Hideo Kojima's 'Forgetting Game': Play Too Long, Lose Key Memories and Skills

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, continues to share his innovative thoughts on video game design through his Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10. In the latest episode (Episode 17), Kojima delves into how the passage of real-world time can enhance gameplay mechanics, offering insights into both past implementations and new, untested concepts. One such concept, initially considered for the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, was ultimately discarded.

Kojima has a history of integrating real-time elements into his games. He references two instances from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) on the PS2. To enhance the survival aspect in the jungle, food collected by players would spoil after a few real-world days. Consuming spoiled food could lead to severe sickness for Snake, or players could ingeniously use it as a weapon by throwing it at enemy soldiers.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Another example from MGS3 is the boss fight with The End, an elderly sniper. Kojima notes, "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 after a week would find The End dead, bypassing the challenge.

Kojima also shared a scrapped idea for Death Stranding 2, where Sam's beard would grow over time, requiring players to shave it to keep him looking tidy. "However, as Norman Reedus is a big star, I didn’t want to make him look uncool!" Kojima explains, although he remains open to exploring this concept in future projects.

In addition, Kojima proposes three novel game concepts centered around real-world time. The first is a "game of life," where players start as a child and age over time, affecting their physical abilities and strategic approach to combat. "But no-one would buy it!" Kojima jests, though his co-hosts expressed interest in such a unique game.

Another concept involves creating something like wine or cheese, necessitating long-term engagement as the product matures, fitting well as a background or idle game.

On the other hand, Kojima envisions a "forgetting game" where the protagonist loses memory and skills if the player takes breaks. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," Kojima laughs, highlighting the urgency this game would impose on players.

As fans eagerly await the release of Death Stranding 2 on June 26, they can delve deeper into the game through our interview with Kojima and our impressions after playing through the first 30 hours.