Helldivers 2 Review Bombed Again Amid Battle for Super Earth

Helldivers 2 continues to immerse players in an intense, evolving war for Super Earth as the Illuminate fleet pushes its invasion forward. However, a recent narrative development has sparked significant frustration and led to a wave of negative reviews across platforms like Steam.

The latest update, Heart of Democracy, marks the climax of months of in-game storytelling. The Meridian Singularity—a black hole created during a battle with the Terminids—was hurled toward Super Earth, acting as the vanguard of the Illuminate's invasion. As the wormhole opened, the "Great Host" poured through, turning the planet into a full-scale warzone.

Players have been defending key locations known as Mega Cities, each representing real-world metropolises such as New York (York Supreme), Buenos Aires (Remembrance), and Shanghai (Equality-On-Sea). At the time of writing, only Equality-On-Sea and Prosperity City—the capital of Super Earth, symbolizing Stockholm—remain under Helldiver control.

As the conflict approached what felt like its final act, the community rallied behind Major Orders and large-scale operations. Players even diverted efforts to assist other fronts, including a mission against Automaton forces that successfully returned the DSS—a massive military orbital station—to Super Earth for defensive support.

A strong sense of unity emerged globally, especially around the defense of Equality-On-Sea. Despite overwhelming pressure from the Illuminate, players continued to drop in, memes were shared, and morale remained high. This collaborative spirit is one of the hallmarks of Helldivers 2’s emergent gameplay, where developer-driven narratives merge with player actions to create unforgettable moments.

However, a key issue arose: Equality-On-Sea never reached 100% defense completion. Its final percentage stood at 99.9783%, a number that became central to growing dissatisfaction. Some players interpreted this as a failure or deliberate design choice by Arrowhead, fueling theories that the developers may be manipulating outcomes or intentionally prolonging the storyline.

This ambiguity—combined with the belief that the final showdown would occur in Prosperity City—has triggered a surge of criticism on Steam. Within a 24-hour window, over 2,300 negative reviews were posted, many originating from Chinese players. While translations are imperfect, common themes include disappointment over narrative control, perceived interference from developers, and repeated references to the 99.9783% threshold.

It's worth noting that while this backlash is significant, it doesn’t yet match the scale of the infamous May 2024 review-bombing incident tied to controversial PSN requirements.

Despite the discontent, this moment should be seen as one of the game's most ambitious and emotionally charged arcs. The feeling of holding out in a crumbling city under relentless attack is masterfully executed. The atmosphere, tension, and global coordination among players highlight the unique strengths of Helldivers 2’s living world.

Unfortunately, national identity played a role in escalating tensions, slightly overshadowing the otherwise incredible experience. Although moderators and fan communities have urged restraint and perspective, the controversy has left a sour note beneath the spectacle.

As of now, both Equality-On-Sea and Prosperity City remain active warzones, with the former still maintaining a higher defense percentage. The final phase of the battle for Super Earth appears to be underway, and the current directive remains clear: Hold Super Earth.

With luck, the community can move past the current frustrations and fully appreciate the monumental effort put into crafting this dynamic, player-driven story arc.