Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2 is in development, a sequel to the thoughtful trek across a shattered facsimile of North America after Earth was struck by the titular cataclysmic event. In Death Stranding, players took control of Sam Porter Bridges, tasked with reconnecting the country's various Knot cities via Bridges' chiral network. This chiral network played an integral part in the story, of course, but its asynchronous online functionality lends the game an interesting sense of community. Kojima's asynchronous mechanics work wonders, and it would be surprising if we didn't see this particular style of strand gameplay in future games.
Death Stranding is long and slow, and while it was criticized for its gameplay, the game does offer a truly unique experience. Be it long stretches of windy plains and babbling rivers covered by the hum of a Low Roar track, or plodding past remnants of player infrastructure, all the simple moments create an unmatched atmosphere. Players could then listen to the soundtrack from the safe house, but being able to listen to Death Stranding's soundtrack on the go would be appreciated in the second entry, which could let players create more personal moments in their journey. The knots that tie the trudging and long drives together are the story beats, which are carried by incredible performances and heart-pulling tales.
Death Stranding's Character Stories Have Heart
The mountains and valleys can feel lonely, and while Sam will speak with plenty of people via hologram as he picks up and delivers resources, the general loneliness makes the few face-to-face encounters stand out. These two states complement each other and make up the bulk of the Death Stranding experience. Moments of isolation were often highlighted by a choice song, perhaps meant to evoke specific emotions from the player. The game's lonely musical highlights, however, were complemented by the equally thought-provoking time spent with Death Stranding's unique cast.
While there is plenty of space for Kojima Productions to improve upon Death Stranding's gameplay in the sequel without sacrificing its unique flavor, the sequel should make sure to include equally complex character stories. From Die-Hardman and Fragile to Clifford and Mama, Death Stranding has no shortage of memorable, sometimes painful, stories to dissect. One of the most heart-wrenching and pertinent character stories belongs to Heartman, whose tragic and relatable tale will echo in the player's mind for hours after it's been imparted.
Heartman, like all Death Stranding characters, is an aptronym for the tragedy that ensues while he undergoes heart surgery. The area surrounding the hospital is struck by two simultaneous voidouts, resulting in a heart-shaped crater and the loss of his family. The shockwaves killed the hospital's power long enough to leave Heartman dead as well. He was defibrillated after the hospital's emergency power kicked in, but he could never let go of his brief time on the beach with his family.
Heartman would stop his heart for three minutes every twenty-one minutes, daily, through an automated process in an attempt to reconnect with them. His studies of the beach made him a valuable Bridges member, and he remains present throughout the game as an integral character. Heartman's story concludes in Death Stranding when he concludes that everyone's beach is unique, and death itself would not reunite him with his family.
Kojima has a penchant for character-focused stories, and he continues to contribute often eccentric characters to his long list of memorable video game characters. It's likely Death Stranding 2 will maintain this tradition of complex protagonists and tragic side characters, whose presence contributes both to the story and to emotionally grounding the players in a believable world.
Death Stranding 2 is currently in development for PS5.
