Helldivers 2 players have recently been channeling their inner Master Chief, actively exercising their democratic right to ignore High Command entirely. This dedicated group spent weeks focusing their liberating efforts on a planet bearing a vague resemblance to the world from Halo Reach. Both planets, for instance, not only feature a location called New Alexandria, but are also infested with aliens. So, how can Super Earth pull off scheduling a party while fighting a three-way galactic war?
Defiance Gets a Parade in Helldivers 2
Their valiant, and possibly illegal, defiance has now been officially rewarded with a brand new holiday. Checking the Helldivers 2 social media account, players can see the announcement about the liberation of the planet Seyshel Beach. Moreover, the post credits a small but inexplicably dedicated group of Helldivers for the long campaign. This date of liberation, known as Avengement Day, was voted for by the planet’s citizens in an effort to commemorate this hard-won victory against the Illuminate.
For citizens involved, this celebration was paused to remember the planets lost to humanity’s foes. Not only that, but they relished the superlative satisfaction of long-awaited retribution. While the term Avengement Day sounds like a brand of overly aggressive cologne, the entire situation feels incredibly familiar. Where has this plot been done before? Think about it — a subset of divers are lured into investigating a planet that’s located far from High Command’s actual Major Order and teeming with seemingly insurmountable odds.
Unofficial Victory Gets Official Stamp
Screenshot of One Image of True Flag in Helldivers 2, Courtesy of Arrowhead Studio GamesIt seems that Malevelon Creek is happening all over again, which was undoubtedly Helldivers 2‘s most infamous moment of player-driven mass role-playing. To capture just one irrelevant planet, thousands of divers nearly derailed other major orders. That said, why should players even rely on these strategic objectives when peer pressure and really convincing propaganda complete the objective?
According to High Command itself, New Alexandria held no strategic importance in the wider war against the Illuminate. Those paying attention should know that the Illuminate made a nice stand-in for the Covenant, that is, if it’s squinted at very, very hard. Joining in on the fun, the official Halo Twitter account posted a Halo Reach-inspired image with only two words: Remember Beach. So, what exactly does this message mean for Helldivers 2 players?
Liberation Through Stubbornness and Fire
Fans have speculated that a crossover where they finally get their own energy swords, or at least a slightly better pistol, may be what comes next. The entire episode proves that Helldivers 2‘s universe can be shaped in unexpected ways due to the collective will of the players, or perhaps just their collective stubbornness. These divers aren’t just following orders, but are writing their own bizarre, planet-hopping folklore. So, what exactly does High Command really think about all this unsanctioned democracy?
Whether the generals in Helldivers 2 are secretly proud or just updating their military manuals to include a chapter on managing soldiers with a flair for the dramatic remains to be seen. Ultimately, the liberation of Seyshel Beach and the birth of Avengement Day have been highly praised for their player-driven storytelling, revealing that some of the most memorable victories are the ones that weren’t supposed to be won.
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