Hideo Kojima Reckons There's a Reason Death Stranding Didn't Connect with American Critics

Although I’m sure he’ll get blasted by the internet for saying this, I think there’s probably some truth to his assessment.

I like that he speaks his mind, regardless of whose feelings he might trample.

@BarefootBowser
Definitely comes off as a pretentious a-hole. I can understand the frustration and the stereotypical view of Americans as CoD, Madden and GTA players does have some validity but this isn't the only region like that.

Reminds me of Scorsese saying Marvel films aren't real movies.

https://www.vox.com/2019/11/8/20950451/martin-scorsese-marvel-movies-cinema

Oh, lovely. Broad generalizations about populations of hundreds of millions of people because a few critics didn't like his game.

Well, at least he's not as obnoxious as Hideki Kamiya is on social media.

I don't know,he may be pretentious but he did make me buy and love a weird game with online elements that i would normaly not care about.

it takes something special for me to care about interacting with other players since i'm a SP fanboy but he did it.

So yeah pretentious but a gifted talent for sure.

Besides it's not that he's entirely wrong either when talking about IGN. (Why that site is a offical review site is beyond me.)

@BarefootBowser
I've noticed a lot of the people who are enjoying the game acting like they have a higher level of intelligence than people who don't care for the game. In fairness it could just be because it's Twitter where I'm seeing a lot of this and Twitter is the reigning champion of crap posting for attention but to me that stuff is as dumb as when people simply boil Death Stranding down to a 'walking simulator.'

As I mentioned in the thread about the successful launch for the game in the UK, it's not something that I'm interested in but that doesn't mean I don't look for new experiences or have a lower level of intelligence because I don't feel like playing through something that many people, not just American critics, have described as boring. And it looks boring in the videos I've watched as well. But it's all relative. Right now, Luigi's Mansion 3 would get my Game of the Year pick but I can completely understand why somebody else may not think as highly of it.

....wow. He’s so full of himself he can’t even see criticism and use it to become better. Fine, randos on the internet can be like that, but I don’t think much of them either.

ill be totally honest ive never liked any of his games anyway. I back edge tho didnt complete game so no review.

That's so insulting to the first-person shooter genre. Some of the most universally loved games ever made are in that category, and Kojima's implication that they're beneath his grand ideas for video games is so pretentious.

@Mega-Gazz yep, as toxic as his relationship with Konami got at least they kept him in line

i always said Kojima is someone who needs to be kept on a leash, he can make great games as long as he is reigned in a little

and as for EDGE i agree, if they didn't finish the game then how could they fairly review it, i don't think any review should be published if the reviewer never finished it

Lol Kojima, highly rated games like GTAV, RDR2, HZD, Witcher 3, Bloodborne, Fallout 4, GOW etc aren't FPSs. Maybe he'll just have to admit he's not there yet with crafting engaging open world games.

About the Famitsu review, there is an interesting article in Kotaku about it: https://kotaku.com/in-japan-fans-question-famitsu-related-cameos-in-death-1839770212

There’s a fair amount of truth to what he’s saying, even veiled in his ego. I’m absolutely loving Death Stranding and haven’t even got to Chapter 3 yet but I can understand why those with shorter attention spans might struggle.

The fact that this was translated twice may mean something has been lost but EDGE magazines reason for not reviewing is pathetic, what kind of games journalists would see having to play the whole game as an issue?

Tbf he isn't wrong alot of western audiences prefer sport games and annual FPS over more complex games
but still Death stranding is a walking fetch quest simulator no matter how you look at it so he is wrong and right at same time lol some people just have different tastes and that's alright.

American here. I dont have CoD, GTA or Madden Kojima. When you speak in such generalizations you risk alienating a fanbase. Once he sees how many copies are moved in the states he will hopefully shut up about it

It is a gross generalisation, but to be fair, different countries like different things, broadly speaking. Japan is an obvious example, JRPGs do really well over there, but I find them often boring. And the games that are big over here are less popular in Japan (of course, that doesn't mean that every Japanese gamer like JRPGs and hates Ubisoft games). I wouldn't surprise me if, in general, people from NA like different things from people in Japan, or European countries and vice versa. I mean, just look at sports and FIFA, football is crazy popular in most European countries (and South America too), but not in North America.

I play it a couple of hours and I like the game, but I think the game isn't for everyone. Usa market usually more shooter focused so maybe DS sales will be just okay compared to other sony exclusives.

I like how the critics cant stand being criticized once again. It's ok for those supposed professionals to insult him and call his game 'garbage' but the press will manipulate the public mob because he expresses his opinion how dare he?

Go people follow the mob this way...

Eh, Kojima can have his viewpoint of us Americans, but at least he doesn't flat out hate us like the guy that composes the music for the Dragon Quest series.

Because unlike the head of Famitsu and TGA's Geoff Keighley, they didn't get to cameo in the game. Butthurts.

Look at what perfect scores and awards hand over fist brings you, but y'all be giving it lower than 10 scores.

@Deadlyblack I mean, Sugiyama is a nationalist and a racist. There's probably only a small portion of the world that the man doesn't hate or feel indifference towards.

@Octane Outside of DQ and FF, most JRPGs don't do amazingly well in Japan and make the majority of their money overseas. There's a reason years ago that Japanese companies started trying to change their games to appeal more to Western markets.

I wasn’t going to purchase the game till I decided not to listen to critics and give it a chance and I must say I don’t regret it. The graphics are gorgeous, the story is great and the gameplay is a little different that I’m use to but it’s still draws u in to keep playing. I live in America I must say they need to give this game a chance, don’t listen to the critics and find out on ur own and always be willing to play different genre game. Not everything is action and multiplayer

Personally, I'm enjoying DS. The atmosphere and the story are what keep me interested. I like FPS games too, but it seems he was trying to say that this game is different from everything. That's supposedly what an auteur does. And in my opinion, it works. COD may have been the focus in the US lately and I think Hideo just noticed it, as the article says. It just offers a different experience from almost everything that's out right now.

Odd as a mate in work kinda said this when I said I wasn't keen on the new COD and I was now playing Death Stranding. He brought the scores from IGN etc, and how it's crap (he's not played it), which I replied IGN Japan and I think it was Italy gave it a high score.

Which he said about different audience and they like weird artsy things

@BarefootBowser
Well I wasnt talking specifically about ign and neither was he. How is it ok though to criticise but not tolerate a response?

Edit
The man speaks his mind good for him, and
Is translated usually poorly

It is divisive and it is more 'niche' than mainstream. It does depend on who reviews the game - whether they enjoy the more 'niche' titles or prefer a more mainstream game. BBC's Click wasn't very complimentary about the 'game' as a whole either so its not just Americans or just FPS type games either.

I notice that certain reviewers are very much more into the 'Niche' games - whilst they may also play others. I know Sammy would probably like Death Stranding because of his enthusiasm for games that are not 'mainstream'. Some games do seem to do better than others that are quite niche but often, these games don't do all that well in US markets. Considering how large the US market is, you won't see many 'Japanese' games doing all that well - apart from those that are mainstream or don't feel 'Japanese' like Resident Evil.

Death Stranding may not 'look' particularly Japanese in its artstyle or location but its also not particularly mainstream and has some 'bizarre' elements that perhaps don't help sell it. Most of it looks like a walking sim to deliver increasingly ridiculous back packs of items, wandering around vast empty spaces and juggling the weight of the backpack - interspersed with occasional fights with other humans or some black goop with bizarre creatures. As great as some of the visuals look, its still seems to be a 'bizarre', niche title that will appeal to a certain person rather than be a game that many will particularly want.

Its not the FPS thing, its the concept and story. We see mainstream games in third person, without shooting mechanics that have mainstream appeal. Sword and Sorcery combat or racing/sports games that have no 'combat' or real story do well. Games grounded in more realism, games that combat can even be avoided, Games set in historical, modern, horror, Sci-Fi, future/post apocalyptic worlds. Action, Adventure, RPG, Shooter etc - so many other games than just FPS - even if 'shooting' does occur - like it does in Death Stranding to - all doing well critically and commercially. In a lot of ways, Death Stranding has numerous elements that other games offer as well - from the games camera perspective (3rd Person) to open world, from shooting and driving mechanics to the Sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/horror setting. In a lot of ways, this could have been more mainstream but Kojima has opted to apply some element of 'Bizarre' which may be a more 'niche' appeal - not that there is anything wrong with making a Niche game instead of making a game with a broader appeal.

It really depends though on the reviewer as to the way a game is scored. Being more 'niche', to get the best score, the reviewer would also need to be someone that likes niche/bizarre games. Its understandable why Japan and some European reviews are strong as the more niche Japanese games for example do have a strong following in these areas. If you look at the regional breakdown of sales of games in this area, Japan and Europe - especially the UK, do have the strongest sales. US is generally lacking - especially when you look at the number of consoles these markets have. As a percentage, the number of people that have a compatible console that bought these games, its much higher in Japan and the UK. In Japan, it could be that 1 in 10 buy Death Stranding, in the UK maybe 1 in 20 but in the US, it could be as low as 1 in 100 buy it. Of course these figures are not accurate at all and meant only as an illustration of the appeal of niche titles. Its potentially more difficult to find a reviewer more into the Niche games to review them in the US as the US as a whole isn't as keen on these type of games.

If you want pretentious, look no further than edge magazine. DS may not be everyone's cup of tea (doesn't look like a game i have time to push through the banal stuff to get to the enjoyable bits to be honest); but i do think its poor form that they refuse to review the game 'because they dont have the enthusiasm'...what kind of excuse is that?

And the excuse that the review embargo instructed the press to finish the game before giving it a score..i mean, im not one for embargos, but come on. That seems totally reasonable right?

And yes i remain disappointed that Edge survived whilst the far superior Games TM magazine got cut. Sad times

(spits in to spittoon) As a red blooded ‘Merican, I don’t take too kindly to them there words. >:/

@Rob_230 That's very unprofessional, game reviewer job is to review games, it's not about "enthusiasm", game devs need 3-5 years to make their games, the least game reviewer can do is finish the games they review (unless it's mmo games).

Can't you imagine people with normal office jobs go to their boss and say they're don't have enthusiasm for the project they are working on? Lol

Of course it's not entirely a regional thing, but you can bet your **s that it plays a role in it and in the reviewers scores. America players love FPS and multiplayer, so it's easy to see why they wouldn't like this game as much...
With this I'm not stating that liking FPS, mp or more action oriented games is a bad thing, it's just a cultural preference perhaps.

@BarefootBowser
Nah I think people are just easily caught in the outrage culture the media hypocritically like to denounce when it suits them but happily abuse of.
As I understand it, it was in response of some reviews and not directed at gamers in general.
The media was quick to point the finger at gamers for meta critic users reviews and now point the finger at Kojima like they already did many times in insulting manner. I wish they showed the same energy to denounce their questionable peers

@BarefootBowser
Or you can take it with a smile because Kojima thinking American critics are more fond of shooters is fair enough to me haha

@kyleforrester87 Yay. You know Christmas is coming when you add the santa hat to your avatar 😃 its like clock work. And the coca cola ad.

I don't understand why people get offended while it's not hundred percent true it is true that most people in America prefer Fps just look how people still love CoD or Fortnite

The second an artist has to defend their work as something only the most artistic minds can understand, is the second an artist shows their true colors (and abilities). I think the issue with this game is that it exists in the grey area between traditional games and cinema. A lot of the mainstream audience do not enjoy games as cinematic experiences. It doesn't mean they don't have a place, it comes down to preference. Maybe Kojima should put his art in a museum, not on a gaming platform where the majority of the install base are young males between the age of 16 and 25. And if you're going to argue that the United States doesn't understand art then well, maybe you should take an art history class.

Lost in translation comes to mind, but I never like sound bites as in this day in age so many things can be took out of context!

@Rob_230 "I remain disappointed that Edge survived whilst the far superior Games TM magazine got cut"

Preach

Food, Films, Literature, Architecture, theater (well, art in general)... most in the US know little about (Usually driven by "the lowest common denominator")

What he is trying to do in this game will make no sense to a large chunk of the country (including critics). They make COD for them.

Those of us hiding out in the East and West coast (+ "Outpost Chicago") have enough buying power to make it worth it for Him and SONY in the end.

Even though I personally am not a big Kojima fan, have never had any enthusiasm about the game, and may well never play it, that tweet from Nathan Brown of Edge has got to be the finest example of why 'legacy' games journalism is shrivelling.

They won't review the game because Kojima had the damn cheek to request that they finish the game before reviewing it. I wonder if they'd write a movie review based on the first 5 minutes and expect to be taken seriously?

Hideo Kojima Reckons There's a Reason Death Stranding Didn't Connect with American Critics

Because they personally thought that it was a bit s**t?

@kyleforrester87 It's weird man, because @Bliquid is right. Wccftech evidently used Google Translate, and just added the ''it flies higher.'' to it. Like they just wanted to stir up the conversation. No idea where they're getting that from.

Just imagine if a gamer post on twitter a request he would like...the media: 'entitled gamers harass hard working developer again!!!' Haha
Next outrage

Maybe your game isn’t as good as you thought it was?...Maybe because your name is on it doesn’t automatically guarantee great reviews?..,Maybe you should stop trying to be weird all the time when you make games?...Maybe you should think twice before you criticize a region of gamers who have always played your games?...maybe you should get over it?..

@ApostateMage and why Americans and not the rest? That's the question.

@kyleforrester87 Well no, not really, reckless use of colons should be a punishable crime if you ask me. Even I have my limits.

I am incredibly angry about this, despite the fact it's probably been lost in translation. I'm going to protest by eating spaghetti bolognese.
Maniacal laugh

I not a fan of Kojima and have always thought his games where ok but there is some truth to his statement when you see that COD is almost the highest selling game every year in the states. They are not what you would call deep.

@rjejr scorcesse was right

@oldschool1987 His logic could be applied to any blockbuster film though, Star Wars especially yet many consider Empire to be one of the best films ever made, it could also apply to Jurassic Park as well and that's considered one of the best. MS a great director one of the best for sure but he's a old man who doesn't get comic books, its like Ebert saying games aren't art, its just old men not getting or understanding the modern world of entertainment.

I don't agree fully with him but he's not fully wrong either. IGN tend to favour games what give them ads and can appeal to everyone, i remember when they trashed Alien Isolation because it was too hard (worth noting the reviewer played on the hardest setting), COD always gets tons of praise and i remember them praising the hell out off MCC on X1 despite how broken it was and still is. Death Stranding is a love or hate it thing but IGN were always going to "hate it" no matter what.

@Bliquid Maybe you shouldn’t assume what and what I haven’t done...Maybe you should stop kissing his ass and thinking everything he does is gold....🤟🏻

Is it even a game though or is it more just an interactive movie like most of his games? Kojima games have cut scenes and storylines that go way too far and are stupidly complex. It's like the first draft of his stories go right to print without revision to be accessible for mainstream audiences.
Plus...I'm in the minority, but I'm skipping on DS simply because it's full of foul language as most big games are nowadays.

@invictus4000 ''but I'm skipping on DS simply because it's full of foul language''

...what?

And no, I've just played another 2-3 hours I think. Barely any cut-scenes, unless you count talking to an NPC as a ''cut-scene''.

@WallyWest I like how you feel the need to attack his age and gender because you disagree with him.

And you could apply it to the Jurassic Park sequels, but not the first one, which was more than just a blockbuster popcorn movie. Same with most Star Wars films.

Scorcesse is right. Doesn't mean Marvel movies are bad, and he wasn't saying they're bad, he's saying they're not cinema in the traditional sense, that they're more like theme park rides... He's right. I like the MCU but they're not exactly The Godfather part 2

I wasn't enjoying Death Stranding so traded it in.
It reminds me of the parts of Red Dead 2 that bored me, slowly travelling from place to place. Felt like it was wasting so much of your time and that's basically all that Death Stranding is. Plus cutscenes and item management.

And I've liked interactive movies and walking simulators. This game made the walking a nuisance and was paced worse than David Cage games.

I'm Italian and I can confirm the vast majority of people buying consoles here just do it for the annual CoD/FIFA fix and a few other games, like GTA and RDR2, just like any other (Western) country.

Edit: Yeah, "it flies higher" wasn't there in the Italian article and was totally tacked on by the translators to stir up a bit of controversy.

@oldschool1987 I wasn't attacking his age and gender i'm simply stating the facts, he's off an age and generation where comic books were just children comics and not to be taking seriously, end of the day its the older generations of filmmakers are what saying stuff about Marvel and such, you don't here the likes of Nolan though saying this stuff or others who are younger.

Rewind back to the 80's when SW was at its peak and the same stuff MS is saying about Marvel was said back by people of the age and generation what MS is now.

End of the day what MS said is his opinion, he's neither right or wrong.

He’s such a pretentious, self-ego stroking child. Your game isn’t even reviewing poorly. Yes, there are mixed reviews, but most are pretty decent. I’m an American and enjoy first person shooters, but I also loved Souls games, games that try something new and games that are walking sims. I adore Everybody's Gone to the Rapture and Hellblade is in my top five games of all times (not a walking sim, but certainly not an FPS). Not every game is for everyone.

DS had me so intrigued when it was first announced, but the more I saw of it the less interested I became. I’m not the biggest Kojima fan, but I know he’s known as a genius and one of the best in the industry. His games usually aren’t for me, but it’s generalized comments like that that truly make me dislike him. Yes, your game isn’t going to be for everyone; no, it’s not because Americans only like first person shooters and not games that are “higher.”

i got modern warfare2019 and death stranding, i like both games. even when they are two totally different games. the first is all about fast paced action, the second is all about story and very slow paced. i guess that make me one of them rare gamers that like both, lol.

Is he lying though? I don't think he particularly mentioned first-person shooters, but shooters in general.

@Bliquid thanks for sharing that. Is there anywhere we can hear what he actually said in Japanese, I wonder?

Honestly I find both Kojima himself and Death Stranding to be quite overhyped.

I have little interest in either.

Yeah, take out the “it flies higher” which he never said and was added after translation, and you have a statement that is merely regurgitating the NPD. It’s a fact of what sells in the US. Have you seen the NPD? COD is going to dominate sales over DS. Heck, even GTA5 will probably outsell it 😂
I’m American and I generally despise most FPS, but I can’t deny that’s what my countrymen play. You can’t flame the guy for stating fact of what’s popular in the States. We in the West say the same thing about the Japanese gamers preferences, how they may not appreciate our games. People are reading too much into this.
But like I said in my initial comment, the internet is going to blast him for this (for this misquote as it turns out) and, sure enough.

@BarefootBowser How can you review something if you havent finished it. Should a moviecritic leave halfway in the movie if he doesnt like it?

"Americans are great fans of first-person shooters and Death Stranding isn't one, it flies higher."

It has nothing to do with the fact that it isn't a 1st-person shooter since other games like Persona 5, Nier Automata, and Yakuza 0 were very well received here in the US. Perhaps it is just your personal vision for narrative and art that did not wholistically resonate with US consumers, Kojima. Is that a possibility?? No, no, that can't be it... We're just non-cultured bumpkins.

"...but it must be said that the Italians or the French have a different artistic sensibility that allows them to appreciate this kind of very original product."

lol C'mon, Koji. I sense a little bit of hubris here. We all know that the French and Italians have different tastes when it comes to art, cinema, games, etc, and it's probably because they live on a different continent than us yokels over here in 'Murica, but I gotta say, this is pitiful of you to hide behind the opinions of 'high-society' in order to justify the disproportionate lack of interest for your "very original product" here in the US of A. Perhaps it would be more becoming of you to just admit that your art is not a universal truth. :/

@BarefootBowser IGN too much water do i need to say more. 😋

Kojima be living rent free in so many peoples heads, to get so upset up over one mans opinion, get over it lol

@PunkRx_Lockly He never said ''it flies higher'' though. That part was added by Wccftech (don't ask me why).

@BarefootBowser The developers who made this games work hard for 3-5 years putting their blood, sweat and tears, I have no sympathy for reviewer that sony gave the exclusive review access to but didn't want to at least finish the game before rating it.

I can see PC mods for red caps and monster drinks swapped to beer lol

@PunkRx_Lockly

1. The examples you provided are games that have gameplay we've seen before. Of course they stand a better chance at getting a better score than something that hasn't been done before.
It's true that fps games resonate more with Americans just like JRPGs do with Japanese gamers and reviewers. He didn't say that only fps do well, but that if it were an fps, it'd stand a better chance at being well received. There is a massive difference between the two.

2. No hubris at all. He's saying what you're saying. That they have different tastes. Not that Americans have worse or that his game is a masterpiece. He calls it a "very original product" which it is. Some cultures are more open to something original, while others are not. Also, who said anything about "high society"?

Just want to say. I'm proud of the Pushsquare International community.

Big ups to the American and Italians amongst us. Great comments everyone.

Some spoilt brat at Edge spitting his dummy out shouldn't be news, but it discredits a long running and at times credible outlet.

The man is entitled to his opinion. Looks like the internet is trying to shoot him for having one.

@BarefootBowser i've put over 30 hours into the game already over a weekend, surely someone who does it for a living and had 2-3 weeks to do so can manage that?

@BarefootBowser If reviewer want to have exclusive early access to DS review event, they have to finish it first before putting their review on their website/magazine/youtube video (like IGN), if they don't want to, they can review it after the game launch like everybody else.

I think that's a fair rule because, hey, that's their job as a game reviewer.

Different regions do get different games and like different things. Not sure the reasons are right but there you go. Also not sure why a auteur who makes these provocative statements is newsworthy but that is the world in which we live.

The only thing I got from this article is that @get2sammyb better be the one reviewing Shenmue III - that "flies higher" than Death Stranding!

Oh, and Kojima's generalization of American gamers doesn't detract me, as an American, from wanting to play his game. I generally like his games for his storylines and cut-scenes.

@BarefootBowser I think sony have the right to expect game reviewer to finish the game they gave exclusive access to, if the reviewer don't like it, they can review it on the launch day like everybody else (like angryjoe review). Let's just agree to disagree, we have different opinion about games reviews/reviewer 🙂

I played the game for about 2 hour, I like what I see and played, it's like early psone tomb raider 1 game that focused on adventure rather than action. I don't know if I still like it 10-20 hours in, but I can't wait to try it 😃

@Th3solution some, certainly not all. I'm pretty sure that people in any country have a variety of personal tastes, including gaming. The problem isn't in people disliking the game, the problem is in mentalities that drive people to try and persecute a fiction work for being something they dislike.

@nhSnork This is true. I’m not sure why there is an attack campaign going on.
Fortunately it will die down hopefully soon and life will return to people just buying games they like, not buying games they don’t, respecting other’s preferences, and living in peace and harmony. 😄
....Fat chance.

@naruball "The examples you provided are games that have gameplay we've seen before. Of course they stand a better chance at getting a better score than something that hasn't been done before."

Death Stranding isn't as revolutionary as you're making it out to be. It's a 3rd person, open-world experience that is comparable to the likes of Metal Gear. Its lack of impact in the US has very little to do with the genre.

"It's true that fps games resonate more with Americans just like JRPGs do with Japanese gamers and reviewers. He didn't say that only fps do well, but that if it were an fps, it'd stand a better chance at being well received. There is a massive difference between the two."

I get what you're saying, but Kojima literally said that his brand, his game, "it flies higher", meaning that he considers his work to be inherently more valuable as a piece of art, and the reason why it wasn't as well-received here in the States is because, according to him, we prefer a lower grade of entertainment — FPS's. In other words, we are not sophisticated enough to process and appreciate his 'visionary' work.

"No hubris at all. He's saying what you're saying. That they have different tastes. Not that Americans have worse or that his game is a masterpiece."

Not the way I'm reading it. I beg to differ.

"He calls it a "very original product" which it is. Some cultures are more open to something original, while others are not."

His product is not really functionally different though. It bears a lot of similarity with Metal Gear Solid, for which Kojima is well-known for, and which was also highly praised here in the States. The concept of the story is different, but Americans have never been afraid to try something new, that's not the issue here at all; it just a lame excuse. This is about a lack of resonance for a particular audience, and it has nothing to do with FPS's.

"Also, who said anything about "high society"?"

Kojima. He brought up the fact that the French and Italians, who are considered by many to be amongst some of the most cultured peoples in all the world, had the sensibility to fully appreciate his "very original product", whereas Americans are too enthralled with their lower-flying FPS's to grasp the genius of his new "original" concept.

Again, if this was merely about a particular brand of genre not being able to connect with far-west audiences, then other genres that were introduced here would not have blown-up to be so successful. Everything has a point of origin...

And further, I don't see how Kojima's Death Stranding is really all that groundbreaking in terms of functionality (conceptually - artistically - okay), which seems to operate like a 3rd-person open-world game, the type of game many Western gamers are used to and would seem to be attracted to...

It is the art itself, the characters, story, world itself, that does not seem to identify with a portion of US gamers, but Kojima does not want to admit that his work could possibly be seen in a negative light with any form of validity. That's why his statements come off as arrogant, not necessarily because what he's saying doesn't have some truth to it, but because of how he tries to rationalize the truth with egotism rather than understanding and respect.

@Mince Better change your job then. 😉

@BarefootBowser So you give your opinion about something you didnt finish? You dont know how the game ends or the road towards it? Yeah that sounds like a plan.

@Octane Well that's more than strange. Why would they add to his words...?

@PunkRx_Lockly Click bait? I dunno, it certainly works

Well I think that's why america has shooting everyday schools to much fps I don't agree with games being like movies I hate how developers always try to concentrate on usa consumers only lmao I don't really like Kojima games I hated mgsv if controls are this on d stranding I'll no like

I wonder if the journalists will admit they were wrong posting articles about completely false translation...
Who am I kidding haha ? They ll say Its gamers fault because et voila...

@PunkRx_Lockly "I get what you're saying, but Kojima literally said that his brand, his game, "it flies higher" "

people already told you that he didn't. Why do you insist on using something a translator added completely on his own?

"His product is not really functionally different though. It bears a lot of similarity with Metal Gear Solid"

MGS games have proper/traditional action that DS does not. Again, massive difference between the games. This game is unique. Now whether that's a good thing or nor is indeed debatable.

"which seems to operate like a 3rd-person open-world game, the type of game many Western gamers are used to and would seem to be attracted to..."

You're missing the point. Remove the fighting from The Witcher 3, the last Legend of Zelda, Skyrim, GTA5, RDR2 and what do you have left?

@BarefootBowser Still stand by my point if you cant even finish a game for your work then you should not be a reviewer or a critic. Probably never seen a movie or game with a slow start. You are a joke if something like that happens. Well if a reviewsite works like that i wont be reading their reviews.

@naruball "people already told you that he didn't. Why do you insist on using something a translator added completely on his own?"

I don't insist on it (necessarily). I just happened to answer you first before reading Octane's comment. But even so, no real evidence was provided in support of that claim, just Octane's word, so who knows what's really true?

"MGS games have proper/traditional action that DS does not. Again, massive difference between the games."

I'm not claiming they're exactly the same; there are differences, but there are also parallels as well, such as both being 3rd-person open-world action/survival games and Kojima being behind both franchises. Those alone should attract a fanbase with support at least tantamount to that of MG, but apparently not. So it has nothing to do with FPS's or DS being too posh an art for the west, but a sheer lack of resonance with certain American gamers, not because it goes over their heads, but because they genuinely don't like it. If the text is to be believed, Kojima simply didn't want to admit this as a legitimate possibility.

"This game is unique."

Conceptually, artistically, yes. But in its design as an open-world 3rd-person action/survival game, I'd draw the line there.

"You're missing the point. Remove the fighting from The Witcher 3, the last Legend of Zelda, Skyrim, GTA5, RDR2 and what do you have left?"

Games that are structurally similar to Death Stranding. This is not about DS being a drastically different genre, as Kojima purportedly argued. This is about his work failing to make a strong connection with certain far-west audiences, not because his work sucks, or because we're too busy playing FPS's and are scared to try something a cut above, but because of a simple lack of interest.

Again, I realize this is all under the presumption that what the text is saying is accurately reported, but at this point I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing.