Helldivers 2: What is this action game that became a hit on Steam?

In March 2015, independent studio Arrowhead Game Studios released Helldivers. Hidden behind this name is a cooperative action game with an “overhead” perspective, inspired by some cult science fiction films of the 90s. Starship Troopers and Terminator. Although success was not immediate, the game developed a loyal community over time. well-oiled cooperative mechanics, challenging difficulty and epic action stages.

Eight years later, Arrowhead decided to return to the spotlight with a proper sequel with a serious name. Hell Variety 2. For this second installment, the studio was able to achieve its goals thanks to Sony’s support. The program has a brand new graphics engine and most importantly An unexpected switch to TPSi.e. 3rd person view.

This second title, which was released on PC and PlayStation 5 on February 8, 2024, is already meeting A surprising shot. As proof of this, Helldivers 2 was almost put together 156,000 players It was released on Steam in its first weekend, according to SteamDB, making it the best debut for a game published by PlayStation on PC (a port of God of War held that title until then). So how can we explain this madness?

Helldivers 2: a simple formula but extremely effective

At first glance, Helldivers 2 looks like any other 3rd person cooperative action game. In fact, this is the case due to its structure. In randomly generated levels, up to 4 players will need to join forces to fight against relentless waves of enemies and complete various objectives before embarking on an extraction.

What distinguishes Helldivers 2 from others is, of course, its form and gameplay mechanics. Let’s say, Switching to 3rd person was the best idea the developers could think of. The conflicts, which were already intense in the first work, have never been this magnificent and epic. we feel feeling guilty about cutting insects (looks like two drops of water to arachnids) Starship Troopers) with heavy shooting from an assault rifle and heavy machine gun.

It is necessary to add the feature of the license to this: strategies. To summarize, any Helldiver can request support from his orbiting ship. Once you’ve completed a series of key combinations (which adds a little extra stress when you’re overwhelmed), players will be able to get some support from space.

The list of available tactics is at arm’s length. It ranges from classic replenishment to resurrecting a fallen friend, including the delivery of a heavy machine gun or a sniper rifle with explosive bullets. We can also give these disgusting creatures hell. orbital strikes or air strikesThis turns the battlefield into a happy mess. But watch out for your teammates as you’re about to destroy half the map! And yes, friendly fire is an integral part of the Helldivers 2 experience. After robots and spiders, your teammates will be your worst enemies! In the heat of the moment, it wouldn’t be uncommon for you to accidentally pop your partner. Enough to trigger big laughs during your sessions.

Note that controller feel in the hand is excellent on PS5, thanks to full support for DualSense’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The guns have fishing properties, have recoil, and have their own identity (rate of fire, power, sound, etc.). Although the controls are classic, they offer a wide range of movements. For example, while sprinting, you can dive to the ground to reduce the recoil of your blaster or avoid a nasty claw swipe.

An experience that can still be improved

Helldivers 2 is incredibly fun with others. We also recommend playing with two or three friends in these conditions. On the other hand, if lone player is allergic to social interactions (you can always join strangers through the matchmaking system), We do not recommend the Arrowhead title.

Frankly, the game loses all its appeal and solo atmosphere, as well as severely limiting your progress. Because, Don’t expect to go any further than Easy or Medium difficulty (and again) as a lone wolf. Your servant has tried and confirmed for you: we are really bored aloneAs well as fighting a multitude of enemies like never before for a single soldier. We’d appreciate the possibility of leaving with AI-controlled teammates, but unfortunately that’s not the case.

In terms of other noticeable flaws, This launch period is filled with many crashes and rendering errors. Matchmaking is also far from perfect, with occasional disconnections and the inability to join quick games. Playing with crossplay enabled (PS5 and PC players can play together) is a bit like Russian roulette. During our sessions on PS5, a friend on PC disconnected 6 times… during the same mission. Fortunately, developers are working to fix these teething problems.