Helldivers 2 lights the way for AAA – by rejecting its norms

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Sony) Divine introspection (Image credit: Sony) REAL-PERSON GAMES(Image credit: Sony)Why Helldivers 2 is the best RPG of 2024 REAL-PERSON GAMES (Image credit: Sony)Why Helldivers 2 is the best RPG of 2024 (Image credit: Sony) Why Helldivers 2 is the best RPG of 2024 Let’s pick out a few of those. First, there’s the deeply ironic tone, which casts every player as a fervent propagandist fighting to prop up Managed Democracy (read: fascism), while generating bug oil for a Super Earth still in thrall to fossil fuels. This kind of satire is far from a sure bet. Just look at Helldivers' chief inspiration, Starship Troopers, which was derided on release for promoting Nazi ideologies. Only later was the film critically reevaluated and audiences properly recognised, in thewords of director Paul Verhoeven, “a movie about fascists who aren’t aware of their fascism”. Had the winds blown the wrong way at launch, Helldivers might have been just as badly misunderstood. Then there are the creative risks laced throughout Helldivers' mechanics. From afar, its core proposition might look safe – a mixture of DMZ-style extraction shooting and horde modes from the heyday of the Xbox 360. But the details are devilish. Calling in an orbital strike or redeploy involves a disorienting gamepad dance, as you pull yourself out of harm’s way with the analog sticks while inputting sequences of d-pad codes. It’s a farcical experience akin to patting your head while rubbing your tummy, and a bold choice – given that cheat codes are not a part of the lived experience of a large proportion of Helldivers 2’s audience. The experimentation continues with the Galactic War, a territorial metagame with oblique rules which tracks just how well, or badly, the forces of Super Earth are doing against the insectoid and automaton threats. That’s before you get to the resupply stations, which enemies can smash to pieces before you get a chance to use them – and the steerable drop pods that can crush unlucky allies. If they don’t step in front of your bullets first. “Friendly Fire is an integral part of the Helldivers experience,” reads anFAQ answerfrom Arrowhead’s support team. “You will not be able to turn off Friendly Fire.” (Image credit: SIE) “There’s no Warzone without PUBG, after all, and no DMZ without Escape from Tarkov” “There’s no Warzone without PUBG, after all, and no DMZ without Escape from Tarkov” Many of these colorful characteristics could be interpreted as wilfully obtuse. They might have tanked Helldivers' chances of a clean slate of review scores, or caused a chain reaction of negative word-of-mouth at release. That’s why such design quirks are ironed out of larger, AAA productions – which can’t afford to turn off a portion of their potential audience if they’re to turn a profit. But Helldivers 2 isn’t a big-budget game. Despite the backing of PlayStation, developer Arrowhead employs only around 100 staff – a tiny team compared to the armies working on Call of Duty and Fortnite. In order to compete with the well-established leaders in the live service space, Arrowhead has no choice but to stand out. And in that context, unique design quirks – even potentially upsetting ones – become positives. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more That’s partly down to the rise of the streaming age. Like Lethal Company before it, Helldivers 2 lends itself to viral clips that catalog the emergent misfortune of other players. In fact, gaming schadenfreude has become so widespread on social media that it’s begun to change common player attitude to failure – allowing us to embrace our slip-ups as the punchlines they are, rather than tossing aside the controller. When the winds do blow in the right direction and a AA game becomes a phenomenon, the developers at larger studios can only look on. But you can bet they’ll be taking notes, figuring out ways to incorporate the lessons of Helldivers 2 into their games. At a time when tentpole game development is more expensive and risk averse than ever, this is how AAA can source – or steal, if you want to put it bluntly – the fresh ideas needed to survive at the top. There’s no Warzone without PUBG, after all, and no DMZ without Escape from Tarkov. 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that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the 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heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”