Death Stranding: Director's Cut is the Perfect Game for DualSense Features
The DualSense controller is turning out to be PlayStation 5's standout feature. While Sony's first-party games and third-party console exclusives are currently harnessing the most out of DualSense's next-gen capabilities, multi-platform games are not far too behind. Initially a PS4 exclusive, the upcoming Death Stranding: Director's Cut for PS5 seems next in line to take advantage of Sony's DualSense controller.
While there are plenty of released and upcoming games suited for the DualSense controller, one that stands out and makes sense is Death Stranding. The unique traversal and combat maneuvers in Death Stranding would benefit from the support of the DualSense's distinctive features.
How The DualSense Controller Should Enhance Death Stranding
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The bleak and uneven terrains of Death Stranding's post-apocalyptic USA is a prominent character of its own, the story of which is explored through countless treks undertaken by Sam Bridges and the melancholic solitude that surrounds him. Unlike most action games, the action in Death Stranding primarily boils down to balancing cargo on Sam's shoulders as he climbs and crosses numerous daunting snow-capped mountains. The DualShock 4 controller does a fine job of incorporating Sam's in-game struggles of carrying bulky cargo on his back through various conditions, though it isn't enough comparatively.
The DualSense controller provides an incredible opportunity to make every delivery in Death Stranding as excruciating of an experience as Sam and the others around him often suggest it to be. For starters, the L2 and R2 triggers should feel heavy depending on the amount of cargo Sam carries on his respective shoulders. In games like Deathloop and Resident Evil Village, the weight behind the triggers depends on the gun players use. In Death Stranding, this should depend on the weight of the cargo Sam carries to make balancing more challenging.
Fortunately, Death Stranding provides plenty of ways to interact with Sam. This opens up numerous opportunities to utilize additional DualSense features. For instance, players can massage Sam's shoulders at any point in the game. Other than being a visual treat, this doesn't have any gameplay implications. However, with DualSense's adaptive triggers, this could become a proper gameplay attribute.
The more players massage Sam's shoulders, the lighter the triggers feel. Alternatively, if players do not massage Sam's shoulders after an exhaustive trek, the triggers should get jammed. Furthermore, triggers should also get jammed when Sam fails to revitalize himself with the energy drinks and runs out of stamina.
Horizon Forbidden West will let players feel the grass via DualSense's haptics. Death Stranding: Director's Cut should implement similar haptic feedback, as there will be plenty of times when Sam traverses tall grass, narrow rivers, and mountains of snow. Additionally, the DualSense's haptic feedback should allow players to feel Sam's movements on either side of the controller, similar to how it feels in Arkane's Deathloop.
Traversal Would Be Enhanced By The DualSense in Death Stranding
Death Stranding provides several tools to make traversing long stretches of land, mountains, and rivers shorter and more convenient. These include floating carriers, zip lines, ropes, ladders, bikes, and trucks. Death Stranding: Director's Cut will add something called stabilizers that comes packed with thrusters that allow players to hover from a mountain top safely to the ground. The haptics in every traversal equipment should feel a little unique, resulting in a slightly, if not a drastically different experience. Traversing is the root of Death Stranding's gameplay, and DualSense's haptic feedback can significantly enhance that experience.
Combat also plays a small part in Death Stranding, with a handful of interesting set pieces and random encounters that Sam faces. There are plenty of weapons in Death Stranding, and Death Stranding: Director's Cut will add a few more, including the fancy Mazer Gun that electrocutes enemies. Unfortunately, shooting in Death Stranding doesn't feel as satisfying as it was in Metal Gear Solid 5. While the Director's Cut might not completely redesign the game's shooting mechanics, it should appropriately implement haptic feedback to make the shooting feel a bit more coherent.
Death Stranding: Director's Cut is a great opportunity to reinvigorate the core Death Stranding experience for both newcomers and veterans. The addition of new story missions may be indicative of a Death Stranding sequel, whereas the addition of a plethora of new gameplay tools and techniques may just be the way to address fans' initial criticisms. However, for a satisfactory gameplay experience, Death Stranding: Director's Cut needs to harness DualSense's powers to its fullest.
Death Stranding: Director's Cut launches September 24, 2021, for PS5.
Source: Gamerant
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