E16 Death Stranding

Pixel Vision

In this special Christmas bonus episode, Ben and Tao give Royal Mail a run for their money as post-apocalyptic couriers, stacked high with teetering packages but ready to deliver by road, zipline or exoskeleton in Death Stranding. Ben grills Tao on exactly what he found to enjoy in Hideo Kojima’s post-Stranding USA (or UCA as it’s called in-game: The United Cities of America). They debate product placement; the use of celebrity voice acting; voyeurism, auteurs and their egos; and whether Tao is a passive and subservient consumer. (He’s not sure.)

Some spoilers from around the half way mark, but nothing that will shed any serious light on the confusing plot.

Content Warning: PEGI 16. Frequent strong language and angry rants abound. Plus some eejit tries to nuke a few cities.

Clarifications:

• The original score was composed by Ludvig Forssell


• Tim Rogers’ review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHUY-nVXKU


• Tim Rogers’ spoilers summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYlDQbHJ_ms

Audio extracts:

• Red Dead Redemption 2 OST


• Minority Report feat. Tom Cruise and Colin Farrell


• Die Hard feat. Bruce Willis


• Rock Flag and Eagle feat. Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)


• The Transporter films montage feat. Jason Statham


• Forrest Gump feat. Tom Hanks


• Prince of Persia 1989 OST


• Fable OST ‘Witchwood’


• James Bond 007 theme by David Arnold


• ‘Fields of Gold’ by Sting


• ‘Sound of Silence’ by Simon and Garfunkel


• ‘Bones’ by Low Roar


• ‘Don’t Be So Serious’ by Low Roar


• Nursery rhyme montage from Identity, Conjuring 2, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dead Silence


• Theresa May


• Quiet’s Theme from Metal Gear Solid V by Akihiro Honda

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