Characters Who Should Not Return In Death Stranding 2

Summary

• Mama should stay gone for the sequel to honor her emotional story.
• Lockne’s space goal doesn’t fit with Death Stranding 2’s direction.
• Cliff Unger’s conclusion should remain, making room for new characters.

In the original Death Stranding, Sam’s journey across the country is highlighted by a large cast of unique characters with whom he interacts. Some of them had major plotlines that Sam would be involved with while others were simply stationed at various UCA outposts to offer side quests. But all of them felt like they were their own person and brought subtle hints to their histories, backgrounds, and personalities. This made for a memorable narrative that stuck with players long after the credits had rolled.

However, with the sequel coming up, many people are probably wondering which of these characters is going to return to join Sam on this journey. While there will certainly be familiar faces (fans already know that Fragile will be a part of the game in some fashion), there are also surely characters that won’t show up. And that’s okay because not every character needs to come back. Their stories may be finished from the first game and it would do the second game a lot of good to pave its own path with some new additions. Here are the characters that shouldn’t make an appearance for this sequel from Kojima.

Warning! Spoilers Ahead!

1

Mama

A Clever Story That Ended

• Mama was a highlight of the first game
• Her story came to a fitting end

Mama was one of the best stories that Sam got to take part in during the first game that saw him trying to reunite her with her twin sister, Lockne. However, her connection to her BT had to be severed, which led to her death, resulting in one of the most touching parts of the entire game.

And that’s where her story should stay. Mama got to stand out among the entire cast of the game and players got to see her reach a fitting end. To bring her back would feel like a betrayal to that emotional weight and undercut the thematic nature of her reconnection with her sister.

2

Lockne

She’s Gone To The Stars

• Another fitting end alongside Mama
• Her goal doesn’t line up with the rest of the story

With Mama being left behind, the sequel should look to do the same with her twin sister, Lockne. While she is still alive in the physical world by the end of the game, she has moved on from her work with Bridges. She is now looking to accomplish her and Mama’s goal of going to space.

And that’s why Lockne shouldn’t be a player in the second game. She has a new goal that just doesn’t seem to line up with what Death Stranding 2 looks to be doing. This is not a game that is taking place in the stars, and thus, Lockne should only be mentioned at best.

3

Cliff Unger

A Main Antagonist Should Stay Behind

• Would feel like a redo of the first game’s story
• Sam moved past his relationship with Unger

Cliff Unger served as one of the first game’s main antagonists who would periodically appear to cause Sam some trouble. While it seemed like he was after Lou, the BB that Sam was carrying with him, it turned out he was after Sam himself, who was Cliff’s son and who Cliff was trying to rescue from Bridges when he was killed.

That resolution added a major emotional beat to the game’s ending and saw Unger finally reunite with Sam to bring his turmoil to an end. It’s a beautiful ending and bringing Unger back would just feel cheap. Players deserve to see a new figure to add to Sam’s story; don’t bring up something they’ve already seen.

4

Heartman

Not Getting His Family Back

• Another interesting story that saw Heartman reach a fitting conclusion
• His story fits the original story perfectly

Heartman was another fantastic character in the first game that had Sam join a compelling story. He has a special condition that sees his heart stopping every 21 minutes, only to be resuscitated by an AED three minutes later. During this time when he’s clinically dead, he visits the Beach to try and find his family who were killed in voidouts.

His story comes to a fitting end when he realizes he cannot get his family back and decides to focus on the present. It was a great way for the game to explore the nature of the Beach and the collective mourning of the population in the world. It belongs in the first game, and if the sequel wants to move past it, then Heartman can stay behind.

5

Bridget Strand

The Catalyst Of The Story Should Stay Behind

• Her identity as a puppet of sorts should be the end of her story
• She was a catalyst for Sam to begin his journey, nothing more

Bridget Strand was the reason Sam started his adventure in the first place as she asked him to travel across the country to rescue her daughter, Amelie. She dies soon after this, leaving Sam to discover the truth about her identity as being the same entity as Amelie. It was a powerfully emotional reveal that also should be why Bridget is gone forever.

Bridget’s story is over, having not had much of one in the first place. Given that players now know she was just the physical body of the sixth extinction entity, it would feel weird to have her return. The focus is now on Amelie as that entity; Bridget isn’t important anymore.

6

Die-Hardman

Let Him Wallow

• His arc was a tragic story with an end that fits his actions
• Let another character take his spot

Die-Hardman turned out to be quite a sad character in the original game as players discovered that he not only served with Cliff Unger but also was involved in his death and subsequent cover-up. By the end of the game, he is a broken man who is facing his demons and previous actions.

That’s where his story should stay. Players don’t need to see him meet his end or grow into something more; letting Die-Hardman just be tortured for the rest of his life is enough for what he’s done. Leaving room for more new characters would be much preferred to forcing this arc to continue.

7

Wandering MC

A Fun Cameo, Nothing More

• Seeing Conan in the game was a fun thing, but had no substance
• Bringing him back would be beating a dead horse

It was a fun twist to find a cameo by late-night legend Conan O’Brien in the first game, as he brought a fun moment of levity for any players who found him in the world. This cameo was a standout moment, but it was far from a deep one and had no bearing on the rest of the game.

If this character would come back, it would feel distracting. It wouldn’t feel like an authentic addition and, instead, would feel like a forced way to get his name involved again. Just let the cameo stay in the first game and move on from it.

8

The Chiral Artist

Found Love In A Hopeless Place

• Finding love with the Junk Dealer should be it for her
• A nice side story that was just that

The Chiral Artist was a cool little story as Sam helped her unite with her love, the Junk Dealer. As the story progressed, players learned that the Junk Dealer was involved in her parents’ deaths, and this led to them briefly separating before coming back together.

This story was a nice example of love existing in this bleak world, and it felt like a great distraction from the sadness that permeates throughout the game. But that’s really just about where it should be; let them be happy together without bringing up any more drama for them to overcome.