The world of Helldivers is buzzing with excitement as Arrowhead introduces fresh urban maps, a new recon vehicle, and a third enemy faction to the game. Initially, it seemed the Illuminate’s return to the galaxy would be a brief tale, unfolding over just a weekend. These enigmatic space squids made their entrance right after being announced at The Game Awards, descending upon the planet Calypso. In a nail-biting finish, Helldivers managed to defend Calypso. Now, the Illuminate have set their sights on an even more intriguing target: the mysterious black hole that once was Meridia.
Let me break it down for you. In the game, we started with two main enemy factions: the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, in particular, have captivated players, with many opting to stay and battle them even when Super Earth commands direct them elsewhere. Recently, the attention from players led to some rapid and powerful evolutionary changes in the Terminid threat. Super Earth’s intelligence pinpointed Meridia as a central hub of Terminid activity, a Supercolony, if you will.
Arrowhead hosted a thrilling, time-sensitive event where players had to saturate Meridia with Dark Fluid, all while fending off the Supercolony’s ferocious forces. The mission was a success and Meridia transformed into a black hole. Now, in storytelling terms, they say if you introduce an element like this, it must play a pivotal role later on. True to form, this cosmic anomaly has captured the attention of those cunning space squids.
Interestingly, the Illuminate haven’t staked a permanent claim in space, unlike their adversaries. Their strategy involves swift raids on Super Earth territories, beginning with Calypso and heading eastward. Initially, there wasn’t much to note about their tactics until fans began observing odd developments around Meridia. The black hole has taken on a more vibrant purple hue and is pulling in debris at a concerning pace.
So far, the Helldivers have managed to defend against the Illuminate in Terminid territory, which is quite a twist considering their history of battling bugs. By the conclusion of Operation Squid Game on Friday afternoon, the Illuminate had once again disappeared from the battlefield. However, I have a feeling this storyline is far from over. It looks like we’ll be facing some new, frightening bio-organic threats soon as the Illuminate’s lineup evolves. On the brighter side, players can now add the new vehicle to their arsenal as a Stratagem and hit the ground running anytime. It’s important to count your victories, especially when you’re entrenched in a three-pronged galactic battle for democracy.
