A core foundation of Kojima Productions' Death Stranding is connecting with humanity, and the game has left a significant impression on many players. The story tasks Sam Porter with reuniting the nation back together by installing network technology to the isolated population; additionally, the story eventually leads Sam to his sister, who is being held captive by terrorists who oppose the idea of reconnecting.
In delivering cargo and cases, depending on how well-conditioned the packages are by the time the destination is reached, players could be awarded likes through NPCs. The concept of likes acts more as XP in this instance, but other sections of the game call for a different reason for the importance of likes.
Obtaining these likes means players can level up, and by advancing ten levels, Sam will often get valuable bonuses or even gadgets that may help him with his journeys. More importantly to the game's concepts, receiving likes will increase the Connection Level in each location, meaning Sam will then deliver and assist other NPCs that he couldn't before. Overall, these forms of likes relate more to gameplay elements and how likes can expand the player's horizons.
Why Likes Are Important In Death Stranding
The threads of likes expand beyond gameplay elements and reach further into the story and world within Death Stranding. Throughout the game, players can obtain likes through structures left throughout the world by other players. While Death Stranding is a single-player experience, it unites players through other means. Seeing likes on structures left by other players strengthens the ties between each player and generates a sense of excitement with the knowledge that other players are using systems made by each other. In a broken world with very little hope left in it, knowing that other people are roaming around, helping one another is a genuinely gratifying feeling.
It doesn't end there, however, as game designer Hideo Kojima was adamant about creating a system that utilized an essential element of the game. Human connection was significant not just for the game but for players too. Part of the experience in journeying across the post-apocalyptic United States is finding signs left by other players, which can offer tips that help Sam or just encourage him to keep going. These signs can also lead players to helpful locations to avoid Rainfall by informing players of a nearing shelter or cave. Doing this helps players navigate through the already rough journey and makes it easier knowing that someone else has been along the same path.
Likes in Death Stranding offer a method that fundamentally changes the way people play the game. Players have found themselves making structures that they knew would help others even though they didn't need them. This was the perfect blend of core story concepts mixed with gameplay elements, since it enhances the overall enjoyment and immersion players experience each time they enter this world. The game received mixed reception when released, but to deny that this game had an important story that reflected our very own world would be unfair - as evidenced in the way likes help players make connections.
