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Hydration from Above! Let's talk about Helldivers 2! || Chatsu Shorts
165 Plays1 year ago
In this episode, Satsunami discusses Helldivers 2, the space shooter taking the internet by storm! But what makes this game so unique? What's the link between eagles and creeks? And will Satsunami ever get through a game without dying at the start? All this and more in today's episode sponsored by Super Earth!*
*For legal reasons this is indeed a joke.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Chad Tsunami Podcast
00:00:06
Speaker
Are you tired of the same old podcasts? Looking for something to spice up those long walks with some red panda patriotism? Then join the Chad Tsunami Podcast today! We have everything here, from gaming and films, to anime and general interest, as well as a Scottish brogue. So become a Pandalurian patron today and add to the Plays campaign!
00:00:29
Speaker
Okay, okay. Enough of the dramatic opening.
Starship Troopers Series and Game Review
00:00:32
Speaker
If you've read the title, then you'll know exactly what I'm going to be talking about. And for those long-term listeners out there, you'll definitely know my fondness for a little series you might know called Starship Troopers. From its over-the-top satire to its visual effects, it's been a somewhat guilty pleasure for me. My interest was further piqued by the 2023 game, Starship Troopers Extermination.
00:00:55
Speaker
And while I loved diving into the world through the lines of the mobile infantry, I felt there was a lot still left to be desired. But around the same time of its release, there was a similar game that ironically enough, blew under my
Introduction to Helldivers 2
00:01:09
Speaker
radar. And it wasn't until February of 2024 that Helldivers 2 made itself known to the world.
00:01:15
Speaker
But what makes this game so special was the deal with explosions and eagles, and why are so many people talking about creeks? Well, grab your cave citizen and get ready to drop into this episode of Chatsu Shorts. On first glance, Helldivers 2 appears to be an amalgamation of various sci-fi franchises, such as the aforementioned Starship Troopers, and somehow the Warhab 40K universe as well, but all of the clips online do little to prepare you for what to expect before dropping into basic training.
00:01:44
Speaker
And yes, before you ask, I am part of the elite group that did indeed die to the turrets in the tutorial, because I wasn't paying attention. But after getting by that incredible opening, the first thing that I noticed was just how gorgeous this game looked.
Gameplay and Strategy in Helldivers 2
00:01:59
Speaker
From its opening propaganda reel praising the glory of Super Earth to standing on the bridge of a dreadnought looking below a planet that resembles more of an intergalactic chessboard than anything else.
00:02:09
Speaker
That is to say if the pieces and chest attach you every so often and made ungodly shrieking sounds like a town centre on a Saturday night. As a newly christened hill diver, you're tasked with spreading managed democracy to a diverse range of planets, from arid deserts and frozen tundras to barren wastelands and darkened forests.
00:02:30
Speaker
Adding to the already numerous tasks that you are given to complete by the authorities of Super Earth, there are two frontiers that you must fight against. The metallic automatons of the West and the British bugs of the East. Both carry their pros and cons, depending on one's playstyle, and it's amazing how one simple change can keep things fresh. To clarify, the automatons are this universe's terminators. A robotic horde who shoot back from their factories, billowing out plumes of thick
00:02:58
Speaker
Black Smoke. Before you have time to take a breather, you may find yourself overrun by the Metallic Menace, the last thing you see being a pair of chainsaw arms descending towards you. Don't you worry though, we'll get back to them soon enough. On the Eastern Front, the Terminids are this universe's equivalent to the Arachnids of Starship Troopers.
00:03:16
Speaker
or these similarly named tenonids of Warhammer 40k. While they may have limited ranged attacks for the most part, these are some bugs that you do not want to get up close in person with. From the armoured chargers, to the sowing shakers, the higher the difficulty, the more likely you'll need to re-evaluate your approach. So with only two enemy factions so far, and a limited set of objectives, does this game still prove to be
Co-op Play and Customization in Helldivers 2
00:03:41
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engaging?
00:03:41
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Well, yes actually, if anything I'd say it's the core strength of the game as a whole. There's no doubt that this game is geared towards co-op play, especially with friends, and I have to say it's been a while since I've had so much fun in a game like this. It allows each Hell Diver to customise their loadouts,
00:03:58
Speaker
tailoring each experience to the player's desire. You can either go in all guns blazing, or you can instead decide to take a more stealthy approach to complete your mission. The beauty of the customisable loadouts means that a player may have one approach towards the automatons, with heavy armour perhaps being preferable to withstand attacks, while the light armour would be ideal for fleeing from swarms of terminants. This is further enhanced by the inclusion of special abilities called stratagems.
00:04:28
Speaker
which allow players to call in assistance from specialised weaponry to orbital bombardments. So if you hear someone utter the word Eagle and Helldiver in the same breath then unfortunately they aren't professing their love of avians, but instead a desire to create the biggest Angel Close explosion known to Super Earth. And yes, I too am one of those players, but if you do not time it right then you could be leaving your whole squad wide open to an attack.
00:04:53
Speaker
As for the gameplay itself, it feels fluid and responsive, but at the same time challenging enough to make you question everything you knew about the genre. For example, prematurely reloading your gun will waste bullets, meaning that while you may have a full magazine now, you may be out of luck when your enemy swarms you later. This contrasts greatly with previous shooters such as Call of Duty, where reloading after Rift of Kill is usually the optimal
Unique Missions and Evolving World in Helldivers 2
00:05:18
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move.
00:05:18
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The game also gives you the ability to sneak by enemies, and while not exactly the most popular of approaches, it can be handy when you're trying to reach objectives unscathed. But above all, one thing that I adore about this game is just how different every mission feels. In some missions, you can bulldoze your way through tasks with ease, culminating in a somewhat lackluster finale as you get evacuated without so much as a stain on your cape.
00:05:43
Speaker
But for every one of those missions, there are a hundred more that will forever be remembered. From evading the fire tornadoes of Hellmire to the fierce foliage of Malevolent Creek. You will never have the same experience twice, and this is punctuated perfectly depending on which team members you have with you. Of all things, it actually brought me back to thinking about a game of Warhammer 40K I played with my friend many years ago.
00:06:07
Speaker
Our objective of the game was clear, get to the evac site and kill any enemies in our way. Much like the Helldivers themselves, I played a faction called the Imperial Guard, which were essentially the cannon fodder of this universe. By the end of the game, my squad of ten had been ripped apart and only two made it off the forsaken planet, while my friends stayed behind with what remained of his space marines to cover or escape.
00:06:31
Speaker
The reason I make such comparisons isn't to disparage or ridicule Helldivers, if anything, the fact it reminds me of franchises I enjoy is somewhat welcoming and actually endears me to the worldbuilding that is being presented, and while I'm sure Arrowhead
00:06:46
Speaker
game studios were taken by surprise by the sudden success of the game. They have certainly capitalized on this by creating a galaxy that can evolve and change based upon the actions of the player. Enter the enigmatic jewel, the person in charge of controlling how the universe of Helldivers evolves, much like the game master of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign would.
00:07:08
Speaker
As of writing this review, a major order was passed in to wipe out the automaton threat once and for all, while players were given 24 hours to complete this mammoth task. They did it in five. And with that, many players who'd been entrenched in the western front of Super Earth's lore against the metallic menace were left without purpose. It's not something I've seen much of in gaming, if at all. The fact that player action can change the whole course of an online games world in such a short time was something to behold.
00:07:38
Speaker
Fortunately for all the hell-diving tin openers out there, this decision was somewhat reversed when it was revealed that a bigger automaton force were on the horizon, thereby reintroducing them into the story. This proves that both the developers and players are in a somewhat ever-evolving journey of balance, with one side trying to maintain order, while the other side seeks to turn the tide of balance.
00:08:01
Speaker
It has been fascinating watching things change over time, but unfortunately, Helldivers 2 has some faults that I should probably address.
Player Behavior and Micro-transactions in Helldivers 2
00:08:10
Speaker
Whether I could go on about some minor glitches I've encountered, or the unfair damage that some enemies dish out, the main problem that ironically enough even Joel would not be able to fix
00:08:20
Speaker
is the small group of players ruining it for everyone else. Between team killing to purposely victimising lower levelled players, it's something that I've been fortunate enough not to encounter much during my own time playing, but nevertheless it is still prevalent.
00:08:36
Speaker
This was also exacerbated when players who wore a commemorative cape for the capture of Malevolent Creek were shot in sight by players unhappy with the speed in which it was captured. Toxicity is always going to be a thing in online gaming, and to complain about it may very much be a water as wet type statement. Nevertheless, the irony of a game being portrayed as perfect when it has some very obvious flaws is not lost on me.
00:09:01
Speaker
One final thing I want to bring attention to is the sheer dedication that Arrowhead Game Studio has brought to this game, setting a high standard that many game developers should take note of. From their constant patches and transparent admissions defaults to online,
00:09:16
Speaker
One would never know that this game is indeed the work of an indie gaming studio, and despite their high profile publishers, Sony, who also fund the game, it's surprising that they've been so keen into loving such an impactful experience for gamers. I must admit, when I saw that they introduced their micro-transaction shop, I feared the worst, but this would somehow be the catch that I would be blindsided by.
00:09:39
Speaker
And while I'm not a fan of them generally, the in-game currency is indeed attainable by just playing the game, and the choices are mainly for extra armour, not attainable in the game's Battle Pass. But even with the Battle Pass, the currency for it labelled as medals are
00:09:56
Speaker
purely earned by playing key missions and completing major orders. As of recording this episode, I have never felt that it is predatory like so many other games before it, from Call of Duty to Halo's obnoxious and utterly ridiculously priced bundles. There is little selection that is constantly rotated, and you never have that sense of FOMO. Amongst the myth, it's a nice change, and while I can't predict what they'll do with this feature in the future,
00:10:23
Speaker
I can only hope that it remains
Final Thoughts on Helldivers 2
00:10:25
Speaker
this way. But with that being said, should this put you off buying Helldivers too? Absolutely not. While it isn't as much fun in terms of a solo experience, playing this game with friends is a surefire way to make some action-packed memories with one another. As I said, I have had endless amounts of fun trying out new playstyles, and though it may not be perfect, it is certainly one game that you wouldn't want to miss. So with that in mind, grab that cape,
00:10:51
Speaker
and get ready to stay safe, stay awesome and hydrated in the name of Super Air.