Helldivers 2’s latest invasion threat is a mess of humanity’s own making

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Helldivers 2 has excelled in live-service storytelling, with its latest plot development seeing the aliens, the Illuminate, suddenly deploy a powerful invasion fleet on the verge of Super Earth. This unexpected event triggered a Galactic Emergency, causing significant alterations to the game as shown in update 1.003.000.

In a more engaging way of putting it, although it’s well-known that games like Helldivers 2 never truly end, Arrowhead Studio has skillfully constructed the ongoing war among humans, aliens, and cyborgs in a manner that feels genuine and true to the game’s core theme.

Certainly, The Super Earth regime portrays the war in stark terms, suggesting that humanity is under attack and must fight back with relentless determination. This perspective aligns with one of fascism’s principles, as the enemy is depicted as weak and easily defeated, yet also as an immediate and grave danger to our existence.

In a more conversational tone: The Super Earth government paints a simple picture of the war, portraying us as the innocent victims who must defend ourselves at all costs. This mirrors one aspect of fascism, where they make the enemy seem weak and easy to defeat, but also extremely dangerous to our survival.

The truth, of course, couldn’t be any different.

As a devoted admirer, let me recount the intriguing evolution of the Terminids. Originally, this species was known for their peaceful nature and expansion across several celestial bodies. However, an extraordinary discovery was made by Super Earth – deceased insects proved to be valuable raw materials. This revelation led them to develop a practice of capturing and cultivating these bugs. Over time, this shift in focus transformed the Terminids into more aggressive beings. The climax came when they managed to break free from their confines, igniting a devastating war.

The Cyborgs aspired to break away from Super Earth and establish their own, distinctly socialist community. This is an idea that a totalitarian regime would find intolerable, leading to conflict instead. Thus, the result was war.

The Illuminate could also be negotiated with. They were harmonious. Humanity might have coexisted with them across the cosmos. However, instead of peaceful cohabitation, Super Earth took on a ‘They possess weapons of catastrophic power’ stance and initiated war, seizing those very weapons of mass destruction. Frankly, it’s surprising that these actions weren’t just another tactical deception, but even a faulty clock is correct occasionally.

Indeed, it’s accurate to say that the perpetual strife on Super Earth can be attributed solely to its own government, as they seem content with their self-righteousness. With external threats, controlling their citizens becomes easier, ensuring a compliant populace that keeps authoritarian rulers both satisfied and secure.

The current scenario is quite similar to what Arrowhead initially crafted, fitting it seamlessly into the bigger picture. Do you recall the missions where Helldivers defended colossal towers that sprayed bug spray on Terminid planets to maintain control? It all began with this setup.

Initially, the Terminids were subdued, but they eventually became more robust and banded together to create a massive colony on Meridia. Later, players deployed weapons of immense destruction, which Super Earth had seized from the Illuminate, to obliterate Meridia, transforming it into a black hole.

In response, the Illuminate regained power when they controlled the black hole, causing it to attack Super Earth, destroying multiple planets before the Helldivers could intervene. This devastation inadvertently saved Super Earth from total destruction. However, this incident underscores that humanity has a long way to go and the Illuminate are unrivaled experts, as they utilized the halted black hole to transport their entire invasion force straight into the core of Super Earth’s domain – which is where we currently stand.

Humanity, clouded by overconfidence and propelled by the inherent flaws of authoritarian ideologies, has meddled with forces exceeding its grasp, facing the consequences accordingly. Fortunately, a group of individuals steps in to prevent catastrophe.

In a manner that would undoubtedly impress Paul Verhoeven, Arrowhead infuses its cosmic setting with a cleverly satirical vibe while maintaining an enjoyable, humorous atmosphere. Yet, it consistently communicates crucial messages without losing focus.

Among Helldivers 2 and Star Wars Andor, science fiction productions are offering a strong critique at a time when many media outlets seem to fall short of their responsibilities.

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2025-05-14 19:07