Helldivers 2 has seen a recent threat from the previous game make a grand return. The Omens of Tyranny update has brought back the Illuminate, an enemy faction that uses advanced technology and numbers to take down anyone who stands in its way. Players who have tangled with the latest addition to the game will notice its units utilize force fields, allowing them to be as aggressive as they are. The added layer of protection that the Illuminate utilizes is why some fail to complete their missions, and why the faction should not be ignored.
With The Game Awards 2024 announcing the release of the recent Helldivers 2 major update, players have been given a fresh new experience. The Illuminate can be seen as a breath of fresh air, as the faction's units are like a combination of the best parts between the Automatons and the Terminids. The new enemy can also be seen as more durable, as the force fields it utilizes can withstand a lot of damage and prevent what would be killing blows. One can say that the effectiveness of those shields makes the Illuminate the biggest threat and that players should learn how to deal with them to beat back the returning faction.
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Why the Illuminate’s Force Fields Make Them Seem Tougher Than the Automatons and Terminids
Learning how to fight the Illuminate means understanding why the faction is so deadly, and while its units possess many qualities that make them hard to deal with, its force fields stand out from the rest. It's what makes the returning enemy feel deadlier than the Terminids and the Automatons, as it allows them benefits such as:
- Dragging players' attention toward units that have them, allowing the faction's other troops to take advantage of the situation and hurt or even kill their targets
-
Giving the already deadly Harvester a way to survive something like a
Eagle 500Kg Bomb, allowing it to wreak havoc until it is focused on
- Making it harder to kill the Illuminate Warp Ships, which can spawn countless Illuminate troops if not dealt with immediately
The force field provides the Illuminate with many advantages, but it's important to remember that it isn't the only thing that's deadly about them. The faction utilizes it well with the rest of its arsenal, and players must learn and do what's necessary to get rid of that added layer of protection as easily as possible so they can deal with the other dangerous qualities.
Why the Automatons and Terminids Should Have Their Own Version of the Illuminate’s Force Fields
One of the reasons the Illuminate are the perfect middle ground between the Automatons and Terminids is the force field factor. The dangers of the units that utilize it are emphasized, as it lets them carry out aggressive actions and operations more freely. Having something like that for the insect and robotic factions could make them more engaging to deal with, but Arrowhead Game Studios should ensure that it isn't an exact copy of the ability. Instead of a force field, perhaps a future Terminid unit could secrete fluid that temporarily deflects projectiles to those it covers, and maybe the Automatons could introduce an automobile whose role is to act only as a large barrier for the troops. Arrowhead Game Studios can get creative with the idea, and having some of them actually push through would make the game more fun and exciting.
Force fields have made the Illuminate a terrifying enemy to fight against, and why the faction can feel much harder to deal with than the Automatons or Terminids at times. If there's one thing players can expect from Helldivers 2 in 2025, it's the possibility of an update that gives the other factions their own version of the ability. Given what it has done for the Illuminate, there's hope that Arrowhead Game Studios may already be considering it.
Helldivers 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
