5 Things That Stood Out in the Death Stranding 2 Release Date Trailer

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Hideo Kojima’s trailers are second to none, aren’t they? We’ve been eagerly anticipating a new trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and at SXSW 25, our wait was rewarded. This ten-minute long teaser for the upcoming open-world sequel is quintessential Kojima, offering tantalizing clues and posing thought-provoking questions. It’s richly filled with stunning gameplay shots, intriguing story snippets, and of course, outstanding music, provided this time by Woodkid. To top it off, they announced a June 26 release date!

To put it simply, let me clarify that there’s a lot to analyze in the latest “Death Stranding 2” trailer, and that’s precisely what we’ll be doing today. So, come along as we delve into the key moments that caught our attention in the trailer.

LEGALLY DISTINCT SOLID SNAKE

In the trailer, the new character Neil, portrayed by Luca Marinelli, is a standout addition and plays a crucial role in both the beginning and end scenes. The ending scene, in particular, has sparked a lot of interest among viewers, and it’s easy to see why. Towards the end of the trailer, Neil can be seen leading a team of soldiers, fully armed with tactical gear and wearing a bandana, which resembles the iconic look of the Metal Gear protagonist Solid Snake quite noticeably. This resemblance is intentional but not so overt that it violates intellectual property rights that Kojima doesn’t possess.

It appears there’s a character named Stranded Snake, a nickname given by fans, who is intriguing due to his mysterious background. He operates covertly as an agent for the United Cities of America, taking care of their less savory tasks, such as transporting braindead pregnant women from Mexico into the UCA for unknown purposes related to BTs and the Beach. Additionally, Stranded Snake seems to share similarities with Mads Mikkelsen’s character, Cliff, from Death Stranding 1, based on his formation and behavior with his group of skull-faced soldiers towards the end of the trailer.

STORY DETAILS

After tackling the obvious elephant in the room, let’s take a moment to rewind and get back to the fundamentals. Just like Kojima prefers to keep the storyline under wraps, this latest trailer for Death Stranding 2 follows suit. However, there are some fresh tidbits worth discussing. Firstly, the game takes place eleven months after the first installment, but it appears the unified United Cities of America isn’t thriving as expected. The new President, who has replaced Die-Hardman, is now in charge, portrayed by Alastair Duncan. The reasons behind this change will likely be explored further in the game itself.

Besides these alterations, the world has transformed dramatically compared to the initial game. For instance, the Beach is now bustling with immense servers, leading to automated delivery systems that have streamlined society’s operations. Moreover, continents appear to be interconnected through something referred to as a “plate gate”, potentially simplifying global travel. However, it seems that trouble is brewing. Natural disasters are becoming more common, landscapes are distorted and altered beyond normalcy, Higgs’ faction is gaining power, the Sixth Extinction, once believed under control, is resurfacing in a more severe manner than ever before.

The trailer has introduced and named some additional characters too. Besides the recently mentioned new President and Neil, there’s Lucy, Neil’s partner (portrayed by Alissa Jung), the enigmatic figure Charlie, the robotic Red Samurai, a character referred to as Doctor (acted by Debra Wilson), who intriguingly has two right hands.

A MORE DYNAMIC OPEN WORLD

In discussing Death Stranding 2, we mentioned natural disasters, which will unfortunately mar the lives of inhabitants in its warped representation of Earth. However, these events might prove to be the game’s most captivating and engaging additions on the gameplay side. Although Death Stranding 1 had a unique and compelling gameplay for numerous players, one frequent complaint was that the world could seem static beyond the unquestionable liveliness of the social strand system.

It appears that the topic mentioned earlier, extreme weather events, is set to be tackled within the context of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. In the latest trailer, we observe Sam Porter Bridges grappling with various weather-related challenges such as avalanches in snowy peaks, sandstorms in barren deserts, wildfires in dense forests, and eruptions of tar geysers.

COMBAT IMPROVEMENTS

The original combat elements of “Death Stranding” were not its forte, but based on what we’ve observed so far from its sequel, it appears that improvements are being made – quite noticeably in the combat department. For instance, it seems like there will be a heightened focus on combat overall, as demonstrated by several scenes in the trailer where Sam is seen skillfully handling his firearms and appearing to move more gracefully. Additionally, the trailer hints at vehicle-to-vehicle bike combat, as well as Sam using a harpoon that emits ice vapors upon impact, possibly indicating a wider range of combat options.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled about the official PlayStation webpage revealing details for Death Stranding 2. What truly excites me is the confirmation that players can choose to sneak past enemies or opt for a stealthy avoidance altogether. This means combat-averse gamers like myself won’t be left out! It’s no shock that a Hideo Kojima production includes stealth as an option, but I’m eagerly anticipating any potential mechanical enhancements in this area, given the focus on combat improvements.

EXPANDED ENEMY ROSTER

Another intriguing aspect noticeable in the latest trailer for “Death Stranding 2” is the wide array of adversaries it presents. The original game received criticism for its lack of diversity in this regard, but it appears that protagonist Sam Porter Bridges will encounter a broader range of terrifying entities in the sequel. This variety includes eldritch monsters, in addition to human and humanoid foes he’ll have to confront.

In the trailer, you’ll witness colossal humanoid tar creatures, resembling kaiju, engaged in fierce battles with each other. There are also nightmarish hand-shaped entities, a towering mechanical creature with tentacles, a terrifying tar-spewing skull, and of course, Higgs who appears to be becoming increasingly bizarre and unhinged in every new game trailer. This time, he sports a tentacle sprouting from his mouth. Towards the end of the trailer, you’ll notice colossal winged kaiju emerging from the ocean, each with mammoth hands holding their skulls, and it seems that Heartman might be controlling a combination of one of these monsters and the ship Magellan, which we’ve previously seen in Death Stranding trailers.

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2025-03-13 16:12