The month of May is almost over, which means it’s time to bring another DEATH STRANDING super fan into the limelight and get to know them!

In our latest fan interview, we had a chat with Mergava, an incredibly talented member of the community who has taken cosplay prop creation to a whole new level!

We hope you feel inspired by Mergava’s creativity.

Enjoy!

INTERVIEW WITH MERGAVA

Hi, Mergava! Firstly, thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into DEATH STRANDING?

Hello! It’s a pleasure to have this chance to talk to you. My name is Mergava, I’m a cosplayer from Japan. I’ve been a fan of Hideo Kojima’s work ever since I played Metal Gear Solid 4, so it was only a matter of time before I became obsessed with DEATH STRANDING.

What aspects of DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT do you like the most?

The game mechanics are really superb. To be honest, I was initially a little unsure about just walking around being the main hook.

Most games tend to focus on combat, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from a game that didn’t do that, but it turned out to be a lot of fun!

There’s a real sense of accomplishment when you reach your destination having survived dealing with the BT’s, MULEs, and the harsh nature around you. When I heard “Asylums for the feeling feat. Leila Adu” playing en route to K3 Port Knot City, I was so moved that I took a picture, haha.

There’s so much else too, like sliding down a mountain on a floating carrier, connecting with other players, and even just taking in the beautiful scenery.

The Odradek you made yourself is really something! Could you tell us how you made it?

Thank you! It’s a real honor to hear both fans and members of the DS team complementing my work. It was also great to feel connected to other fans within the game.

I had to rush to make it in time for a cosplay event, so this Odradek was made within 1 month.

For durability, I used a camera clamp stand for the arm, but the rest of it is based on a 3D printed model that I designed from scratch. The blinking and spinning motions are powered by a servo motor microcontroller (Arduino) and a mobile battery. It has four modes that can be triggered via a switch in my hand; two stationary, one for the blinking, and another for the spinning.

We know that you’re also active as a cosplayer! Could you tell us a little about how you got into cosplay?

I started cosplaying around 6 years ago. I tried to make a weapon from a game called Rainbow Six Siege, and I pulled it off so I thought I should probably cosplay to put it to good use. That character was a girl though, so photos from that time are a little embarrassing now, haha.

At first it was just part of my airsoft hobby, but 3 years ago a friend of mine taught me the basics of make-up, and I got into other games and anime, and last year I won a big cosplay contest.

I always believed that the right connections at the right time are worth taking seriously. Cosplaying with other people makes it more enjoyable, and all the people who take pictures and video ultimately help us succeed. Then the people who see cosplay, feel something from it, like it or share it around, they inspire me to work harder and make better stuff. I’m sure other hobbyists say similar things, but I am really glad that I started cosplaying.

Do you have any advice for new Porters who might be about to play DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT for the first time?

Take your time with it.

If you try too hard to rush down a cliff or carry too much, you’ll fall and fail. So it’s better to take the scenic route, relax and enjoy the music as you go.

Don’t take it easy on the MULEs though. Give them hell, haha.

DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT

STEAM: https://505.games/SteamDSDCLaunch
EPIC: https://505.games/EpicDSDCLaunch