Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis right around the corner, and many are eager to find out how Hideo Kojima’s wild post-apocalyptic adventure compares to its predecessor. Leading up to its June release, Kojima Productions has teased a lot of exciting features set to be included inDeath Stranding 2, but there are bound to be even more surprises in store, too.
It’s been made clear by early footage thatexploring inDeath Stranding 2is being brought to even greater heights. From new terrain to different environmental hazards,Death Stranding 2promises a more well-rounded experience overall. The firstDeath Strandinghad its fair share of fun Easter eggs hidden in its world, but if the sequel wants to take this even further, then taking note of PlayStation’s tradition of referencing other exclusive franchises might be the key to doing so.
Death Stranding 2 Can Add an Extra Layer to Its Exploration With PlayStation Easter Eggs
Astro Bot is Far From the Only Reference-Heavy PlayStation Title
A lot of the charm ofAstro Bothinges on its premise as a fun-filled ode to the PlayStation. There are a whopping195 cameos inAstro Botthat call back to beloved PlayStation series, but this award-winning platformer definitely isn’t the first time Sony-exclusive developers have embraced calling out other games.
Ghost of Tsushima,The Last of Us, andHorizon Zero Dawnall reference other games in subtle ways. When it comes toHorizon Zero Dawn, the reference in question is actuallyDeath Stranding. Since Kojima Productions uses Guerrilla Games' Decima engine, this homage only makes sense, but it’s still a fun surprise for fans of the Kojima story. IfDeath Stranding 2wanted to surprise playerseven further, going all-in with Easter eggs could help incentivize exploring every possible corner of the game’s world.
Ghost of Tsushimareferences past Sucker Punch gamesSly CooperandInfamous, while Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Usfeatures plenty ofJak and DaxterEaster eggs.
Death Stranding’s Blend of Wackiness and Sincerity Makes it a Great Game to Embrace Fun References
The universe that Kojima and the rest of the team at Kojima Productions have brought to life is truly unique. An apocalyptic world that is ravaged by tar-like ghosts is strange enough, but deeper concepts like BBs and The Beach can be a lot to wrap one’s head around. The ideas brought forth inDeath Strandingcan sometimes even border on goofy, butSam and his storyhelp ground the world, offering a strong balance of out-of-this-world concepts and an emotional journey.
The firstDeath Strandingwasn’t afraid to lean into its playful side with items likethe Otter Hood, so the sequel could be the perfect story to have fun with shouting out other PlayStation IPs. Hideo Kojima is skilled at finding unexpected ways to surprise players, and wild Sony-inspired cameos might be a great twist.
From new terrain to different environmental hazards,Death Stranding 2promises a more well-rounded experience overall.
Death Stranding 2has already featured a nod to a past Kojima game. The brand-new character Neil looks an awful lot like Solid Snake fromMetal Gear Solid.
Death Stranding 2’s Mysterious Story is About to Unfold
The wait to learn more about Sam and his allies on their journey isn’t much longer. With returning characters mixed with a fresh cast,Death Stranding 2is teasing a much bigger storythan its predecessor’s already daunting narrative. As one of the biggest launches of the year, it will be exciting to see howDeath Stranding 2improves upon the first game.
