Sprinkle Some Democracy on Aliens in HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition
Going above and beyond the call of duty for the glory of Super Earth!
last updated Dec 06, 2023
Whether it's the thrill of meticulously planning out assaults with friends or the terror induced by a misguided grenade, this twin-stick shooter delivers an experience that's as hectic as it is rewarding.
Twin-Stick Symphony of Explosions
HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition takes the top-down shooter genre and asks, 'What if it was also a heartwarming tale of democracy and high-explosive camaraderie?' The gameplay is a tightly-knit sweater of joy - if that sweater was also a bulletproof vest. Between the 'accidental' team-kills and fiery explosions lies a layer of strategic depth rarely seen in shooters of this type. The addition of coordination-heavy elements like the strategem call-ins ensures you and your buddies will either emerge as a well-oiled machine of alien destruction or go out in a blaze of confusion and miscommunication. And with a certifiable cornucopia of weapons and upgrades, HELLDIVERS manages to keep each mission feeling fresh, although solo players may find the balance tipping out of their favor.
Eardrum Entertainment
The audio design is like your favorite action movie's soundtrack had a baby with an ongoing fireworks show. We're talking big booms, machine guns chatters, and enough 'pew-pew' to keep your cat perpetually intrigued. It's simple but thoroughly satisfying, lending weight to the game's over-the-top military action. The music is, indeed, the icing on this patriotic cake, enhancing the dramatic tension of your desperate dives into enemy territory. Just make sure to lower that volume a bit - too much freedom blasting through your speakers might just get you evicted.
A Visual Tribute to Freedom
Graphically, HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition is not out to compete with the latest photo-realistic eye candy, since it's busy ensuring that every pixel serves the higher purpose of liberty and intergalactic democracy. The art style aligns perfectly with the satirical nature, making no excuses for its top-down simplicity. Performance-wise, expect smooth sailing through a slew of explosions, rain of alien blood, and frantic cursor searching (because let's face it, locating that tiny on-screen cursor is half the battle). However, the visual clarity could be improved upon, especially when trying to aim where freedom should land next.
Keep It Together, Soldiers
It's time to talk cooperation, which, in HELLDIVERS™, alternates between your greatest asset and an accidental comedy of errors. Thanks to its shared screen view, staying tactically in sync with your team is absolutely critical - and often comically challenging. The need to focus on positioning, not just shooting, can turn the game into a complex ballet of skill and luck. But you know what? That's the point. There's nothing like the adrenaline rush of a successful extraction with your squad intact or the despair of watching your last man standing get crushed by a poorly-timed supply drop. It's not just about the fight; it's about the story each battle tells.
The Salt and Pepper of Gaming
You can't avoid talking about balance when it comes to co-op games, and HELLDIVERS™ could stand to have a few spices added to its solo experience. Going at it alone can feel like bringing a toothpick to a tank fight. Despite this, the overall balance within group play is like a well-seasoned steak cooked to perfection. Each weapon and strategem is a new spice, altering the flavor of your battlefield kitchen in unexpected and delightful ways. Yet, sometimes you just can't help but feel the developers had a twisted sense of humor, equipping you with a literal 'death-from-above' in the form of drop pods with a penchant for squishing teammates.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher
PlayStation PC LLC
Release Date
December 07, 2015
Verdict
HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition is a delightful and unapologetic celebration of chaos and teamwork. Whether it's the thrill of meticulously planning out assaults with friends or the terror induced by a misguided grenade, this twin-stick shooter delivers an experience that's as hectic as it is rewarding. A few kinks in solo play and occasional visibility hiccups can't detract from what is, at its core, one of the most enjoyable cooperative gaming escapades out there. As far as gaming patriotism goes, HELLDIVERS™ champions the top-down genre with an iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove - that sometimes punches itself in the face, but hey, that's just democracy at work.