Video Game Review: Deliveries + Caffeine + Hadouken

From AAA titles to mobile, here’s what we’re playing.

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Your parcel is on the way: Death Stranding 2, titled “On the Beach,” is now available on PlayStation 5.

The core “courier” gameplay of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach would make any Grab or Lalamove messenger yell “Time out!” after a long shift. If delivering in city chaos is tough, this game turns the whole journey into a strange, cinematic odyssey—where drop-offs take you across massive coastlines, wild weather, and non-human entities who definitely won’t be tipping in cash.

Death Stranding 2 is Hideo Kojima’s creative eccentricity operating at full power—and honestly, it’s refreshing to see someone still willing to get that degree of bizarreness in mainstream gaming. This sequel doubles down on cinematic ambition, becoming not just a game you play, but one you watch, absorb, and let wash over you like a big-budget artsy sci-fi film that you’re actively directing. 

As in the previous game, you play as Sam Porter Bridges—portrayed by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus—who delivers cargo across hostile territory filled with human, non-human, and environmental hazards. The sequel starts eleven months after the first game and takes place mainly in post-apocalyptic Mexico and Australia. Here’s hoping the developers consider Southeast Asia in part 3; watching Sam cross our flood control ruins—ghost projects and all—would be a sight to behold—and a TikTok sensation.

Every trek feels memorable, thanks to climate quirks—sandstorms that swallow visibility and rain events that turn simple routes into long-haul treks. Traversal remains central, and yes, like the original, the core loop is still making deliveries from point A to point B. But unlike part one, you no longer walk for miles in meditative boredom. The sequel injects revved-up action: combat is more engaging, stealth missions foster multiple approaches, and enemies adapt as the story unfolds. The enemy AI still has its clumsy moments, slipping into questionable behaviors now and then. But the “What the hell just happened?” moments never really yank you out of gaming—they’re more like, “Meh, okay, I’ll let it slide.

The star-studded cast returns in full force, with Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Bond girl Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die/Spectre), Troy Baker (Last of Us), and Elle Fanning (Predator: Badlands) delivering grounded, emotionally rich performances. Even George Miller, the mind behind the Mad Max series, jumps into the cast roster—whether as a creative hand or simply because Kojima is a longtime fan, it just fits.

Death Stranding 2 hooks you by tapping straight into the brain’s reward circuitry—turning every delivery, item pickup, and mission completion into a trivial but satisfying dopamine hit. The controls remain impressively refined, the realistic graphics make every rain-soaked surface shimmer, and its layered sci-fi narrative bundles it all together in a fine gaming bubble wrap. 

With Death Stranding 2, Mr. Kojima and the developers didn’t just settle for a tune-up—they overhauled the engine. Unlike your last disastrous online order, this delivery arrives exactly to your liking—assuming your taste runs delightfully unusual. 

Games on the Go

For your inner barista: Good Coffee, Great Coffee (IOS/Android)

Good Coffee, Great Coffee is an engaging mobile cafe simulation game that allows players to experience the art of coffee-making. Developed by TapBlaze California, this game provides a perfect balance of creativity, relaxation, and strategy—making it ideal for anyone seeking a stress-free yet rewarding experience. You start as a new barista who recently moved to Coffee City to open a small cafe, making key decisions about decor, ingredients, and customer service as you build your coffee business from scratch. 

The gameplay is designed to be both soothing and mentally stimulating. Each in-game day brings a fresh set of orders and customer personalities. Some requests are simple, like lattes, while others require careful attention—like the customer who asks for “coffee water,” a subtle hint that they actually want an americano. Observing these cues is essential, as accuracy boosts tips, customer satisfaction, and your reputation around Coffee City.

As you progress, you gradually unlock new recipes, ingredients, and equipment that enhance your brewing skills and expand your café’s offerings. It’s the little details that make it feel real, offering fun challenges without overwhelming you.

Good Coffee, Great Coffee impresses with its vibrant visuals and polished art style, combining cozy café aesthetics with a well-balanced color palette. The smooth jazz soundtrack playing in the background enhances the chill vibe, making every brewing session feel calm and enjoyable. 

Overall, Good Coffee, Great Coffee stands out as a laid-back yet engaging simulation for coffee lovers and casual gamers alike. It’s immersive, charming, and perfect for unwinding after a long, busy day. Unfortunately, no yuletide stickers and planners here.

Classics Reloaded

The classic “bakbakan” that started it all: Street Fighter (Various platforms)

What do Manila’s well-known arcades—Virra Mall (Greenhills), Harrison Plaza (Malate), Fiesta Carnival (Cubao), and Quad 2 (Makati)—have in common in the late 80s aside from the lack of air conditioning? Simple: Street Fighter, the arcade brawler that most older gamers grew up playing while strengthening their social skills. 

Indeed, Street Fighter paved the way for modern fighting games, long before esports and online matchmaking appeared. Released in 1987 and refined in 1991’s Street Fighter II, the game stunned players with a cast and fighting stages so full of personality that they even inspired its own movie, cartoon, and comic book series. The game’s fighter line-up made it more appealing because each represented a country, giving them unique cultural flair and fighting styles. Add the exclusive game stages per character, and you get a diversity that successfully leveled up the replayability of the game—making each fight like a mini world tournament, with the characters representing the essence of their homelands. 

Most fighting games nowadays resemble some of the fighters (and specialties) in Street Fighter: there’s Akira of Virtua Fighter, who’s similar to Ryu minus the dragonball; Tekken’s Xiaoyu looks like a teen version of Chun-Li; and don’t forget about the Bruce Lee-inspired characters showcasing classic Jeet Kune Do skills. 

Street Fighter’s controls were deceptively simple yet deeply satisfying to execute, which played a huge role in its lasting appeal. With just a few buttons, players could execute a wide range of moves—from basic punches and kicks to complex special attacks like the Hadouken or Sonic Boom. Every tito gamer has the move Down → Down/Forward → Forward or Quarter Circle Forward (QCF) etched into their muscle memory—it’s not just a command, it’s a coming-of-age moment.

This balance of accessibility and depth made the game easy to pick up for newcomers but challenging to master, fueling competitive play at the arcades and keeping players coming back either for fun or broken ego.

Decades and versions later, Street Fighter remains iconic. Nailing that Hadouken or Sonic Boom on your tropa feels like winning Pusoy Dos with a perfect flush. 

Written with guest writer Dylan Andrea Hernando

 

 

Every trek feels memorable, thanks to climate quirks—sandstorms that swallow visibility and rain events that turn simple routes into long-haul treks.

 

 

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