Super Earths greatest soldiers take the fight to hostile alien planets in the co-operatively addictive Helldivers (Sony Computer Entertainment and Arrowhead Game Studios, rated Teen, $19.99).

Up to four players control a squad of elite warriors in the year 2084 as they roam the Milky Way Galaxy and carry out hundreds of missions to help protect the Federation.

Through a top-down perspective, the action involves a twin-stick shooting mechanic on the controller to run and gun over terrain as soldiers target and eliminate massive bugs, deadly cyborgs or the mysterious, thought-controlling, Illuminates.

The game plays like an expanded homage to the Paul Verhoevens movie Starship Troopers.

The tongue-in-cheek propaganda of faux newscasts beckoning humans to join the fight or the constant brainwashing messages by a government spreading managed democracy across the galaxy was just the start. Now add the insane, near humorous, carnage unleashed during battles and I was definitely chanting Johnny Ricos mantra, kill em all.

The Helldivers, much like in the more massive game Destiny, kind of look like a mash up of Mandalorian bounty hunters from Star Wars or Clone Troopers wearing upgradeable helmets, armor and flowing capes.

Before diving into battles and to further my emersion into the mythology, I checked out the Helldivers encyclopedia, found on the command ship. From the encyclopedia, you can learn more about the war, Super Earth politics and details about the various species trying to wipe out humanity.

Each mission begins with a choice of planets and requires that soldiers use a Hellpod to drop in (think Halo 3: ODST). Once on the surface, with a definitive thud, they can escape the embedded pod. They then complete detailed objectives such as securing a post, activating and defending a launch pad, destroying bug nests or turning on oil extractors, all while under the barrage of enemy attacks.

Besides using a variety of weapons that can fire bullets, laser beams and lightening arcs, they can call in the full might of the military with equipment called Stratagems to help hold off assaults.

These helpers eventually range from ammo depots to jump packs (a jet boost to fly out of harms way), automatic gun turrets, a shield generator, artillery barrage, airstrikes, an SOS beacon (to call other Helldivers in), a carpet of anti-personnel mines, an armored personnel carrier and even an EXO-44 Walker exosuit.

See the article here:

Zadzooks: Helldivers review