Kojima's 'Forgetting Game': Protagonist Loses Memory, Skills if You Pause Too Long

Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding series, continues to offer fascinating insights into his creative process through his Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10. In the latest installment, Episode 17, Kojima delves into the intriguing topic of how the passage of time in real life can be integrated into video game mechanics. He not only reflects on time-based elements he has employed in his past works but also shares innovative concepts that have yet to see the light of day, including a feature he ultimately decided against for the highly anticipated Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Kojima has a history of leveraging the internal clock of gaming consoles and PCs to enhance gameplay. He cites two notable examples from 2004's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on the PS2. To heighten the realism of jungle survival, the game tracks the spoilage of collected food over real-world days. Consuming rotten food could cause Snake to become violently ill, or players could repurpose spoiled food as a makeshift weapon by hurling it at unsuspecting enemy soldiers.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Another ingenious use of the system clock in MGS3 is the boss battle against the elderly sniper, The End. Kojima recalls, "Although he is a really tough boss, if the player waits a week, The End will die of old age." Players who revisit their in-battle save a week later are greeted with a cutscene where Snake finds The End deceased, showcasing how real-time can dramatically alter gameplay dynamics.

Kojima also shares a novel concept he considered for Death Stranding 2 but ultimately scrapped. He envisioned Sam's beard growing over time, necessitating player intervention to shave it. "Originally in Death Stranding 2, I was going to have Sam's beard gradually grow out over time, and the player would have to shave it. If they didn't, Sam would end up looking unkempt," he explains. However, due to the star power of Norman Reedus, who portrays Sam, Kojima decided against it, not wanting to portray the actor in an unflattering way. Despite this, he remains open to incorporating such a feature in future projects.

During the podcast, Kojima unveils three game concepts centered around the passage of time in real life. The first is a life simulation game where players begin as children and age into adulthood and beyond. "It starts out with the player being born, you’re a child and then gradually over time you become an adult. In the game, you fight various enemies. Like with the previous example (MGS3’s The End), if you keep playing the game, you will become a 70 or 80 year old man. However, at this age, you will be weaker, your eyesight will worsen. When you are a teenager, you’ll be able to run faster but by the time you reach 60, you’ll slow down a bit," Kojima elaborates. He notes that while younger characters have physical advantages, older ones possess more knowledge and experience, impacting strategic gameplay. Although Kojima humorously suggests "no-one would buy it," the podcast's guests express enthusiasm for such a unique gaming experience.

The second concept involves a game where players nurture something that matures over time, akin to wine or cheese. This would require consistent play over an extended period, suggesting a potential idle game format.

Conversely, Kojima's third concept is a "forgetting game" that demands quick progression. Here, the protagonist gradually loses critical information and skills if the player pauses the game for too long. "If you don’t play every day, the main character will gradually forget things such as 'how to fire their gun or what their job is.' This forgetfulness builds up until finally the player is unable to move," Kojima explains with a laugh, noting that players might need to take a week off to fully engage with this game.

As fans eagerly await the release of Death Stranding 2 on June 26, many are likely planning their time off. For more insights into the upcoming title, be sure to check out our interview with Kojima and our impressions after playing through the first 30 hours.