Death Standing part 2 spoiler talk
This is kind of a follow up to my last article which you should read here.
Didn’t want to make the first one too long. In here I want to talk about some of the other story beats and cool things that I liked.
Higgs:
In the other article I mentioned dual characters and one of the foils to Sam is of course Higgs, the “villain” but really henchmen to Amelie. Higgs represents the Nihilism to Sam’s hope. Higgs believe that the world would end anyway so why not help it along. He also represents what Sam could have been if he denied his connections. After learning what Amelie was Higgs fully gave into the darkness. While Sam accepts her for what she is and she reconsiders delaying it in hopes that humanity can better prepare for it thanks to Sam’s love.
He reminds me of the quote if you had a choice between nothing or despair. Higgs would choose nothing. Higgs lives out the rest of his days in the beach the physical manifestation of limbo. He looked into the abyss and accepts his fate no matter what.
Timefall:
A great game play mechanic and symbolism for time itself. Buildings and structures need constant maintenance due to them aging faster than normal. It’s only when Sam and the gang inspires america to keep going. In the truest sense of a gift Sam keeps building and connecting america not for his sake but for others. The rain is a literally metaphor for time’s arrow. The longer you stay out they longer your equipment gets damaged. It also helps with the overall death metaphor in the game.
Death:
I’m reminded by the Tolkien and the long defeat. I don’t know if Kojima took direct/indirect inspiration from Tolkien but it does follow a similar path. The first few missions are you delivering the dead. The long defeat is a metaphor for death. No matter how many victories or achievements death will come for all of us. But it’s in pushing thru despite that, it’s not going gently into the night, it’s to continue on to fight for the next day if not for yourself but for others. Sam even no he started his mission for selfish reasons comes to understand his duty. Which comes back to Amelie who is death itself, with a life saving hug Sam delays the inevitable. It’s through the selfless act that we can live another day.
Hidden connections:
I know I talked about this last time but I want to expand more since Kojima crams a ton of stuff to every part of this game. What makes a connection? When does the line cross from being a stranger to friend? Sam’s connections to people increasing become more than physical. That is to say more than just delivering their packages. But it’s still delivering packages. It evolves into friendship and it just happens.
Kojima indirectly gets us to care. By having an excuse i.e. delivering packages you are forced to interact with the receiver and in doing so learn more about them. Sam and the player grow more attached with each mission and every story beat.
Final thoughts:
I think a lot of players are sleeping on this game. It does what FF15 tried to do making a outdoor simulation. The real prize was the friends along the way. But in Kojima fashion it’s complicated. And it’s about accepting death that one day death will come for us all. When we are gone it’s trusting that the people after us will keep on keeping on.