Helldivers 2: I'd wager I'm like most of this game's players in that I did not play the first. Judging that entire video game based on two screenshots -- something I'm sure the developers would love for me to do -- I'd say the original looks like a mobile game that can safely be ignored. You can just 'dive' right into this one and ignore the previous entry.
Want a plot? Watch "Starship Troopers". The devs saved a pretty penny by just taking that movie's world almost wholesale, which is kinda funny timing considering there's a Starship Troopers game in Early Access right now alongside Helldivers 2. Apparently that game's in a weird spot, meanwhile Helldivers is flourishing like mad.
It's good. If you've been seeing your Steam friends list lit up with this and are wondering why, the reason is simply because "It's good". Great atmosphere, audio/visuals, enemy variety, world variety, weapon variety, it's live service but seemingly in the least possible predatory way, etc. You will feel great dropping an Eagle Airstrike on bug holes, closing up a few and obliterating those who'd spawned outside of them. When you and a teammate open a bunker and as the doors slowly roll you press 'B' to fist bump them and they bump back before you two collect the free premium currency inside? You're gonna mutter "Hell yeah."
It's not perfect: there are many 'bugs' that need working on immediately. Characters get locked into poses that affect gameplay, bile spewers will miss yet somehow hit and kill you immediately, joining another team's mission can be horrid as it never connects; and when the devs toss out a patch to address some of these issues? They can make your game randomly crash when your teammate uses a certain weapon type. It has happened to me, of course while walking to the extraction area after completing a map, and it's very infuriating.
For $40, I think Helldivers 2 is a no-brainer. It's best with friends, but I found myself able to play with randoms just fine, which is always a pleasant surprise. You can easily communicate through pings and emotes, and with everybody sharing everything and a total team victory being the best possible outcome, there's not really an incentive to be an asshole. You may still find a few, but that's just the internet for ya.
I recommend Helldivers 2. I'm sure it'll get patched up in time (and it needs it), but it's definitely playable now.
Want a plot? Watch "Starship Troopers". The devs saved a pretty penny by just taking that movie's world almost wholesale, which is kinda funny timing considering there's a Starship Troopers game in Early Access right now alongside Helldivers 2. Apparently that game's in a weird spot, meanwhile Helldivers is flourishing like mad.
It's good. If you've been seeing your Steam friends list lit up with this and are wondering why, the reason is simply because "It's good". Great atmosphere, audio/visuals, enemy variety, world variety, weapon variety, it's live service but seemingly in the least possible predatory way, etc. You will feel great dropping an Eagle Airstrike on bug holes, closing up a few and obliterating those who'd spawned outside of them. When you and a teammate open a bunker and as the doors slowly roll you press 'B' to fist bump them and they bump back before you two collect the free premium currency inside? You're gonna mutter "Hell yeah."
It's not perfect: there are many 'bugs' that need working on immediately. Characters get locked into poses that affect gameplay, bile spewers will miss yet somehow hit and kill you immediately, joining another team's mission can be horrid as it never connects; and when the devs toss out a patch to address some of these issues? They can make your game randomly crash when your teammate uses a certain weapon type. It has happened to me, of course while walking to the extraction area after completing a map, and it's very infuriating.
For $40, I think Helldivers 2 is a no-brainer. It's best with friends, but I found myself able to play with randoms just fine, which is always a pleasant surprise. You can easily communicate through pings and emotes, and with everybody sharing everything and a total team victory being the best possible outcome, there's not really an incentive to be an asshole. You may still find a few, but that's just the internet for ya.
I recommend Helldivers 2. I'm sure it'll get patched up in time (and it needs it), but it's definitely playable now.