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 face, Luca Marinelli, who is set to play a pivotal role in the sequel. Marinelli's character, Neil, not only brings a new dynamic to the Death Stranding universe but also draws intriguing parallels to Hideo Kojima's iconic character, Solid Snake.

Luca Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor known for his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, steps into the shoes of Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In the trailer, Neil is initially seen in an interrogation room, accused of unspecified crimes by a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this man, hinting at a strained working relationship. The man retorts that Neil "has no choice" but to continue working for him.

The scene shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee portrayed by Marinelli's real-life wife, 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?

In the original Death Stranding, one of the most striking images 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 from a brain-dead mother, existing in a state between life and death. This unique condition allows BBs to communicate with the world of the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls that can cause catastrophic Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts, which are devastating events akin to nuclear explosions. These experiments were officially halted after a BB-related Voidout destroyed Manhattan and killed the President. However, the research continued covertly, which explains Neil's role in smuggling brain-dead pregnant women, likely for the 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. Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting that with a bandana, he could resemble Solid Snake. This nod to Kojima's past work is evident in the trailer, 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 for Death Stranding 2 goes beyond mere homage, deeply integrating themes from the Metal Gear series. Neil's character becomes Beached, his soul trapped in the living world, similar to Cliff Unger from the first game. As a Beached entity, Neil leads a platoon of undead warriors, echoing the military themes prevalent in Metal Gear. The trailer's narrator discusses the resurgence of gun culture in the "new continent," reflecting Kojima's recurring exploration of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effects on humanity.

Additionally, the trailer features a scene where Heartman merges the ship DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to create 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 narratives differ.

A Metal Gear-like creature in Death Stranding 2. Image credit: Kojima Production

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 return to the Metal Gear Solid series, 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 suggests that Kojima's vision for the sequel is even more ambitious than the first game, featuring diverse environments and a greater 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.