If you're unfamiliar with Earth Defence Force the concept is simple - you're living out the plot of a B-Movie where earth is being invaded by a billion bugs, aliens, robots, and kaiju. You are a member of the EDF tasked with killing every single one on foot with an M15. Lock and load soldier.
Known in the community as 'the American EDF game', IA introduced the three new classes which have gone on to become a series staple, but that's about it. The core of the gameplay is there, but the entire thing takes place in a single location, the zany variety of weapons is missing, and the classes haven't really found their feet mechanically yet leaving Wing Divers feeling fast but weak, Fencers too slow to live, and Air Raiders are mostly useless.
The games are known for bright colourful and silly scenarios with comical radio chatter as HQ bumble around figuring out about the invasion, but IA went for a much darker more serious tone, everything is gritty, and the story ends on a bleaker note. All of the levity and fun from earlier games is completely absent. They tried to make the banter between units more silly but this just become incredibly repetitive as you trudge through endless empty tunnels and large stretches of war-torn city.
I ended up beating the game on hard which was a slog and without the weapon variety, the location variety, and the fun cheesy tone of previous games it was a dull grind all the way through. The only saving grace is they got the basic gameplay feel right. If you're new you should grab EDF 5, or World Brothers - or just wait for 6 to come out. This one is very much old news and has been improved upon.
Known in the community as 'the American EDF game', IA introduced the three new classes which have gone on to become a series staple, but that's about it. The core of the gameplay is there, but the entire thing takes place in a single location, the zany variety of weapons is missing, and the classes haven't really found their feet mechanically yet leaving Wing Divers feeling fast but weak, Fencers too slow to live, and Air Raiders are mostly useless.
The games are known for bright colourful and silly scenarios with comical radio chatter as HQ bumble around figuring out about the invasion, but IA went for a much darker more serious tone, everything is gritty, and the story ends on a bleaker note. All of the levity and fun from earlier games is completely absent. They tried to make the banter between units more silly but this just become incredibly repetitive as you trudge through endless empty tunnels and large stretches of war-torn city.
I ended up beating the game on hard which was a slog and without the weapon variety, the location variety, and the fun cheesy tone of previous games it was a dull grind all the way through. The only saving grace is they got the basic gameplay feel right. If you're new you should grab EDF 5, or World Brothers - or just wait for 6 to come out. This one is very much old news and has been improved upon.