Those fighting in the name of managed democracy in Helldivers 2 will undoubtedly have run into the Automatons. These mechanical forces of destruction have taken down many Helldivers and have caused many to fail their missions. While players are figuring out the best builds and loadouts for fighting against the Automaton threat, a future vehicle update may give them the extra edge they need.
With the size of the environments in Helldivers 2, certain objectives take time and are harder to achieve due to the players’ limited mobility. It is even more difficult with planets inhabited by Automatons as their weapons, defenses, and numbers make traversing the land extremely dangerous. Even if players take the necessary precautions, the chances of being overwhelmed by the robotic menaces are still high, especially in harder difficulty settings. While it would naturally add Helldivers’ own transportation, a vehicle update could also introduce the ability to commandeer Automaton-owned transportation. Doing so could balance mobility issues without strongly affecting the overall challenge and danger expected from the mechanical threat.
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The Automaton Vehicles That Could Be Taken Over
Using the Automatons’ power against them temporarily could give players the boost needed to complete missions dominated by the destructive robots. With exceptions like the gigantic Factory Strider, several vehicles would make likely candidates that allow for commandeering:
- Tanks
- Scout Striders
- Gunships
Much like the Exosuits, these vehicles should have only a limited amount of ammunition to prevent any disruption to the game’s intended difficulty. Although Gunships can allow for great maneuverability in the air, they can be balanced by giving them a fuel gauge, ensuring only a temporary aerial advantage. Future updates could add even more Automaton vehicles that players can take over to make missions easier and create memorable experiences.
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The Benefits of Being Able to Commandeer Automaton Vehicles
Being able to pilot Automaton vehicles can teach players to be precise with their shots. Vehicles in games like Helldivers 2 generally have a set amount of health that must be depleted to destroy them. Given how valuable they can be, players will want to ensure they don’t damage enemy transportation too much before taking over. Automaton vehicles with exposed operators, like the mobile Scout Striders, can be a great way to help improve accuracy. Players can aim for the pilot, doing minimal damage to whatever they want to commandeer during the attempt. Those who have mastered precision shooting will be rewarded with a temporary vehicle in good condition, giving them more of an advantage in their fight against the Automatons.
Another benefit is that it opens the opportunity to introduce other relevant features to the game. Players who can close the distance between them and certain vehicles, like the powerful Automaton Tanks, can be rewarded with a prompt that allows them to wrestle control away from their pilot. Such a mechanic can be balanced by requiring the player to provide a series of inputs to successfully hijack the vehicle, all while being vulnerable to enemy fire. This can help players with decision-making, as certain situations will require them to evaluate if it’s worth the risk of trying to take over an Automaton vehicle instead of removing it from battle altogether.
With the Helldivers 2 devs requiring more time to work on the next balance patch, players might not be seeing more vehicles or new mechanics for a while. The ability to hijack and command Automaton vehicles can be game-changing, but it will also come with a few issues that must be ironed out before its implementation. If the developers can figure out how to include such a mechanic without disrupting the already-balanced gameplay, then players will have more to look forward to in the future.