Hideo Kojima Unveils 'Forgetting Game' Concept: Protagonist Loses Memory, Skills with Extended Breaks

Hideo Kojima's Japanese radio podcast, KOJI10, continues to offer fascinating glimpses into the creative mind behind classics like Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. In the latest episode, Episode 17, Kojima delves into how the passage of real-world time can enhance video game experiences. He not only reflects on time-based mechanics he has previously incorporated into his games but also shares innovative concepts he has yet to implement, including a scrapped idea from the eagerly awaited Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.

Kojima is well-versed in utilizing the internal clocks of consoles and PCs to add a layer of realism to his games. He recounts two notable examples from 2004's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater on the PS2. In this game, the realism of jungle survival was heightened by having the fresh food spoil after a few real-life days. Consuming spoiled food could cause Snake to become violently ill, or players could ingeniously use it as a weapon by throwing it at unsuspecting enemy soldiers.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

View 14 Images

Another ingenious use of the system clock was seen in MGS3's cat-and-mouse battle with 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 load their in-battle save after a week are greeted with a cutscene showing Snake discovering The End's demise.

Kojima also shared a concept he considered for Death Stranding 2, where Sam's beard would grow over time, requiring players to shave it to keep him looking presentable. "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 explained. However, due to Norman Reedus's star status, Kojima decided against it to avoid making him look "uncool." Yet, he remains open to exploring this idea in future projects.

Kojima also proposed three intriguing game concepts centered around real-life time mechanics. The first is a life simulation game where players start as a child and age into an elderly adult. "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 explained. This aging process would influence gameplay strategy, with younger characters having better physical abilities and older ones possessing more knowledge and experience. Despite his skepticism about its marketability, the podcast's other participants expressed enthusiasm for such a "Kojima-like game."

Another concept involves a game where players cultivate items like wine or cheese, requiring long-term engagement and patience, suitable for a background or idle game format.

On the other hand, Kojima proposed a "forgetting game" where the protagonist gradually loses important information and abilities if the player takes extended breaks. "In this concept, the main character gradually forgets important information and abilities if you take too long a break from the game. For example, 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. 'Players would have to take a week off work or school to play it,'" Kojima humorously remarked.

As fans eagerly await the release of Death Stranding 2 on June 26, many are likely to take time off to immerse themselves in Kojima's latest creation. For more insights into the upcoming game, be sure to check out our interview with Kojima and our impressions after playing through the first 30 hours.