Dissecting Every Frame of the Death Stranding 2 Trailer

Hideo Kojima’s long awaited Death Stranding 2 just dropped a nearly 10 minute gameplay trailer during Playstations ‘State of Play’ Event. I went frame by frame to bring you as many details as possible.
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‪@t-l-g-t-w‬ (Note - January 2024: I was right.) Death Stranding 2 Reveal Trailer - Analysis and Explanations
00:00 Intro
00:40 Fragile, The Captain, and the Cocoon
09:40 BB & the beep beep
10:16 ON THE SHIP
14:31 ON THE STRAND
17:40 ON THE BORDER
20:17 ON THE EDGE
22:53 ON THE ROAD
25:32 ON THE DRAWBRIDGE
26:21 ON THE BEACH
28:08 BB ROLLS HIGGS
20:07 Sam's Shelter
30:30 BB & SAM IN THE SNOW
31:18 FRAGILE SMOKE
32:44 LAST SCENE

[@xjrodx]

The shoes young Sam is wearing in the kitchen scene when the toy bumps into his foot, those are the same type of shoes snake wore in metal gear solid 3, Vietnam jungle boots :)

[@moxiewatts]

Nice catch homie!! We just bought the MG series...

[@jreed2688]

I noticed that they were jungle boots but I didn’t think about MGS3 at all.

[@hyperia6684]

During the fight sequence, Higg’s first guitar rift (28:55) sounds exactly like the beginning of “BB’s Theme”, you can hear “See the sunset” through the electricity.

[@ahigherlevel4559]

Here's my theory: when you combine the reveal trailer with this trailer, it will make sense. If you remember from the end of the first game, Lou comes back to life in Sam's hands outside of the BB pod holding Amelie's Quipu after Sam burns the cuffs in the incinerator. This plays a very important role in bringing Higgs back to the world of the living since he was stuck on his beach and left to live in exile bc of Fragile's decision (where we heard her shoot, but never actually saw it). Essentially connecting him to Amelie (the same way it did with Lou) who's Ka is still on the beach preventing the final death stranding apocalypse. So in the DS2 reveal trailer, you see Fragile playing with young toddler Lou and then subsequently escaping who I believe are APAS henchmen bots that are after that Quipu (to help revive/power Higgs' body that was recovered from his exiled beach as they carried his red coffin up to a structure of what I believe may be a beach/drawbridge crossing). In doing so, the likelihood that Lou was killed is high, but only her Ha. My guess is that Lou somehow reconnected with Amelie on the beach and was able to cocoon her after subsequent years that passed there to be later found by the Captain and Fragile after long searching for Sam through their travels in the Seam. This makes sense for two reasons: 1. If the Magellan is able to cross into the tar and to the other side on the beach, it makes sense that it could also travel into the Seam. Remember that being on the beach and being dead on the beach are two different things. And with Fragile being the commander of the Magellan with her jumping abilities due to her DOOMS, she was able to find dead Sam when they were both blue and welcome him onto the ship so they can travel back to the world of the living, the same way the group did in the first game. 2. Lou (Cocoon girl/Elle Fanning now grown up but still connected to the beach with strings) needs her Quipu back to fully come back to the world of the living since she's not a repatriate like Sam or have DOOMS like Fragile. So Sam must connect all the places that Higgs has tainted since his return and prevent a second death stranding while simultaneously trying to save Lou's life again by getting back her Quipu. With the help of the talking puppet whose knowledge of those areas are going to come in handy as a helper of sorts, perhaps instead of Die Hardman/Mama/Deadman in your ear every so often as they were helping Sam in the first game. That's my current theory at the moment. I'm very much looking forward to how expansive and open world this game is and can't wait to traverse it all as I did the original game. 👍👍🤙

[@angryspongebob3640]

Fragile says also her funds comes from a private entity, well, we hear that a second time in the trailer when Higgs talk about the entity who made the final decision about something (killing Lou? bring him back to life? Sacrificing cliff and his mother? incinerating BB28?). Maybe the corporation that's above Higgs is the same private entity funding Fragile's Drawbridge, making a plot twist for Sam and a potential source of conflict in-between fragile and him. I say that because there's the shot with sam getting out of a facility with the Magellan in the background, all Red lights and lots fire, and in a clear attack stance, Sam's expression clearly show that he sorta despises or is in conflict with Magellan's crew in this shot. Red people also looks like priests, maybe Higgs will be leading a fanatic group as in Far cry 5 instead of terrorists like in DS1? The robot dog has a laser dick too.

[@moxiewatts]

Yeah because Amelie's beach was supposed to be closed, except he is still there. Oh man thats really good!! Why do you think Lou isnt a repatriate? wouldnt she have gotten that when she got the quipu??

[@ahigherlevel4559]

@@moxiewatts Louise was never a repatriate. Sam was. And since Sam was the one who gifted Amelie the Quipu, it was a direct link between the two of them. Amelie combined all the beaches according to the end of the first game to her beach, and when Louise died after being taken out of the pod, she immediately went to Amelie's Beach. In that instant and eternity of limbo stop time, Amelie in her infinite hindsight knew that Sam needed his Louise back. As soon as she picked her up, babies love to grab things so it's plausible she actually grabbed the Quipu off of her neck while instantly transferring her Ka back to her Ha. Higgs most likely caught wind of this and wanted to replicate that beach travel to escape it, essentially leaving a leak in the tightly locked seal Amelie made so the Death Stranding would be contained and held back, but it's slipping from her grasp somehow and appearing once again in Sam's world. That's my best guess. 👍

[@ahigherlevel4559]

​@@angryspongebob3640@angryspongebob3640 The only decision that Higgs spoke about was here 27:25 referring to the "rope" (as his strand representing Sam in the first game bringing people together, even tho you can clearly see Sam's Strand still hanging off the clip lol) being traded for a "stick" (the gun Higgs caught him holding literally red handed 😂, which represents Higgs in the first game separating people from each other). The only mention of the incineration of BB-28 was at the end voiced by Deadman for sure. There very well may be a connection between APAS and Higgs but I believe it might be a forced one. Whereas APAS existed before Higgs' return, something must have happened to sway them into collaboration. Possibly a forced one, but not by Higgs' DOOMS because he didn't showcase any which leads me to believe he's almost if not completely stripped of it. And in the shot with the robot dog, you can clearly see a border behind the bots indicating they are at the Mexico border, possibly at an APAS weapons distribution center since that's where Higgs is getting his "fruits", or he could be just simultaneously raiding it at the time Sam is there with the Magellan that his bot goons are raining fire on. Still unclear and just my speculation based on the trailer. But yeah, the dog peepee looks like it can pewpew 😂

[@nickjklol]

​@@ahigherlevel4559not to be rude or anything, but what exactly about what you're saying doesn't make Lou a repatriate? She was restored by Amelie in the first game, the singular known cause of repatriation. All the indicators lean towards it - and there seems to be some anomaly occurring surrounding Lou that likely stems from what happens in the fringe edge case of a BB, technically being neither alive or dead, becoming a repatriate. It also seems incredibly unlikely that an infant baby ripped the necklace off of Amelie. The Quipu was definitely deliberately sent back to Sam.

[@EJ_Crough]

I’ve been replaying death stranding directors cut and “same as it ever was” is a line Sam says to Amelie when her and diehard man are trying to convince Sam to reconnect the country in the beginning of the game

[@moxiewatts]

OMG I NOTICED THAT TOO! I'm watching my friend Banuune play it, I heard it and audibly gasped.

[@moxiewatts]

You think it means that he really is in her body and has access to her memories? thats what im thinking

[@mhosni86]

I think the puppet character is modeled after Fatih Akin. German/Turkish director. He was credited at the end of the trailer.

[@stormmeansnowork]

Really not surprised that Higgs survived. If anyone knows Kojima and his writing, you cannot take what the characters said as fact unless it is shown visually on the screen. In this case, Higgs was never shown to be killed during DS1 on the beach (although I need to admit that I still don't fully understand how the beach works)

[@swanclipper]

Show. Don't Tell. Tenet of story telling in motion pictures.

[@fireteamblue]

And we’re being shown Higgs “in control” of Amelie’s body and he’s referred to as a ghost?

[@LoveSeeker81392]

We knew Higgs wasn't dead though. Fragile says she couldn't kill him.

[@arizeta3540]

​@@LoveSeeker81392 true..Higgs only stranded on the beach...

[@moxiewatts]

We knew he wasn't *actually* gone

[@carryingfire286]

One of the main themes I’m seeing here is that this game will be sort of the “inverse” of the first. Remember Kojima explaining the theory of rope/stick. Rope/Strand is a tool used to keep something important close/make a connection. That was the theme of the first game. Then he went on to explain a stick is something used to keep unwanted things away. There’s are many references to the stick this time. Higgs straight up says “looks like you traded your rope for a stick this go around”. The Drawbridge motto is “Both stick and rope” and beyond that a drawbridge is literally a bridge that can sever itself in half to cut a connection.. the opposite philosophy of a standard fixed bridge. Also the game logo itself is the inverse of the original games logo. I think this game is going to be very similar to MGS2 in terms of what it was in contrast to MGS1, how self aware it was and the meta narrative being told. I’m really excited for this one. Great analysis btw!!!

[@hotcoldman77]

Beautifully said fellow porter. Also the games colours (for marketing at least) are all red hues as opposed to the first which was all blues

[@carryingfire286]

@@hotcoldman77 good catch there too!

[@madhatt3r93]

Same as it ever was (how this game parellels mgs 2)

[@meatwadisgod]

I think it's telling that Higgs is yet again doing meta commentary about the game's dominant mechanics and how they match up to player expectations. In DS1 he had lines like "aren't you getting tired of the grind?" and "don't you want a game over?" He's a fourth-wall-breaking gamer doomer (and boy do I love how much Baker hams it up to sell those characteristics). It's no secret that Death Stranding didn't sell particularly well relative to its budget or what Sony likely expected so this trailer almost lampshades it by leaning more heavily into combat. The armory is introduced right away and later we have Higgs emphasizing it further. This could easily be an MGS2-style bait and switch to toy with player expectations, but it wouldn't surprise me if DS2 really does place more emphasis on combat. That being said, I don't think the core mechanics of traversal, deliveries, infrastructure, etc. are in jeopardy seeing as we have new vehicles, biomes, and weather events. Personally that's all I could ask for.

[@carryingfire286]

@@meatwadisgod no definitley not. All the core gameplay will be there but DS1 was the rope game and DS2 will be the stick game is my hunch. Agree with what you’re saying 👍

[@zwick6890]

Bad guy’s guitar plays BB’s lullaby when it shoots at big robot

[@grassmanhyd0]

One of the best trailer analysis I’ve seen so far on DS2

[@user-vz4sh7sx1q]

like 3 currently available XD

[@ahigherlevel4559]

Honestly loved every second of this synopsis. Her attention to detail and humor and candor was exactly what I had hoped for. It was an automatic like and subscribe for me 👍👍

[@jeffreyramsaur796]

This one is much better then gamespots analysis imo

[@blacksand.]

Higgs has seen old classic movies from our time, like Brandon Lee's The Crow : make up and guitar and the fact that he's back from the dead

[@JumboStiltskin]

“Pathetic Guitarist! Where’s the rest of your band??” Calling it right now - Higgs is going to have some associates who have weapons modeled after other types of musical instruments. Likely a Bassist, Drummer, Keyboardist and Vocalist. These will be some of the main bosses of the campaign.

[@JumboStiltskin]

Also - the puppet hisses at Liquid Higgscelot…which makes me wonder if he is possessed by the spirit of the captain’s Cat?

[@Vordabeatzz]

I find this more of an insult. But who knows what Kojima came up with.

[@JumboStiltskin]

@@Vordabeatzz I thought the same at first, but usually the bosses In Kojima games (thinking MGS series) have a theme of some kind. Beauty and Beast Unit for example. DS2 seems like in some ways it may be a middle ground between MGS gameplay and DS1 gameplay, so that’s why I considered the possibility

[@bravingbrivatebrian]

I mainly hope the boss battles can live up to MGS boss battles they were so iconic and the gimmicks were so fun I feel like DS1 was sorely missing that

[@ahigherlevel4559]

If you notice under most of the shots where the Magellan is shown from the outside, there is a pole with a blue light on it, much like a sensor pole but slightly different. My hypothesis is that Sam must travel to these remote locations and either plant or connect these poles to the network in order for the Magellan to be able to access that location possibly from the beach and how it might rise up in that location as a hub for Sam to rest or re-up on gear / vehicles. That's just my guess.

[@hotcoldman77]

Very MGS5

[@briankeebler4634]

One thing to add is that when "the Captain" puts his arm in the ship controls, some tar begins to float from his left ear. Could be something to do when they submerge.

[@sotografik]

THIS is a “deep dive” so many channels have never played death stranding and are trying to act like they have.

[@moxiewatts]

tysm i try to bring as much substance I can to what I write. I don't want to waste your time or my own

[@sotografik]

Thanks for your input and your perspective. Some really great insight and also your humor is spot on. Looking forward forward to more analysis on DS when the next trailer (and final?) trailer drops.

[@kenjohns1982]

The first 4 notes that Higgs plays on the guitar is the opening riff to Baby's Theme. That's all I can think that you missed that I knew about.

[@moxiewatts]

I thought that was obvious XD I coulda mentioned it

[@nekochan1692]

I missed Ds long analysis videos 🤓 feels like 2016 again 😃

[@moxiewatts]

I never played then, only recently :) but yeah i love this IP so so SOOOOOOO much already

[@zeroDOLLARg-Ro]

Rope for a stick? To me that insinuates that there's going to be more guns and combat this time

[@texastiger903]

That's what I thought too. I'm hyped for this game bro

[@MixQQQ]

Such a big Kojima, Death stranding, and Alberto Mielgo fan, and you saying that they (might) beworking together literally almost gave me a heart attack.

[@mark84g5]

Just discovered your channel, this was a very in-depth and excellent breakdown. Bravo!

[@moxiewatts]

tysm ❤

[@davidsky3536]

22:43 And at the rear of this BT snail, we can see it attached with a bunch of destroyed cars and construction wastes, which strongly resembles the river spirit/河の神/god of river before getting into the bathhouse in Hayao Miyazaki's movie "Spirited Away".

[@moxiewatts]

Nice catch!! ~ i love that

[@forresthouku2445]

As far as the sword, it is probably a vibration blade or directly superheated, explains the robots getting incinerated and the heat waves during the electric slide slo mo

[@Callsign_Neuro]

A classic kojima-verse weapon. A High Frequency (HF) blade is much cooler than a Lightsaber!

[@moxiewatts]

fuckin sick man im hype

[@Glenn_in_progress]

Your analysis is well edited and explained. Is practically a art. Thanks

[@pwncakes420]

I think the SAT thing is referring to Oxygen Saturization. Cause it has a % and looks liken 02 written tjere.

[@jeremcclain]

So, the wealthy benefactor is going to be Higgs?? Maybe he will use Sam's extending the network to ship arms, and maybe he is a good guy??

[@moxiewatts]

thats what ive been thinking.

[@jesush.christ8261]

I'm really hoping those are water physics, that land slide too tells me there is absolutely gonna be environments changing with the weather as you go on. I'm so fucking excited for this game

[@edgarpadilla8239]

This was great! Enjoyed the commentary and you pointed out a lot that I missed. Definitely subscribing! Keep it up

[@Gridania]

@27:23 Talking Heads - Same as it ever was. I knew what the reference was immediately when Higgs said that line. The title of the song, Once in a Lifetime, about moving water under the bridge. You are the first person to make the connection. Subscribed!

[@moxiewatts]

Sam also says the same line to Amelie in the presidents office at the beginning of DS! also thanks! I like researching :)

[@gojiiiiii]

GREATT ANALYSIS LOVED ITTTT!! Also you're so funny help I haven't chuckled so much in one video in a while😭

[@moxiewatts]

glad you enjoyed, im always surprised when ppl find me funny

[@gojiiiiii]

@@moxiewatts well you are very funny just so you know and thank youu for all the effort put into videosss I hope it gets more recognized soon!!^^

[@ShipwreckYT]

You have such a comprehensive understanding of the imagery, and I loved the research you put into the Buddhist imagery. Intriguing!

[@TheRah1980]

Great video. I’m so hyped for this game! You only added more hype. Thanks 👍

[@otomatonesattheendoftime2396]

I just noticed that when higgs shot his guitar lightning at robot samurai bb, it plays a guitar version of the bb theme for a moment

[@moxiewatts]

yes! I thought it was obvious, i shoulda mentioned it

[@quantictoaster8773]

I've watched countless reviews and bro yours is just so cool lol u are perfectly professional about putting the scientific references about the medical stuff in the video but there's also jokes and like random nice commentaries, thanks a lot for the whole thing :] really great to watch!

[@moxiewatts]

Thanks im gonna go back to Death Stranding when I am done ranting my face off about Elden Ring glad you enjoyed homie! :)))

[@gary.420]

6:10 the liquid that fragile pours is just saline solution, basically sterile water with a tiny amount of salt, It's pretty common to use those bottles during surgery or in the ER to clear debry away from wounds, or to wash away blood and stuff, they could also pass it through an IV line with medication or just to keep the patient from going into hypovolemic shock from lossing too much blood/fluids. Also the color of IVs tend to vary a lot, but most i've seen are different shades of blue as well, so probably nothing to do with the chiral network, but with kojima you never know. 👀 Love the analysis btw pretty in-depth.

[@moxiewatts]

I didnt know if the clear liquid was somehting else as it easily wipes away the tar, but that def makes sense. Yeh i might be off base with the IV but like you said we might not know 0_0

[@derricktiffin]

Good lord, you are so like myself with your artistic gravitations.

[@unknowboy7189]

The puppet was the most intriguing thing for me when higgs is playing with him and he changes for that creepy face and start hissing was very strange.

[@Chudlyfudly]

Great video. Reminds me of Yongyea back in the days of MGSV and DS1 analysis

[@madhatt3r93]

I HAVEN'T EVEN NOTICED THE PYRAMID, it's crazy that it's in every gameplay shot 😭 and the connection with the portal is fascinating too, maybe that's where the portal from the first trailer is, the one in the desert with cultists? OMG I THINK THAT AMELIE TOTALLY IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO LOU'S SOUL! I have a whole theory about it, but that would be too long 😅 like I think that Amelie infused Lou's soul with a part of hers to both bring Lou back and to have a sort-of second chance at life as a normal human being. First it was Amelie looking over Sam when he was a child, and now Sam has to look after quasi-Amelie. Higgs would want Lou dead because he wants to rid the world from any piece of Amelie to take over as her as a new ee. So we have Higgs trying to look like Amelie but not being her in spirit, and Lou, who is partially Amelie in spirit, but doesn’t look like her (because she doesn’t look like anything at all, she's a ghost). They also both have an angel motif, Higgs calls Amelie "our sweet little angel of death" in DS1 and Lou has her little angel wings. Amelie is the angel of extinction and Lou is the angel of protection. They also have opposite color motifs, Amelie has a red dress and Lou has a blue shirt. There's a bit more but like I've said, I don't want to get in too much detail and bore people 😅 I think that Elle Fanning has allegedly said in an interview that none of the theories about who her character is are correct- her being adult Lou is most popular, so I'm assuming that's not the case. If I had to guess, since she emerged in a cocoon from tar, maybe she's another "part" of Amelie, only this time she's more of a physical aspect? Like maybe "parts" of Amelie started to emerge from the tar, and due to tar being like primordial soup, these parts are being reborn as people who look like Amelie? Given by her poster, it seems like she doesn’t know who she is, so maybe she is a new human based on Amelie's blueprint? I know I sound like a broken record, but what if the squid creature is somehow a manifestation of Amelie? Like maybe she evolved into something like that due to being stranded and presumably surviving the extinction? We can see the tentacles in Lou's pod (and Lou has a part of Amelie's spirit) and Elle's character has the sucker pattern on her arm (she represents Amelie's body). Tentacles have this symbolism of reaching and grabing, look at old maps that represent land-hungry empires or propaganda as octopi trying to grasp as much as they can. Maybe being isolated changed Amelie physically and crushed her mentally, and now she wants to grab as much of the world as possible to destroy it due to connecting it to the chiral network through Magellan? Kojima has done his adaptation of Moby Dick, through mgs v. I really hope that he's not re-threading old inspirations, at least not to a large degree- I want him to expand into something new. The voyage of the Beagle talks about Charles Darwin's voyage through archipelagos mostly around South America, maybe that's a clue that the game will take place there? Love your channel, I needed someone who is geniuinely fascinated by this universe and its lore and knows what they're talking about ❤

[@moxiewatts]

Could you share that Elle Fanning interview~ I seriously love this theory and want to look into it deeper.

[@madhatt3r93]

@@moxiewatts Maybe her interview on Kojima's podcast, brain structure? That's what people are saying at least 😅

[@jayjenzo2786]

Also octopus have singular independent brains in each tentacle and the magdellagen whatever its called has an octopus logo. Maybe each tentacle represents a part of Amelies being and they are all connected in some way

[@alephnole7009]

2 things that stood out to me where the white elbow cover on Ellie Fanning's character that's specifically covering her left elbow. Same spot where Lou has the birth mark. And paying attention to when Sam does and Doesn't have the Q-pid. Which is different now and shaped like Coffins.

[@daniejbb]

"It's drip or drownin and I ain't drownin" agreed it appears to be some sort of primordial drip

[@mikejurkowski]

The tar cacoon seems to be very similar to the Stillmother tanks from DS1. Maybe BTs somehow entered our world through a Stillmother and this is the aftermath.

[@meelwallace521]

The blue IV just indicates the size of the IV. Blue = 22g Pink= 20g Green=. 18g (largest)

[@SimonRevengers]

Great job! Love your voice!

[@furyrust]

Can you provide more details about the specific DC server? Please share the invite link. Thank you.

[@moxiewatts]

If you guys like this you'll love my BB theory! Consider checking it out~

[@cdrom887]

This is such a deep scifi explanation for reincarnation

[@moxiewatts]

ikr Kojima is cookin'

[@RigorMortisRape]

Surprised nobody noticed that Higgs’ little riff during his very first guitar attack sounds exactly like BB’s Theme from the first game.

[@moxiewatts]

i noticed but i didnt say it because i thought everyone noticed. shoulda said it

[@patcho7518]

Have you seen the necklace being sold on kojima productions store anywhere in the trailers?

[@zeroDOLLARg-Ro]

Good job on this video. I know it probably took a lot of work

[@moxiewatts]

Always, but I love giving y'all every bit I can find.

[@grifteredge]

Thanks for the great analysis. @ 20:13 I think Sam is walking out of a prepper bunker. There's a weapon deactivation pylon in the ground under the Magellan. @ 30:44 Notice that Louise is facing forward in the same position you'd mount a BB pod.

[@grifteredge]

Just noticed a few things, @ 22:57 droplets of tar start rising out of the captain's hair after he plugs into the ship. The following relate to the BB pod: @ 14:52 BB pod is online, mounted to but not connected to Sam via the umbilical and blacked out (indicating there's a BB inside). @ 27:54 BB pod is online, mounted and connected to Sam via the umbilical and blacked out (indicating there's a BB inside). @ 28:02 BB pod was online, mounted and connected to Sam via the umbilical and blacked out. It remained online and blacked out after the Higgs/Amelie mashup completely disconnects the pod from Sam. (You'd think the jolt would wake up the BB. Sam just had to tap on it at times in DS1 to wake BB up). @ 35:21 BB pod is offline, completely disconnected from Sam but not blacked out with a clear view of the pod being empty. The pod then comes online with the interior lighting up again with a clear view but still shows empty. If the Louise is dead in the first 3 scenarios, who is the BB in the pod?

[@grifteredge]

One last thing (I promise), @ 10:30 when Fragile is giving Sam a tour of the Magellan, specifically the armory, (I'm making the assumption that this is in the beginning stages of the game). There are already weapons that seem to be available for use. This wasn't the case in DS1 at the beginning. I'm wondering if these are all weapons that a player had already accumulated by the end of DS1 and is now also available to them at the beginning of DS2. If a player is coming into DS2 without playing DS1, would the armory be empty?

[@matthewnichol6185]

I can’t express my love for this game to people, I wish I had someone as hyper fixated to this game as I am. Also this is the best analysis video I have seen for the second game, I will be looking forward to watch more videos like this

[@KabbalahSherry]

I'm obsessed w/the game too! The 1st teaser trailer for the sequel, was legit the main reason for finally breaking down & buying a PS5 😅 lol I didn't really see a need for it until I saw the sequel would be a PS5 exclusive! My husband & I both got our PS5s for that reason, and are currently enjoying the Director's Cut of the 1st game, while we wait for the sequel to arrive. Counting the Director's Cut, I've played the game 7 times, since launch! And I'll probably play it at least once more before the sequel drops. It's my favorite video game EVER.

[@samcorbett8783]

The reason people are calling the puppet "Mimir" is because of a character in the new God Of War games, who is named Mimir. Kratos (GoW protagonist) literally cuts off his head and hangs him from his belt (MUCH like Sam was going to do originally before the puppet said "really sam? Your bottocks? How about shotgun?") In fact, I think that entire part was meant to be a funny little nod at the God Of War games. The God Of War games are also part of the Sony Interactive Studios so it really checks out

[@user-zq7pc1hl5d]

Just a thought, but I think the themes of puppetry will play into the story in that we will find out that this mysterious benefactor that funds the Magellan will end up being the same person behind APAC (and possibly the voice we hear saying that bots can handle deliveries). We will, in essence, be a puppet to their plans for the majority of the game. It's possible he was responsible for bringing Higgs back, and killing Lou, which is why Higgs alludes to the answers we seek bringing pain, as we'll essentially learn that we were helping the person that killed Lou all along. The hands around Fragile's neck might by symbolic of this in a way, as the way they cover her mouth could be meant to imply that she's being silenced by her own tools (her benefactor). I also feel like wings will play a symbolic thematic role, as we see Lou with wings both as a baby and as a BT, and the tar-cat also has wings. I think wings could possibly symbolize a natural opposite to the theme of puppets. I have a hunch that Elle Fanning is playing an adult Lou, which would make her transition from freedom (having wings) to bondage (having puppet strings) all the more tragic. I also have a feeling that there will be multiple open worlds this time, and the DHV Magellan will travel through the Seam to access them. We see Sam and Fragile as blue because they're likely in the middle of transit via the Seam. Mexico will probably be the first open world, like a tutorial area, and then after that Fragile will say "we need to hook everyone else up, just like Mexico"

[@cavero9995]

On the left side of the scanner (at 4:29), below the letters TMR, a primate's face appears. This is probably a coincidence, but with Kojima you never know :D

[@lukehighwalker8932]

Higgs went from dark grimm to full edgelord

[@EtherT]

A drip or drown reference in a Death Stranding KZbin video?! *subscribes*

[@moxiewatts]

tysm

[@ahigherlevel4559]

Although we still (probably) won't be able to look down the sights/scopes of the weapons Sam uses, the improved ability to equip and immediately aim at enemies as shown when Sam shoots the suspended robots is quite exciting. But not as exciting as the ability to detach the backpack... like what?! C'mon, that's cool 👍 I'm assuming that backpack accessories/covers will also be present in this game as in the last, but not necessarily shown due to keeping it basic for the trailer. And as far as the vehicles, the tire treads do look more detailed and as much as I'm hoping for added traction in rough terrain or even upgradable tires, it seems that traversing on foot will remain to be the truest experience of gameplay as in the original.

[@moxiewatts]

bro and honestly im thankful for it because i get motion sickness EZ

[@moxiewatts]

omg i did kinda glaze over that whole part with the backpack

[@Betapvnk]

The puppet will be the nightmares of a lot of younger brothers 😂

[@davidsky3536]

13:41 I think Diehardman could be the "bigshot" donor, as was possibly hinted at the end of Death Stranding 1, when he kneeled down in front of Sam and made a very emotional confession, he cried out the word "Atonement". In some way, this could be a way for him to make up for his regrets about shooting Cliff Unger. Also, Fragile may have met Diehardman face to face, but that doesn't mean Diehardman has to reveal his identity to make the donation. He may very well be behind the donation without telling Fragile who he is, and that is how he keeps it secret, just like he always did in DS1: by wearing a skull mask all the time, until the end.

[@davidsky3536]

But yes, it could totally be someone unknown, someone Sam hasn't met yet, and this can be associated with what Fragile has said later in the trailer: "A lot has changed after you left, especially within the UCA."

[@QuintonLeo]

I believe the woman in the chrysalis is most likely Louise. If I had to put a 2nd guess, I would say Lucy. I would say Lucy is far less likely because she caused a void-out and I'm not sure someone who causes a void-out could even be recovered from the beach. Hideo-san has real special ability with foreshadowing and accelerated aging was mentioned by Deadman at the end of DS1 due to Sam having spent so much time on the beach. We know that Louise, aka Lou, was killed or Sam is at least hinting at that when speaking to Higgs later in the trailer. Fragile's ship has the ability to travel to and from beaches. I believe they eventually found Lou in the chrysalis and brought her onto the ship. The woman being Lou also seems likely due to the octopus like markings on her arm and the same octopus tentacles being seen in the BB tank. When finising DS1, I went back to look at all the cutscenes and dialogue. It's truly incredible how many times they out right tell you what was happening and give you very direct clues in regards to the truth about Bridget, Amelia, Higgs, Cliff, BB-28, and everyone else in the world. I really recommend everyone go back and check them out.

[@stitchoooalphaomegaxxx9534]

“Samazon prime baby” lmao 😂

[@beebeesbakery3146]

Imma say it, the magellan looks like the head of metal gear rex

[@TrumpCardMAGA]

as a DS nut, and a full on Hideo Kojima fanboy I know how much he loves to hide things in plain sight so Ive been paying pretty close attention to the trailers but this vid shows me i barely scratched the surface. I'm also a fan of the Dark Souls/Elden Ring games and really enjoy the vids of lore and speculations by content creators, I really believe Death Stranding deserves just as much lore and speculation vids in mass. So seeing how knowledgeable this video is with the worldbuilding about the stranding. the beach, and the mechanics of interacting with it all is a deep dive i can really enjoy. EDIT: I swear I wrote that all before the Caelid/Bloodborne jokes, that's some real Jungian synchronicity going on...

[@olcountry8432]

I love the no cab truck. Just looks fun

[@moxiewatts]

i hope he is less forgiving with the mechanics

[@cdrom887]

The hall with the “immersion bath” is actually the shower…just not frosted

[@moxiewatts]

oh bet!

[@asyrap6299]

Idk if it means anything but the scene where Fragile is giving Sam the tour of the ship, Sam is the only one who's breath you can see especially when he talks. This isn't the case for Fragile the entire scene which I found interesting, not sure what that entails

[@trishrolt722]

17:51 I don't think it's Mexico. In the recent HideoTube episode, Kojima mentions that DS2 takes place on a new continent (although not specifying which one). While footage plays of the new landscape, Fragile says "Just like with Mexico {implying that they're not in Mexico} they want to bring new regions into the network."

[@moxiewatts]

Nice catch! Yeah TLGTW also said it is likely South America, because the timefall wouldnt allow for flight still.

[@trishrolt722]

@@moxiewatts But what if the Magellan allows them to safely cross the Pacific?

[@Raiden_revenge]

does anyone know the song that starts at 30:45?

[@saooran7364]

I refuse to play that game if I'm not surrogating a Noman Feetus.

[@huafelszellem2664]

Something never said (I guess) is the relation of the marks the coccon girl have on her arm with the shapes of the octopus suction caps on its tentacles. It makes sense considering in one of the scenes the capsule where is BB lou emerges an octopus tentacle. Maybe this is the prove Lou and the coccon girl is the same person.

[@moxiewatts]

like....her Ka turned into a octopi, and is like gripping for the body? or like, awakening it?

[@huafelszellem2664]

@@moxiewatts Maybe... only Kojima knows what his mind is planning on this 😅

[@wowomg1980]

As Xbox owner I’m totally cool with first party titles going multi platform (Xbox is a mid tier PC anyway) as long as Sony does as well. I do wanna play the first one and I hope it does come to Xbox

[@EpicBlakMan33]

Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Good work Moxie!

[@moxiewatts]

Yes! Thank you!

[@user-cz7jl7ip8n]

They predicted the future 👍👍

[@olcountry8432]

The range is in Death Stranding Directors cut

[@Grawbad]

Legit most excited to toss off the backpack seemingly pretty easily. 25:40

[@Oyimsbaba]

Do you play the last of us? I’d love to hear your take on 1 and 2

[@moxiewatts]

I heard a lot of people fucking loved Last of Us. rn i have the MG series, cyberpunk, and final fantasy VII to play def need to add this to the library when i get paid

[@lakitira]

It’s not a pyramid in Mexico, it’s a volcano

[@Clapperofcheeks5000]

7:59 is it not injection marks from tha injector thing showing that some sort of cycle is happening that’s why they jump back, no

[@moxiewatts]

wait i dont think im getting your point and i read it three times. can you elaborate?

[@geraldmcfadden2270]

Higgs is also wearing Amelie’s neckless because he pops out of her coffin? Have they merged into one body?

[@chunxofun1333]

The person never met “face to face” is beached

[@moxiewatts]

so beached and not in the seam? and are you talking about Elle?

[@chunxofun1333]

I’m not to sure to be honest but it almost felt like when they “played” us with Higgs it’s someone we don’t want to know is beached

[@MoosenOggen4343]

I know this is FOUR months old, BUT DID YOU SEEEEE the moby Dick book on Sams bedside stand??? This is a revenge story. (Note, Idk if you pointed that out, I'm 2 minutes in)😊

[@Adaeva_]

If I am not mistaken, the lady from the cocoon has an Elle Fanning's face!

[@shipovnik89]

Your "weird looking pyramid" could possibly be Popocatepetl or Orisaba. Edit. Still it doesn't look exactly as said mountains

[@quinniwe]

The newest Hideotube episode confirms and denys alot of the stuff here

[@moxiewatts]

IKR i watched it live actually~ it came out a day or two after this video.

[@moxiewatts]

for some reason i woke up at like 2am.

[@Betapvnk]

I think the guitar is an homage to Electric Dragon 80,000 V

[@moxiewatts]

I'm not finding what you are referencing, how can i google it

[@Betapvnk]

@@moxiewatts my bad it’s Electric Dragon 80,000 V a Japanese electro punk rock movie starring the villain from Ichi The Killer. It’s one of the greatest trailers ever

[@nicksantos43]

I'm so glad im not the only one that caught the reference to Mimir in GoW when Sam goes to hang him by his butt!

[@datboi7116]

I didn't question it in the first trailer but; why is Fragile skin young again?

[@what76485]

It’s Higgs body in the cocoon. But he’s not in it. Lou is.

[@what76485]

They did catch fragile with Lou in the first trailer right? So maybe it is Lou when they finnally get er back

[@moxiewatts]

I think lou is on the beach, thus she is able to connect through the network?

[@what76485]

Someone needs to tell fragile that you don’t shake babies. You don’t shake babies.

[@moxiewatts]

ikr

[@peteypaul7877]

Bb28 was incenerated years before sam and lou met ? 34:40 mark. Are they saying that they dont know where bb/Lou actuall came from?

[@servancastillo986]

i don't think Alberto is working with Kojima on this btw

[@tdya1]

Rhe captain looks like a robot

[@ryansantiago1304]

does anyone have a clue to what higgs fighting song is

[@moxiewatts]

BB's theme

[@evanbelisle8464]

I wonder if George Miller plays the captain or if they just used his likeness. They used Guillermo del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn’s likeness but used different voice actors.

[@moxiewatts]

Charlie has a theory its to cut down on the price of dubs in the final thing. In my experience, dubbing is something that is done over and over again down to the last second. the audio is almost never completely perfect. Time in the booth is a lot of money for these big name actors. So Charlie is probably right.

[@ardent9422]

My theory is that Elle Fanning is Lou, she either gets kidnapped as a baby and k*lled or it happens at some point in the story, then she's reborn on the beach, they go there in the ship, find her and bring her back to the real world, it's her that they're cutting out of the shell. When Sam and Fragile have blue skin they're the world of the dead, there was a scene from the first game where Heartman is on the beach watching his family go into the water among other people, they all have blue skin like Sam and Fragile do in this trailer, but Heartman doesn't and h'es pulled back into the real world when his heart is jump started. I think the ship can travel through the tar to the world of the dead and back to the real world.

[@moxiewatts]

Love this idea! I'm not sure if it's the world of the dead or the seam, or if they are one in the same.

[@Clapperofcheeks5000]

Did Lou not have Willy when he pissed on deadman’s face though

[@thefridge8615]

27:21 is not a reference to Talking Heads is reference to United States and his democracy.

[@JanaBuvari]

huh... i noticed literally 1% of these things

[@crimsonhawk4912]

For a moment I thought the narrator was the chick from " Truth Stream Media"

[@moxiewatts]

[@nickdaring]

👍

[@t.j.mendillo7940]

This is NOT a gameplay trailer. Why do people misuse the word “gameplay trailer” almost all the time. A gameplay trailer means a trailer that shows gameplay in it. This is not that.

[@moxiewatts]

it was just what it was officially called

[@moxiewatts]

DIDN'T YOU SEE THAT ONE PART RUNNING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THAT WAS REAL GAMEPLAY