Sam Porter Bridges is a unique video game protagonist in several respects. While he has proven himself capable in a fight,Death Strandingmainly revolves around transporting heavy packages from one location to another, while traversing beautiful barren landscapes.
Related:10 Advanced Tricks In Death Stranding Only Super Fans Can Figure Out
With this in mind, most traditional video game protagonists could decimate Sam. To make it more of a fair fight or at least a relatable one, most of the characters mentioned here either also transport packages or carry a younger person alongside them, just like Sam travels and develops a bond with BB. After all, people gain newfound strength when it comes to defending younger, more vulnerable friends.
10Could Beat: Edward Carnby
Alone in the Darkis one of thefirst traditional survival horror games, and the gameplay mainly revolves around avoiding monsters rather than taking them head on. However, Edward Carnby would only be able to run and hide from Sam Porter Bridges for so long before theDeath Strandingprotagonist’s futuristic tools would catch up with the playable character fromAlone in the Dark. Sam would also be able to take Edward out in a fistfight, as evidenced by his fight with Higgs.
9Could Not Beat: Solid Snake
BeforeDeath Stranding, Hideo Kojima crafted theMetal Gearseries, which he stuck with from 1988 until 2015 when the designer had a public falling out with publisher Konami.
Related:10 Hilarious Quotes From Death Stranding That Remind You It’s A Hideo Kojima Game
Unlike Sam, Solid Snake was made to be a soldier and trained for it since his youth. With this in mind, Sam does not stand a chance against him. Even with his repatriation, Snake would just kill him over and over again.
8Could Beat: Ethan Mars
Ethan Mars is one of the several protagonists from Quantic Dreams’Heavy Rain. He spends the game searching for his missing son. Depending on the player’s actions, Ethan either does whatever he can to save his heir, or he drops the ball and loses the serial killer’s twisted game. Either way, he is a normal guy and could not do much against Sam in an honest bout to the death. But it would be a different story if it was a fight to see who could shout “Jason” long enough.
7Could Not Beat: Link
Link and Sam Bridges have one thing in common by starring in two ofthe most stunning open-world games of this generation. Their respective adventures both stand out from the crowd as they focus on making the journey to the destination just as enticing and enjoyable as the end goal. However,Breath of the Wild’sHyrule is way more dangerous than the post-apocalyptic United States, making Link a deadlier foe for Sam.
6Could Beat: Protagonist From PT
Death Strandingis not the first time Norman Reedus worked with Hideo Kojima. Prior to that game, the two were working on a doomedSilent Hillgame, which players got a taste of withPTon PlayStation 4.
Related:10 Plans For Kojima’s Silent Hills (That Never Happened)
It is difficult to say what Norman Reedus' character would have done in the final game, but all he does in the teaser is slowly walk down hallways. With this minimal moveset, the protagonist fromPTis mere canon fodder for Sam.
5Could Not Beat: Wander
Like Sam, Wander fromShadow of the Colossusspends most of his game traversing a beautiful, ruined world. However, upon reaching his destination Wander must defeat giant monsters sometimes literally hundreds of times his size. Sam has defeated his fair share of bestial Beached Things, but the Colossi are infinitely more fearsome foes. Additionally, Wander’s horse Agro would no doubt be of some assistance.
4Could Beat: The Paperboy
The original game about delivery, Midway’sPaperboywas a surprisingly fun conceptfor an arcade game. All the player had to do was avoid hazards on a bike and throw papers at people’s houses. However, avoiding regular everyday obstacles will do little to help him in a fight against Sam Porter Bridges. The paperboy may be fast on a bike, but no regular bicycle can outrun a well-aimed Bola gunshot. In terms of its offensive capabilities, a mere newspaper cannot harm Sam.
3Could Not Beat: Sam Fisher
These two characters have more in common than just their name. They are also family people, withtheSplinter Cellhero having a daughter for whom he will do anything, and Sam Porter Bridges forming a bond with BB during the course ofDeath Stranding. While they both have someone dear to fight for, Sam Fisher is simply better trained and better equipped for a bout to the death.
2Could Beat: Yoshi
Sam Porter Bridges was far from the first protagonist to carry a baby with him for the majority of a game campaign. Yoshi did it decades beforehand on the Super Nintendo inYoshi’s Island. Unfortunately, Baby Mario does not help Yoshi the same way BB assists Sam. Instead, getting hit once causes great distress to the baby as it floats away, and BB helps Sam detect Beached Things. With this in mind, Yoshi is at a severe disadvantage against Sam.
1Could Not Beat: Kratos
Had the 2018God of Wargame never come out,Sam Bridges would have been spared a nasty execution at the hands of one of gaming’s most brutal protagonists. Unfortunately forDeath Stranding’smain character, the most recentGod of Warsees Kratos both protect his son and transport a package. Granted, this package is his wife’s ashes, but it still counts. It was nice knowing you, Sam.
Next:10 Unresolved Mysteries And Plot Holes Left Hanging In Death Stranding
