With “cult classic” written all over it, the goofy and oddly addictive Earth Defense Force 2017 is one of the best action titles for the 360 not named Gears of War, Halo 3 or Crackdown. Granted, that doesn’t leave a lot, but this undeniably energetic throwback to countless classic arcade shooters is a blast.
It’s a simple formula:
Giant bugs + rocket launcher + destructible environments = Fun.
While desperately needing some online co-op play, this two player local shooter rarely loses its appeal as you plow through 52 levels of goo-spitting ants, web spinning oversized spiders, laser beam firing robots and the “death from above” mothership raining hell on the planet. Everything here screams retro update, from the simple plot that requires nothing more than aliens need to be killed, outrageous weapons and repetitive enemies.
EDF presents its own breed of chaotic action from a third-person view and vertical split screen when a friend joins the fight. Saying the enemy mass together doesn’t even begin to get the point across. There are literally hundreds of foes barreling down at the player at any given time and, until the map is clear, the next stage remains locked. Even though the graphics range from unspectacular to drab, there’s no sense of losing the illusion that you’re a puny human stacked against towering robots 20 times your size. Never has a game featured a sense of scale like this.
With the amount of available levels, it’s only natural that things grow repetitive. An entire section of the game (five levels), going underground to eliminate the horde of giant insects, is repeated later in the game. If you’re not used to the repetition of retro titles, blasting away a few thousand ants with a rocket launcher may become a little dull.
EDF tries hard to stay fresh. New weapons can be picked up on the battlefield and added to your stash. You’ll have your choice between two weapons when actually in combat, so choosing wisely for the upcoming scene is crucial. Other power-ups increase your armor rating, which is a necessity for higher difficulties.
Article comments
1 - ryan
Giant bugs + rocket launcher + destructible environments = Fun
Obviously this is the reason why most the games you review receive low scores. If you understood that this formula does not always prove successful, in this case failing to excite. Games including Wario ware, Twilight princess, SSX Blur received the same score or lower, even though being of a much higher quality.
This game screams racism with its red neck western views on the world, and once again portrays america as being all powerful, adding to the current run of everything America does it correct mentality.
2 - Matt Paprocki
"Giant bugs + rocket launcher + destructible environments = Fun
Obviously this is the reason why most the games you review receive low scores."
Because I enjoy games with over-the-top destruction?
"If you understood that this formula does not always prove successful, in this case failing to excite"
No, it doesn't always work. It worked for Metal Slug, and it works for EDF.
"Games including Wario ware, Twilight princess, SSX Blur received the same score or lower, even though being of a much higher quality."
I didn't even review two of those, but probably would have given Wario Ware a high score. SSX didn't provide with anywhere near the level of entertainment EDF did, especially when in co-op. Two player brings all the memories and enjoyment of Contra or other classic action titles, and it does it a budget price.
SSX Tricky? Yeah, definitely. SSX On Tour and Blur? Not so much.
"This game screams racism with its red neck western views on the world, and once again portrays america as being all powerful, adding to the current run of everything America does it correct mentality."
The game is set entirely in Japan, made by Japanese, with Japanese characters, and Japanese cities. America is completely wiped out in level 40, or somewhere around there. The Japanese take down the final boss and save the world.
You're simply being ridiculous with comments like this Ryan. You're trying to find any reason to justify how these Wii releases are perfect, and failing miserably when you state comments like this that show you know nothing of the source material.
3 - Ken Edwards
Ryan, you know this is a Japanese game, right?