Death Stranding 2 Has Unique Way of Letting Players Deal With Bosses
Summary
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will introduce a new mechanic that lets players skip boss fights without missing crucial story elements.
- Those who choose to forgo a boss fight in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach are shown a “visual novel” that details the battle and any story beats that may have transpired during it.
- Many have applauded the feature as an accessibility tool for players who struggle with intense combat scenarios, while others think it’ll make the game too easy.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach director Hideo Kojima has revealed a novel boss fight mechanic that will be featured in the highly anticipated open-world game. According to the iconic video game auteur, players who find Death Stranding 2: On the Beach‘s boss fights too overwhelming will have the choice to simply skip them without sacrificing any story beats in the process.
Kojima’s games have often featured some of the most iconic boss battles, such as Psycho Mantis and REX in Metal Gear Solid, The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3, Higgs in Death Stranding, and many more. Thanks to the way these boss battles combine high-stakes gameplay with deep narrative significance, Kojima fans hold them in very high regard. For Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, though, Kojima appears to be rethinking the concept of boss fights, at least for players who want the option.
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In a recent episode of the Koji Pro radio broadcast, Kojima shared that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will debut a unique feature that allows players to skip boss battles entirely and still absorb everything they need to know. He explained that if players lose a boss fight in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, they’ll be presented with the choice to either try again or opt to skip the encounter altogether. Should the latter be chosen, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach players will be shown a “visual novel” of sorts to walk them through the narrative and consequences of the fight.
Death Stranding 2’s Boss Fight Skip Feature May Be a Boon for Accessibility
This ensures that no crucial lore, dialogue, or world-building is missed, just the gameplay of the boss fight itself. It’s a fresh solution for players who prefer storytelling to high-pressure combat, and offers a way forward without punishing those who may not be as skilled or those with accessibility needs. However, some have argued that this Death Stranding 2: On the Beach feature is indicative of a broader trend towards hand-holding in modern games, where difficulty is often seen as extraneous. Others, meanwhile, have deemed the feature inclusive, especially for gamers who struggle with reflex-based or intense combat scenarios.
During this radio broadcast, Kojima also confirmed that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is now “95 percent complete,” which is a positive sign ahead of the game’s June 26 launch. Hype for the upcoming Kojima game is running high among fans, who can’t wait to see how much more creative freedom the director has unleashed in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In addition to the boss skip mechanic, it should be interesting to see which other innovative features Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will incorporate.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
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June 26, 2025
