Death Stranding Director's Cut, from developer Kojima Productions, is a reminder of the masterpiece that initially came to the PS4 in 2019, and it is improved by the technology of Sony's latest console. Death Stranding was Screen Rant's 2019 Game of the Year, and its sprawling narrative is more poignant than ever, buoyed by new content and an unprecedented level of immersion thanks to the DualSense.

Death Stranding Director's Cut is an adventure game set across post-cataclysmic America with the goal of reuniting a shattered country. As players deliver packages by foot, vehicle, robot, zip-line, and more, an asynchronous multiplayer experience gradually builds an infrastructure which makes remote regions more accessible, and narratively links the United Cities of America. An impressive array of items are introduced throughout the entirety of the game, all of which seamlessly link Death Stranding's unique gameplay to its confounding yet heartfelt story of transcontinental proportions.

Related: Hideo Kojima Explains Death Stranding's Feeling of Fear

Kojima's narrative for Death Stranding Director's Cut is at times grandiose and deeply cinematic, but the illusion of a world where the realms of the living and the dead are colliding is made believable by the details. From the very beginning, when players are tasked with delivering Smart Drugs in Death Stranding's prologue, every item and line of dialogue contributes to the fantastic world building. The overarching story deals with an impending sixth global extinction event, but the gameplay is chiefly concerned with the minutiae of rebuilding a society that has been thrust into crippling isolation.

Sam Porter Bridges overlooking isolated Port Knot City in Death Stranding Director's Cut

As protagonist Sam Porter Bridges makes his way from the east coast to the west, he delivers all manner of supplies to people who have been living underground in order to avoid the Beached Things (BTs) that are invading from the other side of death. With a Bridge Baby in a pod attached to his suit -used to detect the near-invisible BTs - Sam interacts with a large cast of characters to unlock the secrets of the Death Stranding during his journey. In the midst of the ongoing global pandemic, Death Stranding Director's Cut weaves a meaningful tale sympathetic to the hardships of seclusion, and offers an optimistic view of overcoming such circumstances through belief in a collective solution.

Sam's role in overcoming the adversities of Death Stranding lies primarily in bringing people the cargo they need and desire. There's nothing else quite like the gameplay loop in Death Stranding, and the Director's Cut succeeds in elevating it even further with the PlayStation 5's exclusive capabilities. The PS5's SSD loads every aspect of the game in a matter of seconds, while the two graphical options let players choose between a high frame rate, or ray tracing to enhance the game's many vistas.

Death Stranding's narrative is more poignant now than ever

Death Stranding Director's Cut places an emphasis on the minute to minute traversal involved in making a trek cross country, which provides an opportunity for the PS5's DualSense to flex its unique capabilities. The haptic feedback in the left and right sides of the controller correspond to Sam's left and right feet, providing tactile feedback to rough terrain and emphasizing the exertion involved in climbing steep slopes.

Related: Death Stranding Director's Cut Shows Off PS5's Wide Mode in Kojima Trailer

The adaptive triggers supply a similarly satisfying new level of immersion to Death Stranding. They offer resistance when pulled to balance the cargo on Sam's back, with heavier loads requiring more force. Fording a body of rushing water or trying to maintain balance while picking up speed running downhill results in a pulsing sensation in the triggers. Sam's every move is felt through the controller, and new feedback patterns are found throughout the game.

New Director's Cut content - including the Maser Gun, Firing Range, Racing Track, Cargo Catapult, and more - offer new experiences and tools for those who have played Death Stranding before, but are spread across the course of the game to accompany the steady inundation of items and activities the game already had. For new players, this means the Director's Cut is the definitive version of Kojima Productions' masterpiece. It delivers an incredibly pertinent story, with more content than ever before, to be experienced through ingenious integration of the PlayStation 5's DualSense.

Next: Death Stranding PS4 Update Adds Save Data Transfer Ahead of PS5 Launch

Death Stranding Director's Cut launches September 24, 2021 for the PlayStation 5. Screen Rant was provided with a PS5 digital download code prior to release for the purpose of this review.