..Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon..

REVIEW |

The first game was titled Global Defense Force, the second, Earth Defense Force 2017, and now publisher D3 brings us Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon by new developer Vicious Cycle Software. The question is, are we ready, or do we even need another one of these games? 

Who is to say, but at least I can let you know how it was.

The game takes place in New Detroit (yeah, just like RoboCop) and well, the story is pretty much in the title… giant insectoid aliens are wreaking havoc on the planet and it’s up to you to stop them. So much for anything rich or detailed in the story department, but giant bug invasions can be fun… right?

- Uff... Real-time destruction is rough, but the visuals are much-improved -

The answer is… sometimes. Players take the role of Lighting Alpha and have up to four armor classes to choose from: Battle, Trooper, Tactical, and Jet. Each of these do offer a bit of unique gameplay, and each are all equally balanced, catering to the style of gamer you are. This is nice, as it offers some replay value and varied gaming to please different types of players.

Gameplay is simple run-and-gun fare – with very little need for tactics, planning, or on-the-dime skills. There is a co-op mode in which three players can team up to play, though the most fun comes from the six-player co-op survival mode in which onslaughts of insects come at you endlessly. Of course, it does get old after a while. Although you can move up levels by grinding more experience, it’s tedious, and at the end of the day, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is the last game you want to sit around leveling up on. 

The best part of Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is perhaps the wide variety of weapons you can select from and the sheer mindless shooting. However, EDF: IA is not always as hyper-intense as a good bullet-flingin’ game should be. I often put games like this under the category “mindless, after work, beer drinking games” and EDF:IA fits that bill to a tee. It’s not the game you want to shut all the lights off for, grab the perfect snack / brew, turn off your cell phone, cancel your dates and WoW guild meetings and play all night till the sun comes up – but it’s fine for the casual gaming session of brainless relaxation.

Other flaws range between minor and major. The game’s AI can get annoying. Some noticeable bugs (programming bugs, not insectoid enemy alien bugs) get in the way of gameplay, and the repetitiveness plagues the game (especially while trying to level a character class up).

- "I see your schwartz is a big as mine!"-

The game is not as large as its predecessors, nor does it improve upon much either. The graphics are sharper, the controls are tighter, but overall you won’t see much change. If you’re a fan of the originals looking for more of the same, then you’ll find it in Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon. However, if you’re looking for improvements upon the series, you’ll be a little more than disappointed. EDF: IA is best for those long-time fans and those looking for a simple shooter. Of course, there are far better options than what this sometimes messy game has to offer. Also, you could probably just watch Starship Troopers or, to a lesser extent, Battle: Los Angeles, and get a little more joy out of experiencing the militaristic, bug-killing, sci-fi genre.

GameDynamo's Score for Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (X360)

Rando Evans   Followtinydinosaurs Three things describe Rando: Good beer, good food, and video games. On occasion, Rando flies a zeppelin through time seeking power crystals.

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