Helldivers

Last updated
Helldivers
Helldivers art.jpg
Developer(s) Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s) Johan Pilestedt
Designer(s)
  • Johan Pilestedt
  • Patrik Lasota
Programmer(s)
  • Anton Stenmark
  • Mikael Bauer
  • Linus Nilsson
  • Mikael Berglund
Artist(s)
  • Calle Schytt-Winberg
  • Jim Svanberg
  • Niklas Malmborg
  • Therese Jansson
  • Oskar Kuijken
  • Lucas Örström
Composer(s) Johan Lindgren
Engine Autodesk Stingray
Platform(s) PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Windows
Release
  • NA: 3 March 2015 [1]
  • EU: 4 March 2015 (PS4) [2]
  • EU: 8 July 2015 (PS Vita)
Super-Earth Ultimate Edition (PS4)
  • NA: 18 August 2015
  • AU: 26 August 2015
  • EU: 28 August 2015
Windows
7 December 2015 [3]
Genre(s) Shoot 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Helldivers is a 2015 top-down shooter 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. [4] A version for Windows was also released on 7 December 2015, making it the first Sony-published game for PC.

Contents

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. [5] 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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

Plot

The dystopian universe of Helldivers has humanity ruled by a "managed democracy", an alteration of contemporary democracy where the outcome of elections are more predictable. The pseudo-democracy has become more than a way of electing a government, it has become a creed by which the inhabitants of Super Earth fight for—without fully acknowledging what it means.

Super Earth, the fictional futuristic Earth is beset on all sides by three hostile enemy races (the Bugs, the Cyborgs and the Illuminates) that, according to the government, in one way or another need to be subdued. And while the Helldivers are a pure combat unit, they are often tasked with retrieving technology, activating oil-pumps or other activity that is deemed important by the government to preserve freedom and the Super Earth 'way of life'.

Reception

Critical reception

Helldivers received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. [6] [7] 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. [10]

IGN played the demo version of Helldivers at the 2013 Gamescom, and reviewed the demo positively. [23] 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." [24]

GameSpot 's reviewer Cameron Woolsey noted that the PlayStation 4 version has "fantastic cooperative action" but "missions and story are lacking." [12] 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." [15]

In a review-based web series Previously Recorded, Rich Evans described the game as "stratem-up":

At face value one when I saw the video for this, it looked like it was just a twin stick shooter. I expected something extremely dumb but kind of fun, and what you get is kind of a lot deeper. I thought it was going to be a shoot'em-up, it's more of a strategy based-... It's a, it's a stratem-up! A "strate-shmup". Because it's not just shoot at things and dodge bullets, there's more to it than that. [25]

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. [26]

Sales

Helldivers had sold over 4 million units by 22 May 2024. [27]

Sequel

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. [28]

Related Research Articles

PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartphones, tablets, Blu-ray players and high-definition televisions. It succeeded Sony Entertainment Network in 2015 and this service is the account for PlayStation consoles, accounts can store games and other content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remote Play</span> Video game console remote control function

Remote Play is a native functionality of Sony video game consoles that allow the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 to wirelessly transmit video and audio output to a receiving device, which would also control the console. Remote Play works either nearby, when both the console and the receiver are on the same home local area network, or remotely via the Internet through Sony's servers.

<i>PixelJunk Shooter</i> 2009 video game

PixelJunk Shooter is a shooter video game developed and published by Q-Games for the PlayStation 3. It is the fourth game in the PixelJunk series. It was released on the PlayStation Store by Sony Computer Entertainment in December 2009, and for Windows on November 11, 2013. A remastered version of the game, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, was released by Double Eleven for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in June 2014, and for Microsoft Windows on October 21, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation Vita</span> Handheld game console by Sony

The PlayStation Vita is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, then in other international territories on February 22, 2012, and was produced until discontinuation on March 1, 2019. The console is the successor to the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and a part of the PlayStation brand of gaming devices; as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles, it primarily competed with the Nintendo 3DS.

<i>LittleBigPlanet</i> Puzzle platform video game series

LittleBigPlanet is a puzzle platform video game series created and produced by British developer Media Molecule and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Most games in the series put a strong emphasis on user-generated content and are based on the series' tagline "Play, Create, Share". The tagline represents the three core elements of the series: playing alone or with others locally or online, creating new content using the in-game creation tools, and sharing creations and discoveries online with other players.

<i>Killzone: Mercenary</i> 2013 first-person shooter video game

Killzone: Mercenary is a first-person shooter video game developed by Guerrilla Cambridge and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Vita, released in September 2013. It is the second handheld game in the Killzone series of video games, and fifth overall.

<i>Unit 13</i> 2012 third-person shooter video game

Unit 13 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Vita. This is the last game to be developed by Zipper Interactive before the studio was rendered defunct. It was released on March 6, 2012 in North America, March 7 in Europe and March 8 in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 4</span> Sonys fourth home video game console

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in Europe, South America, and Australia, and on February 22, 2014, in Japan. A console of the eighth generation, it competes with Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U and Switch.

<i>Toukiden: The Age of Demons</i> 2013 video game

Toukiden: The Age of Demons is an action role-playing game developed by Omega Force for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita. It was released on June 27, 2013 in Japan. Tecmo Koei Games showcased the PlayStation Vita version of the game at E3 2013, and released the game within North America on February 11, 2014 exclusively on PlayStation Vita. A sequel titled Toukiden 2 was released in 2016 on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

<i>Killzone Shadow Fall</i> 2013 video game

Killzone Shadow Fall is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is the sixth game of the Killzone series and the fourth game of the series for home consoles. Killzone Shadow Fall was released on 15 November 2013 as a launch title for the PlayStation 4 in North America and 29 November 2013 in Europe. Taking place 30 years after the events of Killzone 3, Shadow Fall follows a new set of characters, putting players in the role of Lucas Kellan, a "Shadow Marshal", who is investigating a rising threat in the continuing war between Vekta and the Helghast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 4 system software</span> System software for the PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 system software is the updatable firmware and operating system of the PlayStation 4. The operating system is Orbis OS, based on FreeBSD 9.

Galak-Z: The Dimensional is a shooter video game developed and published by 17-Bit. It was released in August 2015 for the PlayStation 4 and October 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux. A Nintendo Switch port, subtitled Deluxe Edition, was released in March 2019 by Golem Entertainment. It was announced during Sony's pre-E3 2013 press conference in June 2013. 17-Bit CEO Jake Kazdal describes it as "modern Halo and Far Cry 3 combat in a 2-dimensional shell." Reflecting its inspiration in part by Japanese anime, the game is also known officially by the Japanese title of Uchuu Senshi Galak-Z.

<i>Mercenary Kings</i> 2014 video game

Mercenary Kings is a side-scrolling run and gun video game developed and published by Tribute Games. It was funded by Kickstarter and released for Microsoft Windows on March 25, 2014, and for PlayStation 4 on April 1, 2014. Alongside the Mercenary Kings: Reloaded update, versions for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita were released on February 6, 2018. An early-access version of the game was released on Steam on July 23, 2013.

Resogun is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It was originally released in North America and PAL regions in November 2013, while ports for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita developed by Climax Studios were released in December 2014. Resogun: Heroes, the first downloadable content (DLC), was released in North America on June 24, 2014, while the second DLC, Resogun: Defenders was released on February 17, 2015. Resogun draws heavily from the games Defender and Datastorm, and is considered the spiritual successor to Housemarque's previous shoot 'em up games Super Stardust HD and Super Stardust Delta.

<i>Akibas Trip: Undead & Undressed</i> 2013 video game

Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed, released as Akiba's Trip 2 in Japan, is a 2013 action-adventure video game for the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows by Acquire. It is the sequel to Akiba's Trip on the PlayStation Portable. A third game in the series, Akiba's Trip Festa, was released in November 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation TV</span> Microconsole manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment

The PlayStation TV, known in Japan and other parts of Asia as the PlayStation Vita TV or PS Vita TV, is a microconsole, and a non-handheld variant of the PlayStation Vita handheld game console. It was released in Japan on November 14, 2013, and Europe and Australia on November 14, 2014.

<i>Not a Hero</i> 2015 video game

Not a Hero is a cover system 2D shooter video game developed by the British indie development studio Roll7 and published by Devolver Digital. The game released on 14 May 2015 for Microsoft Windows. A later update, which was built using the Chowdren runtime for Clickteam Fusion 2.5, introduced builds for OS X and Linux, on 1 October 2015. The PlayStation 4 version of the game released on 2 February 2016, with the PlayStation Vita version being cancelled. A Super Snazzy Edition, including a new extra campaign, was released on Xbox One by Team17 in May 2016, and on Nintendo Switch by Devolver Digital in August 2018.

<i>SteamWorld Heist</i> 2015 video game

SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based tactics shooter video game developed and published by Image & Form. The third installment of the SteamWorld series and the sequel to SteamWorld Dig, SteamWorld Heist has the player control Captain Piper Faraday, a smuggler and occasional pirate, as she recruits a ragtag team of robots and sets out on a space adventure. The objective of the game is for players to board, loot, and shoot their way through enemy spaceships.

<i>Helldivers 2</i> 2024 video game

Helldivers 2 is a 2024 cooperative third-person shooter game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5 console and Windows. The game is the direct sequel to Helldivers, a 2015 top-down shooter.

References

  1. ↑ Hedström, Malin (February 13, 2015). "Prepare for War: Helldivers Launches March 3rd". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  2. ↑ Hedström, Malin (February 13, 2015). "War declared! Helldivers do battle on PS4, PS3 and PS Vita next month". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (November 6, 2015). "Helldivers is coming to Steam next month". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  4. ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (August 20, 2013). "Magicka devs launching Helldivers for PS3, PS4, PS Vita and PC". Polygon . Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  5. ↑ Cook, Dave (August 20, 2013). "Helldivers coming to PS3, PS4 and PS Vita, with cross-play over all formats". VG247 . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Helldivers for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Helldivers for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  8. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (March 3, 2015). "Review: Helldivers (PS4)". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ Carsillo, Ray (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers review (PS4)". EGMNow . EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Romano, Sal (March 23, 2015). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1373". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  11. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Game Informer . GameStop. Archived from the original on March 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Woolsey, Cameron (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4) [date mislabeled as "March 9, 2015"]". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ Splechta, Mike (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. ↑ Whittaker, Matt (March 25, 2015). "Review: Helldivers (PS4)". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Ingenito, Vince (March 13, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Helldivers (PS4)". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK . Future plc. May 2015. p. 94.
  17. ↑ Ramsey, Robert (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ Perez, Daniel (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review: To Hell and Back (PS4)". Shacknews . Gamerhub. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  19. ↑ Rignall, Julian "Jaz" (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers PS4 Review: Hardcore Shooter". USgamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ Appleton, Rory (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers is a challenging arcade-style bloodbath set in a boring universe". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  21. ↑ Smith, Edward (March 13, 2015). "Helldivers (PS4)". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  22. ↑ Jenkins, David (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers review – I lost my heart to a Starship Trooper". Metro . DMG Media. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (August 24, 2013). "Gamescom: In Helldivers, You Probably Won't Survive". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  24. ↑ Reeves, Ben (August 24, 2013). "Helldivers (Preview)". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  25. ↑ "'Previously Recorded' Helldivers (TV Episode 2016)". IMDb . January 20, 2016. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Academy Membership Honors 19th D.I.C.E. Awards Winners" (PDF). Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . February 18, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Arrowhead Games: "We want to be the next From Software or Blizzard"". 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ↑ Stedman, Alex (September 14, 2023). "Helldivers 2 Gets a 2024 Release Date and New Look at Gameplay" . Retrieved September 14, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.