I don’t usually find myself drawn to many cooperative shooter games, with exceptions like Left 4 Dead 2 or Back 4 Blood, so HELLDIVERS 2 came as a pleasant surprise to me.

I had only briefly come across information about the game a few weeks before its release (I wasn’t even aware of the original Helldivers), and while the concept of collaborating to defeat aliens isn’t entirely novel, HELLDIVERS 2 presents an intriguing take on the genre.

What immediately caught my attention was the game’s striking visual appeal, evoking fond memories of the Starship Trooper movie (in a positive sense). The environments are visually stunning, the graphics are remarkably realistic, and I particularly enjoyed the visceral satisfaction of watching limbs tear apart when dispatching those alien foes (referred to as Terminids in-game). It appears that the game not only looks impressive but also delivers on gameplay, as evidenced by its enthusiastic reception worldwide.

HELLDIVERS 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, is an online, third-person cooperative shooter where up to four players can join forces in a squad. While it is possible to play solo, the game’s in-game conditions do not dynamically adjust unless you manually alter the difficulty level, making solo play quite challenging. HELLDIVERS 2 truly shines when experienced with real friends who communicate via microphone, although teaming up with three online strangers can still provide an enjoyable experience.

In HELLDIVERS 2, successful gameplay hinges on effective communication and collaboration, particularly when tackling higher difficulty levels. This entails coordinating the selection of weapons and armaments among team members to ensure a cohesive strategy. The inclusion of specialized skills known as Stratagems, such as calling in air or orbital strikes, deploying defensive turrets, and more, adds layers of depth to the gameplay experience. However, it’s essential to communicate effectively to avoid overlapping the use of these skills, as they often have cooldown periods.

Venturing into higher difficulty settings not only intensifies the gameplay but also enhances the overall enjoyment by presenting greater challenges and opportunities for strategic thinking. Moreover, playing on higher difficulties results in accelerated experience and in-game currency acquisition, enabling players to unlock additional Stratagems and bolster their combat prowess more swiftly. This progression system further incentivizes players to tackle tougher missions and refine their teamwork skills to overcome increasingly formidable adversaries.

In HELLDIVERS 2, players have a plethora of items to unlock and in-game resources to gather, including medals for unlocking new weapons, emotes, and armors. Samples, another in-game currency, can be utilized to enhance specific resources and upgrade Stratagems. While these resources are finite and require time to acquire, focusing on upgrading only the most crucial items remains manageable.

The process of gathering resources doesn’t feel overly repetitive, and players can enhance their character’s armor, equipment, and skills while immersing themselves in the world of HELLDIVERS 2. Despite the presence of a Battlepass, there’s never a sense of obligation to spend real money to fully enjoy the game.

Combat in HELLDIVERS 2 delivers a deeply gratifying experience, attributed to its impressive graphics, character modeling, animations, effects, and outstanding weapon sound design. Each weapon discharge feels impactful, and witnessing enemy limbs being torn asunder by your firepower adds an extra layer of satisfaction.

The game incorporates certain mechanics that contribute to its challenge and realism, such as friendly fire and the necessity to refrain from reloading your weapon until it’s depleted to avoid wasting ammunition.

Playing HELLDIVERS 2 online often leads to exhilarating and tense moments, particularly when facing overwhelming enemy hordes, necessitating coordinated ammo management and mutual support among teammates. Amidst frantic battles, utilizing Stratagems presents an additional challenge, as executing them requires mastering key combinations (using the WASD keys), further intensifying the gameplay experience.

HELLDIVERS 2 Review Conclusion

HELLDIVERS 2 is a game that entices players to return time and again. While it may lack a compelling campaign or intricate storyline, and some may find it repetitive, HELLDIVERS 2 offers an exhilarating experience centered around cooperative alien and robot combat with friends or strangers. The game revolves around the enjoyment of shooting and earning upgrades, honing skills, and repeating the process. To truly grasp the essence of HELLDIVERS 2, one must immerse oneself in the gameplay.

Boasting stunning graphics, a diverse array of unlocks that avoid feeling tedious, and earning its place among the top cooperative shooter games of recent years, HELLDIVERS 2 stands out as a hidden gem. It delivers an engaging and challenging gameplay experience, particularly on higher difficulty settings, where its strengths truly shine.

Despite encountering a rocky start with connection issues and sporadic disconnections during gameplay, most of these technical hurdles have been successfully addressed. Priced at US$40, there are no barriers preventing players from diving into HELLDIVERS 2, with the promise of further updates to come.

Available now on the PS5 and PC, HELLDIVERS 2 beckons players to embark on thrilling cooperative adventures in its immersive sci-fi universe.