Helldivers 2 Review. Is it Worth It?

Updated:

12 Apr 2024

Helldivers 2 is the game I will be reviewing today and is one of the harder things to judge. As it is a live service game much more content is planned and patches every few weeks shake up the meta. So any statements or opinions I have should be placed under the present lens. Reading this in 2025 after a year of content will likely hold some differences. Nevertheless, this review will be unbiased and fair. Let's get into it!

About Helldivers 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD3pxbG9YYI&t=9s

Helldivers 2 - "The Fight for Freedom Begins " Launch Trailer | PS5 & PC Games

Helldivers 2 is a game that took the world by storm a couple of weeks ago and has only seemed to grow in popularity since. It is a sequel to the original game Helldivers that launched in 2015 but differs from its predecessor. Where Helldivers 1 was a twin-stick co-op shooter, Helldivers 2 was a third-person, over-the-shoulder, live service, looter shooter. Try saying that three times fast.

Helldivers 2 Story

Helldiver overlooking Ice planet

The story doesn't exist past killing anything that opposes Super Earth's Democracy. You, a helldiver, and your squadron clear planets of the insectoid creatures called Terminids and the Automatons. However, the story will progress over time through community activity. The story doesn't leave you much to think about but watching events unfold is something I wish more live service games attempted. Recently the community cleared a planet that had a Mech manufacturer on it. Saving that planet unlocked the ability to pilot mechs for all helldivers. I’d be intrigued to see what happens as the year progresses.

Helldivers 2 Gameplay

Automaton forces spawning in

When starting out there is no character creation and you start with the medium-weight armor class. There are no classes in the sense of brute or wizard since this is a sci-fi shooter, but armor classes do affect your passive bonuses. Basic stuff like light armor users are quicker, and stuff like that. The gameplay loop consists of completing planetary missions and going wherever democracy decides. There are boss encounters, wave clears, and extermination missions, among a few others. One way or another though, you will be dropping in killing, and then evacuating. All of this takes place across several planets with more to be unlocked and added as the helldivers operation spreads across the stars. The NPCs are funny caricatures of patriotism to a fault and did get me to laugh a few times. I would personally argue the level of replayability is not where I would like it to be but for $40 it is in a good enough spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8hK7r2Meys&t=16s&ab

Helldivers 2 - Official Gameplay Overview Trailer

Helldivers 2 Combat

Generally, combat revolves around your primary and secondary weapons and whatever stratagems you selected before the hellpods launched you from the ship. The combat is interactive and you have to play it safer than I had expected but you feel more engaged with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUaaT_k9Nv8&t=5s

Helldivers 2 - Bile Titan Liberation Gameplay | PS5 & PC Games

Helldivers 2 Quest/Mission System

The quests and missions are decided weekly for the most part but sometimes the community will affect the global checkpoint. Either unlocking new zones or losing control of one they previously had contained. As mentioned above a lot of the missions will be repeated, and that is a problem for me personally. If it is not a problem for you though then you will be right at home destroying automatons and eradicating insects.

Helldivers 2 Graphics

Helldivers standing on rocks

The graphics in the game are nothing short of phenomenal. Everything from cape physics to clambering up objects is crisp and looks amazing. They are on par with and often better than most AAA releases. There isn’t much to say in this field other than WOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22rg3bHqSVc&t=6s

Helldivers 2 - "A United Stand" Galactic War Trailer | PS5 & PC Games

Helldivers 2 Developer

Arrowhead Game Studios is the developer and it was published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PS5 and PC. There is new content roughly every couple weeks at the time of writing and it is unlocked through community progression in the solar system. The developers are deeply devoted to the community and actively play into the lore well. Just last week players (allegedly) began sighting flying terminids. The Developer claims these are not real and anyone saying they are is committing an act of treason against Super Earth and its forces. This is amazing. I love it when developers do ARG stuff like this that keeps people involved even in time away from the game.

Helldivers 2 Price

Helldivers 2 out of the box costs USD 40 and is free after that one-time purchase. You can choose to buy a battle pass for cosmetic items. Or you can outright buy some cosmetics for a few dollars. None of the pricing is anti-consumer like so many games tend to be, and there are NO pay-to-win micros.