As a gamer, I’ve observed the enduring popularity of survival and co-op games in recent launches. Lethal Company, which I immersed myself in last year, exemplifies this trend. With the announcement of Helldivers 2, I eagerly anticipated its release. In this four-player co-op game, you embody a member of Super Earth’s final defense line. And here’s the Helldivers 2 Review, the Drawing inspiration from films like Starship Troopers, Helldivers 2 adds its unique twist to the concept.
With Sony’s generous copy in hand, we’ve embarked on a democratic rampage across diverse planets. But have we finally discovered it? Helldivers 2 delivers equal parts chaos and enjoyment, offering a worthy evolution of its predecessor’s concepts, but with heightened intensity. Here’s our take:
Freedom Comes at a Cost
Helldivers 2 dispenses with an overarching single-player storyline, instead embracing a live-service multiplayer model. Yet, fear not, as there’s just enough lore to anchor the chaos. Set against the backdrop of Super-Earth, a totalitarian regime advocates “democracy” for all aspects of life.
With their immediate space overrun by alien bugs known as Terminids and robots called Automatons, the fate of the galaxy rests on the shoulders of Helldivers. As an elite team of soldiers, they must eradicate these imminent threats and restore peace to their universe.
From this point onward, the narratives are yours to craft, as Helldivers 2 places a strong emphasis on player experiences during battles. The game strives to create compelling and memorable stories through your actions. Additionally, procedurally generated levels enhance the depth and substance of each encounter, ensuring dynamic gameplay and endless possibilities.
Fans of movies like Starship Troopers will undoubtedly find resonance in the world of Helldivers 2. The game’s emphasis on freedom, delivered through overly encouraging narration and consistent thematic elements, evokes nostalgia for similar cinematic experiences. While the game may lack an intricate storyline, it compensates by delivering just the right amount of all the elements players seek, resulting in a satisfying gameplay experience.
Fighting for Freedom Requires Big Guns
Despite the absence of a robust single-player plotline, Helldivers 2 more than compensates with its fantastic gameplay. As a live-service title, the game adeptly reinvents the genre, recognizing that thrilling spectacles and engaging gameplay loops are key to a memorable gaming experience. The developer doubles down on these aspects, resulting in an exhilarating and enjoyable gameplay experience.
The gameplay of Helldivers 2 is meticulously crafted with a strong focus on player contribution. Players are tasked with keeping the Terminids and Automatons at bay to protect Super Earth. The progress made by players worldwide is tracked, reflecting their performance and the percentage of the area cleared of enemies. This emphasis on collective effort enhances the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment within the gaming community.
As of the time of writing, the Terminids are facing significant obstacles in reaching humanity’s home. However, the threat posed by the Automatons remains formidable, with our forces facing heavy losses. These high stakes serve as a compelling incentive to invest an extra hour and engage in another match of Helldivers 2 before calling it a night.
Securing a ship is the initial step towards victory against your adversaries. Serving as the command center for your battle for freedom, the starship is where you undertake most of your pre-launch preparations. Here, you can unlock and customize your loadout, and access the mission map, allowing you to join various terminus systems and contribute to the ongoing war effort.
The ship serves as a hub for you and your friends to prepare for the missions at hand, offering a streamlined experience without unnecessary clutter. It provides essential information and features a handy hub that proves invaluable when you hot-drop into the warzone.
Fight the Forces of Enemies Together
Upon landing in the war zone, the responsibility falls entirely on you and your team to complete the mission. With a time limit looming overhead, you must swiftly execute your orders and return home safely. The missions are randomly generated, ranging from simple tasks like eliminating Terminid eggs to more significant endeavors such as launching a nuke on the bugs. Adaptability and teamwork are essential for success in these dynamic scenarios.
The gunplay and movement mechanics in Helldivers 2 are remarkably fluid, elevating the gameplay experience. Playing the entire game with my DualSense controller was incredibly immersive. The ability to dash, jump, crouch, and prone allows for versatile problem-solving approaches, adding depth and excitement to engagements.
While the gunplay and movement mechanics are refined in Helldivers 2, it’s the Stratagems that steal the spotlight. Serving as a dedicated support hotline to the company, these tools are the main attraction. Utilizing your orbital spaceship as a hub, you can deploy up to four Stratagems at a time, each offering unique benefits across various types. These tools significantly enhance gameplay, adding depth and strategic flexibility to every mission.
Stratagems in Helldivers 2 offer a diverse range of capabilities, from dropping mine clusters to launching air rockets on enemy hordes. Depending on the situation, deploying these stratagems can significantly impact the outcome of the war. I found them incredibly enjoyable to use, and coordinating their use with my team led to some of the most memorable experiences in Helldivers 2. Working together to unleash the full arsenal of stratagems adds depth and excitement to every engagement.
The gameplay of Helldivers 2 represents a significant evolution from its predecessor, transitioning the concepts from the original game into a dynamic third-person scenario.
However, my main critique of Helldivers 2 lies in its inconsistency when played solo. The game feels unbalanced for solo sessions, although it’s primarily designed for cooperative play with friends. Nonetheless, the random matchmaking system has often connected me with friendly players, mitigating this issue to some extent.
Get Your War Requisition Accounted For
Successfully completing the main objective, along with any random side objectives on the map, and safely exfiltrating rewards players with requisition points and level XP. This dual accomplishment serves two main purposes.
Firstly, leveling up unlocks additional Stratagems, providing players with a wider array of options to mix and match, thus creating unique Stratagem builds. While players still choose from four options during dropoff, the expanded arsenal offers more versatility in combat strategies, facilitating more efficient extermination efforts.
In addition to leveling up and unlocking new Stratagems, players also earn requisition points as a reward. These points can be used to purchase the unlocked Stratagems and ship modules. The accumulation of requisition points allows players to expand their arsenal by acquiring more equipment.
Moreover, Helldivers 2 features a unique approach to the battle pass system. There are currently two battle passes known as Warbonds. The first is the free battle pass, which players can unlock using medals earned by completing missions. Completion of the free battle pass rewards players with approximately 800 super credits, which can then be used to unlock the premium battle pass.
The Battlepass’s greatest feature is its indefinite validity. Players can enjoy the game and complete the battle pass at their own pace. If more games embraced this model, I’d be the happiest gamer alive, as it offers greater flexibility and enjoyment.
Helldivers 2 focuses on maximizing enjoyment and gaming experience. It offers a nuanced storyline, engaging gameplay, intense combat, and an intuitive management system, all designed to satisfy players. What makes it stand out is its self-fulfilling nature; the more players invest in the game, the more rewarding it becomes. This departure from traditional live-service games is warmly welcomed by players.
Performance
We primarily played Helldivers 2 on our designated desktop PC, with some playthroughs on a PlayStation 5. Here are our system specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600, @ Base Clock
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
SSD: Western Digital SN570
Running at 1080p
Initially, we couldn’t locate any upscaling technology in the graphics settings. However, we found upscaling options in the rendering technology within the display settings. There are approximately eight different settings available, catering to various visual preferences. Nonetheless, the specific upscaling method employed by the game remains uncertain.
During our testing phase, Helldivers 2 consistently utilized around 56% of the GPU and 75% of the CPU. In terms of frame rate, the game maintained a stable range of 86-107 frames per second throughout gameplay, with slight variations depending on crowd density. We never encountered frame rates below 82 frames per second, indicating satisfactory performance overall.
Verdict: Is the Fight for Freedom Worth It?
Helldivers 2 serves as a beautiful homage to classic sci-fi films like Starship Troopers and Terminator. Its engaging gameplay and multiplayer experience make it hard to put down. While its solo experience may feel lacking at times, the overall quality of the game shines through. It’s a refreshing take on the live-service model, offering players a fun and enjoyable experience without the usual pitfalls. We highly recommend giving it a try and hope to see it thrive for years to come.
Pros and Cons
Helldivers 2 builds upon its predecessor's foundation, dialing up the chaos to new levels. Despite a slightly lacking single-player experience, the game excels in nearly every aspect. Whether playing solo or with friends, the bug-slaying and robot-slaying action will keep you entertained.
The Good
- Brilliant procedurally-generated missions.
- Solid gameplay loop that never becomes dull.
- Player focused experience lets you create your own stories.
- Non-intrusive live-service features.
- Lots of bug and robot killing.
The Bad
- A little unbalanced while playing solo.
