Helldivers 2is really good. I spent several hours playing it with friends this weekend, and it is abundantly clear that we are only just scratching the surface. We’re scared to approach most Automaton missions because the evil robots are scary and keep killing us, while ‘Medium’ is the furthest we’ll go right now when it comes to Terminid assignments.
We’re still learning the ropes and figuring out which weapons and stratagems work best with the widespread galactic expression of democracy, even if it means dying over and over after running out of reinforcements because we have no idea what we’re doing. Trust me though, it’s all part of the plan. Besides, it’s not like we’re in any rush to take over the galaxy.
I’ve developed a habit of ordering my squadmates around and taking the lead during each operation, so perhaps I’m not a bottom after all. Thanks for that, Helldivers 2…
Even as I fit in a few sessions a week to gradually increase my level and unlock new things to use in battle as I upgrade my ship, the most fascinating thing about Helldivers 2 right now is how it keeps reacting to the community and evolving in ways I haven’t seen in a game like this before. This past weekend saw players dropping into lobbies that featured pilotable mechs and vehicles, alongside other stratagems which turn this shooter into something so much more substantial. All because you appeared in the right lobby at the right time.
I haven’t stumbled across any of these incredible discoveries myself just yet, nor do I know the parameters required to make them a reality. It can potentially be done if you’re a higher level than most and unlock overpowered stratagems, or drop onto random matches on the right planets at a specific time of day so you match with players in certain territories. What amazes me most is how instantaneous many of these moments are, and how even routine missions on random planets with strangers can suddenly transform into something mighty.
You are nothing but a horde of expendable soldiers who are thrown to the slaughter over and over again until reinforcements run dry, but that doesn’t stop you from achieving great things. The feats you manage can be accomplished by calling in equipment at the right time, or sprinting atop a hill to call in an airstrike, or by working alongside comrades to circumvent the fascist military systems in which you operate with - I mean, to bring Democracy to the galaxy. Helldivers 2 is growing with each passing day, and there’s no predicting exactly what plans Arrowhead Studios has for it as it continues to grow in global popularity.
Scrolling through Twitter greets me with community accounts confirming that all manner of new vehicles and equipment are soon being added to Helldivers 2, adding layers of nuance and complexity that I can’t fathom right now, at least not with my current mentality of making sure I’m filling the bugs with enough bullets to emerge victorious and avoiding my friend’s delightful habit for dropping sheets of landmines everywhere.
Vehicles will apparently be asking players to manually adjust gears as several players pile into them, allowing parties to move across the intergalactic landscape while crushing enemies underfoot like a big, reckless Voltron. There’s also the solid chance of screwing up and getting everyone killed, but that’s all part of the fun.
You shouldn’t call napalm strikes on the extraction zone seconds before the shuttle is set to arrive, but it is pretty funny.
The addition of such features doesn’t make sense in my head when I consider the Helldivers 2 experience I’ve had thus far. It’s a squad-based shooter which won’t hesitate to punish players as they bruteforce objectives, eventually formulating a strategy where death remains a constant, but perseverence can make you victorious.
But the conflict is growing alongside the game and its community, introducing tools that will turn our once small skirmishes into sprawling battlefields where anything is possible. It’s like if Earth Defense Force had a budget and live service trimmings, while still maintaining a charming homemade feel that responds to player feedback without ever compromising its ambitions.
Helldivers 2’s success was a surprise to most of us, and I’m so happy to see Arrowhead so eager to build on this runaway train with new vehicles, ideas, and a determination to subvert our expectations as it creates something incredible. I’m still finding my feet in this game, but to watch it continue to expand from the sidelines fills me with a joy that few multiplayer titles can manage these days.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is the sequel to the third-person shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios. This time out, the Helldivers are deep in the Galactic War, and it’s up to you to bring Managed Democracy to the masses.
