The test version of Helldivers 2 is currently generating significant buzz due to several reasons. Firstly, its sales figures are impressive: with over one million copies sold in just three days, Sony and Arrowhead Studios’ game has achieved the strongest launch for a Sony title on Steam, surpassing the previous record held by God of War. This remarkable success was unexpected, even by Sony, who had not adequately prepared Microsoft’s Azure servers to handle such high player numbers from day one, resulting in crashes and connection issues during the initial days. However, since then, Sony has invested in additional resources to ensure players can continue enjoying the game together, including through cross-play functionality. Additionally, releasing Helldivers 2 simultaneously on PS5 and PC is another strategic advantage of the title.
HELL YEAH!
It is true that the idea of a shared war where everyone participates is evident from the start of the game, with the concept of a common campaign in which all players take part. Whether you are in your vessel or on the ground, you will see traces of your fellow soldiers, with debris from vehicles or equipment contributing to this overall sense of global conflict. While Helldivers 2 can be played solo, it is clearly in co-op multiplayer mode that the game fully realizes its potential. So, while you may enjoy completing missions alone, we recommend engaging in shared missions to experience just how much more enjoyable Helldivers 2 becomes when played with others, especially friends. The game has been designed with multiplayer confrontations and coordination in mind, particularly given the challenging difficulty levels. As you progress through the game, you will encounter increasingly numerous and formidable enemies. There are currently two factions: insects reminiscent of Starship Troopers and robots similar to Skynet’s Terminator series. Each faction deploys various enemy types that spawn rapidly everywhere and surround you. As your progression continues, you will face increasingly resilient creatures with armor that needs to be breached, often requiring the use of more powerful weapons or calling in direct reinforcements during battles.
The gameplay is indeed one of the game’s great qualities, as it is designed for team cooperation and maintains constant stress during battles. Our soldier can perform various actions: running, sprinting with a managed gauge, jumping over obstacles, diving, crawling, but everything is made to not make the player’s task easier. For instance, the sprint gauge depletes quickly, reloading weapons takes time, injecting stimulants to regain energy is necessary, and managing tactics that need to be learned and executed rapidly to avoid being overwhelmed is crucial.
Helldivers 2, a simultaneous release for PS5 and PC by Sony and Arrowhead Studios, has seen unprecedented success with over 1 million sales in just three days, surpassing previous records on Steam. The game’s unique selling point is its shared campaign concept where all players contribute to a common war effort, whether playing solo or in co-op multiplayer. Set in a global conflict against two factions— insectoid enemies and robotic foes resembling Terminators—Helldivers 2 features challenging gameplay that requires team cooperation and quick decision-making under pressure. Players control soldiers with various actions like running, jumping, diving, and crawling, all designed to maintain constant stress during battles as enemies become more resilient and numerous. Despite initial connection issues due to unexpected demand, Sony has since invested in server improvements for a seamless cross-play experience.
In this chaotic environment, the risk of friendly fire is high, meaning players can inadvertently harm their teammates if they are not careful. These incidents often lead to amusing situations, especially since reinforcements that drop from above can also cause collateral damage if they intersect with a player’s trajectory. Helldivers 2 is therefore a game that requires constant vigilance for both oneself and others, as weapons such as the bazooka need two soldiers to operate—one to aim and another to pull the trigger. The game offers numerous missions with various objectives, including destroying an insect nest, blowing up a forward base, holding a position, eliminating a formidable boss, or launching a rocket. Some missions can be completed in around ten minutes, while others may require more than an hour of focus. Since everything is procedurally generated, no two missions are alike, and the developers offer a diverse range of planets with different landscapes such as deserts, snowy terrains, day and night settings, each influencing gameplay. On cold planets, weapons heat up less but movement is slowed by snow; in sunny conditions, visibility decreases and weapon performance suffers. Consequently, players never experience the same mission twice, especially when playing with friends, which adds to the enjoyment of multiplayer sessions. Although the game’s mechanics might seem straightforward at first glance, it excels in its intricate details. Few multiplayer games demand such extensive cooperation for success, and this is likely the key factor behind Helldivers 2’s popularity.
In the end, there is only one genuine weakness in the game, its technical performance. While overall, Helldivers 2 is enjoyable to play, upon closer inspection, it does not fully leverage the PS5’s capabilities. Frankly, the game could run smoothly on early generations of PS4 consoles, but ultimately, this aspect matters less as the core strength of the game lies elsewhere—in its gameplay and in fostering a sense of community among players. The developers have committed to providing regular content updates to maintain player engagement, communicating frequently on social media about upcoming items, weapons, and new planets. Sony aims to expand its service games alongside single-player narrative experiences for which it is renowned, and with Helldivers 2, the company demonstrates that they are on the right track. After all, anything is possible…
