Introduction

Helldivers 2 brings fresh air to the cooperative gaming genre with its blend of refined mechanics, enhanced player interaction, and a community-driven storyline. This sequel stands out for its enriched gameplay, offering a more immersive combat system that requires tactical prowess and strategic collaboration.

Our 15 Hours Gameplay Hell Divers 2 Review is HERE.

Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is a third-person CO-OP shooter for PS5 and Windows, releasing on February 8, 2024.

Gameplay Overview

Helldivers 2 isn’t changing for the worse, staying true to the chaotic co-op spirit of the original and moving its gameplay with modern over-the-shoulder third-person gunplay alongside deeper customization options. Players can switch between single, burst, and autofire modes, flashlight ON/OFF, firerates everything by holding the reload button, granting the player more precision and strategic decision-making in combat.

The game introduces an array of new Stratagems—powerful tools and weapons called in from orbit, including the Orbital Laser and the Tesla Tower, which add layers of tactical depth to the team-based battles. The inclusion of procedurally generated maps is great because every mission offers a unique challenge, with environments ranging from tropical jungles to lunar surfaces, providing more variety and forcing players to adapt their strategies to the planet and mission given​.

Game Masters

The innovation I am most excited about in Helldivers 2 is the introduction of live game-masters, who dynamically influence the course of missions in real-time, creating even more chaos and death among the Helldivers. This is a concept commonly known from tabletop gaming: these human game masters can tweak co-op fights, introducing unexpected elements such as additional Stratagems or modified mission parameters, enhancing the game’s replayability and unpredictability. This feature is designed to feel more like being on a battlefield than just slaying NPCs, offering a novel layer of interaction that distinguishes Helldivers 2 from other titles in the genre.

Weapons and Warbonds

We can look forward to a new, fantastic feature called Warbonds, which serves as the game’s version of a battle pass and to be honest, every single game should have this. Unlocking the Warbonds for free requires players to earn Super Credits through gameplay, yes you’ve heard right, just by PLAYING the game, with the estimated time ranging from 25 to 100 hours.

This variation depends largely on how efficiently players can gather these credits during their missions. Super Credits can be earned at a rate of 10-40 per hour, influenced by player efficiency, experience, and playstyle. The cost of Warbonds varies, with the first post-launch Warbond titled Steeled Veterans requiring 1,000 Super Credits for unlocking​​, which is the Realmoney Currency. So if you want, you can buy your Warbond BUT you do not have to!

Warbonds are described as containing multiple pages of unlockable content: weapons, skins, armor sets, cloaks, etc., offering a trove of items and cosmetics. There’s a clear emphasis that Warbonds are not designed as a pay-to-win or fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) driven system; all gear within Warbonds accumulates over time and earlier Warbonds remain available as new ones are released, allowing players to unlock them at their own pace. Additionally, the game features a Superstore, where players can use Super Credits to purchase individual armor sets that are regularly rotated. The intent behind this system is to balance the game’s development support with player enjoyment, making the progression feel reasonable and fair and they accomplished it.

Graphics and Audio

In Helldivers 2 the shift to a more immersive third-person perspective comes at a price. It not only enhances the gameplay experience but also significantly raises the bar for visual fidelity. This advancement necessitates a fairly robust system to fully appreciate the game’s graphical enhancements. While visually appealing, it could be demanding on your system. Animations are well done and feel natural; overall, the graphics in HellDivers2 are up-to-date.

The game’s audio design provides immersive soundscapes that enhance the overall experience. The emphasis on cooperative gameplay, strategic loadouts, and the dynamic use of Stratagems suggests a rich, engaging audio-visual experience that draws players into the chaos of a battlefield. Gunsounds are very satisfying, pairing well with the feedback you get while shooting. Dialogs and callouts from your Hell Diver are on point, giving you clues, for example, getting low on Ammo.

User Experience

Helldivers 2 has been designed with a focus on enhancing player control and the overall user interface to deliver a seamless gaming experience. It has been designed for both mouse and keyboard as well as controller.

The game transitions from being on the ship and choosing your mission to being on the planet and shooting, very well without the feeling of “loading in“ – it feels more like dropping on the planet. The interface is clean; you see everything important like mission details, ammo count, and health. While calling your airstrike or supply, there is a sequence that needs to be pressed in a certain order. It reminds me of the old GTA cheats with; up,up,down,left, etc. which can be stressful at times.

There are nine difficulty levels and a lot of challenges ahead. You can choose which difficulty you want to play, from trivial to helldivers.

HellDivers x HellDivers 2 comperison

• Perspective Shift:
  • “Helldivers 1” featured a top-down shooter perspective, while “Helldivers 2” has transitioned to a third-person shooter, offering a new viewpoint and gameplay experience​​​​.
• Gameplay Depth and Customization:
  • While both games focus on cooperative play, “Helldivers 2” introduces enhanced customization options and strategic depth, including the ability to switch between different fire modes (single, bburst, andautofire) and more detailed weapon and armor choices​​​​.
• Stratagems and Tactical Gameplay:
  • “Helldivers 2” expands the use of Stratagems, introducing new ones like the Orbital Laser and Tesla Tower. The method of deploying these powerful tactical aids remains similar, but with added variety and impact on gameplay​​​​.
• Game Masters Influence:
  • A unique addition to “Helldivers 2” is the role of human game masters who can dynamically alter co-op fights in real-time, adding buffs or debuffs to change the flow of battle, a feature not present in the first game​​.
• Enhanced Cooperative Experience:
  • “Helldivers 2” places a greater emphasis on weapons that require teamwork to operate effectively, reinforcing the cooperative spirit of the game. Friendly fire remains a critical aspect, adding to the challenge and requiring careful coordination among players​​.
• Procedurally Generated Maps:
  • While both games feature procedurally generated environments, “Helldivers 2” leverages this to create even more diverse and unpredictable mission scenarios, ensuring that each drop feels fresh and challenging​​.
• Galactic War and Community Engagement:
  • The sequel introduces the Galactic War concept on a broader scale, involving the entire player base in a unified effort against enemy forces. This includes community-wide objectives set by the in-game Game Master, enhancing the global cooperative experience​​.
• Cross-Platform Functionality:
  • “Helldivers 2” supports crossplay between PlayStation 5 and PC players, allowing for a more unified community and easier team formation across different platforms​​.

Conclusion

We marked 8.2.2024 while writing this, and at this time, I am very excited to play more of HellDivers 2. I’m having a blast clearing bug waves, exploring the map, and progressing in the game. Also I am curious to see how this Game Master innovation is going to unfold. From my side, it’s recommended!

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