400 fps... but at what cost (slow motion + demake mod)

Modding Helldivers 2 for Low-End PCs

Overview of Modded Gameplay

• The modded version of Helldivers 2 features minimal graphics, including no shadows or reflections, resulting in a retro aesthetic. The low resolution and pop-in effects are evident, raising questions about the appeal of such settings.

Performance Considerations

• Users with struggling systems may find these modifications not worth the effort; a decent rig is still necessary due to the CPU-intensive nature of the game engine.

• The mod primarily utilizes Reshade, a post-processing injector that stylizes low settings while removing graphical clutter without impacting gameplay.

Config File Adjustments

• To enhance performance, users must edit the game's config file located in AppData under Roaming. This includes setting LOD Selection Multiplier to 0.11 for closer rendering of low poly models.

• Adjusting Light Cull Distance Multiplier to a small value (e.g., 0.001) helps eliminate environmental lights while maintaining visual integrity.

Resolution Settings

• Recommended screen resolutions include 768x432 for standard displays; higher resolutions can disrupt shader functionality and degrade performance.

• Particle quality should remain at level 3 for clarity, while space quality can be set at level 2 to avoid blurry visuals.

Managing Game Files

• Texture quality should be kept at medium (level 1), as lower settings cause flickering issues. Certain bundled properties like wind and heat haze should be disabled to maintain stability.

• Setting the config file to read-only prevents automatic reversion by the game but requires manual adjustments after updates that might break configurations.

Pixelation Techniques

• For traditional full-screen gameplay, disabling resampling options ensures sharper pixelation from low resolutions.

• Using Shader Glass allows playing in full-screen mode without resampling and offers additional CRT shaders for enhanced retro aesthetics.

DirectX Requirements

• Running Reshade necessitates using DirectX 11 instead of DirectX 12, which is default for Helldivers.

How to Enhance Helldivers with DirectX 11 and Reshade

Installing DirectX 11 for Performance Boost

• DirectX 11 installation can significantly enhance game performance. To enable it, access your Steam library, right-click on the game, select Properties, and enter --use-d3d11 in Launch Options.

• Download Reshade from reshade.me by scrolling down to the "Download with full add-on support" option. A warning will appear at launch; however, it's not a major concern for non-competitive multiplayer games like Helldivers.

Setting Up Reshade

• Select Helldivers from the list during installation, choose DirectX 11, and uncheck all options if you only want effects from a specific preset. For experimentation, consider selecting all available effects.

• Extract files from the downloaded zip into the folder where Reshade was installed. If this is your first installation of Reshade, replace any existing files when prompted but back up three key files beforehand.

Using Reshade In-game

• After launching the game with HD99 loaded, press tilde (~) to toggle Reshade. If you've added code to skip intro videos, simply press any key when prompted.

• The home key opens the Reshade menu. Tilde is set as a hotkey for toggling visibility of certain objects through Shader Toggler; everything can be triggered together or organized into groups.

Understanding Effects and Settings

• Effects are grouped under Add-ons in the menu; each group is labeled according to its function. Non-listed effects act as traditional reshade effects affecting the entire screen.

• The "Correct Color" effect removes tint based on biome and time of day while enhancing individual object colors—especially useful in combination with HDR saturation settings.

Adjusting Visual Elements

• Various tone mapping and color correction effects are included; one selected handles clipping well in bright/dark areas while compensating for dark nights on planets.

• Deepler effect enhances sharpness without introducing artifacts or haloing; anti-aliasing is disabled but this effect helps reduce aliasing appearance further.

Particle Effects Customization

• Retro Shaders 1 and 2 modify primary/secondary particle effects by pixelating them and limiting their colors—this may cause darker smoke colors to appear brighter.

• Ground texture adjustments include color/bump mapping changes that flatten materials' appearances by reducing reflectivity or specularity through various solid color settings.

Managing Draw Distance Effects

• Certain effects simulate limited draw distance using blurring techniques that silhouette meshes against depth but may lead to bright foreground objects bleeding into backgrounds.

• Users can adjust blur distance/feathering via Cobra Mask effect settings; note that some small details may not render until players are very close due to LOD model limitations.

Understanding Mine Types in Gameplay

Interactable Mines Overview

• The presence of icons indicates interactable mines, but anti-personnel and incendiary mines pose significant challenges for players.

• Gas mines are highlighted as the superior choice due to their effectiveness and rarity in gameplay compared to other mine types.

• Players should remain vigilant about the deployment of anti-personnel and incendiary mines, paying attention to both timing and location.

• The discussion emphasizes the importance of awareness regarding mine placement to avoid being caught off guard during encounters.