My issue with Death Stranding was that it was basically a game of excess. It was full of countless mechanics that didn't add anything to the gameplay and were simply shoved into the game because they could be. When making a game and looking at adding various mechanics, you need to look at what adds to the gameplay or makes it deeper and interesting, and what is just pointless fluff and busywork that takes away from the gameplay.

That and the fact that the balance and pacing of the game was way out of control didn't help either.

I think the game had promise, but someone needed to tell the director that not every idea he has is gold.