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Competitive games attract a certain type of players. The PvP environment is more challenging since you are playing against a real person, instead of a pre-programmed algorithm. Competitive PvP players tend to view PvE games as casual and too easy. You’re up against a machine, after all. But, Helldivers 2 manages to change the views of some hardcore PvP gamers.
Helldivers 2 is first and foremost a multiplayer PvE game. You and your friends are up against AI aliens. When you get the hang of it, the missions become quite easy and you start progressing up the difficulty levels in search of more challenges and better rewards (looking at you, Super Samples). But, once you get to those high-difficulty missions, things get pretty tough pretty fast.
High-Difficulty Missions Prove To Be a Challenge
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, high-level Helldivers 2 missions proved to be quite a challenge. Add the fact that Arrowhead pays close attention to how the enemies and the game itself are behaving. If something proves way too hard or easy or just not behaving as intended the devs are quick to change that. That’s how we got Factory Striders: players got used to destroying Hulks and Tanks (the most powerful Automaton at the time), so a new big bad was added to the game. The best part is that everyone liked the walking, unkillable machines of death, further proving that Helldivers love a challenge.
Regarding missions, most of them are straightforward, and the challenge comes from the enemies you will face along the way. Some of them can be done by one stealthy Helldiver and a couple of Stratagems. However, some missions require everyone to be at the top of their game, like the last stages of the Conduct Geological Survey, where you have to fight off waves of enemies while handling the terminal at the same time. Or the newer Evacuate High-Value Asset missions, where team coordination and target priority are critical.
Some missions prove to be so tough, that underhanded tactics are needed. For example, Citizen Evacuation missions against the Automatons are notoriously tough on the highest difficulties. But, players discovered that you can run around the map and “kite” a bunch of enemies until your teammates deal with the rest. And even with these tactics, the missions are tough to beat, even for those players with a more competitive background.
Will Helldivers 2 Add More Competitive Elements?
First of all, we all know that Helldivers 2 is strictly a PvE game. It will never have a PvP mode, as stated by the devs. So, what would make this game more competitive? As some players have suggested, a Leaderboard would be great for checking who is the “top contributor”, the best Helldiver, inspiring others to give 110%. Or a Clan System, where players can join different clans (like Guilds in World of Warcraft) and “compete’ against others, for who is the best.
But, will we actually see more competitive additions? We cannot guarantee in any way, but we think it is highly unlikely. The overall “feel” of the game is a casual PvE with friends, that even more competitive players can find enjoyable. Adding more “competitive” elements, like Guilds and Leaderboards may bring out the toxicity competitive players are notorious for, and ruin the overall feel of the game. If your general score, like Kills or Objectives Completed, is written down, it may lead to some player prioritizing that instead of working as a team, just to get the best score possible. And that is a downward spiral.
For more Helldivers 2 articles, take a look at Players Ask for an Urgent Buff to a Popular Stratagem, Players Outraged With the Recent Steam Requirements, and Polar Patriots Warbond All Features and Content.