Lastly, a little bit greater than a yr and a half after launch, Helldivers 2 has come to Xbox, and those that nonetheless subscribe to The Home Halo Constructed can lastly drop into Hell with the remainder of us. Rather a lot has modified between now and once I first reviewed it, so this felt like a great time to reevaluate one in every of final yr’s largest (and most enduringly profitable) video games. So I fired up my Xbox and spent a number of hours serving up scorching cups of Liber-tea and bringing managed democracy to the galaxy. And you already know what? Helldivers 2 continues to be fairly nice – and there’s much more of it.
Earlier than I dive (get it? Do you get it?) into the modifications, it is perhaps a good suggestion to present the ol’ peepers a refresh of what I initially wrote:
Now and again, you second-guess a overview rating you’ve given after the mud has settled. That’s simply a part of the enterprise. However I’ve by no means doubted the 9 I awarded Helldivers 2 again in ‘24. I had an absolute blast, particularly with mates, and now that I’ve jumped again in after a while away, it shortly obtained its hooks in me once more as soon as I boarded the Elected Consultant of Household Values. What a ship. So, what’s new? Glad you requested, fellow residents of Tremendous Earth.
The Illuminate are Again, and They’re a Little Miffed
The most important addition since Helldivers 2’s launch is the Illuminate, a 3rd enemy faction that initially appeared within the unique Helldivers however have been conspicuously absent from Helldivers 2 at launch. The Tyranids Terminids and the Automations are nonetheless round, in fact, and you may nonetheless go on a bug hunt or go to House Vietnam if that’s your bag, however the Illuminate are one thing else fully. They’re technologically superior, armed with plasma weapons and starships, however additionally they convey the horrors with Conflict of the Worlds-type walkers and zombified former residents of Tremendous Earth generally known as the Voteless (Tremendous Earth propaganda by no means misses) and Fleshmobs, that are Frankenstein’s monster-esque fusions of a bunch of Voteless. For my cash, they’re harder than the Terminids and the Automatons, but in addition weirdly much less fascinating to struggle as a result of they drive you to play round their nastiness as a substitute of interacting withit. Nonetheless, we love us some selection, and it’s good that they’re again.
Helldivers 2’s Warbonds, Ranked
Helldivers 2’s Warbonds, Ranked
Began from the Backside, Now We’re Again on the Backside
The launch of the Xbox model of Helldivers 2 would possibly’ve appeared like a great time for Arrowhead to lastly implement cross-development throughout that and the PlayStation and PC variations, but it surely was to not be. In the event you choose to play on Xbox, you’ll be ranging from sq. one in case you make that swap. To be clear, cross-play has been there from the soar and now works throughout all three platforms, but it surely was a bummer to lose all my stuff once I switched platforms for the needs of this overview replace.
It’s additionally greater than a little bit overwhelming as a result of there’s simply much more right here. Extra enemies, extra missions, extra stuff to unlock. At launch I felt like I used to be easily eased in, since I used to be primarily compelled to take on the Terminids, stage up, after which struggle the Automatons. Lots of the people I performed with previously few days, a few of whom have been recent recruits, have been a little bit confused about how issues labored, as a result of regardless of all the brand new stuff Arrowhead has heaped onto Helldivers 2 to maintain the thriving group blissful, the tutorial hasn’t modified. It nonetheless doesn’t educate you find out how to swap your weapon’s hearth mode or scope magnification, and whereas there are extra tutorial pop-ups now, they’re truly extra annoying than useful.
The place Does He Get All These Great Toys?
However the enemies aren’t the one ones which have some new tech. At launch, there have been a pair Warbonds to unlock: One massive one which was free, and one other you needed to pay for. Spending medals you earned from finishing missions in a Warbond would permit you to unlock new weapons, armor, capes, actual cash forex, and so on. Now, there are over a dozen, and all however that unique one value actual cash forex to unlock. They value about $10 a pop, so you possibly can see how that’d add up fairly shortly. Now, you could find that actual cash forex on missions and earn it in different Warbonds, so that you technically don’t have to spend your money to get one other Warbond or two, however naturally grinding that out will take an extended, very long time. And the entire new Warbonds (every of which has a singular theme) could make it a little bit complicated for brand spanking new people who would possibly wish to know what to unlock first. My advice is to max out the free Warbond, after which look by means of them and choose one with stuff that speaks to your playstyle. In the event you actually have to select one, although, I’d suggest Democratic Detonations, which is simply good at all the things.
The upside of recent Warbonds is that there are a variety of new toys to play with. Mechs, automobiles, weapons, armor, chemical weapons for warfare crime lovers, and so on. There’s even a $15 Halo ODST-themed Warbond that was launched with the Xbox model, and I can’t lie, the stuff there appears fairly cool. It’s only a disgrace the entire goodies you possibly can truly use will both value you money or a complete lot of time. New gamers with out some huge cash to throw round are actually far behind.
It’s Nonetheless Very Buggy (Complimentary?)
Helldivers 2 has at all times had bugs – I imply, c’mon, the Legally Distinct Tyranids Terminids are proper there – however the Xbox launch has jogged my memory of simply how buggy Helldivers 2 is typically. I’ve seen lacking textures, kills being attributed to the incorrect individuals, objects floating in mid air, and so on. In all probability the funniest are the desync errors that had made my teammates see me slithering round on the bottom as a substitute of doing my regular manly operating, however yeah, within the grand scheme of issues Helldivers 2 at all times has been (and nonetheless is) fairly buggy. I don’t suppose it’s that massive of a deal as a result of as I stated I’m having a good time with it and the servers held up high-quality for me and my group, however it’s value declaring.
A Hell of a Time
In the event you’ve by no means skilled Helldivers 2 (otherwise you’re simply seeking to come again), there’s most likely by no means been a greater time to leap in than proper now. There’s a ton of recent gamers to squad up and study the ropes with, there’s extra content material than ever, and it’s nonetheless an absolute blast with mates. Going again to Helldivers 2 after a few months away jogged my memory of how a lot I find it irresistible, and it’s already labored its manner again into my common rotation. This recreation nonetheless guidelines, and even with its bugs and extreme Warbonds to purchase or grind by means of I can’t suggest it sufficient, particularly if you could find a devoted group. Now get on the market, soldier. Managed democracy ain’t gonna unfold itself.