Hideo Kojima’s games have always been known for their distinct peculiarity, and Death Stranding 2 is no exception, possibly even surpassing previous titles in strangeness. It weaves together aging rain, interdimensional beaches, magical tar, and other elements of a complex sci-fi universe. The narrative is filled with tragedy, humor, and dives so deeply into mystical science fiction that one often needs to consult the in-game encyclopedia for full comprehension.
A central plot element is that the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges, is a “repatriate,” capable of returning to life after death. Death Stranding 2 repeatedly twists this granted blessing into a curse. The first instance occurs early in the game when Sam’s adopted child, Lou, seemingly dies. This tragedy compels Sam to attempt suicide multiple times to forget his grief, but to no avail, as he constantly resurrects.
Akio Sakamoto, the technical director at Kojima Productions, shared an amusing anecdote about the reaction to this plot twist. While Sakamoto himself considered it “terrible,” his wife reacted much more strongly. After playing the PS5 version and reaching that point, she messaged him, stating, “Kojima Productions are psychopaths.” This remark, demonstrating deep engagement with Death Stranding’s characters, elicited laughter from the development team, who seemingly took it as a compliment. Ultimately, Mrs. Sakamoto completed the game and described its ending as “complicated.”
