"Helldivers 2 remains a thrilling, action-packed game"

"Helldivers 2 remains a thrilling, action-packed game"

Here Comes the Illuminates, Baby!

The Illuminates are back on the prowl in Helldivers 2, creeping closer to Super Earth like some twisted, intergalactic boogeyman. And boy, is it a wild ride!

Gamers are buzzing about the upcoming update, which could drop any day now. The last significant update was in December, the Omen of Tyranny, but this one's shaping up to be just as exciting. The stage is set, y'all, and it's about to get real.

Let's talk newcomers. The Illuminates have beefed up their army with three fresh faces:

• Fleshmobs: Ugh, these meaty monstrosities are made from the torn, zombiey remains of former citizens. They're like smaller, nippier Chargers, swarming helldivers for some good, old-fashioned, gut-punch action. They're all meat, so you can blast through them with ease, but watch out - they come in packs of two or three.
• Crescent Overseers: These Cannoneers love to lurk in the shadows, launching mortars across the battlefront from the safety of their cover. A real coward's game, but effective none the less.
• Stingrays: These fighter jets are a rough equivalent of the Automaton's gunships. But unlike the previous models, Stingrays don't hang around begging for a rocket to the engines. Nope, these bad boys circle the fight, then swoop in for a Top Gun-style strafing run that'll take down any helldiver in their path. Your brief window to take them down is an adrenaline-pumping chance to prove your skills.

Back in the fight, I can tell you Helldivers 2's urban Illuminate missions are kickin' it up a notch. These jets and mortar squids fit the claustrophobic streets of colony planets like a glove. I wondered last year how Arrowhead could introduce a faction distinct from the bots and bugs, but the Illuminates' strategy is becoming clear: endless waves, crowded killzones, and versatile archetypes to overwhelm the frontline while laying waste from a distance.

What's Super Earth going to do about it? If rumors of "mega city" maps on Super Earth itself are true, I sure hope it's finally time for that armored APC from last year's leaks to hit the streets.

Now, let's talk custom weapons. Arrowhead's added a new level of customization with unlockable sights, grips, and underbarrels. It's a nice touch, but without exciting enough sidegrades, I'm not sure it's worth another 100 hours of grinding.

Still, I'll be slapping a holographic sight on my beloved Eruptor - it just got another buff to its explosive damage, baby!

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I skipped over the other major feature of yesterday's patch – weapon customization. Arrowhead's added a new progression path for (almost) all primary weapons with unlockable sights, grips, and underbarrels to fine-tune a gun's handling. The Call of Duty gunsmith-lite approach is a nice start, but the sidegrades don't seem exciting enough to justify another 100 hours of grinding.

But hey, I'm absolutely slapping a holographic sight on my beloved Eruptor, which just got another buff to its explosive damage.

Morgan ParkA PC Gamer writer since 2018, Morgan scribbles on Polygon, Kotaku, Fanbyte, and PCGamesN, as well as here. Before freelancing, he spent his teenage years and college writing at small gaming sites that barely paid him. He's grateful for a real gig now. Morgan's a beat writer following the hottest shooters and the communities that play them. He also writes general news, reviews, features, guides, and, well, bad jokes in Slack. If you twist his arm, he'll even write about a boring strategy game. Just don't, please.

1. The upcoming update for Helldivers 2 is generating excitement among gamers, with the Illuminates' new army additions, such as Fleshmobs, Crescent Overseers, and Stingrays, promising a challenging and diverse battlefield experience.
2. The Stingrays, fighter jets introduced by the Illuminates, pose a significant threat with their Top Gun-style strafing runs, making it an adrenaline-pumping chance for helldivers to prove their skills.
3. As Super Earth prepares for the ongoing advance of the Illuminates, rumors of "mega city" maps on Super Earth itself have surfaced, fueling speculation that the armored APC from last year's leaks could finally be deployed.
4. The latest patch for Helldivers 2 introduced a new level of customization for primary weapons, including unlockable sights, grips, and underbarrels, offering helldivers a chance to fine-tune their firearms for optimal performance.
5. In the world of space-and-astronomy, gadgets, and technology, PC Gamer writer Morgan Park brings the latest news, reviews, and deals to both gaming enthusiasts and casual players alike, covering all aspects of the gaming industry, from shooters to strategy games, and everything in between.

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