Death Stranding 2: On the Beachis right around the corner, and as the wait for the next chapter grows shorter, gamers will soon get to see what the rest of Sam’s journey has to offer. Picking up where the last game left off,Death Stranding 2promises a story that dives even deeper into its predecessor’s themes of connection.
With a blend of returning characters and newcomers, Hideo Kojima has clearly let his imagination go even wilder this time around.Death Stranding 2already looks mind-bending, and for fans of the first game, upping the wackiness factor is a thrilling prospect.Death Stranding 2’s charactershelp tell Kojima’s strange and charming story, but protagonist Sam remains at the heart. Portrayed by Norman Reedus, Sam has become a beloved lead character, but Kojima almost let players have a little bit of extra fun with his appearance inDeath Stranding 2.
Death Stranding 2 Almost Let Players Customize Sam’s Hair
Kojima Considered a Hair Growth Feature
As reported by Vice, Kojima recently revealed that during the early stages of the game’s development,Death Stranding 2almost featured its own hair growth system. This type of mechanic isn’t exactly anything new, though. Games likeRed Dead Redemption 2andThe Witcher 3boasted such a feature, but it would have been exciting to see it in the context oftheDeath Strandingfranchise.
Since the series focuses on traveling for long periods of time, a hair growth mechanic would only make sense, but Kojima ultimately decided to scrap the feature after coming to the conclusion that players may get carried away with customizing Sam. With Sam being such a central figure inDeath Stranding’s world, Kojima’s concerns about players making him unrecognizable are understandable. However, it already makes the argument for the feature being included in a potential director’s cut.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beachlaunches for the PS5 on June 26.
A Director’s Cut of Death Stranding 2 Feels Inevitable
The director’s cut brought fans of the base version an onslaught of fresh content. Updates like new vehicles, a buildable racetrack, new items, the Buddy Bot, and updated combat are just a few of the changes made in the director’s cut. This version ofDeath Strandingis a game-changer, and it would be surprising ifDeath Stranding 2didn’t follow suit. The sequel is already promising some big changes, like a change of scenery byventuring to Australia, but there’s no telling what Kojima Productions decided to leave on the cutting room floor.
Some ofDeath Stranding 2’s new cast members include Elle Fanning, Luca Marinelli, and George Miller.
It’s incredibly possible that a hair and beard growth mechanic could be the tip of the iceberg. However, with just that feature alone, a director’s cut is bound to be a lot of fun. TheDeath Strandingfranchise has its goofy moments, but giving players too much agency withSam’s appearanceright out of the gate may have proved too jarring. It makes sense for Kojima to want players to take in the story without too many distractions.
On the other hand, though, seeing how Kojima Productions approached such a mechanic is likely to boast its own unique twist, so players will hopefully get to see it down the road. Right now, it’s unclear if the next few years will bring forth a director’s cut, but because ofKojima’s love for fun concepts, such a release with cut content is probably a safe bet.
