Timefall and Accelerated Aging
This one is more of a tangible story clue than another theory from left-field. Because thanks to IGN, Hideo Kojima has offered up some new intel pertaining to Death Stranding’s third teaser, including a brief explanation of Timefall.
It’s the otherworldly rain that causes plants to wither and die, hence Sam’s decision to keep his hood up at all times, and if Death Stranding toys with time dilation and relativity – natural or otherwise – it would explain the decision to include this extract from William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence:
“To see a world in a grain of sand. And heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand. And eternity in an hour.”
Either way, Death Stranding’s protagonist may possess some otherworldly power of his own, as Kojima teased to IGN:
“Most people in the game are aware of the rain — and well, Norman is quite unique in this regard.”
A Totally New Form of Play
“Death will never pull you out of the game.”
That’s a quote from Kojima himself, who has since confirmed that the surreal underwater sequence seen in trailer #3 is the Death Stranding equivalent of a ‘game over’ screen. While here, players will be able to enjoy (endure?) an out-of-body experience, all the while exploring their surrounding environment in first-person.
“At that point, you’re not dead or alive. It’s the equivalent of that screen that says ‘Continue?’ and a counter ticking down towards zero.”
Kojima was one of the first developers to toy with the concept of breaking the fourth wall – be it switching controllers to overthrow Psycho Mantis or outsmarting the Colonel in Sons of Liberty. With Death Stranding, it seems the Japanese auteur is about to up the ante, and one need only look at the wristbands attached to Corpse Disposal Team 6.
Based on the trailer alone, they change color depending on the state of their owner (blue good, red bad), and may be the closest thing to a health meter in Death Stranding. There’s also a very good chance that the DualShock 4’s lightbar will reflect that fleeting morality, while some believe the handcuffs are a visual representation of the player’s control over the character, and will likewise change color depending on the in-game situation.
We are Homo Ludens, we are those who play.
Birth. Life. Death.
Hideo Kojima has name-dropped Japanese writer and playwright Kobo Abe as a major influence on Death Stranding‘s story, which appears to revolve around Norman Reedus’ character, Sam, being stranded between life and death – between one realm, and the next.
Perhaps Kojima’s sci-fi oddity will tackle big existential themes come 20XX?
The Five Deities
Last but not least, Death Stranding’s story appears to orbit around five spectral, god-like figures, who may turn out to be the de facto bosses.
Perhaps Death Stranding will incorporate a Dark Souls-esque system in which players trade clues and messages?
Then again, Mads Mikkelsen is a god of Danish cinema, but we’re not quite sure how that’ll filter into the story…
On a more serious note, the game itself has been described as an open-world title with action elements, while Kojima-san has mentioned multiplayer elements.
Given Death Stranding is coming from Hideo Kojima, the industry’s undisputed master of misdirection, all of these theories could be pie in the sky. But it’s fun to indulge in a little speculation nonetheless. So, what are you waiting for? I’ll see you in the comments.
