Summary
Helldivers 2was lacking new, substantial content for a while since its Viper Commando Premium Warbond, and a lack of content can be almost certain death for a live-service game. Indeed, many Helldivers had apparently abandoned ship asHelldivers 2’s Steam player count had plummeted, but that tide may turn for Arrowhead now that a massive content update dropped on August 6, titled Escalation of Freedom.
Helldivers 2has been needing a shake-up to its formula and it’ll be interesting to see if Escalation of Freedom achieves that. New mission and enemy types are enough to whet any player’s appetite, though, since missions, objectives, bots, and bugs have largely been the same since launch. Arrowhead was more coy about its upcoming Automaton additions than its new Terminids, however, and previously divulged that impalers are being reprised from the originalHelldivers—but that wasn’tHelldivers 2’s most arrestingly dreadful announcement, as it was revealed that a new charger variation was on the horizon.
Helldivers 2’s Chargers May Be the Peak of Frustration on Terminid Planets
Helldivers 2’s Terminidsmay not provide the same offensive onslaught that Automatons pose, but they sure possess a number of aggravating enemy types that make missions more grueling than they ought to be. Hunters and stalkers leap great distances toward players and Wombo Combo them across the map with unrelenting aggression; shriekers swoop in from above and have arguably egregious hitboxes; and bile spitters initiate a bug breach if players don’t deal with them swiftly, for instance.
That said, few bugs are more grating thanHelldivers 2’s chargers—behemoth or not—when they appear out of nowhere and send players hurtling away, especially if players’ limp, ragdolled bodies slam into a surface and take extra damage. Chargers can be dealt with quickly if players have a spareOrbital Railcannon Strikestratagem ready, but otherwise it takes a fair number of shots or grenades to their unarmored backsides to cut them down as they ram into players repeatedly.
Players can dodge chargers rather easily by diving sideways at the right moment, though this strategy loses its viability when chargers are accompanied by any number of smaller, faster bugs that can exploit players’ prone, defenseless positions. Now, this irritating nuisance has yet another, more obfuscating variant.
Helldivers 2’s Spore Chargers Could Be the Cherry on Top of Disaster
Spore chargers shroud the area around them in fog and though this is meant to cloud theChargeritself, it remains visible while making the environment in general more difficult to see through.
Even stalkers are mildly visible in their translucency and many maps have environments and climates where a hulking mist would surely be seen rampaging, especially during the daytime on a bright map. Still, it is tremendously intimidating if somehow players are unable to see them barreling toward them until it’s too late. There are some mission types where chargers are less of a problem, such asdefense campaigns inHelldivers 2where players can see nearly every bug or bot coming from a mile away depending on how prepared they and their squad are.
But even on open-region missions chargers can close the distance in a pinch and upend any strategies or goals players were busy executing, almost likehow Mr. X continues to pursue players relentlessly in theResident Evil 2remake. Because Escalation of Freedom’s spore chargers make all enemies around them stealthy, chargers have become an even greater enemy and will likely take full priority beyond even foes as imposing as titans or impalers.
Helldivers 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenceless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy.Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest and most explosive tools in the galaxy.Helldivers don’t go planet side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission and complete objectives together.1Enlist in Super Earth’s premier military peacekeeping force today. We are heroes… we are legends… WE ARE HELLDIVERS.
