Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake': Death Stranding 2 Echoes Metal Gear Solid

Kojima Productions recently unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, showcasing both familiar and new faces. Among the returning stars are Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a fresh character, Luca Marinelli, who appears to be stepping into a role reminiscent of Kojima's iconic Solid Snake.

Luca Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor, lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. While Marinelli is primarily known for his roles in Italian cinema, English-speaking audiences may recognize him as the immortal mercenary Nicky from Netflix's The Old Guard.

In the trailer, Neil is initially seen in an interrogation room, facing accusations from a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this man and seems eager to sever their working relationship. The man in the suit insists that Neil "has no choice" but to continue working for him.

The scene then shifts to Neil conversing with a Bridges employee named Lucy, portrayed by Marinelli's real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals that Neil's job involves smuggling cargo—specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

One of the most striking images from the original Death Stranding is Norman Reedus' character, Sam Porter Bridges, carrying a glowing orange flask with a baby inside. This baby, known as a Bridge Baby (BB), is a seven-month fetus extracted via c-section from a brain-dead mother. This unique state between life and death enables BBs to communicate with the world of the dead, helping their adult carriers detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls trapped in the living world that can cause catastrophic Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts, which are massive destructive events akin to nuclear explosions. These experiments were officially halted after a BB-related incident caused a Voidout in Manhattan, devastating the city and killing the US President. However, the research continued covertly, which explains Neil's role in smuggling brain-dead pregnant women, likely for the US Government's ongoing secret experiments.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

Image credit: Kojima Productions

The trailer concludes with a striking image of Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, strikingly reminiscent of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not Solid Snake, the visual homage is intentional. In 2020, Hideo Kojima expressed admiration for Marinelli on Instagram, noting that with a bandana, Marinelli could resemble Solid Snake. This reference in the trailer is a nod to Kojima's past work, though the universes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding remain distinct.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

Neil and his undead troops. Image credit: Kojima Productions

The trailer's homage to Metal Gear goes beyond Neil's appearance. It suggests that Neil becomes Beached, his soul trapped in the living world, similar to Cliff Unger from the first game. Neil's Beached form is that of a soldier leading undead warriors, and the trailer's narration touches on the resurgence of gun culture in the "new continent," echoing the themes of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effects on humanity that Kojima explored in the Metal Gear series.

Additionally, the trailer features Heartman combining the ship DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This connection underscores the thematic continuity between Kojima's works, even if the settings and stories differ.

The cinematic quality of the Death Stranding 2 trailer also mirrors the epic scope of the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, blending gameplay and cutscenes to showcase the game's narrative and characters.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will create another Metal Gear Solid game, as he parted ways with Konami, the franchise's owner. Future Metal Gear Solid projects, such as the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his involvement. However, the influence of Metal Gear Solid is evident in Death Stranding 2, where Kojima draws inspiration from his past work to craft a new narrative.

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 hints at even grander ambitions than its predecessor, featuring diverse environments and a stronger focus on combat. While not a Metal Gear Solid game by name, Death Stranding 2 embodies the spirit and themes of Kojima's earlier work, promising an engaging and thought-provoking experience for fans.