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

Hideo Kojima's Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, offers a fascinating glimpse 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 can enhance video game mechanics, discussing both implemented and unimplemented ideas. This includes a scrapped concept from the upcoming Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Kojima is renowned for integrating real-world time into his games, as seen in 2004's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for the PS2. To heighten the survival experience in the jungle, food would spoil after a few days in real life, potentially making Snake ill if consumed, or serving as an unconventional weapon when thrown at enemies.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

View 14 ImagesAnother example from MGS3 involves the boss battle 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." By reloading a save after a week, players witness a cutscene where Snake finds The End deceased.

Kojima shared an intriguing idea originally intended for Death Stranding 2: having Sam's beard grow over time, requiring players to shave it. However, this was abandoned to avoid portraying Norman Reedus, a prominent actor, in an unflattering way. Yet, Kojima hints at possibly using this mechanic in future projects.

He also presented three new game concepts centered around real-life time mechanics. The first is a life simulation where the player ages from childhood to old age, impacting their physical abilities and strategic approach to enemies. "But no-one would buy it!" Kojima humorously remarks, although his co-hosts expressed interest in such a unique game.

Conversely, Kojima proposed a "forgetting game" where the protagonist loses abilities and memories if the player doesn't play regularly. This forgetfulness escalates to the point where the character can't move, compelling players to play intensively. "Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it," Kojima jests.

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