Gaming

Helldivers 2 review: SIP ON SOME LIBER-TEA!

A thrilling co-op experience

Published

March 5, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

A highly dynamic multiplayer shooter is hard to come by. Most of the main suspects today revolve around the same formulas popular today, such as Counter Strike and Fortnite. Every so often, though, a gem emerges and sparkles through the usual fare. Enter the gem: Helldivers 2.

A lesson in simplicity

Without a doubt, Helldivers 2 is one of those rare games that captures the needs and wants of millions of gamers worldwide. Its success is reminiscent of last year’s Baldur’s Gate 3, a title from a smaller developer that still outshines most of its big-budgeted competitors.

Despite its effect on the market, Helldivers 2’s premise is surprisingly simple: fight against hordes of bug-like aliens or rouge robots. Think of Starship Troopers and Star Wars. Players can team up with up to three more fighters or go at it solo. There are guns, grenades, abilities, and a battle pass. If you’ve seen other shooters these days, the title should look familiar to you.

Players choose their mission from a map, recruit up to three teammates, and drop into a set map filled with enemies. Once there, they can simply accomplish their objective or optionally explore to obtain more goodies.

A lesson in dynamism

Even if it looks similar to other games out there, Helldivers 2 just manages to breathe fresh air into a tired formula. For one, the game does not pull any punches. It’s insanely difficult. Playing as a solo, I could only get to the third highest difficulty (Medium) with some reliability. The rest were practically impossible without teammates. Even then, a co-op session is still difficult and needs strategy.

Additionally, the game has a less traditional way to use abilities. While other games use simple hotkeys to unleash useful abilities, Helldivers 2’s Stratagems need more precise inputs (with directional buttons) to execute. Imagine putting in something like the Konami code before calling in an airstrike. Though annoying at first, the method adds to how frenetic the heat of battle is.

Oh, and these Stratagems aren’t just your typical off-the-shelf abilities either. Sure, you have the usual air strikes and carpet bombings, but the game also locks more essential abilities behind the system, such as ammunition refills and teammate respawn. There’s pure unadulterated adrenaline in trying to revive a fallen teammate while being chased by an army of gigantic bugs.

There’s also an amazing layer of creativity associated with the system. I’ve seen players automate the command sequences on their Elgato Stream Decks (which I absolutely want to try for myself). I’ve also seen one add direction buttons to their Deck and tape it to their wrists for an authentic experience. I don’t normally try hardware mods for games, but the experiments with this one make me want to get into it.

An evolving story

Most shooters today try to introduce the semblance of a story. Call of Duty, for example, has its oft-lackluster story mode. Fortnite has its evolving world. These storytelling methods are often just ways to pad out gameplay, so players can quickly get back into the more active (and more lucrative) multiplayer modes.

Helldivers 2 does away with a story. Players can still grasp at what happened through environmental cues and small lore pickups, but it’s mostly straight to the action. Additionally, there are hilarious recruiting videos done in the style of Starship Troopers.

One of the voice options also has Yuri Lowenthal (a.k.a. Spider-Man in the PlayStation series) screaming frantically every time he takes damage. It’s glorious.

Though the game lacks a conventional story, it has so much flavor to set it apart from other shooters. It feels fun to play, even if it’s just to hear Spider-Man going Spider-Ham on the mic.

An evolving world

It’s impossible to tell what the endgame of Helldivers 2 is. The game has a lot of planets available for conquering. However, the system only allows players to conquer a few at a time. Once enough players win enough missions (which is a staggering number), more sectors will unlock. It’s a collaborative effort between millions of players to unlock the next area.

Currently, there are two “branches.” One involves Bugs, a race of sentient insects that look like a cross between mantises and lobsters. The other involves Cyborgs, cybernetic enemies capable of shooting back. A third “branch” featuring an undetermined faction is still forthcoming.

Additionally, the studio also plans to introduce more ways to traverse the landscape and kill aliens. One such example is a future update to bring in mechs and vehicles.

It’s a grind

Though I’ve sung the game’s praises for a while, it’s time to focus on what might bring the game down a notch. For one, it’s a terrible grind.

There are four different currencies for players in Helldivers 2. The first are Requisition Slips. The easiest to gain, these Slips are meant for obtaining new Stratagems. Players get a substantial amount per mission. Simple enough.

The second are Medals. Players get a scant few per mission. These are used to unlock new items in the season’s Warbonds, the game’s version of battle passes. Unfortunately, this system includes more than just cosmetics. Sometimes, powerful weapons and armor are unlockable.

The third are Super Credits, the currency you can buy with real money. There’s a shop that refreshes often. Thankfully, you can occasionally grab a few Super Credits during missions.

The fourth are Samples. Arguably the most tedious of the bunch, Samples are only obtainable by exploring and looting (and extracting successfully with the Samples) during missions. Higher tiers of Samples are also locked behind higher difficulties. These are all used to unlock significant upgrades including adding more ammo to weapons and reducing cooldowns.

Because of this complex system, it will take a while before you can unlock new toys to play with. Dozens of hours in, and I’m still relying heavily on the default weapons. Of course, you can play enough hours, at high enough difficulties, with enough teammates to grind money consistently. However, it’s still a grind. Thankfully, the base kit is still a load of fun. It’s not a huge loss to miss out on weapons and new Stratagems.

Should you play Helldivers 2?

Helldivers 2 is currently capturing the gaming world, just as Baldur’s Gate 3 did last year. Being in the position it’s in, the game is insanely fun to play solo, with randoms, or with friends. Don’t let the grind scare you; it’s a thrilling experience just on its own.

Related Topics:Helldivers Helldivers 2 PlayStation PS5 Sony PlayStation

Gaming

Genshin Impact, Duolingo partner for limited-time quest

Win various rewards by going on a 3-day streak

Published

December 9, 2025

GadgetMatch

Genshin Impact has partnered with Duolingo for a limited-time 3-Day Streak Quest in the Duolingo app.

The collaboration between the popular open-world RPG and the educational app features Teyvat’s travel companion Paimon.

Genshin Impact characters Tighnari and Cyno also make an appearance, as well as Duolingo’s beloved green owl Duo.

From December 8 to 27, players and learners from select regions can unlock the “Genshin Impact Quest” in any course on the Duolingo app.

Users who complete learning exercises for three straight days with receive the following in-game rewards:

Custom avatar “Diligent Study”
Themed namecard “Celebration: Dream Reader”
Unique Sumeru-style dish “Spiced Fried Chicken” and recipe
Collectible in-app statue of Paimon and Duo
Primogems

The reward redemption code can be claimed from the “Shop” page in the Duolingo app before December 30 and redeemed on the title before January 31.

To make the challenges more exciting, all four characters will show up on each quest to cheer on learners.

The collaboration follows the recently released Genshin Impact Version Luna III, which introduced Durin, a new 5-Star Pyro character with dual battle forms. There is also a new story chapter set in Nod-Krai.

Gaming

Razer Raiju V3 Pro review

Competitive controller that knows exactly who it’s built for

Published

December 3, 2025

Rodneil Quiteles

When I first unboxed the Razer Raiju V3 Pro, my brain immediately went: okay, this is exciting. It had that wow factor — that feeling of holding a piece of tech that’s meant to do something special. It’s the kind of controller that makes you want to jump straight into a game just to see what all the fuss is about.

Build and feel — familiar, but also very not

Coming from the DualSense, the first surprise is the weight. The Raiju V3 Pro is definitely lighter, but not in a cheap way. Holding it felt different, wider even, and my hands were a little more relaxed because of that added space.

The grip texture is great — no fear of slipping, and it feels particularly good on the bottom of your palm.

The face buttons? Smaller surface area, longer travel. Premium-feeling overall, though I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely convinced the Raiju V3 Pro’s feel matches its price tag. That’s mostly because I’ve tried some GameSir controllers that felt surprisingly similar for a fraction of the price. But still — this feels like a product built with intent.

Gameplay experience — where it actually comes alive

Most of my testing happened on NBA 2K26 because… well… that’s the game I always end up playing. And this was the moment the TMR thumbsticks flexed. I found myself doing more dribble combos and experimenting with shot styles using the right stick simply because I had zero fear of drift.

I also jumped into a few fighting games — TEKKEN 8 and My Hero One’s Justice 2 — then humbled myself in several Death Match sessions on Call of Duty Black Ops 7. I even swung through Spider-Man Remastered for a bit. Across all of these, the controller felt responsive, fast, and ready for whatever chaos I threw at it.

HyperTriggers and extra inputs — surprisingly useful

The triggers were most noticeable during my Call of Duty matches. I still sucked at it — let’s be real — but I can totally see how better players would squeeze more value out of the locked fast-trigger mode. The surprise twist was how useful the triggers were for fighting games. Having minimal travel made reaction-based inputs feel snappier and more controlled.

As for the back paddles and claw bumpers: I thought about taking some of them out, but ended up keeping everything on. Eventually, they became little fidget points that didn’t interfere with gameplay.

Mapped the extra trigger to Square to make it easier to hit the Triangle + Square combo for self alley-oops.

In practice, I rarely used them because I’m such a muscle-memory player… except in NBA 2K26. I mapped self alley-oops and flashy passing to the extra triggers, which helped because 2K moved those combos around this year.

Thumbsticks — the star of the show

The TMR sticks? Excellent. Smooth, accurate, fluid — all of it. I had fun abusing them without worrying about drift, and NBA 2K26 really let me push them to their limit. COD: Black Ops 7 was harder, but I think that’s more on me than the controller. Maybe a sensitivity tweak or two will fix that over time.

Customization — only what I needed

I’m not the type who loves deep tweaking, so I mostly skipped Synapse. I only used the mobile Razer Controller app to remap the extra triggers. And honestly? That was enough. The controller already felt good out of the box.

Wireless performance — HyperSpeed does its job

No lag. No hiccups. No difference between wired and wireless — seriously. HyperSpeed Wireless worked wonders and felt as reliable as any cable-connected controller I’ve used.

Pain points — minor, but noticeable

There are a couple of things worth noting.

The big one: no haptic feedback. The DualSense’s signature feature simply doesn’t exist here. Razer says this controller was designed with real pro players, and removing rumble seems to be one of those “it’s not needed in esports” decisions.

Honestly? After a while — especially during fast-paced games — I didn’t miss it. Haptics matter more in story-driven titles, and this controller isn’t really meant for those anyway.

One more thing: I couldn’t turn on the PlayStation with the Raiju V3 Pro. I still needed a DualSense for that.

Who is this for?

This controller is for people who play fast-paced, competitive games. Plain and simple.

But it’s also for players who want a controller built to take a beating — the kind that survives long sessions, intense button-mashing, and weekend-long gaming marathons. Its battery life is impressive, too, making it a great backup for when your DualSense suddenly taps out mid-game.

If you want a premium esports controller designed specifically for PS5, this is one of the best — if not the best — option right now.

If you want rumble, adaptive triggers, or a cinematic gaming experience? This isn’t it.

Is the Razer Raiju V3 Pro your GamingMatch?

If I had to describe the whole experience in one line: I’m swiping right because the Razer Raiju V3 Pro is an excellent piece of tech.

But it’s not for everyone, especially not for its asking price (EUR 209.99 / PHP 12,990). You can argue there are cheaper options — absolutely — but most of those lean heavily toward PC.

In the PS5 space, especially for competitive players, this is probably the strongest contender you can buy today.

Gaming

Helldivers 2 reduces gigantic file size by 85 percent

From 154GB, you only need 23GB now.

Published

December 3, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

The problem with games today is how big they are. Try installing Call of Duty today and see how much of your hard drive it obliterates. This problem is most apparent with live-service games. Unfortunately, one unlikely suspect of this is the critically acclaimed Helldivers 2, which currently clocks in at around a whopping 154GB. Thankfully, Arrowhead Game Studios has done some cleaning to reduce the game’s phenomenal file size by an impressive 85 percent.

Released last year, Helldivers 2 presents an enjoyable third-person shooter which pits players, solo or in a group, against hordes of hostile aliens or rogue robots. Despite being difficult, the game wants players to have fun. However, because of new content getting added constantly, the file size can get to big for modern machines.

Today, in a new update currently in beta, Arrowhead, with the help of PlayStation port specialists at Nixxes, has reduced the required file size of Helldivers 2 to only around 23GB. That’s a gigantic reduction, swirling around 131GB of savings.

Despite the huge reduction, Arrowhead says that performance does not take a backseat. At most, the new file system can cause only a few seconds of more loading times, and that’s only for the few who still use HDDs.

Currently, the new file size is an opt-in beta update. Players will need to change their settings a bit, as guided by Arrowhead’s blog post. They also advise anyone who uses mods to take caution since the new files might break compatibility.

Ultimately, the main goal is to make the new file size the default state of the game. If you don’t want to opt into a beta, hang tight for the more definite update.