In an interview, composer Yoann Lemoine, alias Woodkid, shared the reasons why Hideo Kojima changed certain aspects of the new Death Stranding.
According to Death Stranding's composer, Hideo Kojima changed the game because it was too good.
Produced by Hideo Kojima
Hideo Kojima is a widely known name in the gaming industry. Fans have been joking for decades because his name appears thousands of times in the credits. However, the genius who created the Metal Gear series and Death Stranding is known for often making dialogues and gameplay controversial, which not every player likes. Long dialogues and even longer cutscenes (which have broken records because of this) are designed with such depth that there are videos on YouTube explaining the story behind the games in more than feature-length detail – but those lengthy conversations and cutscenes are not well received by everyone. And Kojima likes that in particular. Yoann Lemoine, alias Woodkid, who is the composer for Death Stranding 2, is now talking about surprising consequences.
Disliked by Hideo Kojima
After a playtest of Death Stranding 2, a sequel to the polarizing first installment, there was good news – just not for Hideo Kojima. In the first game, 4 out of 10 people approved of the game, but in the current test, all 10 gave the game a positive review – every game developer's dream, except for him. He spoke with Woodkid about the need for change, as the game is too well received. It's not controversial enough if too many people like it; it's too mainstream. He doesn't want that.
Changed by Hideo Kojima
Players who are already familiar with the name might say, "This is so Hideo Kojima", and they're right! Woodkid reveals a few more details about his collaboration with the Japanese developer: Hideo Kojima believes that if too many people like his game, it's been chewed up and spit out. Too easy to understand. He doesn't want to appeal to the masses; it was never his goal to sell many copies and make it like movies, which "would need 80% approval." For him, 4 out of 10 positive responses is a good balance. That's why he "changed some things in the script and the way crucial things happen in the game."
Taught by Hideo Kojima
Finally, Woodkid confesses that this experience taught him that it's not about pleasing people, but about moving them and making them think. This sums up Hideo Kojima's approach perfectly, as he says:
Sony is satisfied, of course, but I wish I were a little more controversial. I'm not interested in appealing to the mass market or selling millions of copies... that's not my goal.
Will Death Stranding 2 be as polarizing as its predecessor? Kojima certainly hopes so. He still hasn't gotten over the loss of his Metal Gear universe, and he lets us feel that in the new game. We've described some of the references in DS2 for you in this article.
Have you always been a fan of the eccentric free spirit, or do you find him pretentious?