Summary
Death Strandingdeveloper Hideo Kojima has proven to be one of the gaming industry’s most creative developers, as he persistently strives to push the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay with his unorthodox and eccentric concepts. It seems that this very defining characteristic of his will continue to reveal itself in his upcoming horror experience,OD, which is already showing signs of being one of his most unusual creations yet. Judging by its first trailer, it may very well set itself far apart, not just fromKojima’s other games, but also from video games in general.
ODis an upcoming horror game developed byKojima Productions, with the minds of writers Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele at the helm of what will likely be a stand-out experience in one way or another. Kojima has made some promises aboutODahead of its release that could be either a blessing or a curse. Specifically, although his most recent title,Death Stranding, already has roughly seven hours of cinematic cutscenes, he has all but confirmed thatODwill have even more. This could end up working in its favor, or it could accomplish the complete opposite.
OD’s Emphasis on Cinematic Cutscenes Could Help or Hurt It
OD May Be More Like a Horror Film Than a Horror Game
Ahead ofthe release ofDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima has confirmed thatODwill “transcend the barriers between film and video games.” This is rather evident already, considering the first trailer forODis entirely live-action, featuring the likes of Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier reciting a strange bit of cryptic dialogue. If Kojima remains consistent with this imagery, it could very well play out more like a horror film than a horror game, which would come with an unfortunate downside.
Although Kojima’s intentions are honorably ambitious, ifODis more of a game that players witness rather than actively participate in, it could receiveeven more criticism thanDeath Stranding. WhileDeath Strandinghas become a successful cult hit, it has been labeled by some little more than a “walking simulator” due to the gameplay loop primarily revolving around players traveling from one destination to another. If he’s not careful, Kojima could fall into the same trap with an overly cinematicOD, especially if most of its gameplay consists of players watching it rather than playing it. Still, this approach to storytelling could also work inOD’s favor.
OD’s Cinematic Emphasis Could Make Its Horror Elements More Immersive
The upside toODbeing more akin to a horror film than a horror gameis that its cinematics could make its darker sequences all the more frightening. Seeing a real person experience horrific events on screen, as opposed to a digital character, could potentially add to the game’s immersion and thereby reinforceOD’s horror side. It’s unclear what type of horror Kojima is going for inOD, however, whether it be in mere jump-scares or simply the unsettling and often spine-tingling undertones of genuine horror experiences. Knowing Kojima and Peele, it’s more likely to be the latter, so a more cinematic-driven game could be the optimum way to go.
There hasn’t been any confirmation yet about how many hours worth of cinematic cutscenesODwill have, only that it could verge on being more like a film than a video game. That being said, if Kojima plans to “transcend the barriers between film and video games” as he says, that could result in a healthy balance between the two genres of entertainment. Nevertheless, gamers are likely in for a bizarre ride onceODreleases.
