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

Valve unveils price of the Steam Frame

The VR headset starts at US$ 1,059.

Published

September 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The trifecta is complete. Almost a year after announcing their new hardware, Valve has finally unveiled the price tag of the Steam Frame, complementing the Steam Machine and Steam Controller revealed a few months ago.

Whereas the Steam Machine is a console of its own, the Steam Frame is a traditional VR headset with a pair of controllers for both hands. Unfortunately, despite being in a different segment, the headset is not immune to the rising prices of technology. The Steam Frame will start at US$ 1,059 for a 256GB model and can go up to US$ 1,299 for the 1TB model. On the plus side, each box will come Half-Life: Alyx packaged along with the headset.

Here’s a more detailed rundown of what you’re getting. The Steam Frame will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM. Each eye comes with a 2160 x 2160 LCD screen, putting out images at up t0 a 144Hz experimental refresh rate. As mentioned above, the headset will start with 256GB of storage but can go up to 2TB. It will come packaged with SteamOS 3 and a rechargeable 21.6Wh battery.

This might be a hard buy for some. The industry currently has more affordable options, for one. Also, virtual reality isn’t the most thriving segment of gaming today.

If you’re still decided on buying one, however, Valve is using its lottery system. Interested customers can sign up from now until September 17. The company will then randomize the purchasing order. Those who draw the first ones in the lottery can get a purchase email as soon as September 18. Meanwhile, anyone who registers after September 17 will automatically be put at the back of the queue.

Gaming

BlizzCon 2026 announces World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more also get news

Published

September 14, 2026

GadgetMatch

Blizzard Entertainment kicked off BlizzCon 2026 with a packed Opening Ceremony featuring new games, major expansions, updates, and other announcements across its biggest franchises.

Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries opened the event at the Anaheim Convention Center, celebrating the community behind the company’s games and the teams that bring its worlds to life.

World of Warcraft: Forever and Diablo V

The biggest announcement was World of Warcraft: Forever, a new World of Warcraft experience launching November 5 AEDT, with its beta beginning September 18 AEST. The new experience will feature three zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and a new Skyborne race.

Blizzard also officially announced Diablo V, marking the next era of the franchise. The game is set to launch in North America in Spring 2029, with Sanctuary having fallen and Diablo having won.

StarCraft is also returning with a new story-driven, open-world shooter. The game is currently planned for a Spring 2030 release in North America.

Beyond games, Blizzard revealed that an animated series set in the Diablo universe is in development with Netflix. The company says this is only the beginning of its plans to expand its universes beyond gaming.

For Warcraft III Reforged, the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign is available today. It marks the Warcraft RTS series’ first new storyline in more than 23 years and explores the fall of Lordaeron and the origins of the Undercity. The accompanying 3.0 update also brings graphical improvements and a revamped World Editor.

Heroes of the Storm is adding Xal’atath as its newest Hero. She arrives in the Nexus on September 29 AEST, with her PTR release scheduled for September 15 AEST.

Existing games updates

Meanwhile, Diablo IV is preparing for its next major content drop. Season of Hell’s Legacy begins September 16 AEST and celebrates the franchise’s 30-year history with the return of the Prime Evils and Deckard Cain, alongside themed rewards and gear.

The legendary Amazon class will also arrive in the first half of 2027 as part of Diablo IV’s first class pack. The Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection is additionally coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 16 AEST with cross-platform play and cross-progression.

For World of Warcraft, Blizzard teased the next major update for Midnight. Eclipse (12.2) will see Xal’atath move closer to her goal of claiming Azeroth’s Worldsoul. Blizzard also offered another look at The Last Titan, the next expansion in the Worldsoul Saga and a major culmination of more than two decades of Warcraft storytelling. More information is coming early next year.

Overwatch is getting a major update with Season 5. The season introduces new Support Hero Doctrine, reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, and the new Watchpoint: Grimsvötn map. It will also conclude The Reign of Talon, Overwatch’s first year-long narrative arc.

LE SSERAFIM & YOASABI

BlizzCon also featured performances from YOASOBI and LE SSERAFIM. YOASOBI will perform during the first-ever esports halftime show at BlizzCon, while LE SSERAFIM will return to the Main Stage to close the weekend. A new LE SSERAFIM in-game collaboration is available now, with another Overwatch Spotlight scheduled for February 2027.

Finally, Hearthstone is getting its first new class in more than six years. The Monk arrives in 2027, while the upcoming Reign of the Black Empire expansion takes players back to the earliest age of Azeroth. It introduces the Assemble keyword, which combines two cards into a new one. Battlegrounds is also adding Aberrations as a new minion type.

BlizzCon 2026 is now underway, with Blizzard promising more announcements and details throughout the weekend.

Gaming

Just Dance: Decades of Hits to launch on October 13

All-new Just Dance experience that brings every generation together

Published

September 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Just Dance: Decades of Hits will launch on modern consoles on October 13, Ubisoft has announced.

This will offer fans of the franchise a new experience across eras of music. The game will be available on PlayStation5 , Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on the launch date.

Nintendo Switch 2 users, meanwhile, will be able to enjoy the title by November 10, 2026.

Just Dance: Decades of Hits brings together every generation to one dance floor with 25 iconic songs across six different decades:

Mamma Mia by ABBA
Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
It’s Tricky by Run-DMC
No Scrubs by TLC
Wannabe by Spice Girls
Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC
Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
Turn Down for What by DJ Snake and Lil Jon
Danza Kuduro by Don Omar feat. Lucenzo
Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter
NUEVAYoL by Bad Bunny
And more!

Bringing every generation together

Songs, visuals, and an all-new Adventure Mode are all designed to immerse players in the spirit that made each decade unforgettable.

From the funky ’70s disco floors and the electrifying ’80s rock scene to the glossy 2000s pop and beyond, travel through time and share the joy of rediscovering iconic moments with friends and family.

In Adventure Mode, follow Lyra, Dr. Gigavolt’s daughter, in a playful journey through time to rescue her father.

Explore the decades through six themed worlds, enjoy fun mini activities, and unlock exclusive rewards.

For unpredictable, chaotic fun where the rules change every round, players can jump into Party Mode. Or they can get moving with the Workout Mode, which tracks calories burned with each dance.

Up to six players can dance locally in the game, with no extra accessories needed.

In addition those who own Just Dance: Decades of Hits as well as Just Dance 2023-2026 editions will be able access all their songs in one place on the same console without having to switch games or separate menus.

This also includes songs from purchased Music Packs and songs available through an active Just Dance+ subscription.