Helldivers 2 is a cooperative shooter that asks us to shoot down loads of gigantic beetles. Thanks to its high-quality mechanics, the game has set a record among Sony projects: 196 thousand players at the same time on Steam. In this article we will talk about the most interesting solutions in Helldivers 2 and list their obvious shortcomings.

Like the first Helldivers is a top-down shooter with an overhead view, the sequel is similar in appearance Weapons of war. But the essence of the game remains the same: we destroy aliens and robots on neighboring planets. The feel and atmosphere of Helldivers 2 is reminiscent of the 1997 cult film Starship Troopers.
Have you played the original Helldivers?
Fighting with crowds of opponents
Lately we’ve been getting fewer and fewer opportunities to fight hordes of enemies at the same time. In this respect, Helldivers 2 is reminiscent of old-fashioned meatshooters, where opponents were outnumbered, surrounded and attacked from all sides. To survive, you not only have to shoot accurately, but also take advantageous positions and retreat in time to regroup.

Shots tear apart aliens
Your hits on the enemy not only cause damage, but can also tear off a limb. Moreover, it will fly sideways according to all the laws of physics. Of course, this effect can hardly be called innovative. However, here the breakup is combined with a large number of opponents, as we discussed above. The result is that a machine gun burst or a shot from a rocket launcher tears dozens of beetles to pieces, flooding the battlefield with yellow blood.

Random map generation
Levels in Helldivers 2 are randomly generated. Therefore, the battle conditions, the location of useful items and places from which opponents will attack you are new every time. Thanks to this, you will not get tired of playing even after several dozen battles in a row.

Friendly fire is always on
There is no way to disable friendly fire in the game. In other words, an accidental hit on an ally can wound or even kill him. In other games we wouldn’t pay attention to this feature. But specifically in Helldivers 2, the fire density is higher than ever. Therefore, the possibility of hitting a teammate with a machine gun burst forces you to rearrange your tactics and coordinate shooting with other fighters.

And when you play online with random users, there is always the risk that among you there is someone who decides to shoot the whole team for his own pleasure.
Stratagems as special abilities
Stratagems in Helldivers 2 are unique abilities available to players. They are entered using special button combinations, such as cheat codes. These skills are an important part of the core mechanics and are gradually unlocked as you progress. With their help you can launch an airstrike, revive an ally, call in a gunner or simply replenish your ammo. To successfully complete the task, it is advisable to agree with your allies which strategy to use next. Over time, their effectiveness can be improved.

Ability to shoot from both third and first person
Switching between third- and first-person perspectives is not just a fun feature, but an important part of combat tactics. When the camera is placed on the main character’s back, you react faster to sudden attacks from alien insects. And by switching to eye view you can take precise shots with less recoil.

Humour
Helldivers 2 ironizes the theme of democracy and its values, which must be promoted with weapons in hand. And the destruction of aliens is accompanied by jokes and funny situations. For example, while firing a machine gun at aliens, your hunter may start laughing out loud with joy.

Global plot you can influence
The plot of the game is devoted to the confrontation between humans and aliens. The overall progress of the war is affected by every single battle involving living players. It is your victories and defeats that form the common front of hostilities. This concept has enormous potential that can be revealed in the future. But already at this stage it arouses interest and motivates to fight as best as possible.

Bet on co-op mode
Although Helldivers 2 can be played solo, it is specifically designed for co-op play. And today this is one of the best shooters for a group of friends. You will need to interact with each other, distribute resources wisely, and agree on the use of strategies. Moreover, you can participate in cooperative battles even if one of your friends is playing on PS5 and you are on PC, as the game supports cross-play.

Various opponents
Finally, it is worth noting that several enemies are noticeably different from each other. Some aliens can jump long distances, others can spit acid, and still others have such a powerful shell that only heavy weapons can penetrate it. Keep in mind that you’ll be fighting everyone at the same time, so your tactics will have to be adjusted on the fly.

Among the enemies are bosses with a huge supply of health and the ability to summon allies. In the later stages of the game you will be fought by robots that require an individual approach. In the future, the developers will likely add new types of opponents.
But don’t think that Helldivers 2 is a perfect game. It has a number of shortcomings, which we also decided to talk about.
Server problems
Unfortunately, not everyone can play comfortably. At the moment, the servers cannot handle the number of logins, causing frequent crashes and outages. The developers have already issued an official apology and stated that they are working to resolve the issue.

Not the most striking graphics
By modern standards, Helldivers 2 looks just about acceptable. The special effects are bright, but the overall look of the picture is made at budget level. It clearly lacks the polish of AAA games. This is especially noticeable when you look at the backgrounds and surroundings. We hope that the success of the second part will motivate publishers to allocate more money for the development of the threequel.

Controls tailored to gamepad
If you’re playing on PC with a keyboard and mouse, the controls in Helldivers 2 may cause you some discomfort, especially at first. The developers clearly focused on the DualSence gamepad, which is used on the PlayStation 5.

Have you played Helldivers 2 yet?
No PvP mode
According to Arrowhead studio director Johan Pilestedt, the game will never feature player-versus-player combat. Helldivers 2 has a different goal: general action against a global threat. However, in our opinion, PvP arenas would make the experience even more varied. Ideally, a special faction could be introduced that prevents humans from completing missions to destroy aliens.

In-game store
For many users, the presence of a virtual store with real money purchases causes irritation. Especially when it comes to a paid game. However, Helldivers 2 only sells cosmetic items that do not affect gameplay. Additionally, local premium currency can be obtained for successfully completing tasks.
Have you played Helldivers 2 yet? Share your impressions in the comments!
Source: VG Times