With Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima proved he is capable of thriving without Konami. Gamers are now ready to see what Kojima Productions can do next. Though a Death Stranding sequel will likely be the next project, it would be interesting to see the studio's take on a Soulslike game. It has demonstrated its ability to pull it off thanks to its ability to tell vague yet captivating stories and the intricate gameplay that has always been on show.
Kojima is most known for the Metal Gear Solid franchise, though he has shown himself to be capable of excelling in other genres. This was seen, for instance, with P.T., a game that demonstrated his skills in the horror realm. The possibilities are limitless for his studio, and a Soulslike game is not entirely out of the question.
Kojima Productions Has Experience With Eccentric Storytelling
Although many focus on the tight combat when discussing Soulslike games, another essential element of the games can be found in their narratives. Unlike conventional games, FromSoftware games seldom spend much time burying players in lore and exposition. This does not mean that the games are void of a plot, however. Instead, players discover more about their quest and the world they are inhabiting through environmental design and by paying attention to the most minor of details, including the descriptions of items.
This storytelling style stems from FromSoftware head Hidetaka Miyazaki's childhood, which had him attempting to read English fantasy books despite not being fluent in the language. Consequently, he had to fill in a lot of the blanks with his imagination. Similarly, FromSoftware games do not provide too much detail, allowing players to piece together the puzzle on their own and come up with their own interpretation of events. Although some may find this frustrating, it has helped to give FromSoftware games a unique identity.
This storytelling style could be easily replicated by Kojima Productions, a studio that also has experience with telling narratives in eccentric ways. This was seen, for instance, with Death Stranding which presents a dystopian America terrorized by strange creatures known as Beached Things that seem to teeter between the realms of life and death. With its long cutscenes, it is easy to feel like the game is excessively concerned with narrative. However, by the end of the game, players still don't know too much about the BTs and the other weird phenomena that they encountered, leaving it up to players to piece together the full picture. Although it would likely be executed differently, Kojima Productions has the capabilities to present stories as rich yet minimalist as FromSoftware's.
Kojima Productions Has Mastered Intricate Gameplay
Kojima Productions, as it exists today, was created following Kojima's departure from Konami. However, it is formed by many of the staff members who were part of a production team headed by Kojima within Konami. Consequently, the studio carries with it the experience it gained from working on the Metal Gear Solid series.
The Metal Gear Solid series is known for many things, including its popularization of the stealth genre and its critique of many contemporary issues such as nuclear warfare and disinformation. Gamers have fallen in love with the series due to the intricate gameplay on offer which allows them to craft creative solutions to the problems they encounter. In Metal Gear Solid 5, for example, gamers are led to think about objects in abstract ways, and they are encouraged to imagine what an object could be used for beyond its conventional function. Hence, a simple box can be used to hide, lure enemies, or even surf down dunes.
These skills would translate well to a Soulslike game where intricate gameplay is a core part of the experience. Battles in FromSoftware games are agonizingly tough, and players have to make use of every tool at their disposal to ensure they come out on top. Though the worlds that players explore in Dark Souls games are filled with useful items, there is not much explanation regarding how to use them. Consequently, players have to rely on their creativity and curiosity to formulate a strategy for success.
Rumors suggest that Kojima Productions is busy with Death Stranding's sequel, although Kojima has also confirmed that his studio is working on an Xbox game that will utilize Microsoft's cloud technology. Kojima's eccentric nature makes it impossible to predict what will come next from him, though he has shown interest in exploring the horror genre. Should he ever decide to pursue a Soulslike title, it does not seem like his studio would have much trouble.
Death Stranding is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
