Info about HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition: Official game description: Just Updated ============ The celebration of Liberty Day 2019 is upon us! Super Earth Command have made a new training area available for Helldivers in an all new game mode called Proving Grounds. These challenging, repeatable, missions have unique modifiers that will put your skills to the test! We're also introducing a new loadout system with random- and favorite- loadouts. Are you ready to DIVE HARDER? Just Updated ============ To commemorate Liberty Day 2018, Super Earth Command is giving you more Freedom. More Democracy. MORE LIBERTY. Are you ready to dive into A New Hell? 3 NEW Difficulties have been added beyond HELLDIVE! 3 NEW Enemies have been added. A NEW Stratagem has been added (MGX-42 Machinegun). Just Updated ============ In celebration of Liberty Day 2017, new FREE equipment has been added to the Helldivers arsenal. To protect Super Earth from all threats and spread managed democracy, unlock the 3 new Stratagems (Heavy Strafing Run, 'Thunderer' Smoke Round, A/GL-8 Launcher Turret) by liberating planets. For Super Earth! Just Updated ============ Celebrate the 2 year Anniversary of HELLDIVERS with a FREE new HELLDIVER 'Next-Gen' Armor and Helmet! Simply start the game and the new content will be in your armory. Just Updated ============ In celebration of Liberty Day 2016, we are giving away free equipment to all Helldivers. Simply start the game and the new 'M2016 CONSTITUTION' rifle and 'Liberty' cape content will be in your armory. Just Updated ============ Celebrate the 1 year Anniversary of HELLDIVERS with a FREE new HELLDIVER "Assault" Armor and LAS-13 "Trident" Laser Shotgun! Simply start the game and the new content will be in your armory. About the Game ============== HELLDIVERS™ is a hardcore, cooperative, twin stick shooter. As part of the elite unit called the HELLDIVERS, players must work together to protect SUPER EARTH and defeat the enemies of mankind in an intense intergalactic war. HELLDIVERS™ Dive Harder Edition is a free upgrade for all existing owners and include: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * A NEW GAME MODE: "Proving Grounds". Take on challenging missions with unique modifiers. * NEW loadout system with random- and favorite-loadout options * All previous expansions (A New Hell, Masters of the Galaxy, Turning Up The Heat and Democracy Strikes Back). * Up to 4 player local and online co-op on STEAM. * Full friendly fire - “accidentally” kill your friends, again and again. * Direct the full might of the military with a wide variety of Support Stratagems. * Community-driven galactic campaign. * A universe of worlds to liberate. * 100+ hours of gameplay Release date: Dec 7, 2015 Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Twin-stick Shooter, Tactical Shooter, Character Progression, Weapon Customization, Horde Shooter, Top-Down Tactical Shooter, Local Co-op Feature scans: - MTX: score 65; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The game features a variety of DLCs, some of which provide significant advantages and are considered borderline pay-to-win. Essential content and missions are locked behind DLC purchases, which can be more expensive when bought separately. While there are optional and cosmetic DLCs, the inclusion of essential items in paid DLCs puts non-DLC players at a disadvantage. - Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game demonstrates strong compatibility and performance on Linux-based systems, particularly with Proton and the Steam Deck. While there are minor issues with cloud saves, users have found effective workarounds. Overall, the game runs smoothly and is well-received across different platforms. - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a mix of positive and negative experiences with the game on the Steam Deck. Significant issues include cloud save problems and stability issues such as frequent crashes and disconnections. However, many users praised the game's performance, graphics, and compatibility with the Steam Deck. The absence of problematic anti-cheat systems and a steady online player base were also noted as positive aspects. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: The game exhibits varied performance across different hardware cohorts, with lower VRAM configurations experiencing occasional frame drops, while higher VRAM setups report crashes and unresponsiveness. - Sample size: 49 (2% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 32 reports): The game generally runs well despite occasional major frame drops during big difficulty missions. - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 11 reports): The game sometimes becomes unresponsive and crashes. - Caveats: 49 of 2013 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $7.00 - $10.00 - Reasoning: The evidence consistently points to the game being recommended when it is on sale, with specific mentions of prices around $7 to $10 for the deluxe edition, which includes all DLCs. This suggests that the community considers this price range to be a fair value for the game. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 80.0h - Story completion: N/A - Session length: 3.0h - Endgame: 32.0h - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime. The first quote mentions 'dozens of hours' of gameplay, suggesting a significant investment of time to complete the game. The second quote is a strong indicator of extensive playtime, mentioning 'thousands of hours,' which, although likely hyperbolic, suggests a high level of engagement and replayability. The third quote provides specific hour counts, mentioning 80 hours to reach a certain level and an additional 32 hours of farming, indicating a substantial playtime for progression and endgame content. The fourth quote mentions '1000 hours,' again highlighting the potential for extensive playtime, likely including endgame and repetitive sessions. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game is designed for cooperative play and is significantly more enjoyable and less difficult when played with friends or a team, making solo play a less optimal experience. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Playing with friends or a cooperative team - Time to anchor: 1h 0m - Friction: Game is not meant for solo play; Increased difficulty when playing solo; Reduced enjoyment when not playing cooperatively - Unlock drivers: Playing with friends; Cooperative team play; Engaging in multiplayer sessions - Conditions: Playing with friends; Multiplayer sessions; Cooperative mindset; Active community support - Player Archetypes: - Cooperative Chaos Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Social interaction and cooperative gameplay. - Playstyle: Team-oriented, enjoys the chaos and coordination of co-op play. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: co-op lover; community player - Reference games: Magicka; Alien Swarm; Starship Troopers - Solo Struggler (sale) - Motivation: Seeking a challenging and balanced co-op experience. - Playstyle: Prefers playing with others, finds solo play difficult and less enjoyable. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: co-op advocate; solo critic - Reference games: Helldivers 2; Magicka - Tactical Strategist (buy) - Motivation: Mastery of game mechanics and strategic depth. - Playstyle: Strategic and tactical, enjoys planning and optimizing gameplay. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: tactical gamer; strategy enthusiast - Reference games: Helldivers II; Starship Troopers Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Enjoyable with friends (weight 0.64): The game is highly enjoyable when played with friends, offering a fun and engaging multiplayer experience. - Challenging and fun gameplay (weight 0.46): Players find the gameplay to be both challenging and enjoyable, with higher difficulties offering a rewarding experience. - Emphasis on teamwork mechanics (weight 0.36): The game strongly encourages and rewards teamwork, with mechanics designed to foster cohesive team play and cooperation. - Great co-op experience (weight 0.32): The game provides an excellent co-op experience, both locally and online, making it great for playing with friends and family. - Worth the price (weight 0.23): Players feel that the game offers good value for its price, with solid gameplay and a beautiful design. - Variety of enemies (weight 0.23): The game offers a rich variety of enemies, adding depth and interest to the gameplay. - Good progression system (weight 0.22): The game features a well-designed progression system that is fun, motivating, and fair. - High replayability (weight 0.21): The game has high replayability, with varied missions and activities that keep players engaged. - Positive community (weight 0.19): The game's community is noted for being friendly, welcoming, and less toxic than other online communities. - Friendly fire adds challenge (weight 0.16): The friendly fire mechanic adds a layer of unpredictability and challenge to the gameplay. - Variety of weapons (weight 0.12): Players appreciate the large variety of weapons and equipment available, enhancing strategic gameplay. - Tactical and skill-based gameplay (weight 0.12): The game offers tactical and skill-based gameplay, appealing to fans of cooperative shooters. - Low learning curve (weight 0.12): The game is easy to learn and play, making it accessible for new players. - Few bugs and issues (weight 0.12): Players report that the game has very few bugs, contributing to a smooth gaming experience. Common complaints: - Low player count (weight 0.2): The game suffers from a low online player count, which makes it difficult to find matches and reduces the overall enjoyment due to lack of activity. - Repetitive missions (weight 0.17): Players find the missions repetitive and the gameplay shallow, which leads to boredom after playing for a while. - High difficulty (weight 0.15): The game is considered very difficult, especially when compared to its predecessor, which can be frustrating for some players. - Price concerns (weight 0.12): Many players feel that the game is overpriced and not worth the current price, suggesting to wait for a sale. - Content locked behind DLCs (weight 0.1): Important content and weapons are locked behind paid DLCs, which can be frustrating for players who do not want to spend extra money. - Poor teammate matchmaking (weight 0.1): Players often encounter incompetent teammates who lack situational awareness, which can ruin the gaming experience. - Weapon balance issues (weight 0.1): There are notable balancing issues with weapons, which can affect the fairness and enjoyment of the game. - Difficulty in solo play (weight 0.1): Playing solo is particularly challenging due to the lack of quality-of-life features, making it frustrating for solo players. - Grindy gameplay (weight 0.09): The game requires a lot of grinding, which can be tedious and reduce the overall enjoyment. - Cursor visibility problems (weight 0.09): The cursor is barely visible, especially when not aiming down sights, which can be frustrating for players. - Questionable game design (weight 0.07): Some game design decisions are considered stupid and ruin the overall experience for players. - Laggy controls (weight 0.07): The controls, particularly aiming, are laggy, which can negatively impact the gameplay experience. - Toxic player behavior (weight 0.07): There are issues with toxic players and poor player behavior, which can negatively impact the gaming experience. - Split-screen camera issues (weight 0.07): The split-screen camera system is poorly received, and the forced split-screen gameplay can be frustrating. - Reduced cooperative gameplay (weight 0.07): The sequel has reduced cooperative gameplay and positive interactions, which can be disappointing for fans of the series. - Difficulty finding high-level matches (weight 0.07): It is difficult to find matches in high difficulty settings, which can be frustrating for players seeking a challenge. - Multiplayer focus (weight 0.07): The game has a strong focus on multiplayer, which includes single-screen multiplayer options. - Outdated graphics (weight 0.07): The graphics are considered poor and outdated for the time the game was released. - Unusual aiming mechanics (weight 0.07): The aiming mechanics are considered unusual and can be confusing, especially when using a mouse and keyboard. - Shared camera frustrations (weight 0.07): The shared camera system can be initially frustrating and may turn some players off. - Specific mission difficulties (weight 0.06): Certain missions have specific difficulties that cause frustration among players. - Limited character customization (weight 0.06): The character customization options are limited and lackluster, which can be disappointing for players. Gameplay feedback: - Cooperative and multiplayer gameplay (weight 0.52): The game emphasizes cooperative gameplay, including multiplayer modes that support up to four players. It features both local and online multiplayer options, allowing friends to play together on a single PC. - Balanced weapon mechanics (weight 0.22): The game includes a variety of weapons and customization options, with a focus on balanced gameplay mechanics. - Teamwork essential for missions (weight 0.22): Missions in the game require significant teamwork and coordination among players to succeed. - Variety of difficulty levels (weight 0.19): The game offers a range of difficulty levels, with up to 15 levels of difficulty, providing a challenging experience for players. - Diverse mission structure (weight 0.19): The game involves a variety of missions, including landing on maps, interacting with objects, and fighting off waves of enemies such as tanks, mechs, robots, and insects. - Vibrant online community (weight 0.12): The game has a vibrant online community with various interaction aspects, enhancing the overall gaming experience. - Objective and movement mechanics (weight 0.12): The game includes various objective mechanics and interesting movement mechanics that enhance gameplay. - Shared camera mechanics (weight 0.12): The game uses a shared camera system that enforces teamwork among players. - Friendly fire incidents (weight 0.09): The game includes friendly fire, which is always on, adding an extra layer of challenge and realism to the cooperative gameplay. - Tactical approach and commands (weight 0.09): The game requires a tactical approach and includes tactical commands, enhancing the strategic depth of the gameplay. - Stackable and single-use strategems (weight 0.09): The game features stackable and single-use strategems, which are special weapons and ordnance that players can utilize during missions. - Three distinct enemy factions (weight 0.09): The game includes three separate enemy factions, providing a variety of enemies for players to face. Performance notes: - Runs well on low-end hardware (weight 0.34): The game is noted for its ability to run smoothly on low-spec PCs and various platforms, making it accessible for users with less powerful hardware. - Optimization and performance (weight 0.29): The game is praised for its optimization, running smoothly on various hardware, including low-end PCs and Steam Deck. However, there are mentions of frame drops and optimization issues on certain setups. - Game crashing issues (weight 0.2): Several users have reported issues with the game crashing, not responding, or having startup problems, particularly on Windows 11. - Network and server issues (weight 0.16): Players have experienced network issues, communication loss, and disconnections from servers, affecting the overall gameplay experience. - Graphics quality (weight 0.16): The game features stylized graphics and crisp visuals on PC, although some users mention that the graphics are not groundbreaking. - Comparison with sequel (weight 0.12): Players have noted that the game has better optimization and more stable servers compared to its sequel, which experiences frequent crashing and lag spikes. - Compatibility with different systems (weight 0.11): The game runs well on various systems, including Steam Deck and Android devices via Gamehub, and performs well under Proton. - Movement and character issues (weight 0.09): Some players have reported issues with character movement and characters getting stuck during gameplay. - 32-bit safe mode for issues (weight 0.03): There is a mention of a 32-bit safe mode that can be used to address connection issues. Recommendations: - Buy during sale or deluxe edition (weight 0.36): Many players recommend purchasing the game during a sale or opting for the deluxe edition to get the best value, especially with all DLC included. - Highly recommended game (weight 0.26): The game comes highly recommended by many players, who suggest trying it out and consider it a top recommendation. - Better sequel available (weight 0.26): Some players feel that Helldivers 2 is superior and recommend it over the original. Others suggest playing the original for nostalgia or to understand the evolution. - Best with friends (weight 0.17): The game is highly recommended for playing with friends, emphasizing cooperative and teamwork-focused gameplay. - Requests for updates and remaster (weight 0.12): There are suggestions and requests for a remastered version of the game, as well as calls for updates and additional events. - Mixed feelings on value (weight 0.07): Opinions vary on whether the game is worth the price, with some finding it worthwhile and others suggesting it is not. - Not for solo or achievement hunters (weight 0.06): The game is not recommended for solo players or those who dislike friendly fire. Achievement hunters are also cautioned. - Worth playing despite flaws (weight 0.04): Some players believe the game is worth playing despite its shortcomings, indicating that it has redeeming qualities. - Try alternative games (weight 0.03): Some players recommend trying other games like Disco Elysium instead. Other player notes: - Game received as gift (weight 0.07): Several players mentioned that they received the game as a gift from a friend. Emotions: - Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the cooperative and tactical gameplay, especially when playing with friends. The fun and chaotic nature of the game, along with the variety of weapons and stratagems, contribute to a positive experience. - Excitement (weight 0.14): The game's intense and adrenaline-pumping moments, along with its engaging lore and dynamic gameplay, create a sense of excitement. Players are also excited about the variety and new ways to play introduced by DLCs. - Frustration (weight 0.13): Players experience frustration due to game crashes, bugs, and poor design choices. Issues with multiplayer connectivity, repetitive missions, and difficulty spikes also contribute to this emotion. - Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players find satisfaction in the game's solid mechanics, progression system, and enjoyable multiplayer experience. The game's value for money and active community also contribute to this feeling. - Joy (weight 0.08): The game brings joy through its fun and chaotic gameplay, especially when playing with friends. The positive atmosphere and entertaining missions enhance this emotion. - Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Players feel nostalgic about the game's classic charm and memories of playing it over the years. The unique features and mechanics of the original game evoke this sentiment. - Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players express disappointment due to various gameplay issues, lack of features, and poor handling of the sequel. Low player activity and repetitive mission objectives also contribute to this feeling. - Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are surprised by the game's quality and how different it is compared to its sequel. The game's lack of initial attention and its enduring quality after 10 years also evoke this emotion. - Amusement (weight 0.02): Humorous incidents, such as friendly fire and funny gameplay experiences, bring amusement to players. These moments add a light-hearted touch to the game. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's in-depth gameplay, unique audio charm, and the fact that it doesn't feel dated. The cooperative nature and design of the game are also highly valued. - Happiness (weight 0.02): Playing with friends and the enjoyable multiplayer experience bring happiness to players. The fun and chaotic gameplay, along with the game's community, contribute to this emotion. - Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game for its multiplayer experience and fast-paced gameplay. The game holds a special place in their hearts due to its unique features and engaging mechanics. - Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger due to crashing issues, unfair competition, and ineffective weapons. The game's reporting system and player behavior also contribute to this emotion. - Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players express gratitude for the game's contribution to its sequel and the help received from the online community. The support from the company staff and the game's unique features are also appreciated. - Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's cooperative features and the enjoyment it brings when playing with friends. The variety of weapons and the game's longevity also contribute to this emotion. - Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to specific mission difficulties and movement restrictions without DLC. Useful items locked behind paid DLCs also contribute to this emotion. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's multiplayer aspect and its unique features. The variety, teamwork mechanics, and value for money also contribute to this emotion.}