Towards the tip of the brand new ten-minute (!) lengthy trailer for Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima decides to throw the gang some pink meat. The footage has by this level established new character Neil, performed by Italian actor Luca Marinelli, as what seems like Death Stranding 2’s model of Cliff (Mads Mikkelson): somebody pressured into soiled jobs who cannot let go of the previous.
Then, as Neil begins to guide a small particular forces unit of some form, the digital camera focuses straight on the character’s face as he ties a bandana round his brow. It’s a small element but it surely’s an unmistakable one for longtime Kojima-fanciers: From the primary Metal Gear Solid, the bandana has been an iconic a part of the search for each Solid Snake and Big Boss.
As if this wasn’t sufficient, Kojima Productions then doubles-down on the vibe with the DS2 ship, the DHV Magellan. This is proven flying round and negotiating the tar channels (or no matter they’re referred to as), earlier than in a ultimate scene taking on one of many big humanoid tar figures: At which level, for these with eyes to see, it turns into clear this is similar mech design as Metal Gear Rex.
To be clear, these are references: I’m not saying Neil is actually Solid Snake. Though Kojima did path this casting in a 2020 Instagram submit, saying “I believe if [Luca Marinelli] donned a bandana, he’d be the spitting picture of Solid Snake!”
The creator’s friendship with Remedy’s Sam Lake is well-known, and on this gentle it is price taking a look at what Alan Wake 2 did with bringing in Alex Casey: a legally distinct model of Max Payne that can also be positively Max Payne. Konami nonetheless owns and controls the rights to Metal Gear, Solid Snake and so forth, but it surely does not personal the thought of a personality placing on a bandana, or a familiar-looking mech silhouette.
Oh and yet another: The president in Death Stranding 2 is a brand new character voiced by Alastair Johnson. The ultimate recreation within the Metal Gear collection timeline is Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, wherein the ultimate boss is Senator Armstrong performed by… Alastair Johnson.
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So we’re in some form of alt-universe the place, with sufficient tinfoil, you may in all probability nearly persuade your self that the Metal Gear and Death Stranding universes are, excuse the pun, related. We’ve acquired alt variations of Snake, we have got Rex, we have got Armstrong, on high of which the director’s lower of Death Stranding had already added a bunch of Metal Gear-style components (this video goes by way of most of them).
It all ties-in to components of Death Stranding 2 which are already being made express. The days of supply are over. Describing the unique as a “strolling simulator” was all the time unfair, however this time round it does seem to be there will probably be barely much less emphasis on traversal because the core mission mechanic and much more, dare I say, tactical espionage motion.
Neil does not simply appear like Solid Snake together with his fancy bandana, although, he additionally leads some form of unit that is distinguished by cranium imagery and smoking cigarettes (one other Metal Gear staple). He additionally appears to be this recreation’s equal of Cliff, which thematically ties-in to being unable to let go of previous occasions: Or on this case, previous achievements. And then on the finish, in addition to the Rex-like ship-slash-tar creature, we get unmistakable echoes of the large mech fights between Rex and Ray that had been among the collection’ excessive factors.
I’m sure there are dozens of different small nods I’m lacking, and little doubt the Metal Gearheads are poring over this trailer as I write. It’s all the time been clear that Kojima was by no means going to actually depart Metal Gear behind, and has turn out to be bolder about discussing the collection and including extra overt nods by the point of the DS director’s lower.
But that is as express because it will get. Don’t hassle ready for Konami to make Metal Gear Solid 6 as a result of, if that collection has a future, it is now as one other collection beneath its unique creator. Fans are already joking about Neil’s character being referred to as “Rigid Reptile” and the like, however the actual cost right here is seeing one of many business’s greats not solely returning to his previous, however comfy rewriting it. Expectations are excessive for Death Stranding 2 and, going by this trailer, it could be the sport to surpass Metal Gear.
