I'm happy that Helldivers 2's strategy of creating an overarching, narrative campaign is already working. Just as people get attached to their Roombas and want to fix them rather than replace them, the player base grows attached to certain planets despite all the tactical evidence pointing to things being hopeless – I personally think that's the norm.
No planet exemplifies this phenomenon better than Malevelon Creek, a dense, twilight-shrouded jungle in the Severin Sector, on the edge of deep Automaton territory. The vibrations are flawless and have given rise to a real mythology around the planet – don't believe me? Here is the proof.
@superearthbroadcast
♬ Original sound – Super Earth Broadcast
Although the current major contract is a defensive campaign, a dedicated quadrant of players – affectionately known as “Creek Crawlers” – are stubbornly fighting to liberate the planet, varying from percentages in the zero decimal range to around 20% – I am balanced I see players reporting that it has passed the halfway mark at some point. But the creek didn't start out that way.
When the primary mission shifted from destroying bugs to destroying bots, Malevelon Creek was one of the first planets to fall in a doomed defensive campaign known as the Malevelon Creek Massacre. Accustomed to crushing insects, the Helldivers were unprepared for the Automaton's heavily armored units, entrenched defenses, missiles, and mines. While I'm not sure if the rumors of a higher difficulty level on the creek are founded, it certainly felt like it.
Since then, the Creek Crawlers have had a somewhat unhealthy (but metallic as hell) obsession with the Malevelon. When a planet's defenses fail, it enters liberation mode. If that fails, the planet is lost – and Malevelon Creek has remained in this liberation mode for days, a holy grail for soldiers with their boots on the ground.
There were other, more sensible and far easier to achieve defensive objectives with their own charm (I really enjoyed my stint on Draupnir), but the Creek remained. A white whale with a heart that keeps beating with the cries of “Spill Oil.”
Last night, just as the defenses of Mort – a planet in the Xzar sector – reached their zenith Razor's Edge, a few solemn voices announced in the discord of the game that the Creek had fallen. Mort was also called “Squirrel Planet”. Like Mort the squirrel from Madagascar. Yeah, I don't know either.
This loss resulted in a, er, normal and measured response from the entire Helldivers 2 community.
We lost it… out of r/Helldivers
The mourning period was short-lived, however, as the creek became open to liberation again – at least I was able to use it there at the time of writing. But who knows how long it will last and whether a short enforced break from a gloomy planet deep in Automaton territory will cause the Creek Crawlers to take stock and redirect their bloody efforts elsewhere. Especially with the Major Order still coming off two successful defenses – with just a tag and change to make up the difference.
