Death Stranding 2 was made available as a free download on PS5 for customers who pre-ordered the deluxe game edition. Gamers are finally getting a taste of director Hideo Kojima’s newest interactive work. One of the most obvious things players are noticing is how much better Norman Reedus looks in Death Stranding 2 than he did in the PS4 original.
Technical Improvements Afresh in Side by Side Comparisons
Now, you can actually launch the game and check out Kojima’s new open-world delivery adventure visited by supernatural beings and ziplines, after all of those promotional trailers and screenshots offering a look at Australia. This lets them take pictures of Sam Porter Bridges, the character Reedus plays, and put the camera really close to check out the actor’s facial features up close.
Thanks to close-up examinations, a direct comparison can be made between the new Sam and the same character in the 2019 PS4. The improvements are genuinely remarkable.
Technology Enhancements Develop More Life Like Character
Through the eyes of Horizon, Sam’s appearance in the first game on PS4 was acceptable. However, when compared with his Death Stranding 2 look, the technical leap six years on is very obvious. His skin texture is less plastic like, and his eyes are much more natural looking. Even the bags beneath his eyes look more fleshy and realistic. Sam’s last version, by contrast, looks like a costume mask.
Community Reactions Highlight the Dramatic Transformation
A Redditor joked that the distinction was Norman Reedus 720p and Norman Reedus 4K. Another community member replied to the visual comparisons, stating that the character’s first appearance in Death Stranding looked genuinely sick while making some connections and powering up like Mario in the sequel.
Fan Theories Explain the Character’s Improved Appearance
The best and most entertaining explanation for Sam Porter Bridges’ way better, healthier look in Death Stranding 2 comes from reddit user gpost86, who claims that the first one was chugging Monster. This theory actually makes a lot of sense and works quite well as an unofficial explanation for the significant visual differences between the two character models.
If you’ve bought the deluxe edition of Death Stranding 2, you can now play it on PS5 and PS5 Pro. The basic edition will be accessible to all other players starting on June 26, with a price of $70.