The Grim Consequences of Neglect: What Happens When You Ignore a Corpse in Death Stranding?
Ignoring a corpse in Death Stranding is not just a matter of being a bad citizen; it’s a recipe for disaster with potentially catastrophic consequences. If a body is left unmanaged, it will undergo necrosis and eventually transform into a Beached Thing (BT). This isn’t your average ghost either. This particular BT will be a unique, gold-colored variant. If this gold BT drags you into the tar, it will immediately trigger a game over, skipping the usual Catcher mini-boss fight. This essentially means your carelessness has made the game more difficult for yourself and can result in frustrating setbacks. Proper corpse disposal is paramount in Death Stranding to maintain order and prevent these disastrous voidouts. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics of corpse management in the game.
The Road to Necrosis and BT Transformation
The initial stages of neglect involve the body undergoing necrosis, a process of decay and tissue death. This is a countdown timer, and if you fail to act before it reaches zero, the body will complete its transition into a BT. The implications of this transformation are far more severe than just having another enemy roaming around.
The Danger of Gold BTs
The BTs resulting from neglected corpses aren’t the usual, ethereal threats. These transformed corpses become gold BTs, unique entities that are significantly more dangerous. Unlike normal BT encounters, being pulled into the tar by a gold BT results in an instant game over. This design choice by the developers emphasizes the seriousness of corpse management, making it an essential aspect of the gameplay loop. It’s a powerful way of teaching players that negligence has severe and immediate repercussions.
The Threat of Voidouts
Perhaps the most devastating consequence of mishandling a corpse is the risk of triggering a Voidout. This cataclysmic event occurs when a BT kills someone, and that body is not properly disposed of within a specific timeframe, most importantly, by incineration. The resulting explosion is massive, powerful enough to create a crater that can wipe out entire cities, radically changing the landscape and destroying structures and potentially your hard earned progress. This reinforces the need to promptly incinerate or otherwise deal with the body to prevent these destructive events.
Voidouts are a direct consequence of improperly disposed of BT-killed bodies.
The game’s narrative stresses that death itself is the prerequisite and catalyst for a phenomena called voidouts. This underscores the crucial role players have in the game and the need to take every precaution in the face of death. It’s not just your own life you are responsible for, but preventing the chain reaction that results in large scale destruction.
Proper Corpse Disposal Methods
Thankfully, Death Stranding offers several ways to prevent corpse-related disasters. Here are the key disposal options:
Incineration
The most effective method of disposal is by incineration. There’s an incinerator located north-west of the Craftsman, which is reachable after passing the Craftman and the Ruined Factory. This incinerator is your go-to location for permanently getting rid of problematic corpses.
Throwing in the Tar Lake
While not as efficient as incineration, throwing a body into a tar lake is another acceptable method of corpse disposal. This option is available more widely, but doesn’t result in the permanent deletion that incineration does.
Utilizing Corpse Disposal Facilities at Outposts
Outposts often have corpse disposal facilities as well. By taking the corpse to these dedicated facilities, you can ensure its safe and proper handling, preventing the potential dangers of necrosing bodies, and the resulting voidouts.
Why is Corpse Disposal So Crucial?
The intricate system built around corpse disposal is not merely a gameplay mechanic but a core component of Death Stranding’s narrative and themes. The game emphasizes the importance of connecting and maintaining order in a fractured world. By forcing players to meticulously handle every death, Death Stranding makes the player truly grapple with the consequences of their actions. Failing to do so, even if just through a bit of inattention, could lead to utter destruction. This is an important gameplay loop to understand and engage with in order to experience Death Stranding as it was designed to be.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions players have about the consequences of ignoring corpses in Death Stranding, and the various mechanics related to death in the game:
1. What happens if a corpse is left unattended for too long?
If a corpse is left unattended, it will undergo necrosis and eventually transform into a gold BT, increasing its threat level drastically. If it pulls you into the tar it will result in instant game over.
2. What is a gold BT?
A gold BT is a special type of Beached Thing that spawns from a neglected corpse. It is much more dangerous, immediately triggering a game over if it pulls you into the tar, rather than leading to a Catcher encounter.
3. How do you dispose of a corpse in Death Stranding?
You can dispose of a corpse by incinerating it at a designated incinerator, throwing it into a tar lake, or using a corpse disposal facility at an outpost.
4. What is a Voidout, and how is it caused?
A Voidout is a massive, destructive explosion that occurs when a BT kills a person and the body is not properly disposed of (usually by incineration) within a set time frame.
5. Does the player cause a voidout if they are killed by a BT?
No, Sam cannot permanently die. As a repatriate, he returns from the Seam. However, if a BT kills a normal person, a voidout is possible if they’re not disposed of.
6. Does killing MULEs cause a Voidout?
No, killing MULEs will not directly cause a Voidout. However, it can result in the spawning of a BT, so still requires the disposal of the bodies.
7. Why do bodies need to be burned in Death Stranding?
Burning a body, through incineration, prevents it from becoming a BT and triggering a Voidout.
8. How many endings does Death Stranding have?
Death Stranding has only one ending which involves a large and complex cutscene. While the narrative feels layered, there’s no hidden ending for the game.
9. What happens if you throw a corpse in the tar?
Throwing a corpse in the tar lake is an acceptable way to dispose of it, although it is less permanent than incineration.
10. What is DOOMS?
DOOMS is a condition that grants individuals a greater connection to the other side, making them more susceptible to encountering BTs.
11. What is Timefall?
Timefall is a mysterious rain that causes anything it touches to rapidly progress through time, thus causing accelerated aging.
12. Does Death Stranding have horror elements?
Yes, despite not being a horror game, Death Stranding incorporates disturbing monster designs and a unnerving atmosphere, crafting elements that are considered horror.
13. What happens if you hug Amelie?
Hugging Amelie triggers a cutscene that is an essential part of the game’s final narrative. This is the final decision a player is allowed to make.
14. Is Overdose connected to Death Stranding?
Overdose utilizes assets from Death Stranding, however it is not canonically connected and can be seen as a tech demo of sorts for the use of Death Stranding’s assets and mechanics.
15. What does a birthday do in Death Stranding?
If you play Death Stranding on your birthday, you will receive a special birthday cutscene, although this will not impact your gameplay.
Understanding the mechanics of corpse disposal is fundamental to mastering Death Stranding and is essential to enjoying the game’s narrative. By adhering to these methods, players can maintain order, prevent devastating Voidouts, and delve deeper into the game’s complex world.