Here’s a game series that I’ve wanted to spread the word about for a while now. I’m going to try to keep this as short and sweet as possible, though, because there isn’t too much to say about Earth Defense Force 2017 except that it delivers unfiltered, action-packed fun in spades. Try it, buy it, love it. For the more detail-oriented reader, we’ve got all the in-depth information you’ll need after the jump.
The Earth Defense Force series started as part of the budget-minded Simple 2000 Series on Playstation 2 (titled The Chikyuu Boueigun). It was popular enough to get a PS2 sequel, and then, for some reason, it jumped over to Xbox 360 for the latest installment. This version even made it into Japan’s platinum hits line of re-releases, so I’m under the impression that it has at least a decent following. And well it should.
EDF 2017 Trailer
Here’s how it works: Choose two weapons to take into each mission. See something moving? Shoot it. Destroyed a building (or a whole city block) in the process? No problem! Oh hey, someone left a tank lying around… take control! Repeat cycle of destruction until everything’s dead, then bask in your own glory. Guns have unlimited ammo (just reload times), and there are no penalties of any sort. I love demolishing buildings to clear a direct path to the next batch of enemies simply because I can.
Before After
The beauty of EDF lies in the way it lets your id run rampant. Outside of accidentally killing yourself or your 2P-controlling friend, there’s absolutely nothing you can do that results in a negative consequence. You are given absolute freedom with your weapons – all’s fair and forgivable in protecting the Earth, right?
Basic gameplay – Mission 3
Additionally, the number of on-screen enemies is impressive and provides a good rush of adrenaline when you’re facing a horde of aliens rushing toward you. Even better, the horsepower of the 360 improves the frame rate immensely when this happens; the PS2 versions tended to slow to a choppy crawl, a telling sign of their budget-title status.
Just a small taste of the on-screen armies to come
The inclusion of 2-player cooperative play and five levels of difficulty extends both the fun and life of the game. Trying to collect all the weapons is also pretty addicting. Weapons fall into the following categories: assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, missiles, grenades, and special weapons. Choose two from any category to best fit your play style. Missions never really stray from the same “kill or destroy everything” objective, but they’re always fun and there are enough choices to keep things interesting.
Check weapon stats to choose the right combo
I have yet to finish EDF 2017, but I can already tell it’s going to be just as amazing as the first two. There have been some minor changes made since the PS2 (controls, some vehicles, addition of teammates, etc.), but given that those games never got a US release, I doubt many people got a chance to play them. Seriously, though, just try this game and you’ll be hooked. Better yet, grab a roommate, sibling, or significant other and discover the magic of blasting giant insects together.
Recent Comments