Helldivers Expands with Free Democracy Strikes Back Update

[Conrad Zimmerman]

Helldivers Expands with Free Democracy Strikes Back Update

Two additional DLC packs also offered.

Arrowhead has delivered another free content expansion for Helldivers The Democracy Strikes Back update introduces a new type of mission, the Retaliatory Strike, in which players are tasked with dropping into and securing an enemy stronghold by facing waves of enemies. Additionally, the level cap has been raised by twenty ranks.

Along with the new update comes the announcement of two additional DLC reinforcements, the Precision Expert and the Terrain Specialist. The Precision Expert's perk lowers the delivery time of strategems, and it comes with a Precision Artillery Strike with homing rounds to assist in hitting targets. The Terrain Specialist DLC adds a portable missile battery weapon and, more significantly, a perk which allows a player to ignore the slowing effects of snow and swamp terrain.

As much as I have loved playing Helldivers over the last year, I'm a bit cold on the new mission type. The tension of being overrun in other mission varieties was heightened by the capability of a team to prevent a horde from forming in the first place. Taking that level of control out of the proceedings feels like a step back.

Source: PlayStation Blog [http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/10/26/helldivers-democracy-strikes-back-expansion-launches-today/]

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[Smooth Operator]

I guess once publishers take all your other projects this is what you fall back on.
It is so very odd watching these guys go from such novel design ideas with Magicka now back to bog-standard stuff everyone else makes, but hey if it keeps the lights on that is worth something.

Hopefully this pays enough to make more crazy stuff some day, possibly on PC also.

 

[Conrad Zimmerman]

It is so very odd watching these guys go from such novel design ideas with Magicka now back to bog-standard stuff everyone else makes, but hey if it keeps the lights on that is worth something.

Helldivers is pretty novel, though. That's why this update is somewhat less than thrilling because it just adds a horde mode to a game that felt really fresh and original before that.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

more significantly, a perk which allows a player to ignore the slowing effects of snow and swamp terrain.

That... actually kinda pisses me off. I've been fine with the DLC's up to this point, since they don't really do anything explicitly "new", rather offer a new way of doing things. But that all-terrain perk is something I felt was sorely missing from the game. Snow levels are a nightmare to navigate, to the point where I'd rather just not play them at all if possible.

It is so very odd watching these guys go from such novel design ideas with Magicka now back to bog-standard stuff everyone else makes, but hey if it keeps the lights on that is worth something.

Helldivers still has that Arrowhead touch, though. An unstable game full of overwhelming madness and plenty instances of blowing your friends up or yourself, crushing your friends with stratagems or crushing yourself, falling into chasms, running your friends over, and in one particularly impressive instance, one of my friends somehow managed to run himself over.

Yeah, it's a wacky and hilarious game. Much more feature-rich than Magicka, with lots more to do. Hopefully it sees a PC release one day.

 

[Conrad Zimmerman]

...in one particularly impressive instance, one of my friends somehow managed to run himself over.

You would think that would be harder to do than it is. Really have to make sure those APCs have the e-brake on before disembarking.