Helldivers 2 has mostly been appreciated by fans for its co-op gameplay, efficient game design, and consumer-driven approach to the live-service formula. Despite the game being focused on multiplayer co-op, however, it does have an underlying narrative.
The game relies on environmental storytelling to make the player feel like the game doesn’t lack any depth. Recently, the game’s lead writer revealed the team’s vision for the game and how they executed the game’s writing and avoided missteps.
Helldivers 2’s Lead Writer Shares What Inspired Him to Pen Down the Game’s Premise
Dystopian themes aren’t uncommon in video games at all. Video game series like Fallout by Bethesda and Bioshock 2K and titles like Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt RED have based their plot on dystopian themes and have told some of the best stories in video games.
For Helldivers 2, it was a different journey, as the original game wasn’t the sensation that the sequel became among fans. In a recent interview with Inverse, the game’s lead writer, Russ Nickel, candidly shared his experience while spearheading the game’s plot. During the interview, the game’s former lead writer stated that his inspirations included movies like V for Vendetta and the Christian Bale-starrer Equilibrium.
Nickel was also very clear about the world he wanted to create for the sequel and knew what he wanted to avoid. For example, he stated how he wanted the game’s audience to maneuver their way around the plot:
As a writer I do believe that you should just put the work out there and then let the audience find the inspiration and the parallels…I was very much against a JK Rowling “Dumbledore was gay” kind of thing. Let the work stand and then people can digest the themes.
The lead writer followed this up by saying he wanted to let the audience make their own perceptions of things. Moreover, as with any satirical art form, the message is conveyed best when it isn’t handed to the audience on a platter and allows them to ponder and deliberate.
One of Helldivers 2’s Strengths Is That It Doesn’t Get Preachy or Impose Anything on Its Audience
The lore of Helldivers 2, which even the game’s director, Johan Pilestedt, was seen living vicariously through, is gripping and nuanced. However, it was able to cater to the audience as well as it did because it didn’t do the audience’s work for them.
Unlike JK Rowling, who confirmed that Dumbledore was gay, Nickel wanted to opt for an approach similar to Christopher Nolan’s. He wanted to keep fans in limbo and let their imagination answer open-ended questions. As expected, Helldivers 2 massively benefited from this.
Indeed, the fan-following is not comparable to IPs like Harry Potter. However, Nickel’s approach seems to be a significant reason for the game’s success. Additionally, plenty of life remains in the game and the IP thanks to its storytelling method.
What do you think of the approach shared by Russ Nickel? We would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!
