FRV can beat Exosuits to the punch in a big way

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Helldivers 2 has entered a period of major change and it's paying off in some big ways. The Illuminate faction, long teased by leakers, has finally arrived to threaten Super Earth, and it comes with a new urban terrain type for players to navigate. Perhaps most exciting is the new tool players can use to explore that terrain: the Fast Recon Vehicle, or FRV. A car has been at the top of players' wish lists for months, so it's a relief to finally have a proper mode of transportation. There may be ruthless Helldivers killed every now and then, but it's well worth it in the name of managed democracy.

FRV in particular feels like a long time coming considering players have had Exosuits available to them for a few months now. Exosuits certainly provide a force, but they aren't fast or nimble enough to really function as transport, which only further proved the need for a proper vehicle in Helldivers 2. Now that the Fast Recon Vehicle is here, it also has an opportunity to top Exosuits in a second way. Exosuits still only come in a couple of very limited forms, but the FRV can easily pick up the slack in terms of variants.

Helldivers 2 Illuminate Harvester

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Helldivers 2's FRV needs variety to stay fresh

There is no doubt that Exosuits in Helldivers 2 are powerful. Heavily armored and unyielding in battle, they are both capable of tearing through the enemy; the Exo-49 Emancipator Exosuit
autocannons can penetrate armor, while the minigun on Exo-45 Patriot Exosuit
is well suited to mowing down hordes. But since they were added, Helldivers 2 hasn't added more Exosuit types, despite the wide potential for variants. Anything from a flamethrower suit to a suit with dual machine guns could offer some useful options, but these have yet to appear.

The brand new Fast Recon Vehicle is in a similar situation at the moment; there is only one type, armed with a heavy machine gun. Kind of like how Helldivers 2 sentries replicate all kinds of powerful support weapons, Arrowhead Game Studios could add all kinds of FRVs mounted with different equipment. Everything from an autocannon to a ARC-3 Arc Launcher
to a missile launcher can prove invaluable when paired with the mobility of a car. Arrowhead can even add an FRV with an empty turret slot that players can lock their support weapons into, giving them a more stable way to fire their heavy equipment.

Aside from variations on the FRV's machine gun turret, Arrowhead was also able to add a variety of vehicle types without straying too far from the original design. Perhaps the easiest option would be a heavier armored car that is a bit slower than the original FRV, but offers more protection against incoming fire. Between Illuminate's hordes of Voiceless and the many smaller Terminid units, players can also get some use out of an FRV with a spiked plow on the front to better cut a path through the crowds – although it would be reasonable if they had to trade some rear armor in exchange.

It's hard to say Helldivers 2 will be getting more vehicles anytime soon, but there's no doubt that Arrowhead has opened the door for them. While it doesn't push the limits of vehicles by adding something like a tank or a helicopter, it can use the FRV as a baseline and add some variations over time. FRV is fine as it is, but there are tons of situations and missions in it Helldivers 2 where a different kind of turret would be more useful than a machine gun. Hopefully the developer of this long awaited new pays Miscellaneous ruse by adding a few more combat options for fans to plan around.

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