In the new Death Stranding trailer from E3 2018, fans got their very first look at gameplay as protagonist Sam trudged across the landscape with his equipment in tow. It even featured a tense sequence that sees Sam attempt to avoid the clutches of the game's spectral enemies. What the trailer doesn't feature, however, is any combat gameplay and it seems that there may have been a very good reason for this.

Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima did an interview with Geoff Keighley at E3 2018, during which he indicated that players shouldn't take the combat-heavy approach. Although the game does feature shooting gameplay, Kojima said that he doesn't recommend it and it isn't the ideal approach for players to take. In translated comments, the game developer even suggested that it is "not ideal" for players to power their way through the game in this manner.

As such, players can expect Death Stranding to offer "alternative" ways to get around enemies. With so little gameplay being shown off at this point, it's difficult to suggest what these alternative approaches may be, but fans will be curious to learn more.

On the one hand, Kojima's latest comments come as little surprise given reason reveals made about the game. In another recent interview, Death Stranding actor Mads Mikkelsen said that the gameplay involves "collaboration." This point was echoed by Kojima during the Keighley interview, saying that the goal of the game is not to fight or defeat enemies but the goal is to reconnect the world.

The fact that players will not have to shoot or battle it out with enemies appears to be a reflection of this collaborative approach. However, given that the game has been described as an action game, fans will be wondering how Kojima and the rest of the development team are able to ramp things up without such a huge focus on combat.

The idea of combat not being so important is just one of the concepts that Kojima and co. are playing with in Death Stranding. According to previous teasers posted by Kojima and the cast, the game references black holes and earth-shaking explosions. It will likely explore many other ideas and theories, including those that fans have yet to discover from the game's famously cryptic trailers. While that does make for one very intriguing game on paper, in action, Death Stranding could just be confusing and many will be hoping that Kojima is able to start providing some answers soon.

Death Stranding is in development for PS4. A release date has not yet been announced.