Oh man, so Death Stranding 2 dropped, right? And wow, players are uncovering all sorts of wild stuff. It’s like opening a mixed bag of randomness and nostalgia. Like, what’s the deal with this Japanese comedy vibe? If you’ve chilled with Dollman and Sam in those hotsprings — which, let’s be honest, are lifesavers for Sam’s poor back — you might’ve stumbled onto something only familiar if you’re into Japanese TV. Picture this: a nod to a classic comedy show that’s got a ton of players in Japan reminiscing, but might leave the rest of us scratching our heads.
Let’s backtrack a sec. You’re lugging cargo around Mexican and Australian worlds — sounds kinda exhausting, right? And then there are these hotsprings scattered around, like surprise gifts you didn’t know you needed. They’re not just for the view. Somehow, a bucket on Sam’s head lets him fast travel. Why? Who knows.
Spin-offs from this hotspring escapade include, get this, Dollman busting out a tune as comedian Cha Kato. And Sam awkwardly joins the dance. All this mirroring an old show called “8ji da yo! Zennin shuugou!” or something close. My Japanese is rusty, but it airs at 8 p.m. in the game, really tying the nod to the show all too perfectly. So Japanese players are like, “Ohhh, I remember this!” But folks like me? We might need a cheat sheet.
And speaking of cheat sheets, did you know this show ran from ’69 to ’85, with songs you’d only forget if you never heard them to start with? The Drifters — not the musical ones you’re thinking of — were a comedy troupe leading this chaotic show. Slapstick, occasional off-color jokes, the whole shebang. Ken Shimura was one of them, and you might’ve seen his stuff go viral. Like the English teacher sketch. Classic.
But wait, while The Drifters entertained families, the theme song was a bedtime cue for kids. Not even joking. It’s wild how Death Stranding 2 tosses in different versions of this theme based on which spring you’re lounging in. How’s that for unexpected trivia?
So anyway, Kojima can’t resist mixing the real with the virtual. On Twitter, or X (whatever it’s called now), he teases this cameo with just emojis. Aren’t words quicker? But yeah, some fans went nuts, calling The Drifters national treasures. Others hope more comedy bits make it into games. Overseas fans might miss the memo, though. Cultural nuances, am I right?
And there’s more! So imagine you’re soaking in the night at a hotspring, and you look up — surprise, the sky’s got Easter eggs too. Reddit users found Kojima in the stars. I mean, at least it’s not his ghost like in MGS2 — that one still gives me goosebumps.
There’s a ton more in Death Stranding 2 to dig into. Guides, tips, secrets, you name it. So if you’re diving in, whether you’re stuck on Brutal difficulty or just want to roam, there’s help. And hey, enjoy the chaos. Life’s messy, why shouldn’t games be too?
