Helldivers 2
Spreading ‘managed democracy’ across the galaxy, this online co-op shooter is unpretentiously old-school yet fresh, exciting and hilarious
“Jeez, whose idea was it to wear fully body armour AND black cloaks in the desert?”
“Have a nice country walk, they said. You’ll feel much more relaxed, they said.”
Here’s something new: an online third-person shooter where you select a spot on the map to dive down to, but when you get there the goal isn’t to kill everyone. Helldivers 2 is about working with your team of caped warriors to exterminate the endless invasion of space bugs and killer robots running rampant in the galaxy.
If it all sounds a bit Starship Troopers, wait until you see the opening propaganda recruitment video; but as with that satirical sci-fi blockbuster, there’s more to this game than just brainlessly blasting bugs (although that is highly satisfying).
Everything is deliberate in its design. You can’t just run and gun, as it messes with your accuracy. Respawning a teammate, dropping in a more powerful weapon or even calling an airstrike leaves you vulnerable since you have to input code sequences quickly and correctly. And once a mission objective is complete, there’s still the tension of making it back to the extraction zone then holding off the final onslaught without accidentally blowing off anyone’s head. Ah yes, did I mention that friendly fire is always on?
It’s all the potential chaos, as you’re suddenly ambushed by bugs or a squaddie runs past your crosshairs in the heat of battle, that makes Helldivers 2 so exhilarating. Getting out alive has you punching the air, while moments that go wildly wrong aren’t met with frustration but with laughter… before you dive back in for another go.
Success earns you credits allowing you to buy new tools, from different loadout weapons to auto-turrets, long-range rifles, and even a death ray. Yes, there’s monetisation, but it’s limited to cosmetics and stays unintrusive, especially when you can unlock a range of stuff for customising your look. It’s a fine example of how to do live-service.
You might go in thinking this shooter is young, dumb and full of fun, but it’s a far more complex beast than it appears.
Alan Wen
STUFF SAYS This unpredictable game is riotous fun and a lot smarter than it looks ★★★★✩