Summary

• New Terminid enemies would bring fresh challenges and content, adding depth to the Galactic War.
• The introduction of a Terminid Supercolony on Meridia hints at more powerful enemies, like Hive Lords, that could shift the war dynamic.
• Despite the potential threat, more bug enemies may enhance the game's fun factor, while Arrowhead Game Studios maintains a strong narrative.

One of the elements which makes Helldivers 2 so unique is the overarching narrative of the fight against the Terminids and Automatons. The war for freedom is ever evolving, with the developers adding Major Orders and story elements, rather than keeping it static. This gives the game a sense of narrative weight, since all players are working together to defeat a common threat, while also giving new content in-universe reasons for being added, which helps with the immersion of the game.

The current in-game story that is developing revolves around a Terminid Supercolony on Meridia, which could lead to new bugs and rough times for Helldivers. This would not be the first time enemies have been added because of a narrative occurring on a planet. After their final home world was conquered, the Automatons returned in force, introducing the massive Factory Striders and deadly Gunships, as well as a mass offensive against the armies of Super Earth.

What The Meridia Supercolony Could Mean For Helldivers 2

New Terminid Enemy Types

New Terminids may be good from a content and gameplay perspective, but it bodes poorly for the Galactic War effort. There are plenty of bug enemies that are difficult to deal with as is, such as the relentless Chargers, stealthy Stalkers, or the over-sized Bile Titans, and the introduction of more could overwhelm players, especially because of the vast hordes that Terminids tend to attack with. Still, they would offer a new challenge for those who are looking for it.

There are a few Terminid enemy types that were in the first Helldivers, which didn't make it into the sequel. Plenty of them have been renamed when moved to the sequel, like the Tank becoming the Charger, but more powerful variants of already fearsome foes have yet to be included. For instance, the Shadow appears as though it is a more deadly Stalker, and the Behemoth seems like a more heavily armored Charger. If both are added to Helldivers 2, then the war effort could see vast casualties in combating this new threat.

If players find themselves attacked by several Stalkers, there is likely a lair nearby. Destroy the lair to stop the Stalkers from spawning.

Other than more powerful variants of known foes, the Supercolony could see the introduction of the terrifying Hive Lord. Thanks to Helldivers 2 abandoning the top-down perspective of its predecessor, there is no telling how large this monster would be if it was put in the sequel, but there is a possibility that its size could eclipse even the mighty Bile Titans. They are known to spawn other enemies and were considered the greatest threat that Helldivers 1 Terminids had to offer. Thanks to Meridia, the Hive Lord could be the deadliest Terminid in the sequel too.

More Terminids Are Good For The Game, Bad For The War Effort

New Content, Tougher Missions

The introduction of the Supercolony gives the Terminids some much-needed focus, considering how much the Automatons have been getting recently. With Factory Striders and Gunships, new, more deadly bugs are exactly what's needed to keep the Terminids in view, especially since they are the preferred foe of many players. A mass invasion by the alien bugs might follow to help give these new enemies the spotlight, with Major Orders revolving around dealing with this threat before it gets out of hand.

With their ability to tunnel and effectively spawn Terminids onto the battlefield, there is a chance that mission objectives will revolve around taking down the Hive Lords, similar to missions with the Factory Striders as the focus. The perception of Terminids would change drastically if Bile Titans were no longer considered the biggest threat the faction can throw at players and add a new dimension to the gameplay loop. There is also a chance that these bugs will spawn in greater volumes too, since the Supercolony is stated to increase their re-population rate.

All in all, more bugs probably equals more fun. It also means that the war is going to take a turn for the worse, as if Helldivers weren't already facing terrible odds in the name of democracy. With the introduction of more enemies, especially if they are from the title's predecessor, it could mean that Helldivers 2 will include more factions too. Even if it doesn't, it is comforting that Arrowhead Game Studios is continuing the narrative of its game, despite recent controversy, even if the story goes against the fight for freedom.