Knowing the past is the key to understanding the present and not repeating mistakes in the future. Surely you have heard this statement dozens of times in movies, video games and even in your daily life: teachers, family… And although at this point it sounds cliché, it does not mean that it is any less true.
I didn’t expect much from Helldivers 2, I didn’t even know Helldivers (2015) existed before its announcement, but it ended up winning me over. I truly believe that it is one of the best cooperative video games of recent years and one of the best games as a service that have been released… at least for the moment. If you are a recurring reader, you will know that at iGamesNews we love it.
The origins of Helldivers 2
The only contact I have had with Helldivers (2015) until now it was during the research that I carried out to write the analysis of Helldivers 2 with the greatest possible knowledge. I admit that it didn’t spark my interest then because I was totally blinded by the current installment. It stayed on my PlayStation and Steam wishlist.
My curiosity about the first video game has not stopped growing over the last few weeks and I ended up giving in: I bought Helldivers (2015) and I got ready to play it for the first time in my life. I was very interested in knowing the origins of the democratic titan that has stolen so many hours from me.
I knew what to expect because I was informed and yet Arrowhead Game Studios has managed to surprise me with the first installment of Helldivers. It is incredible how conservative they have been in many aspects, but at the same time they have known how to take a giant leap to adapt to current tastes.
The introduction is very similar, although Arrowhead hit the perfect note by adding the satirical touch in Helldivers 2. The values have not changed: freedom, democracy, everything for SuperTierra… In general, the first installment has more solemn touches. It’s not bad, but the sequel is more charismatic.
Another section that has remained surprisingly similar is Helldiver Training. After playing Helldivers 2 In all difficulties, the first steps in the original game are little more than a mere bureaucratic procedure. And the same can be said about the ship’s terminals and improvements. Everything is very familiar, but different at the same time.
The war campaign: another much more detailed style
Not everything works the same. Helldivers (2015) has a tool that does not have Helldivers 2 (at least as is) and that has managed to leave me speechless before firing the first shot: the Summary of the Galactic Campaign. If you start playing late or are away for a few days, this interface presents you with a detailed report that lists what happened each day and includes some news articles.
In this installment there is no total and open war, but campaigns that take place for x days and in which we can definitively defeat the Cyborgs (Automata), Bugs (Terminids) and Enlightened Ones by devastating their home worlds. That is to say: they have an end, so much so that war 135 is going.
The report revealed that the helldivers who continue fighting in the first video game had definitively defeated the bugs and the Illuminati in 40 days, but that they lost all of the Cyborgs’ territory to the point of having to defend SuperEarth. So yeah, my first game in Helldivers (2015) It was in our beloved home, although that is another story that I will tell you another day.
It took me a little while to adapt to the top-down view, the shooting system and sharing the camera with the rest of the players. If you think that Helldivers 2 is cooperative, its prequel is much more so because it forces players to go together and collaborate with each other. Obviously it’s a technical limitation, but also a very good design decision.
There’s not much to say about the gameplay: if you’ve played Helldivers 2you know very well how it goes Helldivers (2015) and vice versa. It was then, while I was hitting my first shots with other players, that I began to reflect on the following question: the transition from one video game to another.
From Helldivers to Helldivers 2 and vice versa
I think this is the most interesting point of the article. I am a player who has lived Helldivers 2 for hundreds of hours and who is now experiencing the fascination of discovering the origins of this universe in Helldivers (2015). The experience is a mix of excitement, familiarity and genuine discovery. He would also add some sadness at having discovered this gem so late. Part of me hates that no one told me years ago that this existed.
But it fascinates me much more to imagine what it was like to play Helldivers since 2015, years of faithfully shooting and defending SuperEarth, and coming across the announcement of Helldivers 2 in 2023. And let’s not even talk about watching gameplay! I try to empathize and I can only imagine one possible scenario, the same one I experienced with The Division 2: a rush of emotion worthy of the craziest boats, jumps, screams and laughter.
Discovering the origins of the franchises we love is very good and is more than recommended. I will continue playing Helldivers (2015) because it has really conquered me. However, I admit that I am healthy envy of those who have accompanied Arrowhead Game Studios to this point… because it has had to be a brutally incredible journey. If you are one of those Helldivers, I would like to know how you experienced it: how long have you been playing? What was the announcement of the sequel like? I read you in comments.
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