Running through a Helldivers 2 map as explosions abound and bullets fly can get chaotic. However, can you imagine the same in a confined space? If you have any degree of claustrophobia, it sounds like a nightmare, and the difficulty isn’t only for the players. The developers would have had a field day with the logistics of such a task.
So, when the idea of having underground maps was floated, many voiced their opinions on why such areas wouldn’t work. Not only would it make traversal a challenge, it would almost entirely negate the use of a very important tool: stratagems.
Underground Maps in Helldivers 2 Would Be Utter Chaos
As with many games, Helldivers 2 has an official Discord channel where fans can voice their grievances and make suggestions aimed at the developers. Arrowhead Game Studio was asked by a fan if “some cave underground maps” would ever feature in the map. The ask was for a map that offers “close-quarters combat” opportunities against swarms of enemies.
Another member of the channel responded to the asker, saying they didn’t know if such maps would ever make it to the game, but Arrowhead had “contemplated” them at one point. A community manager then stepped in, saying underground maps could be “really cool” but would necessitate “a lot of tech and logistics” as compared to surface fighting.
There are two main reasons an underground Helldivers 2 map would not work. The first are the stratagems. Players can call down these tactical drops from Super Destroyers waiting in the sky. Any barrier between the sky and the player would make it impossible for stratagems to be called in, making them almost useless in matches.
The second is the fact that friendly fire is always on in the game. There’s no shortage of clips and stories of players being taken out by bullets and bombs from their brothers in arms. Underground maps with their restricted spaces would become just a fray of bullets that leads to a constant loop of death by friendly fire.
Gamers are Going to Stay Topside for the Foreseeable Future
While something is appealing about mowing down swarms of Terminids erupting from the ground in a last-stand fortress-style showdown, it would take a lot of work to make sure the map experience doesn’t fall apart. Add to that the recent Democratic Detonation Warbond, and the developers already have a lot on their plates.
The update has brought several additions to the game, including a new set of weapons and armor. The CB-9 Exploding Crossbow is of particular interest to many. This explosive launcher has been in circulation quite a bit, and despite it affecting teammates from time to time, it is a good pick in your arsenal to quickly dispatch threats.
Helldivers 2’s popularity has not waned since its release, and people are still flocking to the PvE shooter in droves. While Arrowhead does have some bugs and glitches to iron out, as is the case with all live service titles, the game is bringing the community together one match at a time.
Do you think underground maps could work in the game? Let us know your comments below!