It’s an exciting era for Helldivers as Arrowhead has recently spiced things up by introducing urban maps, a sleek recon vehicle, and a brand-new third enemy faction. Initially, it seemed like the saga of the Illuminate making a comeback would wrap up quickly, maybe over a weekend. These pesky space squids stormed back into the galaxy right after being announced at The Game Awards, targeting the planet Calypso. The Helldivers scrambled and just barely managed to protect Calypso in the nick of time. Now, it seems the Illuminate have set their ominous sights on an even more mysterious target: the black hole where the planet Meridia once stood.
Let’s rewind a bit here for some context. In Helldivers, players are usually up against two main enemy factions: the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, in particular, have become fan favorites, reminding many of a Starship Troopers-style battle scenario. Even when orders direct players to battle against robots, a number of gamers stick around in Terminid space to enjoy these buggy invasions. Over time, these insect-like foes have adapted, evolving rapidly with impressive strength. Super Earth’s intelligence had identified Meridia as a vital Supercolony in their space.
Arrowhead spiced things up by organizing a thrilling, time-limited event where players had to flood Meridia with Dark Fluid to thwart the Supercolony’s relentless forces. The mission was a hit, transforming Meridia into a black hole. You might recognize the famous trope of Chekhov’s Gun: introduce a gun early in a story and eventually, it must go off. It seems this concept plays out here in Helldivers. When you create a bizarre cosmic anomaly, it’s bound to grab some unwanted attention, like, say, from some menacing space squids.
The Illuminate, intriguingly, have not carved out a permanent residence in any part of space unlike their counterparts. They prefer an aggressive hit-and-run strategy against Super Earth’s territories, launching assaults on Calypso before moving eastward. Initially, this didn’t seem particularly concerning, but then Meridia began drawing attention. The black hole has developed a purple glow, it’s shining brighter, and is ravenously pulling in debris.
So, how do Helldivers fit into all this? For now, they’ve defended Terminid territory from the Illuminate — a strange twist, given their months of fighting against the bugs themselves. The squid threat has been temporarily repelled, wrapping up the dramatic “Operation Squid Game” by late afternoon Friday. However, it seems clear this story isn’t quite finished. The Illuminate seem to be missing some pieces in their arsenal, and it wouldn’t be surprising if more frightening bio-organic creatures appear soon. On a brighter note, players can take solace in the fact that the new vehicle is now available as a Stratagem, ready for action at a moment’s notice. You’ve got to appreciate the small victories when you’re in the thick of an intergalactic battle for democracy spread across three fronts.
