Helldivers 2 has been out for over a yr now, and gamers are returning to one in every of its most notorious sectors to carry out towards a renewed invasion effort from the Automatons. In doing so, although, a brand new line has been fashioned, and Helldivers round the world are holding out towards unbelievable odds to rebuff the bots.
For many who do not dive, the Automatons are one in every of the enemy factions in Helldivers 2; terrifying, Skynet-esque machines who performed a central function in the massive in-game battle a yr in the past. The invasion wound up centering round Malevelon Creek, whose jungle environments and lethal hail of laser fireplace led to its nickname of “Robotic Vietnam.” Helldivers 2 gamers fought arduous, misplaced the planet, then liberated it in a harrowing turnaround.
The Creek grew to become legend in the Helldivers neighborhood, with a cape commemorating the victory getting despatched out to gamers. Now, a yr later, the Automatons are again with extra firepower and intent on re-taking the Creek. The Main Order went out: Defend Malevelon Creek, by any means essential.
Helldivers 2 gamers began dropping into zones round the Sevrin Sector, the space of the galactic map the place Malevelon Creek lies, to form a defensive line of planets. 4 planets — Vandalon IV, Ingmar, Pöpli IX, and Dolph — created a barrier between the invading Automatons and the path to the Creek. And Pöpli IX has been hit arduous.
“What did I miss?” requested (*2*), noting the sheer chaos erupting on Pöpli IX. As of this morning, the planet was at invasion stage 40. The Automatons have been dropping in each the Incineration Corps (particular models utilizing flame throwers and incendiary ammo) and the Jet Brigade (specialised Bounce Pack fashions). Ammo from resupply pods was decreased to 50%, after which cryo-good transports have been interrupted, reducing reinforcements (respawns) to 3 for all operations on Pöpli IX.
Briefly, Pöpli IX had the whole lot thrown at it. As one player put it, “by defending one legendary planet, we have created one other one.” But that is the enjoyable half: Arrowhead is throwing the whole lot however the kitchen sink at Pöpli IX, and gamers are loving it.
“I’ve been enjoying since launch, however one thing about the combat for Pöpli IX hits totally different,” one thread said. “Two bot subfactions clashing at as soon as? Absolute chaos. There’s an actual sense of stakes and attrition — like the entrance line is continually shifting, however the whole lot nonetheless feels determined. It’s not simply one other mission, it really looks like a warfare.”
The sluggish escalation of forces over time elicits an fascinating dilemma for Helldivers, who discover themselves backed additional and additional right into a nook, holding out towards the worst odds. Players have been responding, diving into the new battle traces to try to maintain out.
Pöpli IX has additionally seen Arrowhead’s techniques play properly with participant enter. As the bots neared victory with an hour left, gamers managed to implement the DSS Eagle Storm. This gave Helldivers a chance; the bot frontline couldn’t advance for twenty-four hours, giving gamers an opportunity to swing the planet again.
That swing, and the ensuing ammo and respawn restrictions, simply constructed up extra pleasure round holding the line at Pöpli IX. A number of sub-factions, limitations, and a excessive enemy invasion stage has led to drops on Pöpli IX being intense. Oh, I forgot to say: there are intense warmth warnings and fireplace tornadoes.
It seemed like Malevelon Creek was due for one more legendary battle, however as a substitute, the focus has shifted, and a brand new second has sprung up from this invasion.
“It was the neighborhood that made malevolen creek the legend that it’s as we speak,” one poster mentioned. “And I consider Pöpli IX deserves comparable standing.” I am personally inclined to agree with them.
There’s nonetheless, as of this writing, in the future and just below 20 hours till the Main Order ends. The bots may nonetheless throw much more at the sector, attempting to interrupt by means of the player-built line and push in direction of the Creek. Both approach, it looks like we have seen a brand new Helldivers legend kind proper in entrance of our eyes.
Eric is a contract author for IGN.