Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake' in Death Stranding 2: A Metal Gear Solid Reincarnation?

Kojima Productions recently unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, introducing fans to both familiar and new faces. Among the returning cast are Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the spotlight shone brightly on a new addition to the Death Stranding universe: Luca Marinelli. Known for his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, Marinelli steps into the shoes of a character named Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Luca Marinelli portrays Neil, a character deeply entangled in the game's mysterious and complex narrative. The trailer opens with Neil in an interrogation room, facing accusations of unspecified crimes from a man in a suit. Neil insists he was merely carrying out the "dirty work" assigned by this man, hinting at a strained and possibly forced working relationship. The tension escalates as the man in the suit asserts that Neil "has no choice" but to continue working for him.

The scene shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee played by Marinelli's real-life wife, Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals Neil's involvement in smuggling cargo—a particularly chilling detail as it involves brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

This element ties back to a key aspect of the original Death Stranding. In the first game, Norman Reedus's character, Sam Porter Bridges, carries a Bridge Baby (BB), a seven-month fetus extracted from a brain-dead mother. The BB's unique state allows communication with the world of the dead, helping detect malevolent souls known as Beached Things (BTs), which can cause catastrophic Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments on BBs to understand Voidouts, which are devastating events akin to nuclear explosions. Although officially discontinued after a disastrous experiment in Manhattan, these experiments continued covertly. Neil's smuggling mission in Death Stranding 2 is presumably linked to these ongoing illegal researches, suggesting his involvement with the government.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with a striking image of Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, visually reminiscent of Solid Snake from Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not Solid Snake, the resemblance is intentional and nods to Kojima's past work. In a 2020 Instagram post, Kojima expressed his admiration for Marinelli, noting that with a bandana, Marinelli would resemble Solid Snake.

Though the universes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding remain separate, this homage underscores Kojima's penchant for interweaving themes and elements from his previous projects into new ones.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 is laden with references to Metal Gear, extending beyond Neil's appearance. Neil's transformation into a Beached Thing, akin to Cliff Unger from the first game, and his association with a platoon of undead warriors, evoke themes of death and militarism central to the Metal Gear series.

A narrator in the trailer discusses the resurgence of gun culture on a "new continent," resonating with Metal Gear's critique of weapon proliferation and its impact on humanity. Kojima's work often explores the destructive nature of arms and the moral dilemmas they pose, themes that continue to echo in Death Stranding 2.

Additionally, the trailer showcases Heartman combining the DHV Magellan ship with a colossal BT to form a bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This connection underscores the ongoing influence of Metal Gear on Kojima's creative vision.

The cinematic quality and length of the Death Stranding 2 trailer also hark back to the epic Red Band trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5, showcasing Kojima's flair for blending gameplay with cinematic storytelling.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It seems highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will return to the Metal Gear Solid franchise, following his departure from Konami. Future MGS projects, like the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his involvement. However, the thematic and visual elements of Metal Gear Solid continue to influence Kojima's work, as evident in Death Stranding 2.

The trailer for Death Stranding 2 suggests that Kojima's ambitions for this sequel are grander than those for the original, featuring diverse environments and a heightened focus on combat. While not a Metal Gear Solid game by name, Death Stranding 2 appears to be a spiritual successor in many ways, blending new narratives with familiar themes and visuals.