Hideo Kojima has revealed that Kojima Productions’ upcoming PS4 exclusive Death Stranding will have a Very Easy Mode for “movie fans.” Death Stranding is a very different game when compared to Kojima’s other work, the most notable of which is the Metal Gear Solid series – a more hardcore stealth-action series with sprinkles of political drama and satire found throughout.
Death Stranding is described by Kojima himself as an entirely new genre in video games that he calls “action game/strand game.” While Kojima Productions has revealed a number of trailers showcasing the title, it’s still pretty unclear what this new genre means for the game or how the moment to moment gameplay will stay engaging throughout. Some new details were revealed a few days ago about the Bridge Babies that can be seen throughout each trailer.
Ayako Terashima, Kojima’s personal assistant, posted over on her personal Twitter account that she was able to complete the game on Very Easy Mode despite not having much experience with games. Kojima then went into greater detail on why he decided to include this mode. Some of the game’s actors who migrated over from the film industry (like Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Léa Seydoux) haven’t even completed the first level of Pac-Man, according to Kojima. With that in mind, the director was more inspired to include the Very Easy Mode to appeal to fans of movies, as well as those who aren’t as familiar with games but still would like to experience the story of Death Stranding. Being a movie fan himself, the inclusion of this mode is definitely fitting of the prolific developer.
Earlier this year, the release of FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice sparked debate amongst gamers and critics alike in regard to accessibility in video games through difficulty. This new difficulty option in Death Stranding seems to be a change of mentality with Kojima and his team. In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, players could opt for a chicken hat that would make them undetectable by enemies. While this piece of equipment is definitely useful for those who need to play on easier settings, it can definitely be seen as demeaning when the player has no other options.
Ultimately, the inclusion of a Very Easy Mode should be much appreciated to those who want less challenge and more of a cinematic experience in Death Stranding. Thankfully, this time around, Kojima won’t indirectly make players feel silly for opting for an easier difficulty. That means that everyone will be able to enjoy Death Stranding together when it launches on November 8 for PS4.
