Summary
Helldivers 2is profoundly simplistic. At least right now, the hilarious sci-fi parody boasts only two enemy factions and a handful of mission objectives throughout various planets. Customization could be wonderful withtransmogrification inHelldivers 2, but regardless its gear is less about stats and more about aesthetics anyhow. The sum of its parts is a terrific PvE experience that is always evolving, and yet where the game is most brilliantly effective is in its moment-to-moment immersion.
Helldivers 2makes each second either suspenseful or dramatic in some way when players have landed on a planet’s surface and begin scrambling toward their goals. Missions typically allot 30 minutes in length and some expeditions truly can take that entire duration if players are attentive in scouring each inch of an environment—much less if they’re overwhelmed and battered around by enemy hordes at any given turn. Rather, from the moment players boot upHelldivers 2to the moment they close it, they are wholly sustained in the game’s satirical galaxy and that goes a long way in makingHelldivers 2engaging at its core.
Helldivers 2 Creates a Holistic Community Through Progression
Orders Keep Helldivers 2 Cooperative
Progression is outlined loosely via personal and major ordersthat create a sense of community without players ever having to go out of their way to interact with one another if they don’t wish to. Orders have time limits in which players must complete them, but while personal orders only pertain to the player’s progression, major orders involve all players in a wholehearted effort to cleanse the galaxy and winHelldivers 2’s Galactic War.
Personal orders are often as simple as achieving a number of kills with a certain supply stratagem weapon or a number of a particular enemy type killed, for instance, whereas major orders usually involve full control over a number of planets by the time that the order expires. Both award a specific amount of medals each, though personal orders’ medals are awarded instantly when players complete their order and return to a ship while major orders’ medals aren’t awarded until the timer expires.
There’s no active incentive to be explicitly volunteering on planets where major orders are concerned, though these planets are commonly where a lot of players will be spending their time as a result, and byresponding to an SOSplayers are likely to be whisked there anyhow.
Some stratagems even require teamwork, which is obviously more oriented toward friends playing with one another so they can coordinate their actions accordingly. Thankfully, almost 100% of activities and mechanics inHelldivers 2can be accomplished bycommunicating nonverbally with players through highly informative pings.
There’s also a type of door with valuable supplies inside that needs two players to unlock it as well, reinforcing the idea of sticking together and completing objectives as a well-oiled machine. Therefore, it can always feel as if players are helping each other contribute to the spread of democracy and liberty since teamwork is naturally encouraged in gameplay with Reinforcements and other collaborative stratagems available inHelldivers 2.
Helldivers 2’s Lack of Menus Sells Its Immersion
Helldivers 2 Refuses to Take Players Out of the Action
Helldivers 2is arguably most successful because it never ceases to let up on its immersion, whether players are boots-down in an inhospitable landscape or safe aboard their personalized ship. As soon as players enter the game they see their character arrive onboard as well, stepping uneasily out of cryostasis and being met each time by two warm crew members.
From there, players who opted forSuper Citizen DLC contentcan decide to enjoy a mini-game of Stratagem Hero before seeing if there are any stratagems or ship mods they’d like to purchase with hard-earned XP and resources. Players can also stop to customize their gear and weapon loadout before eventually making their way to a holotable to select which planet and mission type they wish to embark on or simply respond to an SOS.
But gameplay doesn’t cut away from the player there, either; instead, players step into the footholds of one of four Hellpods before selecting their stratagem loadout, which is vital depending on what mission and enemy type players are confronting. A loading screen then ensues when the mission begins, but players are treated the whole time to an epic fanfare score as they watch their Hellpod—and the Hellpods of their teammates—descend into that distinct planet’s beautiful atmosphere.
Gameplay in Helldivers 2 is Full of Its Own Lovely Immersion
Gameplay resumes with Hellpods landing imminently on the planet’s surface and the lid ejects dramatically to release the Helldiver into play.Extracting is a similarly immersive process inHelldivers 2, where players get to watch the shuttle flee from the planet and take players back to the host’s ship, and leaves not even a single moment where players are taken out of the action. Especially when players are together aboard someone’s ship there are always moments of respite where they can relax and enjoy one another’s company:
Additionally, inputting a stratagem code, inspecting the mini-map, and examining order objectives don’t force a static menu on players and behave like in-game displays the player is looking at. This may not be unique toHelldivers 2as a design ethic, but without interpolative menus or long periods of inaction it’s magnificent to see how immersiveHelldivers 2is at any moment and it’s no wonder why players have embraced itshumorous solidarity efforts and civic dutywith fervor.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
