Surviving Helldivers 2: A Bug’s Worst Nightmare
The Squad’s First Showdown with the Bile Titan
Our first clash with the Bile Titan was nothing short of disastrous. Deployed into an area crawling with Terminids—Helldivers 2’s relentless insectoid foes—we were decimated before we even saw the monstrous creature. As we attempted to retreat, we unwittingly found ourselves directly in its path—a towering, acid-spewing behemoth that overshadowed anything we’d encountered before. It loomed over us, a living nightmare of exoskeleton and venom. We unleashed everything in our arsenal—bullets, airstrikes, orbital bombardments, grenades—along with a heavy dose of luck. Miraculously, we managed to bring the beast down and evacuate the entire squad just as our position was about to be overwhelmed. “We actually made it,” one teammate muttered in disbelief. “Barely,” I responded. “Ready for another mission?” And so, dear reader, we continued playing well into the night.
The Core of the Helldivers 2 Experience
This is what Helldivers 2 is all about—chaotic, exhilarating, and unrelenting, whether you’re diving in solo, teaming up with strangers, or leading your friends across the galaxy. Like many games of its kind, Helldivers 2 shines brightest when played with friends. The game offers a variety of missions, an extensive collection of weapons, emotes, armor, and abilities to unlock, as well as expansive campaigns against the Terminids and Automatons (a robotic foe that feels like a cross between terminators and mechs) that you battle in the name of Managed Democracy. Helldivers 2 is packed with humor, close calls, and pure, unfiltered fun that keeps you coming back. After over 40 hours since launch, I’m still drawn to the thrill of exploring new worlds, encountering bizarre alien life forms, and eradicating them for the glory of Super Earth.
Jumping Straight into the Fray
Helldivers 2 wastes no time in throwing you into the thick of things. After an absurdly hilarious piece of propaganda (which you’re obliged to watch—anything else would be treason) detailing Super Earth’s struggle against the robotic Automatons and the “definitely-not-Starship-Troopers-bugs” Terminids, you’re thrust into basic training. Your instructor, who claims to be hard to impress, quickly informs you how impressed he is by your refusal to back down.
After boosting your ego during one of the funniest tutorials I’ve experienced and declaring your invincibility—while conveniently ignoring the average Helldiver’s life expectancy—you earn your cape and take command of your very own Super Destroyer spaceship (I dubbed mine the Elected Representative of Family Values). With your squad in tow, you’re sent to the front lines. Once in the Galactic War, you can choose to face either the Automatons or Terminids, spreading the ideals of Liberty and Managed Democracy across their occupied planets. Each planet offers multiple missions with diverse objectives, from destroying Terminid eggs to launching nuclear-armed ICBMs. Just another day in the life of a Helldiver.
Endless Mission Variety
What sets Helldivers 2 apart is how each mission feels distinct, even if you’ve encountered similar objectives before. This is largely due to the varied maps, which are unique even on the same planet, thanks to changing terrain—one might be covered in water and hills, while another could be dense with trees or snow. Missions also include optional objectives like demolishing outposts, loading artillery for future use, or shutting down treasonous broadcasts. Combine this with bugs erupting from the ground without warning and robotic dropships delivering reinforcements at the worst possible times, and every mission feels fresh and unpredictable.
Tactical Combat and Resource Management
Your Helldiver starts with a modest selection of gear—perhaps a few primary weapons, a sidearm, and some grenades—but the gunplay is satisfying, especially with the DualSense controller’s feedback. Helldivers 2 demands effective coordination among squad members—or smart solo play. Time is critical; if your mission timer runs out, you’ll lose access to Stratagems—special abilities like orbital strikes, airstrikes, powerful weapons like the railgun, or tools like a mortar turret. Your squad also has a limited number of Reinforcements (extra lives), making it essential to manage resources wisely and prioritize objectives. The challenge is constant.
Helldivers 2 excels at keeping you on edge with small, well-considered details that make resource management vital as waves of Terminids and robots relentlessly attack your squad. Reloading discards any remaining rounds in your clip—no magical bullet retention here. To aim accurately, you must go prone, crouch, or stand still. If your leg is injured, sprinting becomes impossible, and if your arm is hurt, aiming becomes erratic. Calling in reinforcements, special weapons, or resupplies requires rapid directional inputs on the d-pad—a tricky task when you’re being chased by a swarm of bugs intent on tearing you apart.
These abilities all have cooldown timers, so you must be strategic about when to use them and how to coordinate with your squad. If you die, retrieving any dropped equipment becomes crucial, as the ability to call it in might still be on cooldown. It’s risky, but having your Guard Dog “Rover”—a laser drone that circles your Helldiver and zaps nearby enemies—can make all the difference.
Generous Rewards and Unlocks
Helldivers 2 rewards players generously between missions on your Super Destroyer. Don’t have a cool weapon? You’ll likely find something fun to use temporarily during a mission, and after a few rounds, you’ll be able to afford something even better. One of my personal favorites is the Anti-Material Rifle, a powerhouse that lets you take down massive, acid-spewing bugs from a safe distance—a necessity when getting too close means instant death by acid. Then there’s the Railgun, a Helldiver’s best friend. Point it at a problem, and that problem is vaporized.
Beyond the weapons you find scattered throughout the levels, special events sometimes equip every Helldiver with a specific Stratagem for a limited time, whether or not you’ve unlocked it. You won’t keep these weapons after the mission, but finding and using them during these events lets you test them before unlocking them permanently with in-game currency earned from completing objectives—a thoughtful feature.
As for unlocks, Helldivers 2 is loaded with content. While there’s a paid battle pass offering various weapons and armor, the free one is just as robust, and you can unlock gear by simply completing missions. While microtransactions exist, I’ve never felt pressured to buy anything essential. The free battle pass alone almost gives you enough Super Credits (Helldivers 2’s paid currency) to upgrade to the paid version, and you can find more during missions if you explore thoroughly. However, unlike other resources, Super Credits seem to only benefit the player who picks them up.
The rest of the free battle pass is impressive as well. It offers more content than the paid pass and features what might be Helldivers 2’s most formidable weapon: the Breaker, a fully automatic shotgun that tears through Terminids and Automatons alike. That’s not to say the premium battle pass doesn’t have exclusive items—I’m particularly fond of the Explosive Liberator, a high-powered version of the standard Liberator assault rifle—but you don’t need them to succeed. I’ve progressed deep into Helldivers 2’s unlock system, and I still eagerly anticipate each new reward—a rare feeling in today’s microtransaction-heavy gaming landscape.
It’s worth mentioning that the battle passes only offer weapons, armor, emotes, capes, cosmetic emblems, and Boosters (permanent upgrades that affect your entire squad when equipped). All in-game Stratagems can only be purchased with in-game currency earned by completing mission objectives. Once you reach the required level to purchase them, buying a Stratagem makes it yours permanently. The same goes for ship upgrades obtained by collecting samples scattered throughout missions.
The Value of Teamwork and Strategic Play
Many of these unlocks significantly enhance gameplay. One of the first things I acquired was a stationary turret that automatically targets enemies. I quickly discovered that friendly fire is a very real threat, leading to some hilarious mishaps—but the turret is a game-changer when holding off a horde of bugs or securing your extraction point. Since then, I’ve upgraded to the Mortar Sentry, which I never embark on a mission without.
Helldivers 2’s progression system remains engaging even at higher levels. You can unlock every Stratagem available by reaching level 20, which took me around 30 hours. Progression slows as you near this point, but levels still feel rewarding, especially on higher difficulties. Now, armed with the formidable Railgun, I feel unstoppable against the enemies of Super Earth.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the sheer volume of unlocks makes it difficult to decide what to pursue next. Since you can only bring four Stratagems into battle, I wish there were a way to try out new Stratagems before committing to an unlock, but it’s a minor gripe given the abundance of content.
Dynamic Foes and Ever-Changing Combat Scenarios
One of Helldivers 2’s greatest strengths lies in its diverse array of enemies. From acid-spitting Terminids to robotic juggernauts wielding chainsaw arms, the game consistently introduces new threats that keep you on edge. The mix of enemy types in each mission, coupled with mission modifiers like low visibility or heightened enemy aggression, ensures that every encounter feels unique. The game excels at forcing players to adapt to changing conditions, making each victory feel truly earned.
Conclusion: The Irresistible Appeal of Helldivers 2
In the end, Helldivers 2 is a game that thrives on its unpredictability. The humor, intensity, strategic depth, and sheer chaos of battle make it a must-play for fans of cooperative shooters. While the game has faced some early performance issues, they don’t detract from its core appeal. The developers have already shown a commitment to addressing these concerns, and the game’s solid foundation suggests it will only improve over time.
Whether you’re a lone Helldiver seeking glory or a squad leader looking for a challenge, Helldivers 2 offers an experience that is as thrilling as it is rewarding. Its combination of humor, strategy, and explosive action sets it apart in the cooperative shooter genre. So, gear up, rally your squad, and dive back into the fray—Super Earth is counting on you!