If Henderson’s leak is to be believed, the game will feature Margaret Qualley, which is interesting since she also appeared in Death Stranding. Although Death Stranding is not a horror game, there is plenty that Kojima could learn from it when crafting Overdose. It would be wise for the game to avoid repetitive scenes, as they quickly lose their ability to scare. Furthermore, Overdose should make effective use of silence to enhance its terror, as Death Stranding illustrated how silence can be used to evoke powerful emotions.

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Repetition Kills Fear

During Death Stranding, players will spend most of their time trekking across austere yet picturesque landscapes. However, the game does have its fair share of hair-raising moments, and most of them occur during encounters with the Beached Things, better known as BTs. Players will know they are nearby when a brief cutscene plays followed by an ominous soundtrack. After this, Sam’s Odradek scanner will start blinking in the direction of the BTs which can only be seen when Sam holds his breath. BTs are mysterious creatures that are also very dangerous. Sam has to keep his noise levels down and stealth his way around the BTs lest he awaken the Catcher BTs, which are large and require plenty of ammo to defeat.

BTs are terrifying at first, as they are undead beings that attempt to drag Sam Bridges into a dark sludge. However, as players sink dozens of hours into the game, the BTs lose their impact, and they become an annoyance more than a scary threat. Encounters with them are repetitive, and when gamers always know what to expect, dealing with BTs becomes a chore rather than a chilling experience. Consequently, most of Death Stranding’s scary elements are neutralized within the first few hours of the game.

If Kojima intends to make Overdose terrifying from start to finish, his studio will have to find a way to avoid repetition. Players should never know what to expect, and enemies should never become a routine task. This could be done by ensuring there is a suitable variety of enemies spread throughout the game, or by ensuring that the game’s scares come from aspects other than the enemies alone. A varied soundtrack will also be necessary, as even the most toe-curling violins will lose their impact if players hear them too many times.

Silence Is Powerful

Although Death Stranding is noted for its atmospheric soundtrack, which features musical acts like Low Roar and Diplo, there are limited places where players can enjoy this music. For most of the game, as players make their deliveries, they travel in silence. The lack of a soundtrack to accompany Sam’s hikes provides a strong sense of isolation, which is a central theme of the game. The pressing silence in Death Stranding makes players all the more grateful to finally arrive at their destination and make a connection with someone, and when music is played at key moments, it is all the more impactful.

Overdose should also cleverly utilize silence, and there are many opportunities for Kojima to do this within the horror genre. Of course, the game will need an appropriate soundtrack to raise goosebumps and set the atmosphere. However, the eeriness and isolation of silence can also be utilized to raise suspense, especially if Overdose can nail the feeling of things being too quiet.

Microsoft’s cloud technology opens up many doors for Kojima, and it remains to be seen how it will be implemented. As P.T. demonstrated, the horror genre is one that Kojima would not struggle with, with bodes well for Overdose, if Henderson’s report is true. After the experience Kojima Productions gained from making Death Stranding, it is in the best position to make the most out of its upcoming project with Microsoft.

Death Stranding is available on PC, PS4, and PS5.

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