On the Beach Comparison Video Highlights Massive Improvements Over Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and the Power of the Decima Engine

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a massive improvement over the original in terms of visuals and a very effective showcase of the Decima Engine.

A new video shared on YouTube by Nick930 puts the second entry in the series side-by-side with the Director’s Cut release of the first entry in the franchise by Hideo Kojima running on PlayStation 5 Pro, comparing character models, environments, animations, and more. By all metrics, the new entry in the series is a massive improvement over its predecessor, and a great showcase of what can be achieved using the Decima Engine, so much so that the two games don’t feel like they are only five years apart.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach doesn’t just look better than its predecessor, but it’s also a better game, and the culmination of Hideo Kojima’s best and worst ideas, as highlighted by Kai in his review-in-progress.

As impossible to describe as the first, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a culmination of some of Kojima’s best (and worst) ideas all in one package that’s more cohesive and less coherent than anything his team has done so far.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches on PlayStation 5 on June 26th worldwide. Owners of the Deluxe Edition can play the game already, thanks to the included 48-hour early access perk.