"Hideo Kojima's 'Forgetting Game': Play Too Long, Lose Memory and Skills"

Hideo Kojima's Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, continues to offer fascinating insights into the mind behind iconic games like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. In the latest episode (Episode 17), Kojima delves into how real-life time passage can enhance video game mechanics, reflecting on past implementations and teasing new concepts, including a scrapped idea for the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Kojima is well-known for integrating real-world time into his games. He cited two examples from 2004's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on the PS2. To simulate jungle survival, perishable food items would spoil after a few days in real time, affecting gameplay by causing Snake to become ill if consumed or by allowing players to use spoiled food as a weapon against enemies.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Another example from MGS3 is the strategic use of the system clock in the battle against the elderly sniper, The End. Kojima noted, "Although he is a really tough boss, if the player waits a week, The End will die of old age." Players who load their save a week later are rewarded with a cutscene showing Snake discovering The End's demise.

Looking forward, Kojima shared an innovative idea he considered for Death Stranding 2. He envisioned Sam's beard growing over time, requiring players to shave it to maintain his appearance. However, due to actor Norman Reedus's star status, Kojima opted not to proceed with this feature to avoid portraying him as unkempt. Still, he hinted at possibly incorporating this concept in future projects.

Kojima also brainstormed three intriguing game concepts centered around real-life time mechanics. The first is a life simulation game where players start as children and age into adulthood, facing enemies throughout their life. As players grow older, their physical abilities change, affecting their strategy against adversaries. While Kojima humorously remarked that "no-one would buy it," his podcast co-hosts expressed keen interest in this "Kojima-like game."

Another proposed concept involves creating items like wine or cheese that mature over time, suggesting a game that players can engage with intermittently. In contrast, Kojima's "forgetting game" would challenge players to play quickly to prevent the protagonist from losing crucial skills and memories, with breaks leading to forgetfulness that could immobilize the character. Jokingly, Kojima suggested players might need to take a week off to complete such a game.

As fans eagerly await Death Stranding 2's release on June 26, they can look forward to more innovative gameplay mechanics. For more insights, check out our interview with Kojima and our impressions after playing through the first 30 hours.