Summary
Released in March 2015, the firstHelldiverswas a top-down co-op shooter that earned some impressive critical scores, landing it at an 83 on Metacritic. With a satirical Sci-Fi plot ina similar vein toStarship Troopers, some chaotically satisfying co-op gameplay, and an endless amount of replayability, the firstHelldiverswas well-deserving of its success. Nevertheless, its recently released sequel,Helldivers 2, blows it out of the water.
Taking its predecessor’s general gameplay structure and narrative backbone,Helldivers 2gives the series a modernized third-person shooter overhaul, along with the introduction of a live-service model. Still one of the most controversial elements of modern gaming, the live-service model has often resulted in the release of half-baked cash-grabs that receive minimal support after launch, but at the same time it’s also produced some of the most successful, long-running games of all time. Thankfully,Helldivers 2looks like it’s on track to be part of the latter camp.
Helldivers 2 Should Keep Taking Live-Service Slow
Helldivers 2’s Live-Service Loop Is Working Very Well
It’s all too often thata live-service game will fail to meet expectations. Whether it’s an unfinished story, a lack of compelling progression systems, a lack of post-launch support, or a mix of them all, many live-service games are doomed to fail from the get-go, and with the amount of effort that’s required to keep them going for the long haul, many end up being shut down mere months after their initial release. But every so often, a live-service game comes out and proves that the model can not only work, but actually benefits the type of story and gameplay that the developer is going for.Helldivers 2is the perfect example of that.
From the get-go,Helldivers 2offered an impressive amount of content.Helldivers 2came packaged with two major enemy factions, each coming with their own set of unique unit types and requiring different strategies to take down.Helldivers 2also offers a robust set of progression systems, from unlockable weapons toStrategems to Ship Modules, the vast majority of which have a substantial purpose during gameplay, and feel genuinely satisfying to unlock.
But having enough content on day one is just the start for a live-service game. Thanks togames likeFortniteandCall of Duty: Warzone, players now expect any live-service game to receive frequent updates and content drops, andHelldivers 2seems to be knocking it out of the park in this regard. In the last few months since launch,Helldivers 2has added new Strategems, weapons, Warbonds, and enemy types on a fairly regular basis, all of which have been successful in convincing players to stick around. On top of this,Helldivers 2’s general premise of an ever-evolving galactic war that sees players fight to control planets is a masterful integration of the live-service model, encouraging players to keep returning day after day to help conquer the galaxy.
Helldivers 2’s First Big Expansion Can Wait in the Wings
Helldivers 2seems to be thriving on its current live-service model, with a recent Bloomberg report suggesting that the game has sold at least 8 million copies so far. As things stand,theHelldivers 2player-baseseems more than satisfied with the amount of content currently in the game, and the pace at which new content is being added, meaning that there might not be a need for any kind of major expansion anytime soon.
With the Automatons fighting desperately to take back their home planet, rumors have started circulating that a new enemy faction, the Illuminate, could be introduced very soon, but it might be better ifHelldivers 2developer Arrowheadholds off on that. Rather than release a new faction or any kind of major expansion imminently, while players are still satisfied with the current pace of content,Helldivers 2should save that big content drop for when it’s really needed, when the initial hype surrounding the game eventually starts to die down.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
