Helldivers 2 Review: Sharing Our Honest Experience

by  John Uke Last update: September 4, 2024

Helldivers 2 is an aesthetically pleasing and gameplay-addicting sci-fi game filled with militaristic pathos and satire taken to the point of absurdity. Picture yourself and three comrades embarking on a mission to liberate planets besieged by swarms of relentless bugs and deadly, precision-guided robots. Every landing unfolds like an intense scene from an Oscar-worthy epic, with heart-pounding action that rivals the pivotal moments of blockbuster films. 

In short, me and my friends from GameTree are excited about this game, and I want to share this excitement with you in this Helldivers 2 review. So, let’s start with the basics, and then I’ll share my opinion on why this game is so popular right now.

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General Info About The Helldivers 2 Game

The Helldivers 2 game is a cooperative third-person shooter developed by the Swedish company Arrowhead and published by Sony. You can now fight against alien bugs and techno robots, solo and with friends of up to 4 players. Playing against each type of enemy requires a different strategy and tactics. The developers will add a third party to the conflict in the future. The game is cross-platform and supports crossplay. You can choose matchmaking with players on PS5 or PS5 + PC. The Helldivers 2 price is $40, so it’s even cheaper than most games on the market. And it’s one of the factors that have made it so popular lately.

The Helldivers 2 Game Overview

Let’s start this Helldivers 2 review with the main thing: this is the MOST successful game that Sony has published on the Windows platform to date. The game became a real phenomenon and made a splash not only on Sony consoles but also on Steam. The game is currently in first place in sales on Steam for the 4th week in a row (from February 27 to March 5, 2024). This is clearly not the limit, as the game continues to spread actively through word of mouth. The developers admitted that they did not expect such huge success and attention to the game, and now they are actively recruiting people and completely revising the content roadmap.

Me, along with all my GameTree friends and friends of friends, collectively dropped out of life after this release. Honestly, I can’t recall the last time a game of this caliber emerged. To play the Helldivers 2 game, we effortlessly carve out free time in our schedules, join the voice chat on GameTree, and indulge in marathon gaming sessions every weekend until the break of dawn. Trust me, for an adult and married man, it’s a big deal.

Graphics, Design, And Art Style

I remember well the moment when, during the mission’s loading, we looked at the screen and saw how our Space Marines flew on capsules to land on the planet. We tried to understand what it was about this game that captivated us all, and after a short pause, one of my friends said, “This is just a game that is very nice to play.” After that, in the voice chat, everyone said “yes” at the same time. A bit touchy-feely, I know, but I wanted to share this in my Helldivers 2 review. 

Indeed, while this is not the first or only cooperative shooter on the market, it has very nice and stylish graphics, and the planets have different atmospheres and landscapes. The game also has a very detailed design of not only your infantrymen but also robots and bugs, as well as all the smallest details and effects, from cartridges flying out of your weapons to hits on enemies. Helldivers 2 has well-implemented shooting, the feeling of shooting, the weight of the gun, and the spread of bullets.

Atmosphere And Story

The Helldivers 2 game takes place in the future. We act as soldiers in the service of Super Earth, a space-faring human state that is waging a galactic war against alien enemies. Super Earth’s opponents are the Terminid bugs and bloodthirsty robots Automatons. The game deliberately imitates the aesthetics of the movie Starship Troopers by Paul Verhoeven, where militaristic pathos and anti-war satire combine. Hell divers “spread democracy” and kill giant bugs and robots on their own planets “in the name of freedom.”

Gameplay

The game has a galactic map showing planets captured by bugs and robots. Also, in real-time, we can observe what percentage of the planet is captured or liberated and how many players are currently in the sector. A fun fact: the galactic map is not just controlled by a script, but the developers monitor it and, as gamemasters, decide whether to complicate life for the players and make robots or bugs even more deadly. Therefore, the situation changes dynamically with the participation of the developers themselves.

Solo or in the company of friends, you choose a mission on the planet and select equipment and a landing point. The main goal in the Helldivers 2 game is to complete the main mission on a huge map, simultaneously combating enemies and completing side missions. Then, you need to get to the evacuation point and defend until transport arrives. In addition to the main weapons, in the process of upgrading your ship, you will unlock various auxiliary equipment, as well as air support, called stratagems. They come in 4 types:

• Rocket launchers, grenade launchers, etc.;
• Various turrets and mines;
• Airstrikes – dropping bombs, napalm, etc.;
• Support from your ship, which is in low orbit – various massive bombardments, an orbital laser, and other destructive support that operates over a huge area.

In the near future, the developers also promise to add various ground vehicles and new gear.

Frankly speaking, there is not much variety in tasks, but the Helldivers 2 gameplay is so exciting that it really doesn’t matter that much. Mission maps are usually very large, and in addition to the main task, there are also many secondary ones.

Available Game Modes

The game has only one game mode — performing various PvE missions solo or in a co-op of up to four people. Is Helldivers 2-player? The answer is basically yes. You can play the game with your friend and add two more random players to your team if you wish. Otherwise, you can find two more players at GameTree. There are no PvP or other game modes, and they are not planned at the moment.

Is Helldivers 2 Crossplay And Cross-Platform?

Yes, this action-packed game is cross-platform, and there is Helldivers 2 crossplay. You can choose only your platform or search for players on both PS5 and PC when matchmaking. The game looks perfect on both platforms, without any technical issues.

Game Experience On Different Platforms

The Helldivers 2 game looks great on both PS5 and PC. Half of my friends, like me, play on PS5, and some of them also play on PC. We didn’t have any problems connecting to one session from both platforms. Just choose the platform that is more convenient for you to play on. The first few weeks, there were problems with matchmaking, the servers couldn’t handle it, and it was simply impossible to enter the game sometimes. Yet, these problems have already been fixed, and the capacity of the servers has increased. Overall, there are no significant problems or differences between the platforms for Helldivers 2, the game is a great multiplayer for PS5 as well as PC users.

Things I Particularly Loved About Helldivers 2

I could just say that I LOVE this game and end this review. Yet, my editor told me I need to share some features, so, let’s do it.

The most important and fundamental thing for me is the chic and addictive Helldivers 2 gameplay, as well as the pleasant visual style and sound. I’m amazed by the attention to detail and high-resolution textures. Air support looks impressive – both various air strikes and orbital bombardment. When you call a napalm strike, it does not just spawn in the marked zone after a certain time. I see an aircraft approaching, which is drawn in detail, and it’s fantastic! In the same way, the orbital bombardment occurs from my ship, which is hanging in low orbit, and not just from nowhere in the sky.

There are many such little things in the Helldivers co-op game, and you will definitely make video cuts from your forays more than once and share them with friends or post on social media. I usually don’t often use video recording or screenshots, but I do in this game. After gaming sessions, we often share bright highlights and laugh together. Half of my console’s memory is filled with videos of funny moments from our games, and it’s heart-melting. 

I was also pleasantly surprised that, while doing side quests, I could find credits to buy weapons and skins that were actually in the store. You can easily get enough free credits to buy whatever you want. 

And one more thing… the hugs! You’ve probably already read about the hugging in other Helldivers 2 reviews, but honestly, it makes the game so cute!

Things I Didn’t Enjoy That Much

I can’t say that there are any things in the game that I didn’t like. The only drawback is that there may be technical problems with matchmaking, although most of them have been resolved. The game also needs a balance of guns and fixes to the armor. At the very beginning of the game, you can unlock the most powerful weapon, which is not expensive and has the highest damage. Thus, everything else is practically useless. Also, at the moment, there is no point in running in heavy or medium armor since it does not work. In my opinion, balance and lack of fresh content after almost a month of continuous play (the Helldivers 2 release date was February 8, 2024) are the only key issues the game has at the moment.

Looking For People Who Like Helldivers 2? Try GameTree

I am absolutely convinced that there is nothing better than playing Helldivers 2 with friends as it requires teamwork! If you don’t have gamer friends or they haven’t discovered this game yet, go to GameTree! This is an application for gamers where you can meet other fans of this game and agree to play together. GameTree has a fantastic community of people who are in love with games, and playing with them on the same team is a real pleasure.

The app is available for iOS and Android, and there is also a web version. In addition, GameTree has its own voice chat, which you will definitely need when playing Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2 Review Conclusion: Is The Game Worth Playing?

Definitely, and there’s nothing to add here in my Helldivers 2 review. You should not pass by if you like good action games and the opportunity to run around with friends. Helldivers 2 is one of the best games of 2024 and will definitely make itself known loudly more than once. If you have not yet launched the game, I highly recommend that you gather a team of friends or call someone from GameTree and enjoy the gameplay.