Helldivers 2 delivers an unparalleled online experience, reigniting the flame of camaraderie in multiplayer gaming. It’s a whirlwind of chaos, explosions, and relentless action, all in the name of democracy.
It’s the most fun I’ve had gaming online in years, and could well be the best four-player co-op game I’ve ever played. It’s all types of stupid fun — hordes of bugs and killer robots running at you and your team, explosions left right and centre, endless bullet firing, friendly fire — you name it.
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Helldivers 2 is 1997’s Starship Troopers crossed with explosive and incredible game design. It’s a AAA live-service video game without the obnoxious microtransactions and pay-to-win strategy.
While it does feature a Vbucks-styled battlepass and store, the prices are the best I’ve seen in a modern game, and they’re completely obtainable by playing the game.
Joining The Fight
Set in a distant future where Super Earth faces imminent threats from killer robots known as Automatons and hordes of giant space bugs called Terminids, Helldivers 2 thrusts players into the heart of intergalactic warfare.
After an exhilarating tutorial, players are entrusted with commanding their own ship, naming it in a decision that carries unexpected weight. From there, it’s a rollercoaster ride of strategic planning and pulse-pounding missions.
Aboard your ship, you’ll find various upgrade stations and a war table of the galaxy to plan your next mission.
Where We Dropping?
There’s a smorgasbord of missions, ranging from launching nuclear missiles to eradicating bug nests. The diversity ensures that no two missions feel alike, keeping the adrenaline pumping and the excitement levels high throughout.
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After selecting a mission, you and your squad need to enter a hellpod and launch down to the planet’s surface. Like a reign of bullets, you descend to the ground, piercing the dirt with your pod and rising from the earth.
There’s many different planets to choose from, with the galaxy split between two wars.
I couldn’t pick a favourite enemy, they’re both great. Though, if it’s anything like what I’ve read about the first game — which you don’t need to play to enjoy this sequel — there are many more enemy types to come.
The rush of sprinting head-on at the enemy, getting behind a Star Wars-inspired walker, and taking out its pilot while diving out of the way of another exploding Automaton — this game is an adrenaline rush.
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Freedom!
Bugs are fine in small numbers, but on higher difficulties, they’ll overwhelm you and tear you to pieces in seconds. The Automatons, however, are the definition of terrifying. Their glowing red eyes (even though they’re an obvious weak spot) instill a sense of fear in me every time I play.
Depending on where you’ve chosen to land, stepping out onto the planet can be risky; enemies could surround you at any moment.
You need to be ready for the fight. Make sure you gear up before setting off to the objective.
Stratagems
One of the game’s standout features is the utilisation of Stratagems, which allow players to call in reinforcements, supplies and devastating airstrikes with precision. Unlocked through progression, these tools of destruction add layers of depth to the gameplay, rewarding strategic thinking and teamwork.
You can call in resources and offensive strikes from your ship using a series of directional button inputs — it’s very Mortal Kombat or GTA cheat code.
Each stratagem is unique; heavy artillery strikes and orbital bombs are great for taking out large groups. You’ve also got automatic turrets, special weaponry, and some useful player items like a laser drone that follows you around.
There are some absolute crackers.
I gunned it for the 500kg Orbital Bomb (unlocked at level 15). This orbital strike can take out a huge area with ease — great for nests or bases in need of leveling.
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At times I’ve found myself completely surrounded by killer Termininds and the only option was to spam grenades, dive out of the way, and pray I don’t die.
But dying isn’t all bad.
The Expendables
Dying in a massive explosion, getting torn to pieces by bugs or getting shot by a teammate isn’t frustrating, it’s often hilarious.
Helldivers are expendable. Even if you complete the mission but the squad is wiped out before you can extract, you’re still rewarded with experience points.
However, failing a mission won’t reward you well…
Mission difficulty determines the amount and strength of the enemies attempting to slaughter you. It also determines enemy type in some cases and the overall mission rewards.
Challenging missions feature invisible stalker bugs, huge armoured big-butt boys, and acid-spitting flying freaks.
Controls
I’ve seen the gameplay compared heavily to Metal Gear Solid 5, and it’s hard to argue there’s no similarities.
Sprinting, diving, crawling around while prone, rolling over – it all looks and feels great.
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As you place your feet into the Hellpod, preparing to launch, the PlayStation 5’s DualSense features begin to shine.
Every click and clack of the machinery can be felt through the controller. On the field, every bullet fired and explosion can be felt through the controller’s haptic feedback.
Community Driven Brilliance
Helldivers 2 fosters a strong sense of community through its live map system, where players collaborate globally to reclaim territories and push back the encroaching threats.
After every mission, you’ll see how much of an impact you’ve made towards a planet, often it’s just 0.0001 percent! But it all counts.
This communal effort not only adds a layer of immersion but also reinforces the notion of collective triumph in the face of adversity *salutes*.
A Bright Future for Super Earth
This is a solid game of the year candidate and I’m anxiously looking forward to future content.
Can Arrowhead Games keep expanding on this exciting universe? Will Super Earth be invaded and we get the ultimate showdown?
After spending over 40 hours on the planetary battlefield, Helldivers 2 has cemented itself as one of my favourite games of the year. I know the year has just begun, but it’s going to be hard to beat.
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Regular updates are posted on Helldivers 2 social media accounts. Notably, the game’s director is very active on X (Twitter), constantly notifying players of the latest patches and news.
At launch, the only thing holding it back was its server capacity. Developers Arrowhead were clearly not expecting the game to blow up like it has — what a wonderful problem to have. But now, servers have been increased up to 800,000 concurrent players, so fingers crossed the issues are behind us.
Should I buy Helldivers 2?
Helldivers 2 stands as a testament to live-service gaming done right.
With its adrenaline-fueled gameplay, immersive world, and responsive developer support, it’s no wonder the game has captured the hearts of players worldwide. As the journey continues and the Super Earth universe expands, one can’t help but wonder what new challenges and triumphs await on the horizon.
Helldivers 2 is out now on PlayStation 5 and PC — so grab yourself a nice hot cup of Liber-tea and settle in for a night of freedom.
Quest Daily scores Helldivers 2:
10/10
A copy of Helldivers 2 was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
