Death Stranding 2: On The Beachis a massive game. I’ve spent over 50 hours in the open world epic and, after hitting credits, I’m still stumbling across new and exciting discoveries. I delivered something to a local Pizza Chef last night and, in return, he taught me ancient pizza karate and gave me a rubber pizza dough frisbee I can throw into the air to stun my enemies. Yes, that is something that actually happened.
What I’m trying to say is that, despite the fact that Sam Porter Bridges is seemingly in a race against time to stop Higgs and save the world from yet another apocalyptic event, you’ve actually got all the time in the world to make deliveries and enjoy yourself. So take it easy, and attempt to soak up all the incredible things this game has to offer. That is, once you’ve made it out of Mexico.
When Should I Leave Mexico In Death Stranding 2?
Mexico is a beautiful place, and a fitting locale to familiarise yourself with the art of delivering packages and reconnecting disparate communities to the chiral network. The game starts as Sam stands atop a giant mountain with Lou in tow, looking across the horizon at the sheer distance he needs to cover to get back home. Suddenly, a song kicks in and you’re given full control. It’s a magical moment, and instead of stalling your immersion with loads of awkward cutscenes, Death Stranding 2 lets you learn by doing. You walk, stumble, and get back home on your own two feet, all before the story truly begins.
There is something delightfully clichéd about being asked to deliver quesadillas to the local populace though. Sooner or later they’ll be asking us to do the same with tacos.
It’s only after reuniting with Fragile and accepting one final job from your old flame that the country becomes your oyster. Over the next several hours, you will go from place to place to meet new people, grow the chiral network, and open a plate gate leading to the land down under. Australia is offered up on a silver platter, and I encourage you to take it without hesitation. Why? Because Mexico only offers up a small percentage of the tools that make Death Stranding 2 so fun to play. By sticking around, you limit yourself.
Don’t get me wrong, Mexico is a sprawling landmass that’s filled with opportunity. You navigate the remnants of a destroyed city as you sneak past patrolling brigands for the first time, only to be met by a sandstorm that obscures Sam’s vision just as the first distribution centre comes into view. Everything is a challenge because it’s your first time figuring out mechanics that will soon become second nature. I learned how to hike, fight, sneak, and manage cargo in ways that would not only make deliveries easier, but also infinitely more fun.
By the time you’ve connected a couple of nodes on the network and conquered your first enemy outpost, you’ll want to take on more deliveries and make Mexico your permanent home, but I promise it’s just the beginning. So, when Fragile starts talking about the plate gate, and you have an opportunity to progress the main narrative, grasp it with both hands.
When Can I Return To Mexico In Death Stranding 2?
Why am I suggesting you leave Mexico behind as soon as possible? Because it’s way more enjoyable upon your eventual return when Sam has more equipment, more ways to explore, and more experience to lean upon when making deliveries. All the orders you left behind are still available, and there are even a handful of new outposts waiting to be linked up and befriended.
you’re able to easily spend ten or more hours doing everything Mexico has to offer, so it’s not wise to waste so much time here before seeing Australia for the first time only to risk burning yourself out before you’ve uncovered all the game has to offer. Leave it behind, and come back when the game encourages you to do so.
You can travel back to Mexico after travelling to West Fort Knot and defeating Higgs and his giant octopus mech. From here, the DHV Magellan will take you anywhere.
During my review playthrough, I ventured back to Mexico after roughly 20 hours and found it to be a surprisingly satisfying breath of fresh air. Not only was I a more hardened porter, I appreciated the change of scenery and felt almost nostalgic for this part of the world I’d left behind. I took on new orders, deepened relationships with old friends, and earned some unique rewards after several shifts of hard work. It’s fascinating to see how much has changed both visually and mechanically with more tools on your belt, and how moment-to-moment gameplay is hugely diversified after only a few hours away from the starting area.
Unfortunately, there is no way to revisit Sam’s shelter, outside narrative sequences, to have a nice kip or reminisce about Lou. But, despite this, Death Stranding 2 is a much stronger game if you are willing to leave Mexico behind and return once the feeling strikes you. Trust me.
