Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake': Death Stranding 2 Echoes Metal Gear Solid

Kojima Productions unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, showcasing both familiar and new faces. Among the returning stars are Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, the trailer introduces a fresh character, Luca Marinelli, who appears set to embody a figure reminiscent of Kojima's iconic Solid Snake.

Luca Marinelli lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Known primarily for his roles in Italian cinema, Marinelli may be most recognizable to English-speaking audiences as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard.

In the trailer, we first see Neil in an interrogation room, facing accusations from a man in a suit. Neil claims he's merely doing the "dirty work" for the suited man, suggesting an attempt to sever their professional ties. The man retorts that Neil "has no choice" but to continue working for him.

The scene shifts to Neil conversing with a Bridges employee named Lucy, portrayed by Marinelli's real-life spouse, actress Alissa Jung. Their dialogue hints at a romantic relationship and reveals that Neil's job involves smuggling cargo—specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

A striking image from the original Death Stranding was Norman Reedus' Sam Porter Bridges carrying a glowing orange flask with a baby, known as a Bridge Baby (BB). These BBs, derived from brain-dead mothers, exist in a state between life and death, allowing them to connect with the world of the dead and detect Beached Things (BTs)—malevolent souls that can trigger catastrophic Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the US Government experimented with BBs to understand Voidouts, which are devastating events akin to nuclear explosions. Despite an official cessation of these experiments after a tragic incident in Manhattan, they persisted covertly. Neil's smuggling of brain-dead pregnant women suggests he's aiding these secret, illegal experiments for the government.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with Neil donning a bandana, strikingly evoking the image of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil isn't Solid Snake, the resemblance is deliberate. Hideo Kojima's 2020 Instagram post highlighted his interest in Marinelli, noting that with a bandana, Marinelli could resemble Solid Snake. This homage is clear in the trailer, although Neil remains a distinct character within the Death Stranding universe.

How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid

Beyond the visual nod to Solid Snake, Death Stranding 2's trailer is rich with references to Metal Gear. Neil's eventual transformation into a Beached entity, surrounded by undead soldiers, mirrors themes explored in the first game with Cliff Unger. The trailer also touches on the resurgence of gun culture in the "new continent," echoing Metal Gear's focus on the proliferation and impact of weapons, particularly nuclear arms.

Neil's character might embody a metaphysical version of Solid Snake, as his face briefly morphs into a skull, symbolizing the lingering presence of Snake in Kojima's creative world. The trailer further alludes to Metal Gear with Heartman's fusion of the DHV Magellan and a colossal BT into a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5.

The cinematic style and length of the Death Stranding 2 trailer recall the impactful Red Band trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5, showcasing Kojima's flair for blending gameplay with narrative in a grand spectacle.

Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?

It's evident that Hideo Kojima will not be creating another Metal Gear Solid game, given his departure from Konami. Future MGS projects, like the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, will proceed without his input. Nonetheless, the themes and imagery of the Metal Gear series continue to inspire Kojima, as seen in Death Stranding 2.

The trailer suggests that Death Stranding 2 will surpass its predecessor in scope, featuring diverse settings such as rainforests and oceans, and a stronger focus on combat. With its thematic depth, visual references, and innovative gameplay, Death Stranding 2 is poised to be Kojima's closest work yet to the spirit of Metal Gear Solid, albeit under a different name.