How Death Stranding Should Have Ended

4. Die Hardman's Speech Should've Meant Something

Right now, off the top of your head: Why was Die Hardman crying and sobbing uncontrollably at Sam's feet, in the closing cutscenes of the game?

Yes, "it's because he killed Cliff Unger" - he says as much directly before breaking down.

My question though, is: Was this something deftly built up across 50 hours of game time? A powerful connection between "John McClane" (yup, that's his name) and Cliff? Were Cliff's motivations as a man volunteering for an experiment, then being betrayed by a soldier he used to protect, actually explored?

HELL no.

Even with this scene, Die-Hardman's breakdown comes before you understand what he did to Cliff, and the character until that point was drastically under-written. The overriding takeaway is yes, this is one of the best digitised performances in gaming history, with Tommie Earl Jenkins delivering an incredible scene, but general confusion and yet more questions.

Rather than frame the closing third of the game around the relationship of John and Cliff - the fact McClane "loved him" as much as he did Amelie, and how he had to balance duty with emotion - we get ONE scene, which in retrospect feels out of order.

It's emotional by definition, but the buildup is nonexistent; the result more bewilderment and awkwardness from the audience than anything truly worthwhile.