IGN France's Death Stranding 2 Score Stands Out—and Not Quietly

France’s IGN surprised many by giving Death Stranding 2: On The Beach a 6/10 while most reviews push the game into “universal acclaim.” With over 100 critic reviews, the game holds a Metacritic score of 90. Nearly all major outlets praised the sequel’s gameplay upgrades, world-building, and visual fidelity, but IGN France had a different read.

I’ve played Death Stranding on PC and loved its mood, scale, and commitment to slowness. Traversal was the point, not the obstacle. So when I saw that Kojima streamlined some of those mechanics for DS2, I understood the trade-off. But it also made me wonder if something was lost in the transition.

IGN France called it “a beautiful game,” but argued that Kojima "levelled out the difficulty, rendering the journey anodyne" and that the game "seems to mark his running out of steam.” It’s one of the only reviews that views On The Beach as a step back in terms of meaning and difficulty.

This reaction came right after IGN Japan gave Clair Obscur—a French game—a 7/10, praising its mechanics but questioning its plot twists. That timing sparked memes and accusations of “review ping-pong” between regions.

For most reviewers, Death Stranding 2 is a clear success. Many highlight how the new combat options, traversal upgrades, and cinematic weight build on the first game’s foundation. Critics admit it’s louder and faster, but still deeply personal. Vehicles are more responsive, the world is more dynamic, and emotional stakes still hit hard.

Still, the IGN France review stands out not just for its score but for its interpretation. Where others see evolution, they see compromise. Where others praise accessibility, they see a dilution of Kojima’s original vision. That may resonate most with people who loved the first game because it wasn’t trying to please everyone.

“It disappoints precisely where the first one was astonishing.”

In an age where game reviews often blend together, this outlier sparked conversation, not just about the game, but about how we read reviews, how national bias might play a role, and how expectations shape our perception.

“Far from extending his vision... On The Beach seems to mark his running out of steam.”

It’s not a review war. But it is a reminder that sometimes, one strong disagreement can shine a light on what the rest of us took for granted.