Recent reviews by polad.

Helldivers throws you straight into chaos, making you feel like part of an elite cosmic war squad. You’re a soldier fighting against alien threats, and while it sounds intense, it’s even better in action.

What did I love? Playing with friends is an absolute blast. In Helldivers, there’s no such thing as a "safe zone" — you can accidentally shoot your teammate or call in an airstrike on yourself. This chaos creates hilarious moments and keeps you on your toes. The stratagems, allowing you to call for reinforcements, supplies, or vehicles, add a layer of strategy and make even the toughest missions feel winnable.

However, the game isn't without flaws. Missions can start to feel repetitive after a while, and the difficulty level can be overwhelming for newcomers. But that just makes every victory feel all the sweeter.

Helldivers is a game about chaos, teamwork, and endless fun. If you’re up for a challenge where your friends can be both your allies and accidental threats, this is the game for you.

Rating: 8/10. For the glory of democracy!

Counter-Strike 2 was anticipated to be a groundbreaking update to one of the most iconic shooter franchises, but unfortunately, it falls short in many key areas. After spending significant time with the game, several issues become evident:

1. Optimization Issues
Despite utilizing the new Source 2 engine, the game suffers from severe performance problems. Even on high-end systems, players frequently experience frame rate drops, micro-stutters, and inconsistent performance. This is unacceptable for a game that aspires to be a competitive esports title.

2. Unstable Servers
Frequent lags, connection drops, and high ping are common problems that undermine the competitive nature of the game. These issues make ranked matches unpredictable and frustrating for players.

3. Removal of Popular Game Modes
Fan-favorite modes such as "Arms Race" and "Danger Zone" have been removed, significantly reducing the variety and fun of the gameplay experience. Their absence is a major letdown for long-time fans of the series.

4. Changes to Mechanics
The updated shooting and movement mechanics feel off compared to previous iterations. Many experienced players have noted that movement is less fluid, and shooting lacks the precision they’ve come to expect from the series. This disrupts the familiar gameplay loop that made Counter-Strike a legend in the first place.

5. Issues with Anti-Cheat System
The Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) system in CS2 has been reported to wrongly ban players due to conflicts with certain hardware features, such as AMD's "Anti-Lag+." This has caused unnecessary frustration among the community and raised concerns about the reliability of the system.

6. Smurfing Problem
Smurfing remains a significant issue in Counter-Strike 2. Higher-ranked players create new accounts to dominate lower-ranked matches, ruining the experience for newer or less-skilled players. Despite years of feedback, Valve has yet to implement effective measures to counter this widespread problem, which hurts the competitive integrity of the game.

7. Limited Content at Launch
CS2 offers a disappointingly small pool of maps and game modes at launch. For a major update to such a beloved franchise, the lack of fresh and diverse content feels like a missed opportunity. Players who expected something groundbreaking will likely find themselves quickly bored.

8. Achievements Wiped
All achievements from CS:GO have been replaced with a single generic achievement titled "New Beginning." This erases years of progress and effort for many players, leaving them feeling undervalued and disconnected from their past accomplishments.

Conclusion
Counter-Strike 2, in its current state, feels like an unfinished product that doesn’t live up to the legacy of its predecessor. While it does show potential, Valve needs to address its technical and gameplay flaws, bring back beloved features, and expand the available content to truly make this game shine. For now, it’s hard to recommend CS2, and it might be best to wait for updates and fixes before diving in.

Paladins is a game that masterfully combines dynamic gameplay, a diverse roster of characters, and a flexible customization system. After spending countless hours playing, I can confidently say this game deserves the attention of anyone who enjoys shooters and team-based games.