-----And so it returns! The cult favorite Earth Defense Force franchise offers a new, updated core entry in it's series with Earth Defense Force 5. Personally I was a big fan of the series's Xbox 360 outing EDF 2025. It offer some great pastime gameplay with creative weapons, fun levels, campy narrative devices, and a nice scaling player choice difficulty. However, I don't think that game was without it's faults. For one I think 2025 was a bit too repetitive at times, coasting on ideas from time to time. Also the progression of accumulating health and new weapons could be a bit tiresome after awhile.
-----So, going into 5 here, I was a bit skeptical despite being excited as the screenshots for this game seem to have hinted at more of the same. Playing it, I do think that is true for the majority of the software, but 5 also brings some refreshing changes and additions into the mix as well. For one, everything now has an updated look to it. Graphical fidelity, lighting, weather effects, and especially particle effects get a boost with the higher-gen technology at the developer's disposal. It's very satisfying to shoot the iconic giant insects and see a bunch of chunks and colored blood go flying around.
-----I also like the addition to the regular enemy gallery. In terms of lifeforms the ants, wood spiders, and webbing long legs from series past make a return. However now there are now frog men, giant armored infantry, rolling pill-bugs, infinitely spawning anchors, and more trying to take over the earth. These enemies offer some great new dynamics to EDF's gameplay. I also love the general spike in difficulty this entry offers. Before in EDF 2025, the levels themselves could be push overs. In 5 however there seems to be more of a focus on skill, strategy, keeping NPCs alive, and crowd control when it comes to action segments. This brings a welcome challenge to some of the more mind-numbing parts of the game.
-----A massive overhaul has been given to the loot system this time around. Because of the increase in technological computing for hardware, more loot in general can appear in the scenes of the game, which is great. No more having to collect loot in order to have more loot spawn. Now it seems you can litter the game's environments with crates without end. Furthermore, when health and ammo is collected, it's distributed to all classes this time around. A fantastic change that makes progression feel all the more engaging. Of course whatever class you're playing as at the moment will get priority on the distribution end, but this change can make playing as the other classes of EDF all the more exciting (especially if you normally have trouble with a particular class). A change in how weapon acquisition and progression works also leaves me feeling pleased. Now weapons have stats that can be improved through collecting weapon crates. Also weapons are also distributed between classes. Again, fantastic idea here.
-----On the player mechanics side of things, Players can now dash around, making moving more fun. The controls and mechanics in general just feel more smooth. However, my first negative criticism for EDF5 would have to go to jumping/dodge rolling. First of all, your character can't seem to just dash past obstacles which is frustrating, especially if they're low to the ground. Also the way jumping and rolling works makes it so you could do either by mistake, where you might one to do one but get the other.
-----On the flow side of EDF5, the game boasts more missions this time around (110), however this makes the game go on for way too long. This isn't helped by some the missions definitely feeling like filler. EDF5 does try to change things up with different environments, but all the locations end up looking samey anyway. They even look like they're carried over from EDF 2025, which probably isn't a guess that isn't too far off the money. Finally while I do like a lot of the additions here, I can't help but feel like EDF5 is still more of the same from 2025. This isn't a bad thing per say. If you've been a fan of EDF up to this point, you most likely like this gameplay anyway. For me however, I do wish there was more variation from previous installments. Still, if you're looking more more EDF content, or if you're new to the franchise in general, than Earth Defense Force 5 is a good point to be at. - 07/10
-----So, going into 5 here, I was a bit skeptical despite being excited as the screenshots for this game seem to have hinted at more of the same. Playing it, I do think that is true for the majority of the software, but 5 also brings some refreshing changes and additions into the mix as well. For one, everything now has an updated look to it. Graphical fidelity, lighting, weather effects, and especially particle effects get a boost with the higher-gen technology at the developer's disposal. It's very satisfying to shoot the iconic giant insects and see a bunch of chunks and colored blood go flying around.
-----I also like the addition to the regular enemy gallery. In terms of lifeforms the ants, wood spiders, and webbing long legs from series past make a return. However now there are now frog men, giant armored infantry, rolling pill-bugs, infinitely spawning anchors, and more trying to take over the earth. These enemies offer some great new dynamics to EDF's gameplay. I also love the general spike in difficulty this entry offers. Before in EDF 2025, the levels themselves could be push overs. In 5 however there seems to be more of a focus on skill, strategy, keeping NPCs alive, and crowd control when it comes to action segments. This brings a welcome challenge to some of the more mind-numbing parts of the game.
-----A massive overhaul has been given to the loot system this time around. Because of the increase in technological computing for hardware, more loot in general can appear in the scenes of the game, which is great. No more having to collect loot in order to have more loot spawn. Now it seems you can litter the game's environments with crates without end. Furthermore, when health and ammo is collected, it's distributed to all classes this time around. A fantastic change that makes progression feel all the more engaging. Of course whatever class you're playing as at the moment will get priority on the distribution end, but this change can make playing as the other classes of EDF all the more exciting (especially if you normally have trouble with a particular class). A change in how weapon acquisition and progression works also leaves me feeling pleased. Now weapons have stats that can be improved through collecting weapon crates. Also weapons are also distributed between classes. Again, fantastic idea here.
-----On the player mechanics side of things, Players can now dash around, making moving more fun. The controls and mechanics in general just feel more smooth. However, my first negative criticism for EDF5 would have to go to jumping/dodge rolling. First of all, your character can't seem to just dash past obstacles which is frustrating, especially if they're low to the ground. Also the way jumping and rolling works makes it so you could do either by mistake, where you might one to do one but get the other.
-----On the flow side of EDF5, the game boasts more missions this time around (110), however this makes the game go on for way too long. This isn't helped by some the missions definitely feeling like filler. EDF5 does try to change things up with different environments, but all the locations end up looking samey anyway. They even look like they're carried over from EDF 2025, which probably isn't a guess that isn't too far off the money. Finally while I do like a lot of the additions here, I can't help but feel like EDF5 is still more of the same from 2025. This isn't a bad thing per say. If you've been a fan of EDF up to this point, you most likely like this gameplay anyway. For me however, I do wish there was more variation from previous installments. Still, if you're looking more more EDF content, or if you're new to the franchise in general, than Earth Defense Force 5 is a good point to be at. - 07/10