Death Stranding 1 recap: Everything that happened before Death Stranding 2

by

If you’re among those eagerly anticipating Death Stranding 2, yet find yourself a bit fuzzy about the specifics of the original game, here’s a way to catch up: In case you haven’t played or need a refresher on Death Stranding 1, let me summarize it for you.

There’s no finger-pointing here! After all, this game was released six long years ago, and admittedly, it wasn’t the most straightforward title to grasp from the get-go. So, it’s only natural that many details have slipped people’s minds over time.

Fortunately for you, we have prepared a summary of events from Death Stranding 1 to help you get back up to speed before diving into part 2. Enjoy!

In an effort to keep things straightforward, we’ve compacted the information. However, for those who have experienced Death Stranding, understanding ‘simple and concise’ here may still feel like dealing with a convoluted and elaborate explanation. Let’s proceed!

Death Stranding 1 recap: Everything that happened before Death Stranding 2

After a devastating event known as ‘Death Stranding’, the world starts intertwining with a parallel realm resembling the afterlife, which we often refer to as ‘The Beach’.

Upon death, an individual’s spirit (ka) strives to return to their physical form (ha). However, if this happens, instead of moving forward to the Beach, they become stranded, resembling a Being Stuck on Shore (BSoS).

In case a Biotech Titan (BT) devours a human, it leads to an event known as a ‘voidout’, which is comparable to a nuclear explosion of immense power. Cities like Manhattan have been obliterated due to these cataclysmic events.

The world too experiences an ailment known as “time-rain”, a peculiar form of precipitation that accelerates decay upon contact. It wilts crops, corrodes metals, and leaves permanent marks on human skin, compelling people to wear oversized coats and hoods when venturing outdoors.

In this game, you take on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a porter employed by Bridges Logistics. Your mission is to reestablish connections among the remaining human settlements in what was once the United States, and to save your adoptive sister Amelie – a task assigned by your late, adoptive mother who was the U.S. President, Bridget Strand.

Amelie is being kept prisoner by Higgs Monaghan (portrayed by Troy Baker), who is fanatically determined to bring about another instance of the catastrophe known as Death Stranding.

At every new spot, Sam connects each community with a device called Q-pid, which is part of the Chiral Network – an instantaneous communication system that links all data across it. This network taps into the power of the Beach, unifying each community and ultimately reconnecting the entire nation.

Sam struggles with DOOMS, a condition that enables him to perceive beings called BTs which are otherwise invisible, and has been provided a Bridge Child (BC) – an unborn baby housed in a pod for precise detection of BTs, along with a set of unique Cuff Links granting access to the Chiral Network.

In time, Sam develops a profound affection for BB-28, whom he eventually nicknames ‘Lou’. He becomes dedicated to her wellbeing and consistently resists attempts by the United Cities of America (UCA), the new governing body succeeding the U.S. government, to take her away from him.

In the beginning, Sam encounters Léa Seydoux’s character, who possesses a remarkable ability to instantaneously transport herself across global locales, thanks to her unique connection with the seashore.

Throughout the narrative, she forms a friendship with Sam, and they join forces to bring down Higgs, a man who earlier subjected Fragile to inhuman treatment by forcing her to traverse through timefall while she was only partially clothed, leaving lasting physical marks on her.

In his journey across the United States, he encounters an assortment of individuals including Tough-Guy, Ghost, Mom and Compassionate, each with unique motivations for assisting him.

En route, he stumbles upon a plot regarding the BB program, discovering that he was previously a candidate himself. However, his father, Clifford Unger (played by Mads Mikkelsen), who Sam has disturbing flashbacks of, had tried to protect him from this program. Tragically, both father and son were killed as a result.

Sam had journeyed to the Seashore, only to find himself revived by none other than Amelie – it was later unveiled that she wasn’t Sam’s sibling, but rather a fragment of President Strand’s consciousness stranded on the beach.

As a devoted admirer, I too uncover that Amelie holds the key to an apocalyptic event, referred to as the Last Stranding, which Higgs seeks to initiate. This cataclysmic occurrence originates from Amelie’s Shore and infiltrates our realm. In a heart-wrenching dilemma, Amelie opts to let the Last Stranding unfold, facing the grim reality of either swiftly ending all life or condemning it to a prolonged, unavoidable decline.

At the Shoreline, an altercation breaks out between Sam and Higgs, escalating into a prolonged brawl, both immersed knee-deep in tar. Sam delivers a knockout blow to Higgs, after which Fragile disappears with him, suggesting he may have been killed off-camera.

Afterward, Sam successfully persuades Amelie to avert the Last Stranding event. Subsequently, Sam and his group reenter their own world, while Amelie seals off her Beach, isolating herself yet averting the Last Stranding.

At home, Die-Hardman assumes presidency at the UCA, while Sam receives instructions to eliminate Lou by disposing her in an incinerator since she’s now defunct as a BB.

In a subtle suggestion, Deadman implies that Lou might be able to live beyond the pod. Upon arriving at the incinerator, Sam extracts Lou from the pod, thus validating Deadman’s suspicions.

After taking off his cufflinks prior to setting out, Sam has departed from the Chiral Network, making it impossible to trace him. Accompanied by Lou, he disappears without leaving any evidence behind.

This narrates the main tale of Death Stranding 1! Of course, there are numerous intricacies left unexplored, such as specific plot points, lore nuances, character developments, and gameplay mechanics. However, we believe this serves as a comprehensive overview of the key storyline elements.

Read More

2025-06-26 19:04