Jumping into the action as a Helldiver has never felt more thrilling than it is now! Arrowhead has spiced things up with the addition of urban maps, a new recon vehicle, and even a third enemy faction to keep us on our toes. Initially, the story of the Illuminate making a return to the galaxy seemed like a quick, weekend plotline. After all, they showed up without much warning right after The Game Awards announcement and put Calypso under siege. Helldivers barely managed to save Calypso just in the nick of time. But it seems those pesky space squids now have their sights set on an even more sinister target: the black hole that used to be Meridia.
For those not caught up, here’s a quick rundown. The game has two other enemy factions: the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, known for their bug-like behavior, have become somewhat of a fan-favorite opponent. Even when missions direct players to engage with the Automatons, a good number of gamers stick around in Terminid territory, indulging their Starship Troopers fantasies. Recently, the Terminid threat ramped up with a series of rapid and fierce evolutions. Super Earth intelligence pinpointed that Meridia was a pivotal Terminid Supercolony.
Arrowhead spiced things up with a special event challenging players to flood Meridia with Dark Fluid. Their mission was to hold back the Supercolony forces in a bold ploy that ended with Meridia transforming into a black hole. It’s reminiscent of Chekhov’s Gun—introduce a dramatic element, and it’s bound to play a critical role. With that black hole as an inviting target, it was only a matter of time before sinister space squids took an interest.
Unlike the other factions, the Illuminate haven’t claimed permanent territory. Instead, they seem to prefer tactical, hit-and-run assaults on Super Earth’s domains, starting from Calypso and venturing east. Initially, it all seemed like an evolving strategy until fans noticed peculiar activity around Meridia. The black hole there has taken on a purple hue, glows brightly, and is pulling in debris at a worrying speed.
So far, Helldivers have taken on the peculiar task of defending Terminid space from these Illuminates, which is quite the twist after months of battling the bugs. As Operation Squid Game wrapped up around 4:30 p.m. ET last Friday, the Illuminate once more faded from the map. Yet, it feels like this saga isn’t concluded. There are certainly gaps in the Illuminate’s ranks, and I’m betting they’re about to be filled with brand new, terrifying bio-organic foes. At least players now have the option to buy the vehicle as a Stratagem, offering some much-needed mobility in this sprawling intergalactic battle for democracy. It’s all about finding those silver linings amidst a relentless three-front war!
