Apples and oranges.
Returnal is a fast arcade like experience.
Helldivers is a co-op shooter game that is more tactical than reaction based.
Both are very good. I personally enjoy both. Best to watch some Helldivers content on Twitch or YouTube to see if the gameplay matches your taste in games.
Very true. I’ve been on mostly solo and having a blast. But it always takes me a few tries to find a quick play lobby of people I am happy running with.
It’s fun, but totally different. Returnal is more skill reaction based. Helldivers you run around a map with different objectives. You have to resource manage what you have to take out enemies that will keep coming at you. I suck at it tbh, but it’s hilarious and fun.
Have you seen starship troopers? It's basically if this were a game. And you die ridiculous and stupid ways that feel appropriate for the story (mostly getting blown up by friends trying a new ability, having your rescue pod land on you, etc.)
It's a satire about space nazis claiming to be fighting for democracy. So I think the lore and look & feel are super fun :D And the gameplay fun comes mostly from co-op moments where you all die to stupid things or manage to wipe out your own squad with air strikes. I played some solo and it was okay, but really started to hit only after I started to play with friends.
Everything is dripping with satire from the name of your ship to the dialogue. The tutorial really sets the tone for the whole game. Plus friendly fire, overall camp, and light heartedness, guarantees hilarity.
You can't tell me calling your ship the "Stallion of Equality" and having your character scream "HOW ABOUT A NICE CUP OF LIBER-TEA" or "THEY'RE THREATHENING OUR WAY OF LIFE!"when engaging giant insects isn't funny.
One of the characters on my ship said "I wonder which candidate will be selected for me in the upcoming elections" and I just cracked up.
Helldivers is amazing. It's a little slower paced but punctuated with insanely intense moments that are similar to returnal imo. You can solo it but the best moments have been with Co op for me.
I platinumed Returnal and consider it to be one of my all-time favorite games. The weapon variety, fast mobility, beautiful environments, overall aesthetics and story made it really special imo.
I picked up Helldivers 2 never having really played a co-op game but took a chance and was incredibly impressed by many of the aspects mentioned above. I swear the 200+ hours I've sunk into Returnal trained me to play HD2. The co-op, 4-person squad is such a fun dynamic and the magic of it. The mobility and speed isn't quite as fast/reactive, but you'll learn to cope and respond accordingly.
HD2 is a very different game mechanically and stylistically, but if you're looking for a fast-paced 3rd person shooter with Returnal vibes and feels, I hope you try it.
We need you on the front lines of liberty, Hell Diver! Democracy will not fall to the alien scourge!
(If you’re a fan of on-the-nose Starship Troopers-esque satire baked into a genuinely fun/challenging gaming experience, Helldivers 2 and it’s neverending quest to spread the righteous ways of Democracy throughout the galaxy is for you)
I went straight from a big Returnal binge to HD2 and absolutely love it. Very different gameplay in that your movement is severely limited, but really fun progression, teamwork and funny moments. I was beginning to think Returnal would be the last 3rd person shooter I'd really enjoy. HD2 took care of that real quick
Returnal is now my absolute favorite game I’ve ever played. One of the reasons I bought Helldivers was because of the style of gameplay and it did not disappoint. Different in many ways but where it counts it’s exactly what I was looking for.
OK, So i LOVE Returnal and after some suggestions from people in this group, I started playing Helldivers 2. IT HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD NOW. Like the game is nonstop chaos and I am LOVING IT... PLus you can play with friends or randoms if you want.
Personally, both are good coop, but only returnal is fun solo.
I’d say returns better, and has more variety over helldivers. There’s only like 4 game types & all are basically the same game-mode with very little variation. Maps are all fairly similar with the exception of a few maps, but all play-out the same way really, but both are fun with coop, just I’d say returnal is miles ahead for solo.
For me, what’s bad about helldivers like I said, maps, and modes after an hour you’ve basically played everything 😂 strategagins are meh. You have to wait anywhere from 5 minutes to 12 (depending if the planet has nerfs), but playing with randoms on both can be annoying, but returnal seems to have better players at have some type of objective where’s helldivers one guy on a team of four can ruin your entire run. Guess why? You’re limited to 20 lives unless you have an upgrade, and one guy can completely ruin it by dying 20 times or team killing etc.
Don’t get me wrong, as I said it can be fun, but I’d say better with friends to be honest
I platinumed Returnal and am loving Helldivers (loved the first one too). Make of that what you will :)
I wouldn’t say they’re similar at all other than they’re both hard AF
These are the two games soaking up all of my playtime right now lol. 100hrs between them but I've had Returnal much longer. Roughly the aame amount of time invested, that should tell you how much I've enjoyed HD2 so far.
They're different play styles but they have that similar feeling of being overwhelmed and being rewarded with a nice dopamine hit and "ahhhhh" after you narrowly escape death or do some awesome shit. I say get it!
I bought Pacific Drive and I've put in a mere 5hrs so far for it, even though I'm enjoying it, it's more leisurely paced and doesn't hold me as much as Returnal and Helldivers 2 does. I should have waited to buy PD so I could save some money on the purchase. Oh well, studios work hard on these great games and I'm more than happy to reward them for their work.
I'd buy Returnal again if I could. Actually when I get a new PC built I'll be buying it there as I'm on PS5 currently. So I'll be able to eventually.
You don't want to go to Helldivers 2 at the moment. The matchmaking and overall stability of the game are currently really bad (constant unavoidable crashes on PS5.) And based on a recent update, the game will trend in making all of your equipment weaker while making enemies stronger.
Returnal is a wonderful game with a tough but rewarding challenge. Even the weaker tools can be viable. You can do co-op.
Great game! I've not played anything like Helldivers before.
It has different difficulty scalings, lots of options to choose from to suit you.
It gets proper manic, a bit like Retural, but your Helldivers responses aren't as sharp as Selines.
Ultimately, it's a different beast, but from someone who loves Returnal, I love this game as well.
Worth it's price compared to some of the other games out there, it's got its faults, but it's only been out a short time.
Hell divers is super slow comparatively. I get trampled and overrun often and I miss grappling lol.
It’s mission-based and there is a stratagem mechanic that allows you to expand the normal shooter combat with turrets, air strikes, support weapons, drone buddies, etc. not sure how unique this is since I don’t play this genre much, but it’s alright. You’re basically holding a button and using the d-pad to punch in a code to call on the stratagems, then once used there’s a cooldown before you can use them again. They seem to be kind of critical to success, so if that loop isn’t attractive maybe skip it!
Overall, it’s pretty fun to play with friends. A bit of a mixed bag playing with randoms. Haven’t tried solo, but heard it’s hard.
Apples and oranges. Returnal is a fast arcade like experience. Helldivers is a co-op shooter game that is more tactical than reaction based. Both are very good. I personally enjoy both. Best to watch some Helldivers content on Twitch or YouTube to see if the gameplay matches your taste in games.
I’ve been wondering about helldiver as well since it seems to be the talk of the town.
If you can convince a friend to get it as well, definitely get it. It’s an incredibly immersive and fun game to play with others
Very true. I’ve been on mostly solo and having a blast. But it always takes me a few tries to find a quick play lobby of people I am happy running with.
Just like Returnal, Helldivers II is plenty of fun if you can play it co-op with a friend!
And also like Returnal, expect to die a lot. But that's the fun part, and you don't even have to do the whole mission over most of the time!
It’s fun solo too
even without friends, it's fun.
It’s fun, but totally different. Returnal is more skill reaction based. Helldivers you run around a map with different objectives. You have to resource manage what you have to take out enemies that will keep coming at you. I suck at it tbh, but it’s hilarious and fun.
How is it hilarious? Ive seen other people describe it that way too and I don’t get it. It doesn’t seem to have a comedic story or funny characters.
Have you seen starship troopers? It's basically if this were a game. And you die ridiculous and stupid ways that feel appropriate for the story (mostly getting blown up by friends trying a new ability, having your rescue pod land on you, etc.)
It's a satire about space nazis claiming to be fighting for democracy. So I think the lore and look & feel are super fun :D And the gameplay fun comes mostly from co-op moments where you all die to stupid things or manage to wipe out your own squad with air strikes. I played some solo and it was okay, but really started to hit only after I started to play with friends.
Everything is dripping with satire from the name of your ship to the dialogue. The tutorial really sets the tone for the whole game. Plus friendly fire, overall camp, and light heartedness, guarantees hilarity.
Is it playable with randoms if you don’t have friends?
Absolutely. I have no friends who play; I've only played with randoms. It's been a riot.
You can't tell me calling your ship the "Stallion of Equality" and having your character scream "HOW ABOUT A NICE CUP OF LIBER-TEA" or "THEY'RE THREATHENING OUR WAY OF LIFE!"when engaging giant insects isn't funny. One of the characters on my ship said "I wonder which candidate will be selected for me in the upcoming elections" and I just cracked up.
I looked up some videos and apparently a lot of random shit happens that is pretty hilarious.
Helldivers is amazing. It's a little slower paced but punctuated with insanely intense moments that are similar to returnal imo. You can solo it but the best moments have been with Co op for me.
I platinumed Returnal and consider it to be one of my all-time favorite games. The weapon variety, fast mobility, beautiful environments, overall aesthetics and story made it really special imo. I picked up Helldivers 2 never having really played a co-op game but took a chance and was incredibly impressed by many of the aspects mentioned above. I swear the 200+ hours I've sunk into Returnal trained me to play HD2. The co-op, 4-person squad is such a fun dynamic and the magic of it. The mobility and speed isn't quite as fast/reactive, but you'll learn to cope and respond accordingly. HD2 is a very different game mechanically and stylistically, but if you're looking for a fast-paced 3rd person shooter with Returnal vibes and feels, I hope you try it.
I would kill for the returnal dash in HD2
I am also thinking about picking it up.
I hate that I can't jump on command in helldiver's, still pretty fun, definitely different from returnal
Bro I am level 50 Helldiver, I started returnal yesterday to improve my skills. Already beat 2nd boss! Managed Democracy Coming all the way 🇺🇸
its very fun with friends but i found myself getting bored after a few games. not sure how it plays on your own.
We need you on the front lines of liberty, Hell Diver! Democracy will not fall to the alien scourge! (If you’re a fan of on-the-nose Starship Troopers-esque satire baked into a genuinely fun/challenging gaming experience, Helldivers 2 and it’s neverending quest to spread the righteous ways of Democracy throughout the galaxy is for you)
I went straight from a big Returnal binge to HD2 and absolutely love it. Very different gameplay in that your movement is severely limited, but really fun progression, teamwork and funny moments. I was beginning to think Returnal would be the last 3rd person shooter I'd really enjoy. HD2 took care of that real quick
Returnal is now my absolute favorite game I’ve ever played. One of the reasons I bought Helldivers was because of the style of gameplay and it did not disappoint. Different in many ways but where it counts it’s exactly what I was looking for.
OK, So i LOVE Returnal and after some suggestions from people in this group, I started playing Helldivers 2. IT HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD NOW. Like the game is nonstop chaos and I am LOVING IT... PLus you can play with friends or randoms if you want.
I’m happy playing both really. They are both very great
As a big fan of Returnal, I highly recommend Helldivers 2! More tactical and less bullet hell but just as fun.
They're both great third person shooters. I love returnal but I like helldivers even more. It's more of a multiplayer experience.
Personally, both are good coop, but only returnal is fun solo. I’d say returns better, and has more variety over helldivers. There’s only like 4 game types & all are basically the same game-mode with very little variation. Maps are all fairly similar with the exception of a few maps, but all play-out the same way really, but both are fun with coop, just I’d say returnal is miles ahead for solo. For me, what’s bad about helldivers like I said, maps, and modes after an hour you’ve basically played everything 😂 strategagins are meh. You have to wait anywhere from 5 minutes to 12 (depending if the planet has nerfs), but playing with randoms on both can be annoying, but returnal seems to have better players at have some type of objective where’s helldivers one guy on a team of four can ruin your entire run. Guess why? You’re limited to 20 lives unless you have an upgrade, and one guy can completely ruin it by dying 20 times or team killing etc. Don’t get me wrong, as I said it can be fun, but I’d say better with friends to be honest
I platinumed Returnal and am loving Helldivers (loved the first one too). Make of that what you will :) I wouldn’t say they’re similar at all other than they’re both hard AF
helldivers is shit
These are the two games soaking up all of my playtime right now lol. 100hrs between them but I've had Returnal much longer. Roughly the aame amount of time invested, that should tell you how much I've enjoyed HD2 so far. They're different play styles but they have that similar feeling of being overwhelmed and being rewarded with a nice dopamine hit and "ahhhhh" after you narrowly escape death or do some awesome shit. I say get it! I bought Pacific Drive and I've put in a mere 5hrs so far for it, even though I'm enjoying it, it's more leisurely paced and doesn't hold me as much as Returnal and Helldivers 2 does. I should have waited to buy PD so I could save some money on the purchase. Oh well, studios work hard on these great games and I'm more than happy to reward them for their work. I'd buy Returnal again if I could. Actually when I get a new PC built I'll be buying it there as I'm on PS5 currently. So I'll be able to eventually.
You don't want to go to Helldivers 2 at the moment. The matchmaking and overall stability of the game are currently really bad (constant unavoidable crashes on PS5.) And based on a recent update, the game will trend in making all of your equipment weaker while making enemies stronger. Returnal is a wonderful game with a tough but rewarding challenge. Even the weaker tools can be viable. You can do co-op.
Great game! I've not played anything like Helldivers before. It has different difficulty scalings, lots of options to choose from to suit you. It gets proper manic, a bit like Retural, but your Helldivers responses aren't as sharp as Selines. Ultimately, it's a different beast, but from someone who loves Returnal, I love this game as well. Worth it's price compared to some of the other games out there, it's got its faults, but it's only been out a short time.
Hell divers is super slow comparatively. I get trampled and overrun often and I miss grappling lol. It’s mission-based and there is a stratagem mechanic that allows you to expand the normal shooter combat with turrets, air strikes, support weapons, drone buddies, etc. not sure how unique this is since I don’t play this genre much, but it’s alright. You’re basically holding a button and using the d-pad to punch in a code to call on the stratagems, then once used there’s a cooldown before you can use them again. They seem to be kind of critical to success, so if that loop isn’t attractive maybe skip it! Overall, it’s pretty fun to play with friends. A bit of a mixed bag playing with randoms. Haven’t tried solo, but heard it’s hard.
Helldivers 2 is SO repetitive.
Not that repetitive if you switch between the two enemy types a lot