2024 has been a tumultuous year for Helldivers 2. Originally launching to rapturous applause, the game struggled to find its footing as a live-service title, earning negative feedback for Arrowhead's handling of updates and various other controversial features, like the arrival of the ever-contentious PlayStation ID requirement. Having said that, Helldivers 2 appears to have stabilized somewhat, and it's closing out the year with a special holiday gift for players.
Live-service games live and die on the back of their free content releases. Certainly, premium DLC and Battle Passes go a long way toward keeping these games profitable (see: free-to-play games like Fortnite), but complimentary content and enticing updates are what keep the majority of players invested long-term. Helldivers 2 is in a particularly tough situation when it comes to this style of content rollout, not only because of Sony's and Arrowhead's limited experience in the GaaS space, but also because of its $40 price tag, which suggests a greater emphasis on free content rather than fully priced expansions or microtransactions. This is a big reason why Helldivers 2 caught so much flak for its Killzone 2 crossover, but the game seems to be paying penance for it, at least slightly, with a new free stratagem.
Helldivers 2 Receives a New Killzone Weapon for Use as a Stratagem
The StA-X3 W.A.S.P. Launcher Is Originally from Killzone 3
The arrival of the W.A.S.P. Launcher stratagem has been received fairly well by the Helldivers 2 community thus far, which is rather ironic considering that it is a continuation of the controversial Killzone crossover event. This can likely be chalked up to the fact that the W.A.S.P. Is free, in addition to having a tangible, rather than superficial, impact on gameplay. Just like in Killzone, the W.A.S.P is an incredibly powerful artillery weapon in Helldivers 2, capable of taking down armored vehicles and swarms of enemies alike, and while Killzone and Helldivers are markedly different in terms of tone, the explosive, bombastic capabilities of the weapon make it a strong bridge between the two IP.
The W.A.S.P.'s Versatility and Damage Output Make It a Great Fit for Any Helldivers 2 Loadout
The W.A.S.P. Has two firing modes:
- Burst: fires rockets individually—higher damage output
- Artillery: fires seven rockets at once—lower damage but greater spread
As an explosive weapon, the W.A.S.P. Is effective against enemies with low-to-medium armor, with the Artillery mode being particularly useful for clearing out groups of enemies like Devastators. It has a lock-on system, allowing it to be dumb-fired, and unlike similar Helldivers 2 weapons, target acquisition time is low, making it a good DPS option in a pinch. It also ignores chaff, which increases the reliability of lock-on.
It's not without its shortcomings, however. The W.A.S.P. Is a great tool for long-range assaults, but the erratic flight patterns of its rockets make it difficult to count on at close range, as they can potentially miss smaller targets without the necessary time to stabilize. Similarly, it's not a good option for close-quarters environments or when surrounded by obstacles, as these same erratic flight patterns can make for explosive hazards to the wielder or their allies. When firing rockets in Artillery mode, they will attack enemies from above, so any sort of reliable overhead cover will thwart these sorts of attacks.
But these drawbacks are reasonable balancing measures; the W.A.S.P. Is still a more than worthwhile stratagem to get familiar with. Its versatility, ease of use, and unlimited charges make it a great addition to any loadout, especially those focused on heavy armor or long-range weaponry, and its Killzone roots make it a touching blast from the past to boot.
Helldivers 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
