Summary
Death Stranding 2: On the Beacharrives in 2025, and when it does it will debut a host of creative characters. In the most recent trailer forDeath Stranding 2, revealed during PlayStation’s 2024 State of Play, Sam is seen welcoming a puppet companion to his party that will likely serve as an advisor of sorts during his travels. While countless games have given players companions, this one is quite a bit different.
God of Warand its sequel,God of War Ragnarok, are both universally acclaimed for their innovative approach to rebooting one of gaming’s most successful action-adventure franchises in their storytelling and gameplay — but especially in their characters. Among the series' most beloved characters isMimir, a talking severed head once attached to the body of the smartest man alive. Throughout both games, Mimir is tied to the back of Kratos' waist and assists him and Atreus in battle, emotional entanglements, and Norse lore. Now, his legacy lives on inDeath Stranding 2, as Sam gains a companion that appears to be inspired by Mimir.
Death Stranding 2’s Puppet Is Basically God of War’s Mimir
Death Stranding 2’s most obvious reference toGod of War’s Mimir is found in its 2024 State of Play trailer at around the three-minute mark. As Sam takes hold of the puppet, he attempts to put it on the back of his waist, only for the puppet to say, “Really, Sam? Your buttocks?” This will be immediately familiar as a likely reference to Mimir, sinceMimir rests on the back of Kratos' waist, near his “buttocks.“The puppet then requests “the driver’s seat” and Sam instead ties it to the front of his waist, near his left thigh.
It’s currently unclear what the puppet’s name is or what the extent of its purpose will be, but he will nonetheless provide valuable assistance to Sam on his journey, as Fragile says, “His knowledge and experience will probably come in handy down the road.” This is yet another parallel toGod of War’s Mimir, who is known for his wealth of knowledge and his role as an invaluable advisor to both Kratos and Atreus.
In bothGod of Wargames, Mimir frequently chimes in with useful information about the game’s characters, world, and even combat, so it would be exciting to seeDeath Stranding 2’s puppet follow suit.
Mimir and Death Stranding 2’s Puppet Can Play Off Each Other
While it likely won’t be confirmed untilDeath Stranding 2is released, it can be assumed that these parallels will go beyond the puppet merely being a helpful informant to Sam, especially if Kojima has indeed modeled it after Mimir. IntheGod of Warseries, Mimir began as little more than a useful tool but has since become a loyal and trustworthy friend to Kratos and Atreus as their bond has grown tremendously over the two games. If Kojima has decided to fully pattern the puppet afterGod of War’s Mimir, it will likely develop a deeper relationship with Sam along the way.
Although some fans might scoff at the fact thatDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach’s puppet is essentially theDeath Strandingversion of Mimir,God of War’s severed head companion is one of the game’s best features, and Kojima’s use of the idea not only shows his appreciation for it but also his knack for giving players what they enjoy. Furthermore, if this puppet and Sam engage in regular conversation during their travels, it could serve as an effective character development tool for Sam, andit may even provide some comic relief, just as Mimir has inGod of War.
