Well, folks, strap in, because it looks like we're heading back to the weirdest, most personal vacation spots in all of gaming—the Beaches of Death Stranding. You remember those places, right? Not exactly sun, sea, and sand. More like... sun, existential dread, and the psychic remnants of your deepest traumas. A real party. With the sequel boldly titled On the Beach, it's clear Hideo Kojima is doubling down on these metaphysical shorelines. And honestly, I'm here for it. Let's wade into the surf of speculation and figure out which character's inner sanctums we absolutely need to crash in the sequel.

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First up on my must-visit list? Lou's Beach. Oh, Lou. Our little BB-28, all grown up (or at least, a bit older) and probably not entirely human. Talk about a glow-up. The first game left us with so many questions about this kid. Who is she? What's her deal? Visiting her Beach in DS2 could be the key to unlocking that mystery. It's her mind, her memories, her soul laid bare. If the theories are right and Elle Fanning's character, Tomorrow, is actually an older Lou... well, then things get even wilder. Tomorrow is out here crying those ominous black tears, just like our boy Higgs used to do. That's not a good sign, folks. That's a "I've seen some things" sign. Exploring Lou's Beach could be our ticket to understanding her time-travel shenanigans and her grand purpose in this messed-up world. Her Beach probably isn't full of pacifiers and lullabies anymore, that's for sure.

Then there's Sam's Beach. We got a quick, depressing peek in the first game—a vast, empty, haunting void. Classic Sam. But here's the thing: people change! Sam isn't the same isolated porter he once was. He formed a real bond with Lou. He reconnected with Fragile. He saved America, for crying out loud! So, what if his Beach has changed too? Wouldn't it be cool if Death Stranding 2 let us check in on Sam's inner world throughout the story? We could see it evolve in real-time based on the plot. Maybe it starts to get a little color. Maybe a weird, metaphorical plant grows. The possibilities are endless, and it would be a brilliant way to visualize his character arc. His Beach becoming less of a void would be a win for all of us, honestly.

Alright, let's talk about the elephant—or should I say, the extremist terrorist—on the Beach. Higgs. This guy is basically confirmed to have a timeshare on his personal hellscape. We left him stranded there at the end of Death Stranding, and yet, he's back for the sequel. How? Why? Doesn't matter. We're going back. His Beach was already a nightmare volcano wasteland last time. After who knows how long in solitary confinement with only his own crazy thoughts for company? Yikes. I'm betting it's even more messed up. More decayed, more broken, more... Higgs. Visiting his Beach again isn't just a possibility; it's a necessity to understand what turned him from a stranded nuisance into... whatever he is now. What a guy.

Finally, we can't forget Fragile. Her redemption story in the first game hit me right in the feels. But it's not over. She's back and looks to be a major player. So, we gotta see her Beach. In the first game, it was shown as this cold, bleak place, mirroring the guilt and trauma she carried from the past. But she's been working on herself! She's been healing! So, her Beach should reflect that. Imagine revisiting it and finding it... warmer. Calmer. Maybe the rain has stopped. It wouldn't be a full-on paradise—this is still Death Stranding—but a noticeable shift would be a powerful, wordless way to show how far she's come. If the game doesn't take us there, I'll be a little heartbroken. It just makes too much sense, you know?

So, to sum up my Beach vacation itinerary:

Character Why We Need to Visit Their Beach What We Might Find
Lou/Tomorrow Unlock the core mystery of her identity and purpose. Time-travel clues, psychic scars, maybe some black-goo waterfalls. 🕳️
Sam Porter Bridges Witness the visual evolution of his healed (or further broken) psyche. Less void, maybe some symbolic bridges or connections. 🌉
Higgs Understand his resurrection and deepened madness. A volcanic wasteland on steroids. Pure, distilled chaos. 🌋
Fragile See the tangible results of her emotional redemption arc. A thawing landscape, a calmer sea, a glimpse of peace. ☀️

Exploring these Beaches isn't just about cool visuals (though they will be incredibly cool). It's about getting under the skin of these characters in a way only this bizarre series can. Their Beaches are them. So, here's hoping Death Stranding 2: On the Beach gives us the all-access pass. My DOOMS level is ready. My box of Monster Energy is stocked. Let's do this.