Death Stranding 2’s Dollman Is the Beating Heart of the Game

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Amongst all characters created by Hideo Kojima in “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach,” Dollman appears to be the most characteristic of Kojima’s style. This assumption arises from several factors; firstly, his name directly indicates what he represents – a clear sign of Kojima’s penchant for symbolism. Secondly, Dollman is a miniature doll housing a human soul, which adds an intriguing twist to the character. Lastly, and perhaps most notably, Dollman moves at a unique frame rate, suggesting a playful, whimsical touch that is often present in Kojima’s work. Although Dollman’s eccentricities are occasionally used for comedic effect, he stands out as one of the more compelling characters within “Death Stranding 2,” embodying the game’s distinctive and complex tone.

It’s important to point out again that Dollman exhibits quite a bit of absurdity. He clings onto Sam’s leg much like Mimir from God of War, and bounces around as Sam ascends, descends, and glides about. Frequently, he checks on the sturdy porter if he suffers a hard fall. Despite his small stature and jerky movements reminiscent of a stop-motion character, most people treat him with seriousness in cutscenes, even carrying or securing him like a child. He can also be tossed and used as a surveillance device to mark adversaries. The rules governing his ability to hover midair or return to Sam are unclear. And if there is an explanation hidden within the Corpus, it likely involves “Chiral” and remains incomprehensible anyway.

In the world of Hideo Kojima’s creations, playfulness is a recurring theme that extends beyond just the games themselves. Even though Death Stranding 2 appears to be a mainly somber title, it incorporates various whimsical elements. For instance, there’s a cat made of tar with wings and an incomplete backstory that scuttles about the ship. The captain of this vessel lost his hand in the tar, which somehow enables him to navigate the underwater tar currents. A dance sequence suddenly appears towards the end, adding humor to the mix and being one of the funniest moments in any Kojima Productions game. This is followed by an excessively flamboyant music-focused scene that’s absurdly over-the-top but delightfully so. In contrast to its predecessor, there are no pee grenades this time, but the protagonist, Sam, can still relieve himself in many locations.

In some instances, the amusing scenes in this game may be accidental or due to cheesy scripting, but regardless, these lighthearted moments are crucial elements in KojiPro’s productions. For example, the Sasaki family’s toilet humor in the Metal Gear Solid series or Colonel Volgin’s unusual greeting of Raikov with a firm handshake near his groin area. Many of these games have peculiar scenes that make them unique, and the outrageousness of Dollman is just another example of this trademark quirkiness.

While some parts of the story can verge on being excessively complex or confusing, they occasionally stray into realms that may prompt an eyeroll. Dollman’s background is based on a rather implausible plot device and draws heavily from the nanotechnology-centric writing style Hideo Kojima has favored since Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. If you invent enough words and then create connections between them, you can theoretically explain the unexplained. Certain aspects of Death Stranding 2’s narrative are reliant on jargon-laden conveniences and, at times, lose sight of the essential human aspect that is crucial to a story like this. It’s difficult to believe how a human soul could have been transferred into a doll, but resorting to nonsensical terminology to skirt around it slightly undermines the concept.

Although Dollman initially seems like just a talking puppet, he proves to be one of the most thoughtful and empathetic characters in Death Stranding 2. The theme of grief runs throughout the game, and Dollman’s words often provide comfort during difficult times. His gentle conversations with Sam about his struggles make some of the best moments in Death Stranding 2. He is honest with Sam, acknowledges his pain, but also gives him the chance to work through it without pushing him further into despair. All of this is delivered tenderly by Jonathan Roumie’s soothing voice. Speaking to Dollman in private rooms can sometimes provide gameplay tips, additional story context, or a joke (and he’s worth talking to for that alone). However, on occasion, Dollman will open up to Sam, which showcases the sincerity that is often found in Kojima games.

In simple terms, Death Stranding 2 encompasses a variety of qualities such as peculiar, artificial, and heartfelt, and these aspects are succinctly portrayed through the character Dollman’s small stature. Although Dollman doesn’t have a fully developed story arc and primarily assists Sam in achieving his objectives, he significantly strengthens the team due to his capacity to encapsulate so much about the game. Despite the clichéd reason for his existence, it’s delightful that he is part of this world at all.

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2025-06-27 22:12