Have you ever wanted to dive into war and aggressively spread democracy? “Helldivers 2”, released on Feb. 8 by Arrowhead Game Studios, this game puts you amidst a galactic war in the helldivers program. As a Helldiver, you’ll become part of Super Earth’s elite fighting force to defend democracy from those who seek to destroy it.

“Helldivers 2” is less driven by story than it is pulling friends together and having a great time. In your conquest of the galaxy, you will be battling on two fronts. On one side, you’re against the Automatons, killer robots that hate freedom and seek violence, and on the other the Terminids, a ravenous species of murderous bugs that threaten the well-being of the galaxy.

To take on a mission, players need to find their way to the galaxy map. The map contains key data, such as systems that have been liberated or are under Terminid or Automaton control.

To begin an operation, the player needs to select a system and planet and will be warped to the planet. The only thing left is for the player to step into a hellpod and dive to the planet’s surface.

War bonds are where players can unlock armor and weapons. The system works like a battle pass, a system seen commonly in games such as “Fortnite” and “Apex Legends.” There are two war bonds, a free and premium version, the latter requiring super credits to access.

Completing missions rewards the player with medals which are used to unlock equipment and cosmetics. The war bonds also give players super credits, allowing players to work toward the premium war bond, or be spent on equipment in the shop.

Although armor and weapons help game play, the most vital equipment are the stratagems. Stratagems make use of the destroyer that the players dive from. They are used to request supplies, bomb enemy emplacements and to call for support.

As the player battles their way through swarms of bugs or hordes of robots, the stratagems will be crucial to their survival and success of the mission.

Each successful mission counts to a liberation meter which displays the progress made toward liberating a planet. Every player is connected to this goal, encouraging communication and teamwork within the community.

“Helldivers 2” costs $39.99 and runs on Playstation and PC.

On top of its price, the game also has microtransactions in the form of an in-game currency called super credits. While Arrowhead claims that it doesn’t affect gameplay, much of the equipment that is located in the in-game shop provides players with beneficial effects which has led many players to claim that the game is “pay to play.”.

The game is incredibly fun and engaging; however, that doesn’t mean it’s without flaws. Like most modern day games, “Helldivers 2” has many bugs.

Players have reported stratagems failing to activate and items that can’t be collected. The most notorious issue is the game randomly crashing amidst an operation, which has frustrated many players to the point of leaving.

That being said, Arrowhead Game studios has created a very unique experience, one that is built off of community engagement. Even with its flaws, “Helldivers 2” is an incredibly fun and action-filled adventure that leaves its players craving more.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars