Warning: Spoilers ahead for the plot of Death Stranding.Though the innovative Strand gameplay is fun, and the themes of isolation and reconnection are perfectly captured, the biggest strength of Death Stranding is its cast. Each character has a powerful story, whether that be Mama’s tragic connection to her baby, Heartman’s endless search for his wife, or Amelie’s fate as an Extinction Entity. The relationship between Die-Hardman and Cliff is particularly memorable, though, and could even be the foundation for a spin-off game.
Die-Hardman’s forced betrayal of Cliff, a man that saved him countless times in war and someone he viewed as a hero, leads to one of the best-acted scenes in the game. Through Die-Hardman’s confession, in-game lore like interview data, and the devastating sequence that highlights Cliff’s death, the bond the two had is constantly referenced. That closeness would be interesting to show in a Death Stranding prequel game for a few reasons.
What a Death Stranding Prequel Could Accomplish
While the Strand-type gameplay of the original Death Stranding was revolutionary, and could be an exciting aspect of future Kojima Productions releases, not everyone loved the delivery simulator loop that made up a majority of the missions. Though many loved building roads, plotting routes, and sneaking past BTs, others felt that it got repetitive quickly and that combat sections were not prevalent enough.
While a proper Death Stranding sequel could double down on making deliveries by implementing new tools, obstacles, and enemies, a prequel focused on Die-Hardman and Cliff would provide traditional shooter gameplay. Players could experience third person combat similar to what was seen in the three Cliff boss fights, only this time taking control of the main himself. For players that found Death Stranding too slow, a more traditional, action-packed game set during a gritty war would likely be more appealing - something that could lead to the series' fan base expanding rapidly.
Not only does Kojima have experience tackling the themes of war through the Metal Gear Solid franchise, but a prequel game would give him a chance to tell a personal story that explores the bond between two friends. By Die-Hardman’s own account, he was a foolish soldier who took too many risks and was overly aggressive, with Cliff rescuing him several times. Not only would these moments work as gameplay sections that showcase Cliff's expertise as a soldier, but each failure would allow Die-Hardman to grow into a wiser person as the game progresses.
Seeing what Cliff went through during his military career would be another way to make his story more tragic, especially if there are some scenes before or after the war where he interacts with Lisa. Seeing the couple together and witnessing how much they love one another would make Lisa’s fate even more devastating, just like how showing Cliff’s bond with Die-Hardman would make the latter’s actions more shocking. A prequel game helmed by Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff would retroactively improve his already strong story, giving fans more time with a character that they fell in love with a few years ago.
Ultimately, like any prequel, this hypothetical game would have the downside of players knowing the fates of its two leads. Still, the potential for a great project is there. A military shooter style could get a larger audience into Death Stranding, and it would be interesting to see more of what the world was like before the titular event took place. Co-op gameplay would even be a possibility, with one player controlling Cliff and the other controlling John, the man who would go on to be known as Die-Hardman. With Kojima being so experienced with war settings, two lead characters players already care about, and an opportunity to explore another era of the Death Stranding universe, a prequel could be a good direction to take the franchise.
Death Stranding is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.