Helldivers
{{Short description|2015 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{distinguish|Helldiver (disambiguation){{!}}Helldiver}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Helldivers
| image = Helldivers art.jpg
| developer = Arrowhead Game Studios
| publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
| director = Johan Pilestedt
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Johan Pilestedt|Patrik Lasota}}
| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Calle Schytt-Winberg|Jim Svanberg|Niklas Malmborg|Therese Jansson|Oskar Kuijken|Lucas Örström}}
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Anton Stenmark|Mikael Bauer|Linus Nilsson|Mikael Berglund}}
| composer = Johan Lindgren
| engine = Autodesk Stingray
| released = {{Video game release|NA|3 March 2015{{cite web|url=https://blog.playstation.com/2015/02/13/prepare-for-war-helldivers-launches-march-3rd/|title=Prepare for War: Helldivers Launches March 3rd|first=Malin|last=Hedström|website=PlayStation Blog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=February 13, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308011309/https://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/02/13/prepare-for-war-helldivers-launches-march-3rd/|url-status=live}}|EU|4 March 2015 (PS4){{cite web|url=https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2015/02/13/war-declared-helldivers-battle-ps4-ps3-ps-vita-next-month/|title=War declared! Helldivers do battle on PS4, PS3 and PS Vita next month|first=Malin|last=Hedström|website=PlayStation Blog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=February 13, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728122642/https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2015/02/13/war-declared-helldivers-battle-ps4-ps3-ps-vita-next-month/|url-status=live}}|EU|8 July 2015 (PS Vita)}}Super-Earth Ultimate Edition (PS4)
{{Video game release|NA|18 August 2015|AUS|26 August 2015|EU|28 August 2015}}Windows
7 December 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/helldivers-is-coming-to-steam-next-month|title=Helldivers is coming to Steam next month|first=Jeffery|last=Matulef|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=November 6, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910155919/https://www.eurogamer.net/helldivers-is-coming-to-steam-next-month|url-status=live}}
| genre = Shoot 'em up
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Windows
}}
Helldivers is a 2015 top-down shooter video game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita (with cross-play) in March 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/8/20/4640764/magicka-devs-launching-helldivers-for-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita|title=Magicka devs launching Helldivers for PS3, PS4, PS Vita and PC|first=Megan|last=Farokhmanesh|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|date=August 20, 2013|accessdate=January 26, 2014|archive-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805061707/https://www.polygon.com/2013/8/20/4640764/magicka-devs-launching-helldivers-for-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita|url-status=live}} A version for Windows was also released on 7 December 2015, making it the first Sony-published game for personal computers since Twisted Metal 2 and Jet Moto in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-11-10.html|title=Now Shipping|author=Staff|date=November 13, 1997|website=PC Gamer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980218070412/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-11-10.html|archive-date=February 18, 1998|url-status=dead}}
Helldivers received positive reviews from critics and sold over 4 million units by May 2024. A sequel, Helldivers 2, was announced in May 2023 and was released on 8 February 2024.
Gameplay
In Helldivers, the player needs to coordinate their actions during chaotic combat to complete objectives and avoid friendly fire casualties.{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/helldivers-coming-to-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita-with-cross-play-over-all-formats|title=Helldivers coming to PS3, PS4 and PS Vita, with cross-play over all formats|first=Dave|last=Cook|website=VG247|publisher=Gamer Network|date=August 20, 2013|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910155919/https://www.vg247.com/helldivers-coming-to-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita-with-cross-play-over-all-formats|url-status=live}} The game pits the players against three different enemy species and tasks them with ensuring the survival of Super Earth. Players engage with procedurally generated missions where players must accomplish a series of objectives. At the start of each mission, players can choose their loadouts (sets of weapons, equipment, and gear) and deployment positions. They can also use the game's stratagem mechanic to enhance their options, catering to the map layout or their individual playstyle. For example, the player may choose stratagems that focus on providing additional firepower or mobility, or give themselves supportive abilities such as calling in precise airstrikes.
The game has a single difficulty option, though the player can then choose a hard or easy planet for their missions. This changed over the course of development.
In each mission, the player must fight or sneak through enemy-controlled territory to complete the given objectives, then escape via a dropship. It is possible to fail some of the given objectives without immediately losing. It often benefits the player to avoid direct combat if possible, as the enemy has infinite reinforcements, and there are no in-game rewards for simply killing enemies.
The game keeps many of the mechanics common to the genre, like Fog of War and a map that shows any enemies the player(s) can currently see. The enemy will patrol their territory, impeding the player's attempt to complete the given objectives. Enemy units that come in contact with the player(s) will try to raise an alarm, which will result in continuous waves of enemy reinforcements for as long as the alarm remains active. The player can prevent an alarm by avoiding enemy patrols if possible, and can cancel one by defeating all units currently aware of the player or by fleeing the area.
Once all mission objectives are successfully completed or failed, the player is then required to call in a dropship and escape with all their remaining units. This takes 90 seconds and draws enemy attention to the landing zone, resulting in heavy fighting.
Entering the dropship completes the mission.
=Multiplayer=
Friendly fire is always active. This includes the players' personal weapons as well as other, less direct sources such as air support and deployed turrets. Supply drops or vehicle deployments can also crush allies, requiring players to carefully plan their actions during the game's many chaotic combat sequences or take preventive measures to mitigate these risks. Options include upgrading turrets to stop shooting when players enter the line of fire or choosing weapons that fire over allies.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
There are tangible benefits to multiplayer as teammates can help a downed ally recover, as well as provide healing or ammunition. Several heavy weapons come with a backpack that allows a second player to help reload, and some resources can be pooled for the group to access. In online play, it is possible to allow random players to join a mission in progress through optional matchmaking.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
Premise
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
Helldivers is set in a dystopian universe where humanity is ruled by a "managed democracy", an alteration of a contemporary democracy where the outcome of elections are more predictable. The pseudo-democracy also acts a creed by which the inhabitants of Super Earth fight for without question, but without fully understanding it.
Super Earth, the fictional futuristic Earth is threatened by three hostile enemy races (the Bugs, the Cyborgs and the Illuminates) that the government orders to be subdued. As well as countering primarily through combat, the Helldivers are also tasked with retrieving technology or carrying out certain tasks deemed important by the government in an effort to preserve their freedom and way of life.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 83/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/helldivers/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Helldivers for PC Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Red Ventures|accessdate=February 27, 2016|archive-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302023955/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/helldivers|url-status=live}}
(PS4) 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/helldivers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Helldivers for PlayStation 4 Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Red Ventures|accessdate=February 27, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307030448/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/helldivers|url-status=live}}
| Destruct = (PS4) 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-helldivers/|title=Review: Helldivers (PS4)|first=Conrad|last=Zimmerman|website=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910215130/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-helldivers/|url-status=live}}
| EGM = (PS4) 7/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/helldivers-review/|title=Helldivers review (PS4)|first=Ray|last=Carsillo|magazine=EGMNow|publisher=EGM Media, LLC|date=March 3, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516110952/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/helldivers-review/|archivedate=May 16, 2019|url-status=dead|accessdate=September 10, 2022}}
| GI = (PS4) 8.5/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-game-informer.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305135228/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-game-informer.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=March 5, 2015|title=Helldivers Review (PS4)|first=Jeff|last=Marchiafava|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=March 3, 2015|access-date=September 10, 2022}}
| GSpot = (PS4) 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/helldivers-review/1900-6416044/|title=Helldivers Review (PS4) [date mislabeled as "March 9, 2015"]|first=Cameron|last=Woolsey|website=GameSpot|publisher=Red Ventures|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=March 3, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303183833/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/helldivers-review/1900-6416044/|url-status=live}}
| IGN = (PS4) 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/14/helldivers-review|title=Helldivers Review (PS4)|first=Vince|last=Ingenito|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=March 13, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910181816/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/14/helldivers-review|url-status=live}}
| OPMUK = (PS4) 8/10{{cite magazine|title=Helldivers (PS4)|magazine=PlayStation Official Magazine – UK|publisher=Future plc|date=May 2015|page=94}}
| SN = (PS4) 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/88386/helldivers-review-to-hell-and-back|title=Helldivers Review: To Hell and Back (PS4)|first=Daniel|last=Perez|website=Shacknews|publisher=Gamerhub|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910222131/https://www.shacknews.com/article/88386/helldivers-review-to-hell-and-back|url-status=live}}
| VB = (PS4) 75/100{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/helldivers-is-a-challenging-arcade-style-bloodbath-set-in-a-boring-universe/|title=Helldivers is a challenging arcade-style bloodbath set in a boring universe|first=Rory|last=Appleton|website=VentureBeat|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910181816/https://venturebeat.com/games/helldivers-is-a-challenging-arcade-style-bloodbath-set-in-a-boring-universe/|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = The Digital Fix
| rev2 = Metro
| rev2Score = 8/10{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-i-lost-my-heart-to-a-starship-trooper-5086810/|title=Helldivers review – I lost my heart to a Starship Trooper|first=David|last=Jenkins|newspaper=Metro|publisher=DMG Media|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2022|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910181802/https://metro.co.uk/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-i-lost-my-heart-to-a-starship-trooper-5086810/|url-status=live}}
}}
= Critical reception =
Helldivers received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. In Japan, where the game was ported for release on March 5, 2015, Famitsu gave it a score of two eights, one seven, and one eight for a total of 31 out of 40.
IGN played the demo version of Helldivers at the 2013 Gamescom, and reviewed the demo positively.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/24/gamescom-in-helldivers-you-probably-wont-survive|title=Gamescom: In Helldivers, You Probably Won't Survive|first=Colin|last=Moriarty|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=August 24, 2013|accessdate=January 26, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113200517/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/24/gamescom-in-helldivers-you-probably-wont-survive|url-status=live}} Game Informer also gave the demo a positive rating, commenting that it "isn't easy, but this throwback to classic top down shooters is still a good time."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2013/08/24/zapping-alien-bugs-in-arrowhead-studios-helldivers.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827021541/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2013/08/24/zapping-alien-bugs-in-arrowhead-studios-helldivers.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=August 27, 2013|title=Helldivers (Preview)|first=Ben|last=Reeves|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=August 24, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2014}}
GameSpot{{'}}s reviewer Cameron Woolsey noted that the PlayStation 4 version has "fantastic cooperative action" but "missions and story are lacking." IGN said of the same PS4 version, "Brutal, focused, and mechanically rich, Helldivers is one of the best co-op action experiences you can have."
Helldivers was nominated for "Action Game of the Year" and won for "Handheld Game of the Year" at the 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards held by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.{{cite web|url=https://www.interactive.org/images/press_release/19th-DICE-Awards-Winners-Release-FINAL-2-18-16.pdf|title=Academy Membership Honors 19th D.I.C.E. Awards Winners|website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|date=February 18, 2016|accessdate=February 24, 2016|archive-date=February 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220190218/http://www.interactive.org/images/press_release/19th-DICE-Awards-Winners-Release-FINAL-2-18-16.pdf|url-status=live}}
=Sales=
Sequel
{{Main|Helldivers 2}}
In May 2023, Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a sequel titled Helldivers 2. Unlike the first game, the sequel is no longer a top-down shooter, but instead is a third-person shooter. The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on 8 February 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/helldivers-2-gets-a-2024-release-date-and-new-look-at-gameplay |title=Helldivers 2 Gets a 2024 Release Date and New Look at Gameplay |first=Alex |last=Stedman |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2023}}
Cameo
{{Main|Secret Level}}
Some Helldivers soldiers feature in episode 15 of the Secret Level TV series.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-05 |title=Amazon’s Secret Level is a hollow anthology of video game cutscenes |url=https://www.theverge.com/24313309/secret-level-review-amazon-prime-video |access-date=2024-12-23}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://arrowheadgamestudios.com/}}
- {{moby game|id=/windows/helldivers|name=Helldivers (Windows)}}
{{Arrowhead Game Studios}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Arrowhead Game Studios games
Category:Military science fiction video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:PlayStation Vita games
Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games
Category:Video games about cyborgs
Category:Video games about extraterrestrial life
Category:Video games about insects
Category:Video games about space warfare
Category:Video games developed in Sweden
Category:Video games set on fictional planets
Category:Video games using procedural generation