Game Review: Helldivers II

I knew very little about the Helldivers franchise prior to the 2nd installment’s release in 2024.  When it did release however, there wasn’t an area of the internet you were able to avoid the topic of its conversation.  To look at the game’s success though, it’s important to understand it’s purpose as a PlayStation exclusive release.  Helldivers II was part of PlayStation’s push to tap into the live service market.  Tasking the developer Arrowhead with delivering an experience that would ideally bring a dedicated player base in to drive the game to a status of popularity similar to the likes of Fortnite or Call of Duty Warzone.  It’s a consolation in this case that Helldivers II delivered on this aspiration where games like Concord or The Last of Us Factions failed from the very start. With Jim Ryan no longer a part of PlayStation, it seems the drive to bank heavily into the live service market is thankfully wavering.  In the wake of that shift in direction, we can at least be thankful out of all of the failed projects it was Helldivers II that stood tall, because this game is honestly a real blast to play!

Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Helldivers II is a third person, co-operative shooting experience which tasks players with forming a squad to take on a bunch of alien enemies.  Serving as a sequel to the original Helldivers which released in 2015, Helldivers II showcased a much bolder shift in gameplay and visuals than its predecessor.  It was noted also that Arrowhead had a tough time in building the game as the primary game engine Autodesk Stingray was discontinued soon after development began on the game. Despite the difficulty the team faced though, the game proved to be a major critical and commercial success when it released on February 8th 2024 on both PlayStation 5 and PC simultaneously.  By the end of 2024 Helldivers II had amounted a massive number of accolades and awards, one such recognition being the fastest selling PlayStation title of all time which is incredible when you really think of the existing franchises it had to compete with.

The universe of Helldivers II takes place in the far future of the 22nd century.  The many nations of planet Earth have come together and formed a galactic democracy known as Super Earth.  In the wake of the success of the First Galactic War, humanity has prospered through the invention of FTL (Faster Than Light) travel which has allowed them to colonize and spread democracy across the known galaxy.  Their colonial success has hit a major hurdle however as a number of enemies of Super Earth have risen in defiance of the governing body. The first enemy force is the Terminids, a race of primal insectoid creatures which have infested a number of planets and are rapidly spreading.  The second race is the Automatons, a formation of bloodthirsty robots with the ability to rapidly manufacture infantry and capture human territory and strip it of its natural resources. The third enemy race are the Illuminate, an ancient alien race which the ability to enthrall and corrupt a large number of humans into their ranks.  Fighting multiple forces on many fronts, Super Earth declares a Second Galactic War and enlist the Helldivers, who are an elite military task force to deploy across the galaxy and push back the enemies and keep democracy safe.

The style and tone of the setting and narrative behind Helldivers 2 is delivered in a way which is equally funny but surprisingly compelling.  The game is heavily satirical in a way that pokes fun at the extreme end of ideas like patriotism and democracy.  It’s clear why this game has so many comparisons to Starship Troopers, as it’s setting, enemy and overall tone are very alike.  I love how there’s no standard storyline in this game either. As the gameplay primarily revolves around multiple runs on different planets, Arrowhead uses environmental storytelling to help build the foundation of this world.  Whether its ambient dialogue playing over the intercom, datapads you find while on patrol or news dispatches you receive direct to your feeds, there’s an incredible amount of effort to flesh this world out without the means of a conventional storyline format.  The fact that the game is able to poke fun at itself yet also imbue you with a sense of pride in the fight your taking part in is an incredible feat as it feels perfectly balanced.

What really drives the engagement of Helldivers II however is its gameplay.  The whole idea of the game is you deploy onto planets across the galaxy in a squad of four.  Mission types vary notably based on the planet or enemy race you go up against.  The primary format of the gameplay though is once you land on these sectioned areas, you are given a set of primary objectives and an allotted time to it in.  It’s then down to you and your team to explore the area, collect resources, complete any side objectives you find and kill any enemy that get’s in your way.  It’s a really smart way to deploy the gameplay as it gives the players all the freedom they want to complete missions in whatever fashion they wish.  The ultimate provision of this game is its freedom, it recognizes that the players will form their own fun by giving them the sandbox and tools to use to their own extent. I’ve lost countless amounts of hours with friends just messing about and getting into unprecedented situations and it’s honestly been the most fun I’ve had in an online game in ages.

The enemy factions and their overall designs and capabilities really stand out here too.  Whether it’s Terminids, Automatons or Illuminate, you’re going to be tested to the full extent of your ability by these factions and the troops they have at their disposal.  Dependent on the difficulty you’re playing on too, the game will introduce tougher enemy varieties into the match to really put you through your paces. The effort put into making each enemy race different to one another yet formidable in their own rights is really impressive as well.  Terminids while not equipped with much in terms of weaponry, can easily outnumber and overrun you with their vast numbers if you aren’t careful.  Automatons have the infantry and weaponry to really pulverize you if you’re not careful. The Illuminate have a good mix of both on that front, as they can overwhelm you with their enthralled troops but also utilize other equipment and soldiers to flank and push you out.  The distinct style and function behind these factions is well realized, but if you were to draw a complaint from me then it would be that I feel there’s room for more.  After so many hours the three factions do end up feeling quite repetitive and I feel there’s a great opportunity to support this game for a long duration if more enemy factions are added over time.

The way in which combat works in the game is also a really smart function.  Friendly fire is not a thing in this game and Helldivers II goes out of its way a lot of times to make you recognize how easy it is to kill yourselves if you aren’t coordinating or operating your equipment effectively.  The risk-reward aspect behind utilizing your stratagems to support your deployments is one of the most fun aspects behind the game too.  I love the idea that you can equip yourself with an entire plethora of gear and military equipment to help give you an edge in the firefights you find yourself in. I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve witnessed an enemy horde get pulverized when me and my team coordinate on artillery and rocket deployments.  The sheer variety of options available and the intricate upgrade path to unlocking more gear and stratagems is well designed to keep player engagement consistent over time.

From a visual and audio end, the game goes to a great effort to diversify its visual scope with the number of planets you can visit.  There’s a great number of biomes to explore throughout this galaxy and the density and scale behind them is worth recognizing.  The customization options behind your armor and equipment available to you is fleshed out very nicely.  Serving as the games format of battle passes, the War Bond packages each offer a unique theme and selection of gear to unlock.  It’s not deployed in a way that feels egregious either, obviously you can use real world money to buy these things, but it’s easy enough to earn currency to buy these bonds by just playing the game.  Wilbert Roget II deserves a lot of recognition for his compositional work on the games musical score also.  Wilbert has a lot of experience composing sci-fi games and that shows in this bombastic soundtrack which helps the player feel the pride of spreading democracy across the galaxy.

Helldivers II is one of the very few live service games which I think has captured that lightning in the bottle. It’s a rare case that it happens so it’s nice to see Arrowhead deliver on the co-operative setup so seamlessly.  The satirical styling, mixed with the easily addictive gameplay help give this game a truly unique impression that cannot be easily replicated.  I do wonder how much of a lifespan a game of this format has to it however, I think it will only last if the Arrowhead put the effort into maintaining it, which seems to be the case so far so here’s to many more years of spreading democracy across the galaxy!