Spoilers ahead for Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach expands its cast with an exciting list of actors. Between Elle Fanning, Luca Marinelli, Alissa Jung, and Shioli Kutsuna, many of the fresh faces inDeath Stranding 2make it a story filled with major talent behind it. However, there are plenty of returning actors bringing just as much to their performances, especially when it comes to Troy Baker.
Troy Baker’s name is often brought up when discussing stellar video game performances, thanks to his impressive resume. With games likeThe Last of Us,Uncharted 4,BioShock Infinite, andFar Cry 4under his belt, he’s become one of the most notable actors in gaming. His role as Higgs inDeath Stranding, though, really got to showcase just how great of a villain he can be. Of course, he’s played villain roles before, likeFar Cry 4’s Pagan Min, but Higgs Monaghan has really given Baker the opportunity to shine, and the character is brought to evengreater heights inDeath Stranding 2.
Even With a Fresh Roster of Fascinating Characters, Higgs Monaghan Continues to Steal the Show
Higgs is Wilder Than Ever
Higgs' role as a terrorist inthe firstDeath Strandingwas already compelling enough, but Hideo Kojima turned his character up to eleven this time around. After being left on the Beach by Fragile, Higgs has returned, seeking revenge while working to bring the Last Stranding to fruition and finally destroy humanity once and for all. Donning a red mech suit, Joker-like makeup, and a chiral-powered guitar, he looks like an absolute madman.
Troy Baker does a fantastic job at bringing that madness to the surface. A role like Higgs is difficult to balance, as such a character can easily be taken too far and become a parody of themselves. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with Higgs. Baker is able to switch between over-the-top theatrics and subdued, sinister delivery in the blink of an eye, and it makes every second Higgs is on the screen a moment that’s hard to look away from. In contrast toSam’s quiet nature, Higgs is the other side of the coin, boldly exclaiming his intent and thoughts.
He plays with Sam like a cat would a mouse, andDeath Stranding 2further drives home how toying with Sam in this way has basically become his favorite pastime.Death Stranding 2evolves the storyin several major ways, and while Higgs is bolder this time around, his character arc feels more like a natural progression than a jarring change.
InDeath Stranding 2, the main characters aren’t the only ones portrayed by major names. Like the first game, many of the NPCs Sam meets along the way are notable creators and artists. Some of the faces featured inDS2are Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, the Philippou brothers, the band CHVRCHES, and Ma Dong-seok.
The Cast of Death Stranding 2 is Just One of the Game’s Many Strong Points
Whether it’s a returning actor, like Lea Seydoux, or newcomer Jonathan Roumie as the voice of Dollman,the cast ofDeath Stranding 2does a wonderful job at bringing its story to life. It was hard to imagine a plot that was more twisted and head-scratching than the first game, but Kojima managed to bring even wilder ideas front and center with this sequel.
New characters like Neil and Lucyadd an extra dose of tragedy to the story, but Higgs continues to bring the chaos, and it’s a wonderful way to shake up the game’s heartfelt moments. Baker has given another powerful performance that could leave Higgs as a contender for one of modern gaming’s most iconic villains.
