Death Stranding 2 – 15 Secrets You Likely Missed

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Among the many enjoyable features that characterize any game developed by Kojima, one standout element is the unexpected and humorous callbacks and nods hidden within them. For instance, in the original _Metal Gear Solid_, there were numerous subtle references; such as Miller advising Snake to use the restroom before settling behind a monitor for extended periods (a witty commentary on players enduring lengthy cutscenes), or Mei playfully sticking out her tongue at Snake during calls that weren’t saved. Similarly, _Death Stranding 2_ maintains this Kojima trademark by including a plethora of references.

Heads up: Some of the following content includes major plot points, so tread carefully if you don’t want to be spoiled. Here are 15 subtle nods and connections that you might have overlooked during your gaming experience with Death Stranding 2.

Hideo Kojima

Hideo Kojima, renowned video game designer, often makes appearances in games, some more discreet than others. Unlike the realistic portrayal of Kojima in Cyberpunk 2077, Death Stranding cleverly conceals him – he’s easily overlooked if you blink. What’s interesting is that this cameo is hard to miss since it occurs right at the beginning of the game. As you make your way back to the hideout, a group of BTs emerge from the tar, threatening Sam. Interestingly enough, Kojima is among these BTs, his glasses serving as a clear indication of his likeness despite the tar-covered face.

Creepy Scene With Dollman

In the game “Death Stranding 2”, instead of rejuvenating him, sleeping might cause Sam some unsettling dreams. If he decides to sleep in his bed, there’s a possibility that one of four dreams could be triggered. Among these, a particularly memorable one involves Dollman, a man trapped inside a puppet-like body, who accompanies Sam on his journey and even hovers near his bedside during sleep. Interestingly, it seems that not even dreams can free Dollman from Sam, as in one nightmare, Dollman appears inside Lou’s pod while Sam checks on the baby. Horrified to find Dollman instead of Lou, Sam is met with Dollman singing and dancing within the pod, making the situation all the more unsettling. It seems that for Sam, some time alone away from Dollman might be beneficial.

MGS5’s Moby Dick Reference

In this instance, the story commences as Sam flips open the book titled “Moby Dick”, with Dollman providing the narration. This scene echoes the “Moby Dick” reference in “Metal Gear Solid 5,” where Snake’s codename, Ahab, and hook arm mirror the sea captain protagonist from the novel. As Dollman concludes his narration of the “Moby Dick” segment in “DS2”, he notes that pursuing a shared objective resembles Kojima Productions, a subtle hint at breaking the fourth wall, cleverly hidden within the “Moby Dick” reference.

Cyborg Ninja

It’s no surprise that a Kojima game includes a cyborg ninja character, given their presence in past games like Metal Gear Solid 1, 2, and 4. Similarly, Death Stranding 2 doesn’t shy away from this tradition. In the game, you come across a ninja who effortlessly takes down a robot squad as if it were an ordinary day. The fight choreography is impressive, while the ninja’s outfit design is reminiscent of Yoji Shinkawa’s style.

Kept You Waiting Huh?

In the upcoming sequel to Death Stranding, there’s a significant nod to the Metal Gear series when, shirtless, Higgs challenges Sam in combat. At this moment, he delivers the famous catchphrase, “I see you had a little wait, didn’t you?” which is reminiscent of Solid Snake’s line from the Metal Gear Solid games.

MGS4 Microwave Reference Scene

Apart from the numerous instances where Higgs appears, there’s another intriguing encounter between him and Sam that bears a striking resemblance to Snake’s perilous journey through the microwave corridor in Metal Gear Solid 4. During this encounter, Higgs sings while Sam advances, creating an unsettling echo of the operatic singing from the microwave hallway scene in MGS4.

Say No and Get In A Loop

Right from the beginning, Death Stranding 2 presents a challenging decision that gamers appreciate – the chance to make a consequential choice. Upon reaching the base, Fragile proposes a new mission to you, and interestingly, there’s an option to decline it. Choosing ‘I won’t do it’ takes you back to the start of the game, with Fragile posing the same question again. If you select ‘I won’t do it’ a second time, the game goes even further back in time, to before the mission was offered. However, it seems that ultimately, you have no real choice but to accept the mission, though the illusion of free will is skillfully created.

Sam Loses His Hand

In the realm of my chilling dreams, I find myself strolling toward the cockpit of a vessel that’s as eerie as a haunted house at midnight. Upon approaching, a tentacle and a feline figure mysteriously emerge from an unusual opening. Intrigued, I cautiously reach my arm into the gaping hole, but to my horror, it’s swiftly torn away. The nightmare ends, thankfully, with me waking up, still intact but shaken by the experience.

The Elder Returns

 

In another disturbing dream experienced by Sam, a mannequin is seen dancing down the hallway. As Sam glances over his shoulder, the mannequin suddenly dashes rapidly towards him, and the camera captures a close-up of his face. Remarkably, this face appears to be modeled after ‘The Elder’ character from the game “Death Stranding”. It’s hard to understand why Sam is dreaming about an elderly man he assisted in “Death Stranding 1”, but at least it offers another enjoyable nod to the series.

Higgs Taken Out Gray Fox Style From MGS1

In a significant revelation for Death Stranding 2, it’s been hinted that the main villain, Higgs, meets a similar end as Gray Fox from Metal Gear Solid 1. After boasting about his superiority over Sam, Higgs is fatally impaled by a mechanical arm, splitting him in two. This death, reminiscent of Gray Fox’s, can be seen as an honorable one. Interestingly, Gray Fox’s monologue and heroic sacrifice against Metal Gear REX have made him one of the most cherished characters within the series.

SS Rajamouli

Kojima takes every opportunity to engage with the international cinema world, and this upcoming reference embodies his enthusiasm. One of the individuals whom Sam saves happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to one of India’s most productive filmmakers, SS Rajamouli. Renowned for his action-oriented filmmaking style that frequently incorporates CGI, Rajamouli was motion-captured for this brief appearance. In this silent role, he acknowledges being rescued by Sam with a simple thumbs up gesture without uttering a single word.

MGS5 Phantom Pain Reference

In this instance, we have another instance of dual references at play. The character, Tarman, who pilots Sam’s main base, the DHV Magellan, is patterned after filmmaker George Miller. At one point in the storyline, Tarman explicitly mentions the title of “Metal Gear Solid 5” by saying it’s similar to a “Phantom Pain”. We can still feel that echo of pain, Mr. Tarman!

Higgs Coffin Scene

As a gamer in Death Stranding 2, Coffin Boards are an exciting addition to my gameplay experience. These handy devices transport and dispose of bodies that could otherwise transform into terrifying BTs, and they even double as a cool surfboard for Sam to ride across water. However, sharing a restful night’s sleep beside one of these coffins can lead to some pretty strange dreams for Sam. The dream starts with Higgs crawling out of the coffin, and then takes an unusual turn with Kojima-esque elements involving octopus tongues – I wouldn’t dare spoil the rest because it’s something you need to witness yourself to truly appreciate!

Callback to the Shirtless Boss Battle from MGS1

The scuffle between Sam and Higgs is a clear allusion to the fight between Solid and Liquid Snake, which took place atop the wreckage of Metal Gear Rex in Metal Gear Solid. It leads one to wonder: Could Sam and Higgs be siblings?

Solid Snake

In this game, there’s a character named Neil who’s got me reminiscing about the Metal Gear Solid series, big time! You see, he’s decked out in an outfit that’s strikingly similar to Solid Snake – complete with a bandana, military camo, and the same hairstyle. It’s like they’ve pulled him straight from the game! To top it off, Neil moves just like Solid Snake, those hesitant head movements are spot on!

It’s almost as if Hideo Kojima found a way to give us Solid Snake one more time, even if it was just a nod to an older work. Quite touching, really.

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2025-07-06 16:12