Earth Defense Force 2025 review: cheese whiz

The Earth Defense Force is back. Once again, The Ravagers, a race of enormous insects and robots, have begun invading the Earth, and it's up to the brave EDF soldiers to eradicate them once and for all.

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The Earth Defense Force is back. Once again, The Ravagers, a race of enormous insects and robots, have begun invading the Earth, and it's up to the brave EDF soldiers to eradicate them once and for all.

Earth Defense Force 2025 largely follows the blueprint established by EDF 2017, but adds a few more weapons for good measure, along with a couple of classes, and the return of local and online co-op.

There are four different classes to choose from here, more than its predecessor. There's the Ranger, a ground troop with access to vehicles, such as tanks. Others include the armored Fencer and the Wing Diver. The Fencer is slower, but trades agility for a gatling gun and a shield. The Wing Diver is far more mobile, flying through the air to unleash neon blue death blasts from above. However, she's less effective at close-range combat.

No matter which class players choose, destruction is the name of the game. You'll spend a good deal of time running head-first into a firefight and turning ants into carcasses, destroying robots and starships along the way. Collateral damage is hilariously unscripted, with humans and buildings all succumbing to stray fire.

However, EDF 2025 runs into a fair share of slowdown, which bogs down the experience. Also, the game's hit detection can be frustrating, with random NPCs sometimes getting in the way of an otherwise well-aimed shot. And while EDF 2025 is obviously trying to be campy, it can sometimes go a bit too far, particularly with its dialogue.

Shortcomings aside, Earth Defense Force 2025 is an action experience that will put a big, stupid grin on your face. Like Starship Troopers, EDF is a campy adventure that doesn't attempt to redefine the paradigm, but offers a reliably good time. [6]


This review is based on an Xbox 360 copy provided by the publisher. Earth Defense Force 2025 is available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $49.99. The game is rated M.

Robert Workman was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 19, 2014 12:00 PM

    Robert Workman posted a new article, Earth Defense Force 2025 review: cheese whiz.

    The Earth Defense Force is back. Once again, The Ravagers, a race of enormous insects and robots, have begun invading the Earth, and it's up to the brave EDF soldiers to eradicate them once and for all.

    • reply
      February 19, 2014 4:05 PM

      6? This score thing is not working out for you, Shack.

      • reply
        February 19, 2014 5:43 PM

        Is that what it is? I thought that was some kind of fucking footnote. Again.

        DESIGN SOMETHING FOR THE REVIEW NUMBER OR CAN THEM. Sheesh.

        • reply
          February 19, 2014 5:52 PM

          are you available?

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          February 19, 2014 5:58 PM

          Hahaha, yeah, I really though someone had messed up a footnote.

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          February 20, 2014 12:19 AM

          I love how it still links to the "review scores is coming to Shacknews" article. It's so God damn lazy.

          It's also its own genre and easily the best EDF game so that score is just plain wrong.

          [8]

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            February 20, 2014 5:09 AM

            It links to what each score means. And you're proving why the editors resisted scores for so long - YOU DON'T AGREE WITH MY SCORE, THIS SCORE IS STUPID~!!!!, come on, son, be better.

      • reply
        February 20, 2014 6:48 AM

        Everything's a 6 or lower unless it's hipsteriffic.

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      February 19, 2014 5:08 PM

      The 20-foot-tall hostess balloon decoy DLC probably won't make it to the US, though. Yes, you read that correctly. http://www.siliconera.com/2013/03/29/earth-defense-force-2025-has-a-strange-crossover-with-balloon-hostesses/ (pictures in link are relatively work safe)

      If you purchase Earth Defense Force 2025 directly from D3Publisher you’ll get balloon decoys featuring Dream C Club characters Mina (the blonde girl) and Setsu (the girl with the right hand pony tail). Rangers can use Mina and the new Air Raider class can use Setsu.

    • reply
      February 19, 2014 6:53 PM

      "This review is based on an Xbox 360 copy provided by the publisher. Earth Defense Force 2017 is available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $59.99. The game is rated T."

      um...wow, so much wrong with this.

      1:You're reviewing EDF 2025, not 2017

      2:EDF 2025 costs $49.99, not $59.99

      3:EDF 2025 is rated M, not T

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