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There’s a short film I watched a couple years back on TH-cam, called “Last Day of War”. I think that might be something up your alley. Highly recommend it!
The thing I love about this cinematic is that it is actually an in universe propaganda/military recruitment film. After you watch it you go straight into the post recruitment training level, as if you signed up after seeing this. It's such a clever way of immersing the player in the universe.
Yes this create layers of reality. We have our own reality - probably -, that internal reality of the fiction universe, and the internal reality of the propaganda clip inside the fiction. It's not new obvisouly but it doesn't make it any less fun and clever.
I mean, I dunno if it’s canon or a meme, but tons of people claim that apparently this in-world recruitment video helped Triple the Helldivers budget, lol
@@openthinker6562 The devs had to expand their budgeted server capacity after launch due to the HUGE number of players diving in. So, the meme is kinda that the high player count is due to a huge turnout of recruits into the Helldivers.
To be fair they have a game on beta on steam that actually looks decent and a rts that also looks decent Helldivers 2 is superior im just saying they are not horrible options lol
@@GermanOlle yea i legit feel bad for those guys, hope they're taking some notes the others aren't like terrible, they just kinda take themselves too seriously
I almost didn't cover this cinematic but thanks to a friend, I thought I'd give it a shot. Thank you again for being here, watching and commenting. I love it! Starting to recognise your display picture. KZ
I like most the part "see exotic new lifeforms" and then Bile Giant gets shot in the face right after this :) That's a weird idea of "seeing lifeforms" :)
One thing you need to note are the dystopian elements within the entire production. It starts with the title screen ("viewing is mandatory") and continues throughout; the uniformity of everything; cameras; armed soldiers patrolling the streets;...
@@Falzyker It's a satire of fascism, socialism is not quite the same thing. Socialism is all about everyone sharing control over how things are made and who gets what, aiming for everyone to be on an equal footing. Fascism, though, is more about one powerful group calling all the shots, squashing anyone who disagrees, without really caring about making things fair for everyone.
@@Falzykerit’s not a satire on socialism. This is a managed democracy you commie scum. Jokes aside, just like starship troopers it’s poking fun at the fascist nature of empire. One nation in particular.
Helldivers has the same effect on the community as “the boys”. By this I mean that the community has really bought into the universe to the point where the community acts and responds to things as if it was all in universe
One of my favorite details if this cinematic is how the "host" smiles just a **little** too much, and the very brief moment when his smile relaxes, he looks kinda scary, but only for a split second, then his smiling mask is back on. It's very subtle, but I think it was intentional in order to further the idea of it all being blind propaganda. I'm not sure if anyone else ever registered this detail consciously, but I always make note of it every time I open the game and watch it.
Yeah.... its not there. He looks scared coz his wife gets eaten alive. He doesn't not smile for a split second. He doesn't smile for about 3 to 5 seconds before his second 'I' comes on screen. You are not smarter than everyone else. So f off
This whole game is filled with moments like this, from comments your character makes when he's injured(or just shooting) to having commercials play on your ship about a aftershave called Eagle's Sweat(now with 30% more Sweat!) and such that really pulls u in.
Read the text on the announcement at the start as well, that's where the world building begins. When he blows up the huge bug's head and gets hit by the gore watch him recoil as well. And, of course, the music is fantastic. Also, the overall setup is fantastic because the in-universe "ad" to join the Helldivers is doubling as a real-world ad for the actual game. The people who made this knew what they were doing.
Best part is the bile titans blood 100% does not reach that far, and its obvious that they are "off screen" throwing the blood on him. You know 100% they captured bugs for this and used them, and also for sure lost a few people during the filming.
Yeah, the music is great throughout the game. They managed to do something I hardly experienced since Battlefield 1 (where the music always tended to set in in those kind of cinematic moments with vehicles and soldiers charging to the next sector or just shortly before victory/defeat). Helldivers 2 probably has one of the most "hidden" but epic loading screens with the pods descending and the music setting in.
It's funny that you mention how it's pushing more towards the American Audience, because Helldivers is sorta the whole idea of 'American Values' cranked up to 11. The soldiers in game will shout things like 'For Democracy!' 'Sweet Liberty!' and other things like that. I haven't watched the whole video yet so I don't know if you point it out or not, but during the shot where it shows the rows of houses, it even has that sorta 'American Dream' value to it. Your own home, white picket fence, friendly neighbors and the husband likely coming home from work to his wife and kids.
I didn't really talk about that and I don't know if it would be something I would pick up on to be honest. Being that I'm British, my American radar is a bit off. I understood it visually though but what I was talking about was the visual aesthetic. I hope you're enjoying the video. Thank you so much for watching. KZ
I wouldn't say American it's biggest influence is obviously starship troopers with the over the top and ovious nature of the news and society in the film the nature of the lines you character says in the game itself are very similar to the film aswell and some halo aspects. The guy getting covered in alien blood etc is a nod to the film same with the flag which is from from starship troopers not just American
Just to be sure we're all on the same page, Starship troopers the movie is a satire of the starship troopers book that was a political writing about the failings of the American government but was not it's self satire. Edit: Not a question but a statement. I've read the book and love the movie.
And the sad part is that people who haven't read the book just listen to the people labeling as "fascist" book, when in itself, it's more on how society should work on patriotism and merit, balacing authority with responsability. He doesnt treat the mobile infantry as meat grinder unlike the movie either. He was also pretty "feminist" for his time. People just assume that because the movie is a pretty cliché anti-military/facist, the book was exactly that and they couldn't be more wrong. It was just an exploration of a politic system along tons of other, he wasn't even really endorsing it. Just creating a world with this one in mind.
The splatter with the rocket launcher is a heavy nod to both Starship Troopers, when they get splattered with similar green goop, and with the SCIFI Tremers movies. After one of their monsters gets blown up, they always, ALWAYS, shower the people with orange goop and bits of detritus.
This cinematic or in universe commercial makes the Helldivers look so powerful and badass, when in reality most Helldivers die on their first deployment. The overwhelming amount of propaganda and pride for Super Earth blinds these people into carelessly joining a military group they aren't prepared for, then they barely get any training as well. In reality, the real winning factor for the war is the Super Destroyer ships, without them the Helldivers would never stand a chance.
The games music sells this too, as you drop in it sounds heroic and bombastic but as soon as you leave your pod that all drops away and the tension and fear sets in
Wow I didn't consciously notice those little details you talk about around 11 minutes with the lighting change and reflections. Really appreciate your videos, thanks for doing these breakdowns and teaching us the difference that those little details make.
@@kaizammit don't forget how the giant bug surrounded by smaller ones getting rocket blasted in the face mirrors the mom and kid getting wasted at the beginning.
The opening is basically an in universe recruitment advert. And clearly it worked with what i believe is over a million sales now. I hope to see you on the front lines with us. For Freedom. For Liberty and for Super Earth!
Nice touch is the reverse of the big invasion as the father watches his family get slaughtered and then a few frames later a bug „father“ has to watch from the background how his family gets slaughtered. Fantastic choice for this
Another thing about the lighting, especially for the alien world parts, is not just that golden hour is just naturally a beautiful time to film, but the fact that it's warm lighting. We have out shot of our man in armor in cooler light, very utilitarian, then cut to this alien world in stark (color) contrast- pushing the 'alien' feel, yes, but also warmth is ALLURING. The warm tones helps disarm the scene of giant terrible bug monsters, along with the blase performance of the soldiers, and makes it desirable. They're selling it. It's so smart all around.
Compare this with the live news report of Klendathu in the ST movie, which is at night and thus more dark and cold, and the arachnids look much more monstrous in the flash of the cameraman's light whereas the terminids seem more isolated out in the bright, wide open desert of this opening, easier to shoot and kill before they can kill you.
Helldivers takes inspiration from Starship troopers the movie, the ODST's (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) of Halo and Warhammer 40k. Ironically the ODST's of Halo takes inspiration from Starship Troopers the novel.
11:30 something I've noticed is that while we know it says "invasion" behind him. While he's standing in front of it you could almost read it as "invitation" while he's talking about joining the Helldivers.
16:30 When the rocket hits the Bile Titan, it releases a shock wave that makes the lil bugs jump and it even sends some dirt flying. That is awesome attention to detail
The bit with the rocket launcher was also a callback to the human opening. You have smaller bugs just chilling next to the larger one before it gets suddenly obliterated. Its a mirror of the bug suddenly spawning and killing the family
I don't know how much you work with sound design, but as an amateur audiophile myself, I pissed my pants the sound effects and music are so good throughout the whole game. It is also evident in this intro cinematic. Every time you drop onto a planet, for example, you are FKCING PUMPED even for the nth hundred time, because the sound and animation sequence are just so damn good.
It's so short, but the visuals and music in the scene immediately after everyone readys up before it shows the actual drop pods is probably my favorite part of the game.
A thing I realized after playing the game for hours is the bug in the commercial is bigger than the actual one you see in game. Like its exaggerated to be a true threat even being the one normal unit you would kill in mass throughout the game.
The way the Helldivers held the flag as they stabbed the alien bug looked similar to that iconic photo of US soldiers holding up the American flag. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but it makes sense since this game takes the American pride feel to the extreme
It definitely was. Most people have seen that picture and it absolutely screams “power projection” and “liberty” the spreading of democracy. Planting your own flag on newly captured territory is the exact message that scene puts across
Another detail in the rocket launcher scene is the rocket comes from a different direction than the performer. It looks like it has 2 hidden cuts. Talking with the performer cut during the whip to the creature. Rocket flys in from over the shoulder of the camera. Cut during the whip back to performer that is posing, off screen goop flys onto them. I like to think there is a b team going out and shooting captued bugs to get the right shot.
As a 3d artist I was just impressed by the realism. Every shot looked like it could be a real video, and that's not just because of the graphics. Every shot seemed intentional, as you covered in this video, which just added to the realism. The creators clearly understood what they wanted to have happen and that is echoed in this amazing cinematic. Anyway nice video I enjoyed watching it!
This cinematic hits totally different after you've played the game. There's a stark difference between the bravado and humor in the commercial, and the hell and death that actually awaits Helldivers. It feels much darker and it's fantastic.
Thank you for your professional insights. As someone who made some amateur-level promotional videos for gaming related groups this is really fascinating, especially on the topics of camera angles and lighting especially.
One point I wanted to bring up was another aspect of the worldbuilding. When its showing off super earth, it first shows how advanced everything is. You've got the lights showing off a giant city on the planet's surface. When it shows the homes, there's a lot of green nature. It's pretty, unlike say, a typical cyberpunk where it's all just buildings and smog. But then you notice, it's all identical. The homes, the clothes, everything is exactly the same, like you're not allowed to deviate. It tells you that this utopia isn't as "free" as it would have you believe.
I really feel like they pulled out all the stops regarding the parts not so directly related to the gameplay loop itself. Amazing stuff like the cinematics n' what not. I think what also makes it so good is the music that goes with it as music REALLY helps to sell the whole setting and vibe of these sort of things. Wilbert Roget II did a kick ass job with the soundtrack and it definitely plays it's part (no pun intended) and goes so well with the CGI cinematic. It's definitely worth a listen. Anyways, great video mate. Loved the breakdown!
I'm 40 yo and a gamer since i was 15, this is the only cinematic i watch everytime i launch a game. Congrats to the people who made it, you are genius.
One small detail I noticed is in the beginning the man gets covered in his family's blood, and in the second half he's covered in his enemy's blood. It's like its saying choose which one you want.
The genius of this cinematic is that it plays in the beginning just after loading the game up. It's one of the FEW cinematics I actually allow to play all the way through before hopping into the game because it's an incredible recruitment/commercial/morale booster to get you pumped in spending some serious time with the game. Everything about this cinematic oozes with charisma, and a true study in what, and how, an intro cinematic should be. Arrowhead Game Studios knocked it out of the park with this, and all I wanna do is jump into the game again.
13:28 What you didn´t mention here is the absolutely genious transition they did there. The fading in sound of the Pods during athmospheric entry, then the cut to the pods burning through the athmosphere with the tension building strings coming in, and then the cut to the scene on the alien planet. Accompanied by an impact sound and the fanfares starting to blast. It is such a great transition, telling you in less then 3 seconds everything you need to know. Even better is how it establisches a direction of "movement". The harsher bluish light of the shot it front of the flag, to the shot of the pods that has a range from colder bluish grey on top to the reddish orange of the heat and the planet on the bottom. To the orange yellow of the planet. Which creates a feeling of a downwards thrust with a massive impact. Basically winding up a punch and hitting hard. That transition alone is a piece of art.
The thing about the Book Starship Troopers is that they didn't want people to sign up, and did everything they could to discourage them from doing so. They only wanted the self motivated. People willing to die for the good of others, to enlist. There was no advertising. No trying to convince people that serving a term was a good idea.
Sarcasm is perfect when the person doing it takes themselves seriously. Obviously they don’t believe themselves or whatever they’re saying, but if you can take yourself seriously without cracking up at your joke it becomes that much more funnier.
Kai there is a second trailer called "The fight for Freedom begins" if you want to see some more Helldivers 2, it's a mix of Cinematic and Gameplay but it's the same vibe
@@ChopperMeir you're two weeks late being a pedantic fuck over a comment which answers a question mentioned in the video. He asked if there were any more helldivers Cinematic, if he wants to see more - of them, i gave him the name.
Dude, why are you watching this video!? Watch the Patreon version, no ads as it's not monetized. Thanks dude! I'm at the tee printers tomorrow, see how they are getting on. I'll keep you posted brother.
The first thing I noticed when playing is how he has a bi-racial family, showing super earth is a progressive and accepting place for all of humanity and absoloutely not racist or hateful lmao. Perfect
I really enjoy these breakdowns and I've got no idea why I wasn't subbed until now. This game is hilarious fun, and that Starship Troopers feel is what drew me to this game in the first place. I wish there was some kind of cinematic showcasing the game's second enemy faction, the automatons. Playing against them changes the whole vibe of the game into Terminator.
One thing, I noticed about how it goes from a warm filter to a cold looking filter.. you can tell a story just with that. When the guy has his family in the picture, it's warm yellows, browns and oranges for like happiness for example. Then the freeze. Which would be like the instant he was traumatized in this story. And the cold filter with a fake smile.. then even colder with hate in his eyes. And the tropes that comes with shaving your hair and shedding who you used to be and changing. To getting warmer as the sun sets on the alien planet and at its warmest again like the beginning when all 3 of your bros are there symbolic of the guy finding his family again. I think it's beautiful story telling just with filters alone not to mention the funny over exaggerations like a cartoon or commercial they sell it so well
19:35 this concept even goes all the way back to ancient rulers in Egypt and Rome and the like. The throne is always on a heightened pedestal to the rest of the room. It forces the regular people to look up at the powerful person, and it seems to have translated to filmmaking
I love the conversations you can have with the NPCs on the ship. "I wonder which candidate will be selected for me?" and "Without these tools, I wouldn't be able to help. They lease them to me with a really good interest rate too!"
This is such a fantastic piece of propaganda and recruitment video. It has a clearly defined monster/enemy. It showcases the masculine urge to fight against something that'll destroy your family and home. Self empowerment. Guns. This is what would get people to sign up. Also, it's a crying shame, the hack job that Verhoeven did on Starship Troopers. Robocop is my favourite movie of all time and while I loved the movie as it show cased something analogous with the spirit of Starship Troopers, the movie took a lot of underhanded jabs at the source material.
Haha, did you think I was a fake? I didn't want to be on here (TH-cam) and not doing the actual job, otherwise I'd be random guy reacts. I don't like that personally. Same when I guest teach.
You have to play it! The whole game is one huge cinematic experience. The intro, which you just reviewed, ties in PERFECTLY with the rest of the game experience. And the entire game is like running around inside a Michael Bay movie. The first ever such game.
I never noticed before, but with all the talk of the lighting I have to point this out. Throughout the cinematic, it starts in the morning at the early golden hour, when it shows the guy's family being attacked. Then when it transitions to the Helldivers, they're fighting bugs at mid-day on a desert planet. And then when it's closing out and you see the Helldivers sticking the flag in a bug, and when the planes fly above the Helldiver looking out in the distance, it's late golden hour, around sunset. The fact that the lighting throughout kind of visually hints that a day is passing really helps to suck you in even more, it helps sell you on the order of events because even aside from the idea that this is an advertisement, it also tells a little mini-story of a guy's motivation for enlisting, his work during deployment, and ultimately his victory over the bugs that killed his family. And they don't even say a word about it.
Uh that scene is clearly in the evening. The guy is coming home - not leaving it. You don't walk outside your house then acknowledge your wife and daughter like you haven't seen them all day. Not to mention the scene starts with him walking TO his house from his car.
For a game that is so cinematic, this is probably the only sutscene. Everything else, even the loading screens are dynamic based on context. But the choice of sound, visual effects and even the lively skyboxes in gameplay speaks to a keen eye for interactive design. Such a refreshing game to play.
havint just watched a military vet talk about it from a realistic propaganda video pov, and then watching this from a cinimatography pov really shows they did a great job at being Satire AND just being quality work.
the up vs down angle of the camera is SUPER important to our psychology. Our whole childhood growing up, when someone is taller than you and you LITERALLY "look up to them" they become your role models. When you look directly at the same height to someone, they are your peer or equal, and when you LITERALLY look down on someone you see them as a pupil or even an inferior. That's why commercials use even framing or slightly downward framing when presenting the problem, so that you relate to it or despise it, then the solution provider is framed upwards to look admirable.
The thing with the bile titan and the RPG that is also great is that after he shoot it,get splattered in the green goo you can see him letting down the weappon, something natural to do!
Easiest way to explain the camera being below or above is it changes your perspective as the viewer. If you're looking up at someone then it implies they are bigger than you, you have to look up to get a good view of them and so they are powerful. If you're looking down on something then it's smaller, inferior, and you're literally and figuratively now looking down on them.
![FILMMAKER REACTS: APEX LEGENDS | [ALL LAUNCH TRAILERS!!] | MAKE THIS A MOVIE ALREADY!](/img/n.gif)
If you have a suggestion or a piece of content with an amazing story, please let me know, I would love to see it!
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There’s a short film I watched a couple years back on TH-cam, called “Last Day of War”. I think that might be something up your alley. Highly recommend it!
I’m still waiting for your take on Varok Saurfang’s Mak’Gora (world of Warcraft)
Great work!
Here's some options for future:
Fallout 3 - Teaser trailer
th-cam.com/video/zPt08UYmyMo/w-d-xo.html
Borderlands 2 - Intro/Opening Cenematic
th-cam.com/video/SzZ8YtuiVD4/w-d-xo.html
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | Hela Trailer
th-cam.com/video/_GQJWRIekhY/w-d-xo.html
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - Gameplay reveal
th-cam.com/video/fukYzbthEVU/w-d-xo.html
I've got Old Soldier first from the Warcraft franchise. That will be coming soon after Halo 3 ODST.
@@kaizammit looking forward to seeing ODST then!!
The thing I love about this cinematic is that it is actually an in universe propaganda/military recruitment film. After you watch it you go straight into the post recruitment training level, as if you signed up after seeing this. It's such a clever way of immersing the player in the universe.
Yes this create layers of reality. We have our own reality - probably -, that internal reality of the fiction universe, and the internal reality of the propaganda clip inside the fiction. It's not new obvisouly but it doesn't make it any less fun and clever.
I mean, I dunno if it’s canon or a meme, but tons of people claim that apparently this in-world recruitment video helped Triple the Helldivers budget, lol
@@openthinker6562 The devs had to expand their budgeted server capacity after launch due to the HUGE number of players diving in. So, the meme is kinda that the high player count is due to a huge turnout of recruits into the Helldivers.
it happens on every start up to really drill in that propaganda
@@openthinker6562the video is canon, pretty sure the devs stated so
Yeah...yeah, they dont tell you about Malevolon Creek here...
Warning: you are in range of enemy artillery.
The bot menace took Mantes, cutting off a vital supply line to the Creek.
Rage.... Spill Oil.
The struggle is real 😅
That deployment give me PTSD
Helldivers 2 is what every Starship Troopers game has been trying to be for years
imagine whoever has the rights for starship troopers right now, just sitting there like fuuuuck
@@forget2bhuman993 * Sad Starship Troopers: Extermination noises *
To be fair they have a game on beta on steam that actually looks decent and a rts that also looks decent
Helldivers 2 is superior im just saying they are not horrible options lol
@@GermanOlle yea i legit feel bad for those guys, hope they're taking some notes
the others aren't like terrible, they just kinda take themselves too seriously
@@actualsatanasismygt839 I got to play the RTS at WASDLive in London in April, it's pretty good
My friends and I nearly lost it at the liberty line. It was so good.
I almost didn't cover this cinematic but thanks to a friend, I thought I'd give it a shot. Thank you again for being here, watching and commenting. I love it! Starting to recognise your display picture. KZ
"Sweet liberty! *NOOOO* "
Yeah me and my gf died
When he says "see exotic new lifeforms" instantly reminded me of deadpool with the tone of his voice and the deliverly.
Yeah, I got that too.
I was waiting for the rest of the slogan:
Join the Space Marines!
Travel to exotic, distant planets!
Meet exotic, unusual aliens!
And kill them!
I noticed the first time and it got me that as soon as the rocket hits all the other bugs are like “HOLY SH-“
I like most the part "see exotic new lifeforms" and then Bile Giant gets shot in the face right after this :) That's a weird idea of "seeing lifeforms" :)
Love it how just after he says "democracy" he turns and greets two military police patroling the street😂
I find your lack of democracy disturbing
How else would you keep the bugs out
@@reven199 didnt save the guys family tho HAHAHAH
@@joweeqc98@joweeqc98 That's my question, too; where were those guys two seconds later? Down the street and around the corner?
Your antidemocratic Statements have been recorded and your democracy officer has been informed
One thing you need to note are the dystopian elements within the entire production. It starts with the title screen ("viewing is mandatory") and continues throughout; the uniformity of everything; cameras; armed soldiers patrolling the streets;...
I did clock that but kind of forgot about it due to laughing. It does have that vibe, you are correct. They would sell it as safety.
Of course it is, it's a satire of socialism, along with satirizing the same things that Starship Troopers satirize.
@@kaizammitAlso the little "car" is actually a helldiver pod lol :D
@@Falzyker It's a satire of fascism, socialism is not quite the same thing.
Socialism is all about everyone sharing control over how things are made and who gets what, aiming for everyone to be on an equal footing. Fascism, though, is more about one powerful group calling all the shots, squashing anyone who disagrees, without really caring about making things fair for everyone.
@@Falzykerit’s not a satire on socialism. This is a managed democracy you commie scum.
Jokes aside, just like starship troopers it’s poking fun at the fascist nature of empire. One nation in particular.
Helldivers has the same effect on the community as “the boys”. By this I mean that the community has really bought into the universe to the point where the community acts and responds to things as if it was all in universe
Flight 37 was a real Tragedy
A friend's brother made the joke "If I could solve world hunger, I wouldn't. Because that would imply that Super Earth can't feed it's citizens." 🤣
@@RockR277lmaoooooo
@@RockR277sounds like a Loyal Super Citizen.
I bet his position in the voting queue is in the top percentage.
Lol thats funny. I bee sayijn in game "come on BOYS!"
One of my favorite details if this cinematic is how the "host" smiles just a **little** too much, and the very brief moment when his smile relaxes, he looks kinda scary, but only for a split second, then his smiling mask is back on. It's very subtle, but I think it was intentional in order to further the idea of it all being blind propaganda.
I'm not sure if anyone else ever registered this detail consciously, but I always make note of it every time I open the game and watch it.
Reminds me of going to buy a car
The fact it is all cgi means this is very intentionally made, amazing catch!
Glad it is not kust me who thinks that is a bit creepy.
Hmmm this comment is under review by democatric officer, we will see
Yeah.... its not there.
He looks scared coz his wife gets eaten alive. He doesn't not smile for a split second.
He doesn't smile for about 3 to 5 seconds before his second 'I' comes on screen.
You are not smarter than everyone else. So f off
This is the only game in a very long time that actually has me watching the intro cinematic every time I start the game.
Clearly doing it's job. Noice!
Watching IS mandatory, after all.
It's because the intro has so much democracy
Deviations in attention are considered treason.
Skip watching it just once and your Democracy Officer will hear about it
This whole game is filled with moments like this, from comments your character makes when he's injured(or just shooting) to having commercials play on your ship about a aftershave called Eagle's Sweat(now with 30% more Sweat!) and such that really pulls u in.
While dumping your MG mag the character just starts screaming Liberty!!!!!! 😂
I saw the notification in my car and said out loud, "Oh I'm definitely watching that!"
That's so cool to hear! Thank you!
Read the text on the announcement at the start as well, that's where the world building begins. When he blows up the huge bug's head and gets hit by the gore watch him recoil as well.
And, of course, the music is fantastic.
Also, the overall setup is fantastic because the in-universe "ad" to join the Helldivers is doubling as a real-world ad for the actual game. The people who made this knew what they were doing.
Best part is the bile titans blood 100% does not reach that far, and its obvious that they are "off screen" throwing the blood on him.
You know 100% they captured bugs for this and used them, and also for sure lost a few people during the filming.
"Deviations in attention will be considered treason"
I can't believe he skipped it.
@@RazanaArcclaw yeah clear nod to the Starship Troopers film.
Yeah, the music is great throughout the game. They managed to do something I hardly experienced since Battlefield 1 (where the music always tended to set in in those kind of cinematic moments with vehicles and soldiers charging to the next sector or just shortly before victory/defeat). Helldivers 2 probably has one of the most "hidden" but epic loading screens with the pods descending and the music setting in.
This game needed no advertisement. The game _was_ the advertisement.
It's funny that you mention how it's pushing more towards the American Audience, because Helldivers is sorta the whole idea of 'American Values' cranked up to 11. The soldiers in game will shout things like 'For Democracy!' 'Sweet Liberty!' and other things like that. I haven't watched the whole video yet so I don't know if you point it out or not, but during the shot where it shows the rows of houses, it even has that sorta 'American Dream' value to it. Your own home, white picket fence, friendly neighbors and the husband likely coming home from work to his wife and kids.
I didn't really talk about that and I don't know if it would be something I would pick up on to be honest. Being that I'm British, my American radar is a bit off. I understood it visually though but what I was talking about was the visual aesthetic. I hope you're enjoying the video. Thank you so much for watching. KZ
I wouldn't say American it's biggest influence is obviously starship troopers with the over the top and ovious nature of the news and society in the film the nature of the lines you character says in the game itself are very similar to the film aswell and some halo aspects. The guy getting covered in alien blood etc is a nod to the film same with the flag which is from from starship troopers not just American
Just to be sure we're all on the same page, Starship troopers the movie is a satire of the starship troopers book that was a political writing about the failings of the American government but was not it's self satire. Edit: Not a question but a statement. I've read the book and love the movie.
@@atbauchat yes, verhoven thought it was about fascism and militarism because he didn't even read the whole book
And the sad part is that people who haven't read the book just listen to the people labeling as "fascist" book, when in itself, it's more on how society should work on patriotism and merit, balacing authority with responsability. He doesnt treat the mobile infantry as meat grinder unlike the movie either. He was also pretty "feminist" for his time.
People just assume that because the movie is a pretty cliché anti-military/facist, the book was exactly that and they couldn't be more wrong. It was just an exploration of a politic system along tons of other, he wasn't even really endorsing it. Just creating a world with this one in mind.
The splatter with the rocket launcher is a heavy nod to both Starship Troopers, when they get splattered with similar green goop, and with the SCIFI Tremers movies. After one of their monsters gets blown up, they always, ALWAYS, shower the people with orange goop and bits of detritus.
And what's funny is that you can get an achievement called "Doing your part"
I did do Effing Shit!
A morning of crisis, an afternoon of retaliation, and a sunset over victory 🎉
Were it so easy...
@@Rallysoldier Are you saying DEMOCRACY does not come easy, citizen?!
just stick straight away from creeks and mires both/ ;)@@Rallysoldier
@@5peciesunkn0wn Sounds like TREASON!?
@5peciesunkn0wn I believe they did say that in the cinematic themselves
This cinematic or in universe commercial makes the Helldivers look so powerful and badass, when in reality most Helldivers die on their first deployment. The overwhelming amount of propaganda and pride for Super Earth blinds these people into carelessly joining a military group they aren't prepared for, then they barely get any training as well. In reality, the real winning factor for the war is the Super Destroyer ships, without them the Helldivers would never stand a chance.
Tbf, I don't see how any amount of training could ensure a diver would be able to survive against the things that the game throws at us lol.
Helldivers are disposable artillery spotters.
The games music sells this too, as you drop in it sounds heroic and bombastic but as soon as you leave your pod that all drops away and the tension and fear sets in
@LylasFightclub stop selling it to me! You're making me want to spend 💰. 💪🏻
@@kaizammit oh you should absolutely play the game, some of the most fun I've had in years
Wow I didn't consciously notice those little details you talk about around 11 minutes with the lighting change and reflections. Really appreciate your videos, thanks for doing these breakdowns and teaching us the difference that those little details make.
Thank you for watching and hanging out with me. I'm glad you're enjoying the breakdowns! It's so nice to hear.
@@kaizammit don't forget how the giant bug surrounded by smaller ones getting rocket blasted in the face mirrors the mom and kid getting wasted at the beginning.
The opening is basically an in universe recruitment advert. And clearly it worked with what i believe is over a million sales now.
I hope to see you on the front lines with us. For Freedom. For Liberty and for Super Earth!
And a nice hot mug of Liber-tea! Helldivers never die! They just redeploy!
Nice touch is the reverse of the big invasion as the father watches his family get slaughtered and then a few frames later a bug „father“ has to watch from the background how his family gets slaughtered.
Fantastic choice for this
ngl.. I didn't really care about the game and the buzz around it, but this little trailer sold this to me.. I want to play that now...
Me too!
It's worth it.
Liberty awaits you
The propaganda works
@@shortsandwich5573 There is a bunk in a local freedom camp with your name on it, traitor!
If you notice during when the "INVASION" shows up, he isn't looking at the camera, but slightly off, like he's reading from cards.
I’m surprised I didn’t catch that, as many dozens of times I’ve watched it on my own!
18:55 I like the chest bumb more then the high five tho :P
Another thing about the lighting, especially for the alien world parts, is not just that golden hour is just naturally a beautiful time to film, but the fact that it's warm lighting. We have out shot of our man in armor in cooler light, very utilitarian, then cut to this alien world in stark (color) contrast- pushing the 'alien' feel, yes, but also warmth is ALLURING. The warm tones helps disarm the scene of giant terrible bug monsters, along with the blase performance of the soldiers, and makes it desirable. They're selling it. It's so smart all around.
Compare this with the live news report of Klendathu in the ST movie, which is at night and thus more dark and cold, and the arachnids look much more monstrous in the flash of the cameraman's light whereas the terminids seem more isolated out in the bright, wide open desert of this opening, easier to shoot and kill before they can kill you.
Helldivers takes inspiration from Starship troopers the movie, the ODST's (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) of Halo and Warhammer 40k.
Ironically the ODST's of Halo takes inspiration from Starship Troopers the novel.
SPARTAN 2s are closer to the MI of the book, but yeah, a lot of Modern Sci-fi takes cues from Starship Troopers (the book) even if they don't know it
11:30 something I've noticed is that while we know it says "invasion" behind him. While he's standing in front of it you could almost read it as "invitation" while he's talking about joining the Helldivers.
I think that’s a bit of a stretch but I like your use of imagination.
16:30 When the rocket hits the Bile Titan, it releases a shock wave that makes the lil bugs jump and it even sends some dirt flying. That is awesome attention to detail
The bit with the rocket launcher was also a callback to the human opening. You have smaller bugs just chilling next to the larger one before it gets suddenly obliterated. Its a mirror of the bug suddenly spawning and killing the family
You're right😂
It’s campy and silly and fun in all the right ways, and I LOVE it!
Thank you for your dedication to spreading the glory that is managed democracy citizen!
The cut at 19:50 so perfectly proving your point was amazing timing.
I don't know how much you work with sound design, but as an amateur audiophile myself, I pissed my pants the sound effects and music are so good throughout the whole game. It is also evident in this intro cinematic.
Every time you drop onto a planet, for example, you are FKCING PUMPED even for the nth hundred time, because the sound and animation sequence are just so damn good.
It's so short, but the visuals and music in the scene immediately after everyone readys up before it shows the actual drop pods is probably my favorite part of the game.
This isn’t just Paul Verhoeven, this is a distillation of the actual recruitment commercials I’ve grown up with in the US
A thing I realized after playing the game for hours is the bug in the commercial is bigger than the actual one you see in game. Like its exaggerated to be a true threat even being the one normal unit you would kill in mass throughout the game.
you need to do the brash tactics infomercials that play in the ship hub they are hilarious as well as the news reports
Every time i deploy into the next mission, that music inspires me to do my best once i exit my hellpod.
The way the Helldivers held the flag as they stabbed the alien bug looked similar to that iconic photo of US soldiers holding up the American flag. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but it makes sense since this game takes the American pride feel to the extreme
It definitely was. Most people have seen that picture and it absolutely screams “power projection” and “liberty” the spreading of democracy. Planting your own flag on newly captured territory is the exact message that scene puts across
The first time I saw that, I thought, "I'm buying this game right now, the reference to Iwo Jima is perfect"
Another detail in the rocket launcher scene is the rocket comes from a different direction than the performer. It looks like it has 2 hidden cuts. Talking with the performer cut during the whip to the creature. Rocket flys in from over the shoulder of the camera. Cut during the whip back to performer that is posing, off screen goop flys onto them. I like to think there is a b team going out and shooting captued bugs to get the right shot.
I can't be any happier now that Kai has covered this masterpiece.
As a 3d artist I was just impressed by the realism. Every shot looked like it could be a real video, and that's not just because of the graphics. Every shot seemed intentional, as you covered in this video, which just added to the realism. The creators clearly understood what they wanted to have happen and that is echoed in this amazing cinematic. Anyway nice video I enjoyed watching it!
This cinematic hits totally different after you've played the game. There's a stark difference between the bravado and humor in the commercial, and the hell and death that actually awaits Helldivers. It feels much darker and it's fantastic.
I love how it also starts in the morning and ends in the evening giving a “All in a days work” kind of vibe.
Thank you for your professional insights.
As someone who made some amateur-level promotional videos for gaming related groups this is really fascinating, especially on the topics of camera angles and lighting especially.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you've got the knowledge, share it. Now you'll do the same. I love it. Thank you for watching, KZ.
The last few months have been good for Verhoeven-inspired video games. Robocop: Rogue City, now Helldivers 2.
How long before a Showgirls game?!?!?!?😂
One point I wanted to bring up was another aspect of the worldbuilding. When its showing off super earth, it first shows how advanced everything is. You've got the lights showing off a giant city on the planet's surface. When it shows the homes, there's a lot of green nature. It's pretty, unlike say, a typical cyberpunk where it's all just buildings and smog.
But then you notice, it's all identical. The homes, the clothes, everything is exactly the same, like you're not allowed to deviate. It tells you that this utopia isn't as "free" as it would have you believe.
just noticed that the super earth picture is centered on sweden, which makes sense, since arrowhead is based there ... just a fun fact I guess
In lore Sweden is where super earth 'unified'
I really feel like they pulled out all the stops regarding the parts not so directly related to the gameplay loop itself. Amazing stuff like the cinematics n' what not. I think what also makes it so good is the music that goes with it as music REALLY helps to sell the whole setting and vibe of these sort of things. Wilbert Roget II did a kick ass job with the soundtrack and it definitely plays it's part (no pun intended) and goes so well with the CGI cinematic. It's definitely worth a listen.
Anyways, great video mate. Loved the breakdown!
I'm 40 yo and a gamer since i was 15, this is the only cinematic i watch everytime i launch a game. Congrats to the people who made it, you are genius.
1:42 HE DID IT. THE DROPPING OF THE SMILE. THAT'S HOW WE ALL FELT. IT WAS SO BADASS
One small detail I noticed is in the beginning the man gets covered in his family's blood, and in the second half he's covered in his enemy's blood. It's like its saying choose which one you want.
Glad you were able to make a good long video about this and compare it to other things people have made! Love this and your Halo breakdowns!
Thank you so much dude! Your comment means so much. I've got the Road To ODST starting next week I believe. Stay tuned fella.
The mocap on that man's face really impressed me. I let this cinematic playthrough each time I boot up the game. It's so good.
Really good video. Excellent explanations. I've learned a lot from that, and a really entertaining presentation of it all. Thanks.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting. KZ
You're welcome. Please keep making videos, they are informative and enjoyable. This was my first, but I'll be watching more.
Welcome to the channel my friend! Kai
All the off-Super Earth shots were filmed in Australia
The way he says courage sound exactly like a line from Casper van Dien in Starship troopers.
The genius of this cinematic is that it plays in the beginning just after loading the game up. It's one of the FEW cinematics I actually allow to play all the way through before hopping into the game because it's an incredible recruitment/commercial/morale booster to get you pumped in spending some serious time with the game. Everything about this cinematic oozes with charisma, and a true study in what, and how, an intro cinematic should be.
Arrowhead Game Studios knocked it out of the park with this, and all I wanna do is jump into the game again.
13:28 What you didn´t mention here is the absolutely genious transition they did there. The fading in sound of the Pods during athmospheric entry, then the cut to the pods burning through the athmosphere with the tension building strings coming in, and then the cut to the scene on the alien planet. Accompanied by an impact sound and the fanfares starting to blast. It is such a great transition, telling you in less then 3 seconds everything you need to know.
Even better is how it establisches a direction of "movement". The harsher bluish light of the shot it front of the flag, to the shot of the pods that has a range from colder bluish grey on top to the reddish orange of the heat and the planet on the bottom. To the orange yellow of the planet. Which creates a feeling of a downwards thrust with a massive impact. Basically winding up a punch and hitting hard.
That transition alone is a piece of art.
Very nice breakdown, thanks! The developers really spent the time to make a great, cinematic intro. It's really a work of passion for them.
I never get tired of the narrator and how serious his face gets when he puts on the helmet
I watch the full opening every time I open the game, it never fails to get a laugh
This video is a master class of explanation and easily explaining major concepts of cinematography. Amazing.
The thing about the Book Starship Troopers is that they didn't want people to sign up, and did everything they could to discourage them from doing so. They only wanted the self motivated. People willing to die for the good of others, to enlist. There was no advertising. No trying to convince people that serving a term was a good idea.
The film and book are borderline unrelated. Comparing them is basically nonsense.
every time i fully listen to the intro when the transition to him in the armor. it makes my hair raise ... every single time
We need an Automaton Commercial filmed on Malevelon Creek
Once we liberate it
Sarcasm is perfect when the person doing it takes themselves seriously. Obviously they don’t believe themselves or whatever they’re saying, but if you can take yourself seriously without cracking up at your joke it becomes that much more funnier.
Kai there is a second trailer called "The fight for Freedom begins" if you want to see some more Helldivers 2, it's a mix of Cinematic and Gameplay but it's the same vibe
Don't you mean...if he wants to know more?
@@ChopperMeir you're two weeks late being a pedantic fuck over a comment which answers a question mentioned in the video. He asked if there were any more helldivers Cinematic, if he wants to see more - of them, i gave him the name.
@@glockenspeal You obviously missed the Startship Troopers reference that ChopperMeir was referring to..
@@glockenspeal wow that starship troopers joke flew right over your head didn't it?.
Wind your neck in.
"You can't go wrong if you do it right."
Brilliant wisdom.
Love it! That match cut is mean! And using dirty framing to draw the eye - very insightful. Great vid man, hilarious reaction
Dude, why are you watching this video!? Watch the Patreon version, no ads as it's not monetized. Thanks dude!
I'm at the tee printers tomorrow, see how they are getting on. I'll keep you posted brother.
@@kaizammit Thanks brotha! I'm just showing some love on both uploads! Caught the Patreon version via email this morning - very nice surprise
That's so nice of you fella! Thanks man. I hope you liked the shout out too. Well earned.
The best thing about this game is that you can tell the devs actually have fun making this game and transfer that feeling to the players perfectly.
The first thing I noticed when playing is how he has a bi-racial family, showing super earth is a progressive and accepting place for all of humanity and absoloutely not racist or hateful lmao. Perfect
It's short, concise, and leaves you wanting more. It's a masterpiece
I really enjoy these breakdowns and I've got no idea why I wasn't subbed until now. This game is hilarious fun, and that Starship Troopers feel is what drew me to this game in the first place. I wish there was some kind of cinematic showcasing the game's second enemy faction, the automatons. Playing against them changes the whole vibe of the game into Terminator.
One thing, I noticed about how it goes from a warm filter to a cold looking filter.. you can tell a story just with that.
When the guy has his family in the picture, it's warm yellows, browns and oranges for like happiness for example.
Then the freeze. Which would be like the instant he was traumatized in this story.
And the cold filter with a fake smile.. then even colder with hate in his eyes. And the tropes that comes with shaving your hair and shedding who you used to be and changing.
To getting warmer as the sun sets on the alien planet and at its warmest again like the beginning when all 3 of your bros are there symbolic of the guy finding his family again.
I think it's beautiful story telling just with filters alone not to mention the funny over exaggerations like a cartoon or commercial they sell it so well
Managed democracy cracks me up!
19:35 this concept even goes all the way back to ancient rulers in Egypt and Rome and the like. The throne is always on a heightened pedestal to the rest of the room. It forces the regular people to look up at the powerful person, and it seems to have translated to filmmaking
First comment! I love starship troopers! I am doing my part!
Yes you are! Gold coin to you haha. Thank you for being here, you're an awesome person. KZ
I love the conversations you can have with the NPCs on the ship. "I wonder which candidate will be selected for me?" and "Without these tools, I wouldn't be able to help. They lease them to me with a really good interest rate too!"
This is such a fantastic piece of propaganda and recruitment video. It has a clearly defined monster/enemy. It showcases the masculine urge to fight against something that'll destroy your family and home. Self empowerment. Guns. This is what would get people to sign up. Also, it's a crying shame, the hack job that Verhoeven did on Starship Troopers. Robocop is my favourite movie of all time and while I loved the movie as it show cased something analogous with the spirit of Starship Troopers, the movie took a lot of underhanded jabs at the source material.
It adds to the immersion, the game isn't just a game, you feel a connection to this place.
Here for democracy
*Managed Democracy. Your Democracy Officer has been notified.
Alright you're def a professional. Never thought about all those details.
Haha, did you think I was a fake? I didn't want to be on here (TH-cam) and not doing the actual job, otherwise I'd be random guy reacts. I don't like that personally. Same when I guest teach.
With the dirty frame trick really sells the idea that they are in the battle field, with a clean frame it would appear more like a stage
I found this game on ps5 one week before its release, I watched this ad and bought the game in the minute. There got it just right. I love it
You have to play it! The whole game is one huge cinematic experience. The intro, which you just reviewed, ties in PERFECTLY with the rest of the game experience. And the entire game is like running around inside a Michael Bay movie. The first ever such game.
I never noticed before, but with all the talk of the lighting I have to point this out. Throughout the cinematic, it starts in the morning at the early golden hour, when it shows the guy's family being attacked. Then when it transitions to the Helldivers, they're fighting bugs at mid-day on a desert planet. And then when it's closing out and you see the Helldivers sticking the flag in a bug, and when the planes fly above the Helldiver looking out in the distance, it's late golden hour, around sunset. The fact that the lighting throughout kind of visually hints that a day is passing really helps to suck you in even more, it helps sell you on the order of events because even aside from the idea that this is an advertisement, it also tells a little mini-story of a guy's motivation for enlisting, his work during deployment, and ultimately his victory over the bugs that killed his family. And they don't even say a word about it.
Great breakdown, loved it, love Helldivers 2, for managed democracy!
The trailer gives me goosebumps everytime and gets me pumped up. Love it. Great game
The CG trailer was made by Goodbye kansas and they did an amazing job.
Uh that scene is clearly in the evening. The guy is coming home - not leaving it. You don't walk outside your house then acknowledge your wife and daughter like you haven't seen them all day. Not to mention the scene starts with him walking TO his house from his car.
That little space ship in the frontyard is for the child to fantasize about being a hell diver in his or her drop pod.
For a game that is so cinematic, this is probably the only sutscene. Everything else, even the loading screens are dynamic based on context. But the choice of sound, visual effects and even the lively skyboxes in gameplay speaks to a keen eye for interactive design. Such a refreshing game to play.
This intro never gets old, I watch it every time I start the game to hype myself up and it works every time.
havint just watched a military vet talk about it from a realistic propaganda video pov, and then watching this from a cinimatography pov really shows they did a great job at being Satire AND just being quality work.
Not only is this a very good in universe comercial and starship troopers callback, it also calls back to actual military receuitment videos
the up vs down angle of the camera is SUPER important to our psychology. Our whole childhood growing up, when someone is taller than you and you LITERALLY "look up to them" they become your role models. When you look directly at the same height to someone, they are your peer or equal, and when you LITERALLY look down on someone you see them as a pupil or even an inferior. That's why commercials use even framing or slightly downward framing when presenting the problem, so that you relate to it or despise it, then the solution provider is framed upwards to look admirable.
The thing with the bile titan and the RPG that is also great is that after he shoot it,get splattered in the green goo you can see him letting down the weappon, something natural to do!
16:10 comes from an old joke. “Join the army. Meet interesting people and kill them”
I like how they only focused on bullying bugs in the commercial. Showing automatons would probably traumatize the audience.
Easiest way to explain the camera being below or above is it changes your perspective as the viewer.
If you're looking up at someone then it implies they are bigger than you, you have to look up to get a good view of them and so they are powerful. If you're looking down on something then it's smaller, inferior, and you're literally and figuratively now looking down on them.