Death Stranding 2 - Play Session 2

Death Stranding 2 - Play Session 2 – Chiral Creepers, BT Brawls, and Brighter Vibes

I jumped back into Death Stranding 2 last night for my second session and logged about three and a half to four hours of gameplay. Picking up where I left off—in the prepper area of Mexico—things are starting to slowly escalate.

First Encounter with Chiral Creatures

Shortly after setting out, I had my first encounter with the new “Chiral Creatures.” If you caught some of the gameplay previews (like the beginning of Kojima’s own playthrough), you may have seen these massive tarantula-like things. These aren’t BTs, but a different category entirely. They're generally passive unless you step on one. And trust me, it’s easy to step on one. The moment you do, the rest will swarm and chase you down. You can outrun them, but the panic of being surrounded by enormous spiders doesn’t make it easy. I haven’t tested weapons or grenades on them yet—I’m trying to avoid unnecessary fights for now—but I’m guessing we’ll see more of these soon, and probably in worse conditions.

Way Stations, Private Rooms, and Visual Upgrades

After escaping the swarm, I made it to my first way station. As expected, the game drops you into a private room the first time you arrive. Compared to the first game, the private rooms here feel simplified but also have new features — some of the camera interactivity with Sam’s face, feet, etc., seems to be missing (at least for now).

You can still customize your outfit and gear colors, which is fun. One really cool addition is the ability to project the exterior of your building onto the room’s walls—almost like a live wallpaper showing the environment outside. You can even load in scenic snapshots or character photos (Sam, Lou, Fragile, etc.) to decorate the space. I’m already imagining the photo sessions I’ll have once I find a good mountain vista or forest clearing. Plus taking a shower to wash off dust and/or tar is much quicker and doesn’t linger on Sam’s nakedness nearly as long as it did in DS1… Sorry?

First BT Encounter

Eventually, I was sent on a mission to take out a cluster of BTs. Before the fight, the game gives you hermetic grenades— you’ll need about nine of them, which is just enough to wipe out six to eight floating BTs in the area. Straightforward stuff if you’ve played the first game, but still satisfying.

After clearing them out, I delivered chiral crystals, upgraded my equipment, and unlocked MP bullets—essentially rubber rounds, that are effective against humans and BTs. I haven’t received any lethal weapons yet (not that I’d use them anyway—remember, killing people still causes voidouts). Fragile made a brief appearance to check in, letting me know things were fine with Lou. Nice to see her again.

The Vibe Is... Surprisingly Bright?

One thing that really stands out: the overall tone of Death Stranding 2 feels a lot lighter and more optimistic than the original. The music is brighter and more upbeat, the environments are sunnier, and even Sam seems more at ease. Probably due to the fact that he is happy raising Lou. His “world” is now brighter and joyful (Hopefully that doesn’t change soon). Speaking of which, you can now control day and night cycles too. Sleeping at a private room lets you wake up at night if you want to travel in darkness, or you can rest out in the open to trigger nightfall—kind of like the Phantom Cigar mechanic from Metal Gear Solid V.

Mule/Bandit Territory and New Weapons

I had to infiltrate a Mule/Bandit camp to retrieve some items. Nothing too tough—took out three or four bandits and grabbed what I needed. A fun new detail: you can now pick up those electric spears the Bandits throw and use them yourself. They work as melee batons or throwable stun weapons. I haven't tested them in a real fight yet, but I kept a couple for future use.

1st Boss BT Fight – Tar, Tentacles, and Weak Spots

Later, I encountered my first boss-level BT—and this was no floaty ghost. This thing was a massive skull-faced monster that spews tar, lashes out with tentacles, and even hurls buses at you. The fight takes place in the same area as the previous BT encounter, and it ramps things up dramatically.

Pro tip: don’t rely on grenades. Use the assault rifle if you have it, and aim for the creature’s weak point—its head splits open to reveal a red, fleshy core. That’s your moment to strike.

No BB, No Problem

Interestingly, you don’t have a Bridge Baby this time around. Instead, Sam’s DOOMS abilities have evolved—he can now sense BTs on his own. You can still scan and see their outlines, but there's no baby to worry about, no crying if you take a tumble, and no emotional stress (for Sam or the player).

Everyone’s Willing to Join the Network (So Far)

Unlike in the first game, where many preppers refused to connect to the UCA, everyone I’ve encountered so far has been totally down to join the network—even if you just return a lost package. It makes the world feel more cooperative and a little less bleak.

Goodbye, Deadman

One of the more emotional moments came when I reunited with Deadman (voiced by Guillermo del Toro). He explained something called the "Plate Gate"—a mysterious structure forming since the first game, possibly connected to Higgs or Amelie. Deadman then reveals this is likely the last time we’ll speak to him. He’s aging rapidly—possibly due to organ failure—and you watch a final message of him on the beach before he fades away. It’s a heavy but rushed moment, and a reminder that the emotional punches are still coming. Will we see him again?

New Ride, New Mission

By the end of the session, I fabricated my first motorcycle—finally! My next task is to return to Fragile and Lou, which feels like a narrative turning point. Something big is on the horizon—probably the central conflict of the story—and I’m bracing myself for when the tone inevitably shifts back to the haunting, eerie side of the Death Stranding universe.

That wraps up my second round of gameplay. I'm eager to see where Kojima takes it next.

Until next time—keep on keepin’ on.