Earth Defense Force 5

Earth Defense Force 5 doesn't shake things up, but it presents a fun and highly customizable arcade shooter perfect for co-op play.

“EDF! EDF! EDF!”

Earth Defense Force 5 stands in the face of pretty much every game released these days. It’s the game that doesn’t bother trying to keep up with the Jones’ because it’s happy doing its own thing and being just what it wants to be. And that’s brilliant. And you know what else is brilliant? Shooting hundreds of enemies while listening to humorous quips. That never gets old. Never.

Video games, man. Video games are wild. One moment, you’re playing a game that uses frame-perfect jumping puzzles to turn menacing, indie platforming tropes into an allegory about fighting anxiety and self-esteem problems. The next, you’re screaming internally as you unload thousands of bullets into a distant crowd of building-sized ants. The Earth Defense Force series has long challenged what video games should be in Current Year, and that continues to hold true with the latest release, Earth Defense Force 5.

Earth Defense Force 5 is a great game for folks who don’t need any good reason for just wanting to blow up a lot of bugs with a lot of guns.

Earth Defense Force 5 doubles down on its B-movie aesthetic to create an experience that is equal parts goofy and fun. The lack of enemy variety leads to some repetition, but those who grew up with cult cinema classics will enjoy taking down this alien menace.

For better or for worse, Earth Defense Force 5 is a fast paced shooter that pays tribute to B-movies and poorly localized PlayStation 2 games.

At last the Earth Defense Force series gets a sequel worthy of its early promise, even if there are still a few unwanted bugs left.

Let’s face it, eventually, some species of extraterrestrials are going to arrive at our planet and start kicking our collective asses. Some of us might die during the first wave of attacks – victims of unfortunate circumstances, just not seeing it coming. Then there will be those of us who run and hide, praying that they don’t have some Predator-like heat vision that can detect us pretty much anywhere (spoiler: they will). Then there will be those of us who’ve played enough Earth Defense Force games to take up arms and kick some alien butt. For the time being, potential Earth defenders will be...

If you like watching B-movie’s with friends, but would rather play them instead, then yes, Earth Defense Force 5 is the game for you. If you just want to blow shit up, then there are more entertaining games out there.

Earth Defense Force 5 takes what the previous games in the series were known for; Classes with huge customization, large-scale battles, and a story about mankind defeating enemy forces. If you're looking for a third person shooter that you can keep coming back to for different experiences, EDF 5 will keep you entertained for hours.

Ultimately, Earth Defense Force 5 boils down to a very shallow entry in a series that I've typically enjoyed in the past. Single-player only works in short spurts, as this is a title that's meant to be enjoyed with others. I think it's time for Earth Defense Force to evolve into more than just a game that relies on nostalgia and monotonous killing. There's definitely potential here and it shines through at multiple points throughout the game. If you're a fan of this series, this game is definitely worth giving a shot, even if it's your first time. But if you're hoping for some improvements ove...