AdvGamer
In the hauntingly beautiful, post-apocalyptic tapestry that Hideo Kojima is weaving for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, few threads are as tantalizingly frayed as that of Higgs Monaghan. The charismatic antagonist of the first game, whose defeat on Amelie's Beach seemed so final, is inexplicably poised for a return. Yet, the cryptic whispers from the latest trailers suggest that a simple reprisal of his villainous role would be, frankly, old news. Kojima, a maestro of the meta-narrative, is unlikely to play such a straightforward hand. The stage is set not for a villain's encore, but for something far more profound: a redemption arc born from the ashes of exile.
🤔 The Problem with a Simple Villain's Return
Let's be real: bringing Higgs back just to have Sam Porter Bridges punch his lights out again would be a major anticlimax. His original defeat was a cinematic masterpiece, a multi-phase boss battle that served as a climax to Sam's journey. To trivialize that by making Higgs little more than a speed bump on the road to a new, bigger threat would undermine the emotional weight of the first game. The community has been there, done that. A purely antagonistic Higgs risks becoming an annoyance rather than a meaningful force.
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Narrative Redundancy: He already filled the villain quota. Doing it again feels like a retread.
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Kojima's Signature Style: The director is known for his elaborate, complex storytelling. A simple villain revival is just not his vibe.
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The Danger of Diminishment: If a greater evil looms, Higgs as a secondary villain could feel insignificant, like a B-side to the main event.
The Compelling Case for an Anti-Hero
The evidence points toward a far more intriguing future for Higgs. The pre-order trailer paints a picture of a man profoundly changed by his exile. He appears weary, tormented—a far cry from the smug puppet master he once was. This isn't the face of a man hell-bent on world domination; this is the face of someone grappling with profound inner turmoil.
His emotional interactions with the enigmatic character known as Tomorrow are particularly telling. They hint at a soul torn between darkness and a flicker of light. This potential for internal conflict is the perfect catalyst for a shift in allegiance. Perhaps Higgs begins the story as an adversary, only to find himself on a collision course with a threat so grave that he must, however reluctantly, lean toward the right side of the aisle.
| Higgs in Death Stranding | Potential Higgs in Death Stranding 2 |
|---|---|
| Charismatic Antagonist 🤵 | Tormented Soul 😔 |
| Clear Motivations | Morally Ambiguous 🤷 |
| Defeated by Sam | Forged by Exile 🔥 |
💡 Why a Higgs Redemption Makes Sense
From a storytelling perspective, a redeemed or anti-hero Higgs is a narrative goldmine. It allows Kojima to explore themes of forgiveness, the complexity of human nature, and the possibility of change. Higgs's knowledge of the Beaches and the supernatural forces at play could make him an unlikely but necessary ally for Sam and Fragile. Imagine the dramatic tension of Sam being forced to work with the man who caused him so much pain. That's the kind of high-stakes drama Kojima thrives on.
The Bottom Line: Higgs's return needs to be justified by a role that adds depth to the overarching narrative, not just another boss fight. His journey from villain to something more ambiguous—a guide, a reluctant ally, or even a sacrificial figure—would be a far more compelling and Kojima-esque twist. The man is down but not out, and his second act promises to be his most interesting yet. The beach he was exiled to may have been his prison, but it could also become the crucible for his rebirth.