Summary
One ofDeath Stranding’s most underrated features is its character relationships, which are heavily emphasized in the game’s themes of isolation and connection. By the end ofDeath Stranding’s story, players should have a firm grasp on the depth of the game’s relationships, with each one doing everything in its power to evoke a vulnerable emotional response that will resonate far beyond the credits. However, the reason these relationships are one ofDeath Stranding’s most underrated featuresis because they were highly underutilized throughout the game — something thatDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachcould improve upon.
While it certainly fit his character arc at the time, Sam Porter Bridges,Death Stranding’s protagonist, was depicted as emotionally distant due to his trauma and phobia of touch. Unfortunately, this led to his relationships with others feeling underexplored and somewhat underwhelming as a result. Now, however, Sam has grown into a much more emotionally stable individual who could stand to have more intimate interactions with others inDeath Stranding 2. Furthermore, sinceDeath Stranding 2takes place in a much more connected setting, it should, theoretically, change the way characters interact with one another in general.
Death Stranding 2 Can Take Its Character Relationships to the Next Level
Sam Could Use Some Occasional Travel Companions in Death Stranding 2
One of the most obvious thingsDeath Stranding 2could do to make its character relationships more meaningful is to see Sam occasionally accompanied by companions during his travels.Death Stranding 2’s new puppet companion Dollman may already fill this role to some extent, potentially even putting him on the same level asGod of War’s Mimir. However, having other human characters travel alongside Sam — like Fragile or Deadman, for instance — could offer real-time opportunities for Sam’s relationships with those individuals to mature.
Sam has grown into a much more emotionally stable individual who could stand to have more intimate interactions with others inDeath Stranding 2.
Death Stranding 2featuring occasional travel companions for Sam could have gameplay benefits as well. Perhaps characters who are traveling with him could assist in combat, provide lore conversations, or even change the way cutscenes play out. Additionally,Death Stranding 2could introduceescort missionsthat might require Sam to escort an NPC (or a group) to a specific destination, which would potentially add an entirely different layer of challenges to the mix.
Death Stranding 2 Needs More Face-to-Face Encounters
Something thatDeath Strandingwas incapable of implementing at large due to its themes of isolation and its disconnected world were more face-to-face encounters between Sam and other individuals. For the most part, Sam’s interactions with othercharacters inDeath Strandingcame in the form of communication via hologram, thereby making many of its characters feel static and reducing their impact.Death Stranding 2, on the other hand, seems to be expanding on the ideas of direct cooperation and companionship, so it would make sense for it to feature more face-to-face encounters between characters.
Sam still had plenty of face-to-face interactions with other characters inDeath Stranding, but there arguably weren’t enough to make these characters shine even brighter and be developed even further.
IfDeath Strandingwas about isolation, thenDeath Stranding 2has the perfect opportunityto be about connection. With Sam having grown and the world itself becoming more interconnected, the sequel can finally allow its characters and their relationships to evolve in a way the first game couldn’t allow. Whether through real-time travel companions, more face-to-face interactions, or even different mission types,Death Stranding 2has the potential to make its relationships a more integral part of its narrative than ever before.
