Summary
- Neil's resemblance to Solid Snake hints at Kojima's meta connections between franchises.
- Neil may be an antagonist in Death Stranding 2, but Kojima is known for subverting expectations.
- Neil is expected to play a pivotal role in Death Stranding 2, possibly as a character development device.
Hideo Kojima just continues to show what he is capable of when the sky's the limit for game development, as he has released yet another 10-minute trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to 2019's Death Stranding, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The trailer offers an extended look at Death Stranding 2, showcasing what appears to be an incredibly emotional story, but the characters, both new and old, are arguably the highlight of the trailer.
While it is certainly nice to see familiar characters like Sam and Fragile back for another round, one of the new characters revealed in Death Stranding 2's pre-order trailer is Neil, a mysterious individual who appears to have a painful past fueling a vengeful future. While next to nothing has been firmly disclosed about his character arc, the trailer makes one thing clear: Neil is the character to watch in Death Stranding 2.
Why Death Stranding 2 May Be More of a Psychological Journey Than a Physical One
Death Stranding focused on physical traversal, but the sequel might push its psychological themes of loneliness, grief, and dread to the next level.
Why Fans Should Keep a Close Eye on Neil in Death Stranding 2
Neil's Resemblance to Solid Snake Opens the Door to Death Stranding 2 Meta Conversation
Death Stranding 2's pre-order trailer hasn't been live for very long, and plenty of fans have already pointed out how much Neil resembles Solid Snake, the protagonist from another of Hideo Kojima's franchises, Metal Gear Solid. Of course, this is to be expected of Kojima, as he is known for including references to his past games in his works. In fact, Metal Gear Solid is a great example of this in action, which has multiple nods to Snatcher and Policenauts, two of Kojima's earlier adventure games. Even the first Death Stranding has a reference to Metal Gear Solid when Sam says, "Kept you waiting, huh?," as it mirrors Snake's famous phrase.
While next to nothing has been firmly disclosed about his character arc, the trailer makes one thing clear: Neil is the character to watch in Death Stranding 2.
In light of that, it could be that Neil's resemblance to Solid Snake is nothing more than a subtle nod to one of Kojima's biggest franchises. At the same time, although Kojima has never outright confirmed it, the idea of a "Kojima-verse" has been tossed around for quite some time. Even if a Kojima-verse doesn't actually exist, though, Neil's resemblance to Solid Snake still blurs the lines between the developer's franchises, offering a meta-commentary that really enriches the overall experience. This may not be the most important reason fans should keep their eye on Neil in Death Stranding 2, but it's at least enough for followers of Kojima's work to make an immediate connection with the sequel.
Neil May Be an Antagonist in Death Stranding 2, But Might Be Too Obvious
The main reason Neil is the character to watch in Death Stranding 2 is his currently mysterious role in the game's story. Based on what is shown in Death Stranding 2's pre-order trailer, Neil looks like he could be an antagonist in the narrative. However, that may be too obvious, especially when considering Kojima's reputation for subverting expectations. For example, Death Stranding's Cliff Unger was originally portrayed as an antagonist, but he was eventually revealed to be a tragic anti-hero.
The latest trailer for Death Stranding 2 actually implies that Neil could have a similar arc to Cliff's, though that would likely turn out to be a divisive move and be criticized for being too repetitive.
Nevertheless, Neil is clearly going to play a pivotal role in the story, even if he doesn't turn out to be the overarching antagonist of the story. Perhaps, like Cliff did in Death Stranding, Neil will be used in Death Stranding 2 as a character development device for Sam. Based on Kojima's history, it's entirely possible (and even highly likely) he is using Neil's prominence in the recent trailer as a form of misdirection, hiding the identity of the true antagonist. Whatever he turns out to be, though, Neil is the one fans should watch as Death Stranding 2's June release date draws nearer.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
