When you get a big new game to play, like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, there is a strong temptation to gorge yourself on it. There are several impulses that might lead you in this direction. You might want to delve into its story as quickly as possible to find out what’s going on. You might be conscious of the gaming time you have available and want to push through and clear this game before the next one comes along. You might just want to hungrily wolf down the gaming banquet the developers have put in front of you.

Take my advice: don’t. At least, don’t take this approach to Death Stranding 2. Hideo Kojima’s latest may be a smoother, more accommodating proposition than the first game, but it’s still a game to sip carefully and savor slowly.

Death Stranding 2 takes some time to build up momentum in its storyline and to truly open out its world, but on a systems and gameplay level, it’s front-loaded. There’s a lot to digest, even if you’re familiar with the first game, and the pace of unlocks is pretty quick. And while the game will remain playable and enjoyable if........

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