Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is a third person procedurally generated open-level bug and robot 4-player coop PvE shooting game elevated by wild yet precise physical movimenti and marvellous action movie satire-militaristic sound and music.
The vibes in the jungle areas reminds me of one of my favorite lush graphical and aural adventures: Far Cry 2.
Writing is funny and voice acting is close to perfectly on point making this one spill over the top of the excellent all-out action video games glass.
The moments of action with the music punctuating the intensity makes me think the essential experience that the designers had in mind for the game was to feel like you are in a 1980’s or 1990’s action parody film like some sort of cross between Terminator 2 and Loaded Weapon.
Notes
The game encourages communication and cooperation, with “just in time” situations a regular occurrence.
Short or long games can be selected, like 15 or 40+ minutes.
Every gun feels chunky and useful, including basic assault and sniper rifles.
Sound design and music together with the action makes you feel like you’re a hero. When you think it has reached the climax and can’t get any higher, it goes over the top of that. And again. And again, with another crescendo.
The score is beautiful and exciting, better than most action films. I watched the credits to the end, listening to the music, and cried when a message about a death appeared and the music changed to a beautiful flute composition.
Good idea to map arrow keys for stratagems instead of WASD so you can keep running while you call in an orbital artillery strike (thanks to Futura_Light for this tip).
Attention to keeping-in-game-character art-sound direction detail: Drum flams with touch of cymbals upon opening of inventory.
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