Finally got some Hard Mode games. I gotta say, nothing is more intense than being the last marine left alive (as an Engie, no less), dropping a sentry in the finale zone and making a desperate fight, just you and the aliens, to survive long enough to give your team the win.
I just did it twice - Residential zone, a.k.a. Parasite City, where I at least had a sentry, and the Finale level, where I went to town with the Prototype Rifle, a Flamethrower, and Hornets.
Just for reference, none of those can save you from a Shield Bug, so the best move is to just run - especially when you have little enough health that a single drone strike will end you.
So I got to the landing pad spot and hid behind the large box to avoid the distance attackers, pulling out the Tesla Grenades I'd saved on my P. Rifle for the entire level. As a horde of drones descended on me, I made a desperate roll back towards where the pad extends to the dropship just as it arrived, making my escape as about eight drones were in range of me.
Fucking.
Epic.
This game needs to play the Combat Music playlist more, though. It doesn't even play it during the freaking Finale after you set the nuke. What the hell? When better in this whole campaign than right there?
... Don't suppose anyone has found a way to achieve that by the way?