Is this a satire?

[michel_blade]

Hi there!
I wonder, is this game a satire, or is it promoting/glorifying fascism?

I know, strong start, but hear me out.

I played just a bit so far. Game quality is awesome. Gameplay, super fun. The game looks great. And the tone is spot on... for a satire. But I haven't notice anything that would show that it really is a satire. Everything is rather perfect, cool, awesome, bombastic. I've played just a few first missions, so I see next to nothing, sure, but I also haven't noticed any suggestion of more story, or in general storytelling. Just be a cool guy with gun and spread "managed democracy" to bugs.

Help me out here. I am not saying anything like "oh, this game is fascist!", or "I am just asking questions... wink wink". I am really at the very beginning of it and I am curious. And this type of games, or media in general have history/tendency of loosing the nuance in this type of narration.

How do you see this? Is this really a satire? How does it show?

[Gauss]

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand Helldivers 2. The humor is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of weapon balistics most of the jokes will go over a typical player's head.

[Mini]

It's satire. If you look at the inspiration for this game (Starship Troopers) you'll see a lot of the same themes and methods to poke fun at fascism. Just something fun to build the world around.

[<Blank />]

Originally posted by snK:

Originally posted by <Blank />:

He's probably like 8 tho, so I hope not

private profile? lol what a surprise

Pepe profile pic? What a surprise.

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

Originally posted by <Blank />:

Bro. It's a videogame. You're not actually a magnanimous war hero for playing a PvE video game. Settle the ♥♥♥♥ down.

You know. I was gonna assume the post you were commenting on was just clever satire. But the further I read, the more I could feel myself trading awkward glances with an audience I didn't even have.

I hope they're playing a bit. Thats what I'll say.

He's screaming about people spending time on the forums and all his hours in the game - when he's not even playing the game. Something is wrong with his facilities for sure.

[Chrisu]

this game is satire yes
it's also a love letter to the movie starship troopers
end of discussion lol

[<Blank />]

Originally posted by snK:

whys your profile private
why you hiding
why you commenting on old school meme pfp while having one that isnt relevant on any internet space
weirdo
you think you have ground ot stand on, rofl

Why are you screaming about videogames on the internet like its real life?
What are you, acoustic?
Why aren't you playing the game?
Why are you commenting on the very forums all day long you criticise others for?
Why don't you have a unique pfp (instead of a mass produced one so you can be like everyone else?)

Weirdo.

[Ruck]

Dude came to farm Steam awards and is getting increasingly upset that everyone but him is getting awards.

lil bro, if you're as bad at the game as you are at the forums, I hope we never cross paths in the defense of Super Earth.

[Sid]

If "Fill out form before any activities that could result in a child" doesn't answer it for you, nothing will

[Moth]

Originally posted by michel_blade:

Hi there!
I wonder, is this game a satire, or is it promoting/glorifying fascism?

I know, strong start, but hear me out.

I played just a bit so far. Game quality is awesome. Gameplay, super fun. The game looks great. And the tone is spot on... for a satire. But I haven't notice anything that would show that it really is a satire. Everything is rather perfect, cool, awesome, bombastic. I've played just a few first missions, so I see next to nothing, sure, but I also haven't noticed any suggestion of more story, or in general storytelling. Just be a cool guy with gun and spread "managed democracy" to bugs.

Help me out here. I am not saying anything like "oh, this game is fascist!", or "I am just asking questions... wink wink". I am really at the very beginning of it and I am curious. And this type of games, or media in general have history/tendency of loosing the nuance in this type of narration.

How do you see this? Is this really a satire? How does it show?

This game is indeed satire, if you're familiar with the movie Starship Troopers if you put the Automaton aside, the situation is pretty much the same

we're the bad guys, Super Earth is a 1984-esque authoritarian dictatorship, based on cold-war american propaganda [Automatons are literally called a "socialist dictatorship"]

[Vespertellino]

Obv

[Katitoff]

Originally posted by Grimsdottir:

You haven't seen starship troopers, have you?

Want to bet OP is 20 year old who leans too heavily in certain political direction?
Only these kind of people are completely immune to humor, satire and entertainment history.

[Karathos]

Originally posted by snK:

whys your profile private
why you hiding
why you commenting on old school meme pfp while having one that isnt relevant on any internet space (you think pepe is somehow offensive? so you're a mainstream media cuckhold sheep?)
weirdo
you think you have ground ot stand on, rofl

"Why is your profile private" he asks, after trying to view it to find ammunition for more insults. Gee, I wonder why it's private :D

[michel_blade]

I actually read most of you answers, including those of garbage quality. It reassured me that I am onto something.

Yes, I see all the inspirations, I understand all allusions, I understand the intension (or at least I hope so). But that has nothing to do with the end result/ message. To get on the same page with definitions, for fascism: Google 14 characteristics. That is good generalisation.

I especially liked those two comments:

Originally posted by Nohiro:

it promotes it and everyone loves it

Originally posted by ⸸Unholy.Lia⸸:

media literacy is dead

How do you call a satire, that is loved by satired? WH40k and many-time-mentioned Starship Troopers have the same problem. They were meant as satires, but end up being loved by military, fascists and neo-nazi.

Of you are aware of political, historical and political content you would hopefully see the opening of the game and expect a satire. If you lack it, you may see very manly and cool dudes fighting for freedom against dirty aliens and socialists. And at this point, both conclusions are more or less fine. The important thing is what the game does with this narration later on. Does it undercut that image, or does it reinforce it? You know, Jojo Rabbit, or Warhammer 40k?

[Southpaw]

Do You Want To Know More!

[Ruck]

Originally posted by michel_blade:

How do you call a satire, that is loved by satired? WH40k and many-time-mentioned Starship Troopers have the same problem. They were meant as satires, but end up being loved by (snip) fascists and neo-nazi.

The problem you describe isn't with the satire, the problem is the intelligence of those people you mention. You listed two of the dumbest groups of human beings every to grace planet earth. Of course they aren't going to understand satire even when it is as hamfisted as 40k, Starship Troopers or Helldivers. They're literally too stupid. This isn't the fault of the satire, nor should satire adjust its message to coddle those who are stuck reading at the level of an elementary school student.

The fact that we live in a modern society where people are missing the point of the most obvious satire actually makes the satire more potent as the gross misunderstanding of the morons among us is baked right into what is being satirized.

[Prof.Jackie]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3171172680