Set in a universe where players assume the role of Helldivers, fighting to liberate planets for Super Earth, a coalition formed after humanity’s expansion into space, the Helldivers 2 delivers on its promise of thrilling gameplay while also providing a thought-provoking experience.
And against the backdrop of the recent disappointments in AAA cooperative shooters like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Skull and Bones, witnessing a small independent Swedish developer excel in the genre is truly refreshing.
Arrowhead Game Studios, the developer behind Helldivers 2, released the game on February 8 as a sequel to the original Helldivers on PlayStation 3 in 2015.
This continuation of the franchise marks a significant evolution in player and community expectations and it redefined what makes a game truly captivating and endearing.
From the outset, the game opens with a video that cleverly satirises themes of managed democracy, liberty, freedom, and heroism, reminiscent of satirical classics like Starship Troopers.
This introduction, accompanied by an epic leitmotif theme music, sets the tone and builds anticipation for the entire gaming experience.
The game starts tutorials that gradually introduces players to its third-person shooter mechanics.
Players’ in-game characters undergo induction into the Helldivers through a series of satirical training sessions, covering basic controls, weapon usage, and stratagems. This initiation culminates in players receiving their Helldiver cape, marking their official entry into the ranks.
With their newfound status, players are granted the freedom to be deployed into the Galactic War.
They are tasked with missions on selected planets, where they must battle opposing factions, including the Automatons and the Terminids.
Each faction presents unique challenges and features, requiring players to adapt their strategies accordingly.
Players are further challenged with completing objectives that vary in complexity based on the chosen difficulty level.
In ‘trivial’ difficulty, players complete menial tasks, while higher settings like ‘challenging’ and the coveted ‘Helldive’ difficulty require players to complete multiple objectives while fending off enemies from all directions.
These missions take place at randomly generated planets, each with unique traits. Some planets are covered in snow, offering cooling benefits for heat-based weapons. Others feature scorching fire tornadoes, posing a significant challenge for players trying to complete objectives.
What sets Helldivers 2 apart from other cooperative shooters is not only its tone but also its unique gameplay, which closely adheres to realism while maintaining a high level of fun typical of video games.
This dynamic creates an environment where players are encouraged to be thoughtful and strategic, as situations can quickly turn chaotic if not properly managed. Enemies are quick to respond, adding an element of urgency to decision-making.
To assist players in their missions, a wide array of weapons is at their disposal, ranging from pistols and rifles to more specialised armaments that can be called down using specific directional inputs known as stratagems.
These stratagems are not only powerful when used effectively but also encourage teamwork and coordination among players, aligning with the cooperative nature of the game.
While Helldivers 2 would have simply been an above-average cooperative shooter with all the unique mechanics combined, what makes it truly unique is the emergent gameplay and story that is created by both the developers as well as the players and community.
This is evident in the ever-evolving story where players’ and the community’s actions affect in-game lore and events through Major Orders. One such example is the infamous Malevelon Creek incident, which the developers have acknowledged and responded to by adjusting in-game rewards and shifting the balance of the galactic war.
The outcomes of Major Orders also drive the ongoing conflict between the Helldivers and their enemies. Each victory rewards players with in-game unlocks, while setbacks introduce more formidable enemy units.
These units are secretly revealed to the players, creating a unique sense of discovery and horror when encountered.
It is not all roses and sunshine for the game however as a small independent developer, certain bugs as well as game crashes have plagued the game since launch. And while the developer has been actively patching and addressing the issues, it can be difficult to satiate the community demanding more from the game.
Furthermore, there will be times when players can easily be overwhelmed through no fault of their own and can feel as if the game cheats.
Coupled with the long grind for crucial in-game unlocks such as higher tier stratagems and ship unlocks, means that players will be pressured to farm for in-game materials to get a minuscule advantage over the enemy.
In addition, the ever-evolving story meant that players looking for a satisfying grand conclusion to the story would be left exhausted as it continues despite having achieved the overarching goal.
One example was the supposed extermination of the Automaton where for some time, players had successfully captured all planets controlled by the Automaton, only for a Deus Ex Machina to occur where the Automatons are suddenly back again, to the dismay and relief of some players.
Despite these polarising opinions of the game, Helldivers 2 does seem to have a promising future ahead as the player count, at least on Steam, is still healthy hovering at around 150,000 players on average.
If the game can maintain the balance of rewarding and punishing players in its ever-evolving story to form a loop of suspense and delight, while also improving the game by fixing the bugs while also giving players more options in the form of new stratagems and weapons; Helldivers 2 will be one of the most endearing game of 2024. – Daniel Lim
