s Grand, Strange Delivery
A long, weird, and magnificently optimized sequel: Sam returns with bigger landscapes, tougher weather, and more reasons to carefully place ladders. My hands-on impression of the PC port, gameplay changes and community reaction.
I came in expecting more walking, more weirdness and a lot of Kojima theatrics — what I got was that and so much more. DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH doubles down on what made the first game memorable but refines the pace, tightens the tools and cranks the spectacle to eleven. As a longtime fan I felt oddly comforted by the familiar beats, then repeatedly surprised by clever tweaks: weather that rearranges routes, a beefed-up strand system, and gunplay that actually matters. On PC the Nixxes port feels like the definitive way to experience Sam’s latest pilgrimage: gorgeous, highly optimized and unapologetically strange.
Trekking the Outback: Delivery as Ritual
The core of DS2 still centers on carrying fragile cargo across hostile terrain, but the choreography has evolved. You’ll plan routes with more urgency because dynamic weather — sandstorms, rising rivers, Timefall — can turn a smooth delivery into a frantic scramble. Vehicles and early access to them change the pacing: some runs feel like careful logistics, others like high-speed courier chases. I found myself obsessing over load balance, anchor points, and the tiniest incline because a sloppy step can cascade into a furious, humiliating tumble. Missions blend quiet, meditative walking with sudden bursts of action, and the devs lean into both moods so well that neither ever overstays its welcome.
When the World Pushes Back: New Strand Tricks and Combat
What sets DS2 apart are the refinements to the Social Strand System and the addition of meaningful confrontations. Community-built bridges, lockers and ladders still matter — but now weather can invalidate or enhance them, which makes helping other players feel tactical. Combat is no longer window dressing: you can fabricate machine guns, shotguns and grenade launchers, and APAS upgrades give real mechanical choices like quieter movement or faster fire rates. There are mech soldiers, new BT types and boss fights that demand you mix stealth, gadgets and straight-up shooting. I appreciated the tension of deciding whether to sneak past a pack of enemies or to rig an ambush using community gear.
Sand, Sound and Shaders: Presentation That Pulls You In
Visually, DS2 is jaw-dropping: the Decima engine renders sand, rock and human faces with an uncanny realism that made me stop and take screenshots — frequently. On PC the optional upscalers (DLSS, FSR, XeSS) and frame-generation tech are implemented thoughtfully, and Nixxes delivers impressive performance on a range of rigs. Audio and music remain fundamental: the soundtrack punctuates lonely treks and big reveals, while DualSense haptics (if you use a controller) add delightful micro-feedback like the weight of cargo and the thump of a truck. There are occasional hiccups on some hardware combinations (some users reported driver or upscaler issues), but generally the polish here is industry-leading.
DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH is an oddball masterpiece — familiar yet ambitious. If you loved careful, contemplative gameplay wrapped in art-house presentation (and don't mind a lot of walking), this is essential. PC users benefit from an excellent port with modern upscaling and performance options, though a few rough edges remain for some setups. Buy it if you want something cinematic, strange and surprisingly rewarding.
Pros
- Stunning visuals and top-tier PC optimization
- Meaningful evolution of the strand system and tools
- Balanced mix of quiet traversal and intense encounters
- Deep soundtrack and excellent performances
Cons
- Some players find the sequel too easy or streamlined
- Occasional platform-specific bugs or upscaler quirks
- Long runtime and lots of walking — not for everyone
Player Opinion
Players praise the PC port relentlessly: 'peak graphics' and 'exceptionally well-optimized' are common refrains, and many reviewers note silky framerates even with ray tracing enabled. Fans who loved the first game celebrate the added action, refined traversal and expanded strand interactions — a surprising number claim DS2 improves on its predecessor in almost every way. On the flip side a vocal minority complains the sequel is easier and more streamlined, with less need to build elaborate infrastructure. There are scattered technical reports (driver issues, upscaler settings, Steam Deck performance), but most of the community consensus is overwhelmingly positive: gorgeous, emotional and worth the trip.