Hell Doesn't Seem So Bad: Helldivers 2 Review
Helldivers II is a prime example of a good live service game. So, learn about why it is like that and why I love this game.
Helldivers II is a prime example of a good live service game. Its developers are responsive, responsible, and transparent, and the game itself is also fun and functional. These, coming from a relatively small studio that used a discontinued game engine and took more than 7 years to create Helldivers II, puts many modern games to shame.
I honestly can’t find any glaring negatives on this game yet, so this review may sound a bit biased. Still, I’ll post this because I believe my experience is not viewed through rose-tinted glasses.
Optimization
Helldivers II runs extremely smoothly for the amount of stuff going on the screen while playing. This is even more impressive considering you are playing with other players; most of the time. Playing co-op means that the server will have to synchronize your experiences as well as generate instances on different areas of the map at the same time.
There might be one or two minor stutters during intense battles. This is due to the amount of explosions and debris flying around, but the stutters are most likely due to my processor being less powerful than recommended.
I have seen some players encounter various visual and gameplay bugs but I haven’t seen it as a widespread experience Personally, I haven’t encountered any bugs; aside from Terminids, at all.
My RTX 2060 graphics card also operates at around 70°C with a power usage of approximately 70% on a Low-Medium Graphic Setting, 60 FPS Frame Limit, and Quality Render Scale. This is honestly magical to me because I don't think I've played any game on par with or larger than Helldivers II, and released after 2022, that doesn't push my GPU above 80°C with the same graphic settings.
Settings
Graphics
You can change a lot in the Graphics setting of Helldivers II such as shadows, lighting, volumetric fog, texture, and render distance. Even better, there are many levels in each of these as well with most having 3 but some having 4 or even 5.
Under the Display setting, you can also freely adjust the FPS limit and Render Scale if you want lower GPU temps or higher base FPS. The Render Scale has 8 options: Ultra Performance, Performance, Balanced, Quality, Ultra Quality, Native, Supersampling, and Ultra Supersampling.
The range of setting options allows you to optimize your game while carefully adjusting which part of the graphics you want less or more quality. For a person who does not have a high-end PC, this is very accommodating and user-friendly.
Audio
Much like other modern games, Helldivers II lets you switch the Audio Device preset according to your device: Home Cinema, TV Speakers, Soundbar, or Headphones.
You can adjust the Master Volume, Music Volume, Dialogue Volume, Sound Effects Volume, and Voice Chat Volume. There is also the Midnight Mode setting that lets you adjust the dynamic range of the audio.
While the audio settings are a bit limited, there isn’t much to adjust in the game if you think about it. All the sounds you will mainly hear are the explosions, gunshots, NPC barks, cutscene dialogue, and your voice comms.
So, there is no need to have an in-depth audio setting.
Accessibility
Helldivers II also has accessibility options. These are more limited than those in AAA games that let you turn on color-blind mode, automatic actions, and adjust the HUD scale to name a few. What Helldivers II has under its Accessibility setting are Text Language, Speech Language, Subtitle Mode, Subtitle Size, Reticle Color, Reticle Outline, Text-to-speech, and Speech-to-text.
These are still a lot of Accessibility setting options, so it’s not like they didn’t try. At the very least, I would love it if they added a Color Blind mode; one similar to Apex Legends’ color blind mode that lets you choose from Tritanopia, Protanopia, and Deuteranopia.
Design
Since we are now talking about how the game looks, let us dive deeper into the game’s Level and World design.
Level and World Design
Helldivers II consists of missions held on planets we are either defending or invading. Before every mission, you start inside your ship with a wide view of outer space and the surface of a planet. You can also find other ships of Super Earth tasked with the same mission as you.
The ship’s interior is detailed and the view of the planet, stars, and other ships helps make sense of the enormity of everything else compared to you.
Starting the mission has you dropping in using your Hellpods which is just ridiculous and unrealistic but who cares? It’s hella cool.
Anyway, the level designs vary a lot since missions take place on different planets. This means the themes, structures, plants, and creatures – or sometimes lack thereof – are very different as well.
Some planets have lots of vegetation and water, while others don't. Some have colorful lights, while some don't. Some are filled with smog, while others aren't. And some have different colors in the night sky.
These affect your gameplay as there may be plants or landmines that explode in contact, random shrubs and bodies of water that slow you down, and many more.
Overall, the designs fit well with the theme of the planet. They also serve a purpose aside from aesthetic value.
Graphics and Visuals
I have already pointed out how the general design of the world and levels are excellent in improving the gameplay, so let’s move on to how pretty Helldivers II actually looks.
The visuals are stunning, from close-ups to vast sceneries. From the details of your helmet and cape to the stars and the planet’s surface, you will appreciate its looks.
Even the view from the ship itself, without the action and close-up details of the planet's environment, is breathtaking. You can really feel how huge the place is that you're about to explore, especially when you realize how tiny you are in comparison.
Your ship also adjusts its position as you prepare to drop into the planet, aligning with the mission location on the planet.
Once on the planet, things just get better.
Looking over the horizon, the sky visuals are impressive. The way the sunlight or other light sources cascade across the sky's colors is beautifully done. The way the stones, dust, mountains, trees, shrubs, and leaves paint a very dreadful wasteland or a lush forest is incredible.
Everything looks picturesque.
HUD
I'm not sure where to put the Heads-up Display, but it feels like it belongs under design.
The HUD could use some improvement. By default, it's quite intrusive and confusing. While some features appear and disappear as needed, taking photos with the HUD on is a nightmare.
Switching everything to Dynamic and Hidden helps clean up the cluttered appearance. However, I think they could improve it further by increasing the opacity or making other HUD elements dynamic too.
I also hope they add a true first-person view, not just when aiming down the gun sights. A diegetic design for the HUD would be great too. Adding dirt, surface imperfections, and muffled breathing sounds under the mask would enhance immersion even more.
Audio and Soundtrack
The sound design is fantastic. Every sound you hear captures the weight and intensity of the gunfire, explosion, or collision of bodies and debris. I, however, would love it if the gunshots were a little bit more meaty or metallic.
Aside from the sounds made from interacting with the environment, the music that accompanies your exploration and combat sets the tone perfectly. Hearing A Cup Of Liber-Tea gets me and my friends hyped even before we start the mission.
Gameplay
Finally, let us get to the gameplay of Helldivers II.
Progression
In terms of in-game progression, it's quite satisfying. Whether playing local missions with friend groups or joining random online members, liberating areas surrounding Super Earth to win the Galactic War is incredibly exciting.
Weaponry, Armory, Character, Boosters, and Career
Personal in-game progression involves expanding your weaponry, armory, character cosmetics, boosters, career stats, and Warbonds. Weaponry includes primary weapons (29 unlockables), secondary weapons (8), and grenades (10).
Armory consists of armor (71), helmets (93), and capes (46). Under Character, you can customize your body type, voice pack, emote, victory pose, player card, and title.
Warbonds
Warbonds act like Game Passes, where you spend medals earned from completing missions to unlock items in weaponry, armory, character cosmetics, and boosters. There are two types of Warbonds: Helldivers Mobilize (Standard) and Steeled Veterans (Premium). While you can progress and acquire everything for free, Steeled Veterans require additional currency for unlocking.
Warbonds are accessible in the Acquisition Center, along with the Superstore and Super Credits store. The Superstore offers at least four items that refresh every 24 hours, which can be unlocked using Super Credits. Super Credits can be purchased with real money.
To unlock the Premium Warbond, you also need to spend Super Credits. Super Credits can also be acquired by purchasing them from the Regular Warbond.
Ship Management
You can also manage your ship on a computer. The menu is called Ship Management where you can edit the Destroyer (your ship), Stratagems, and Ship Module.
Destroyer
The Destroyer tab displays your Ship Progression, Ship Name, and Ship Log. The Ship Module unlocks upgrades for your Stratagems.
Stratagems
You can unlock Stratagems, which are support systems provided by your ship during missions. There are offensive and defensive Stratagems, categorized based on which facility within your ship provides them. These are the: Patriotic Administration Center, Orbital Cannons, Hangar, Bridge, Engineering Bay, and Robotics Workshop.
Ship Module
Aside from the Destroy and Stratagems, you can also upgrade Stratagems by unlocking Ship Modules. Ship Modules give different boosts such as shorter cooldown timers, faster deployments, increased effectiveness of Stratagems, and more.
The variety of Stratagems and upgrades available, apart from primary, secondary, and throwable weapons, ensures a diverse playstyle for players to choose from. Whether opting for a personalized character setup that aligns with their personality or focusing on maximizing capabilities to efficiently combat robots and bugs, players have the flexibility to tailor their experience to their preferences.
Personally, I enjoy bringing at least one "guard dog" and a couple of orbital strikes so I can safely complete missions alone. Having orbital strikes lets me clear out groups of enemies or take down buildings whenever needed, while the “guard dog” assists me I don’t need the bigger guns.
Combat
Combat is intense and gritty. As listed before, you have tons of equipment to choose and use from. You have limited magazines and reloading with spare ammo in your active magazine means throwing it away. Ammo and Grenades need to be refilled via Supply packs.
The basic controls are fairly intuitive, you move with the WASD keys and shoot with your left mouse button. To swap between weapons you either scroll up or down using the middle mouse button or press any number from 1 to 4. To use Stratagems, you will need to press Ctrl and press WASD in a series according to the shown directions.
Depending on the difficulty, combat can be a mindless shoot ’em-up experience or an intense battle for your life.
Difficulty
On Easy difficulty, combat feels pretty mild and casual. However, it ramps up significantly on the next level.
The difficulty gap between Easy and Medium can catch some players off guard, but personally, I enjoy the sense of challenge and the harsh reality of war it presents. Players can opt for Easy mode for a more relaxed experience or challenge themselves with harder difficulties.
To give you a sneak peek, Medium difficulty introduces more enemies with higher HP and stronger weapons. There are also more enemy types with shields or armor that need to be penetrated with higher caliber weapons, or shot from the back if you can maneuver quickly enough.
Against larger groups, you will have to bait them toward narrow spaces to provide yourself with better footing and positioning. This also lets you efficiently mow them down using high fire-rate weaponry, blast them with explosives, or crush them with orbital strikes.
This is only possible thanks to the clever level design and enemy AI.
Exploration
Aside from the level design that gives you opportunities for clever outplays and strategizing, the larger semi-open world design of Helldivers II also begs to be explored and discovered.
You'll discover various points of interest, ranging from side missions and collectibles to ammo and weapons. Collectibles include Requisition Slips, Medals, Super Credits, and Samples; things that advance your Warbond and upgrade Stratagems.
As mentioned earlier, different planets feature different landscapes, ranging from rocky mountains and empty deserts to lush forests and barren wastelands.
Almost everything in the environment can also be destroyed, from trees and rocks to buildings and outpost fences. Even the ground caves in when explosives like grenades or orbital strikes are used.
Exploring the game world feels really well thought out. It gives you a breather between intense combat encounters at main points of interest. Still, the open world exploration is not completely safe. Wandering enemy units can pop up anytime and if you don’t kill them quickly enough, they will call for backup.
So, planning which objectives to complete first and route to the evacuation site is crucial since you are also fighting against time. If you're lucky, playing with friends or good randoms can help you cover different areas of the map simultaneously and make completing missions easier.
Multiplayer and Coop
While playing solo is doable, hell diving with friends is highly recommended. Playing solo can be tedious and dull, but if that's really your preference then go for it.
However, there is also a downside to engaging in coop and multiplayer. Playing with randoms from the community can be hit-or-miss. Despite efforts from community managers, designers, and notable community members, there are still griefers or unhelpful teammates that can ruin your experience.
Some of them may steal your supplies, commit friendly fire, or refuse to use revives. This isn't necessarily a problem by the developers and designers but more of a problem created by the players themselves.
Regardless, don’t let this hinder you from trying to find fellow good Helldivers and enjoy the game to its fullest.
Hell doesn’t seem so Bad
All in all, Helldivers II is a very fun game that is recommended to be played with friends. It is intense and grindy, but allows for various levels of play depending on the players’ skill, experience, and preference.
There is a great variety in its level design and gameplay features that things rarely feel stale and boring. Still, the repetitive nature can be there but this can be attributed to long hours of play without really trying to enjoy it.
While you may want to grind out loot and equipment as fast as you can, I suggest taking your time and enjoying Helldivers II without the pressure of “catching up” to the higher-level players.
The game is mainly action with a little bit of exploration, so don’t expect too much in its story. Community building and creating mutual trust with your fellow Helldivers is important, so please practice good etiquette by avoiding friendly fires and accidental kills.
I am 26 hours in Helldivers II as of posting, and I intend to helldive even more to fight for Democracy!