Earth Defense Force 5

Easily the best in the series thus far and is something I can happily recommend for anyone that enjoys large explosions and destroying giant aliens en masse.

What makes Earth Defense Force work so well is its complete commitment to the lunacy, presenting its aliens and flying saucers in a completely bombastic fashion that never once admits its all tongue-in-cheek despite being completely obvious that everyone involved is having a blast stuffing as much cheesiness as possible into each level and plot twist.

As a game, EDF 5 is such a massive leap from the previous title in the series, in every way, that it feels like it belongs in a different series entirely. And yet, for all its nonsense, giant monsters, and ever-escalating explosions, there's also a sense that this EDF, moreso than its predecessors, has also remembered that something can be B-grade, and still convey some kind of message of worth.

Even with dated graphics, EDF 5 is an energetic essay on action game design that is way too much fun to miss – especially with friends.

If you’re into this type of game, EDF 5 is the absolute pinnacle of the franchise thanks to its absurd humour, an excellent online multiplayer, an insane amount of content and the overall madness of never ending onscreen chaos. It is a niche game however and many people won’t understand what the fuss is about. Poor graphics, poor physics, the eternal grind for better gear and old school gameplay are an acquired taste in the case of EDF 5. Tread with caution.

While some might look at EDF5 and point out the recycled levels and long-established gameplay mechanics, I see developers devoted to delivering the best possible version of a concept, and an unwillingness to settle for merely improving the graphics each console generation. This is a series that truly gets better with each iteration, and as such, this is the best EDF game yet.

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.

Earth Defense Force 5 is the best episode of the franchise. The game is always very fun, with a lot of monsters and spaceships to destroy, alone or with friends. There is a lot of content, and despite graphics that feels old, and a lot of repetition, it's still a very good and satisfying game.

Earth Defense Force 5 is as video gamey as they come. No frills, just kills. If you want to unwind after a long day and just blast some baddies and see explosions until your eyes go red, you can get no better than this game. The absurdity of the story and the increasingly opressive odds of the missions make this a hell of an experience solo, and one of the most silly and satisfying cooperative experiences I’ve come across. It’s a shame that a few nagging issues from old games continue to persist in this one, but despite those, this is still a fun, wacky, addictive video game.

Earth Defense Force 5 is a fantastic game for fans of the series and a great starting point for newcomers looking for a B movie like experience with addictive gameplay.

Earth Defense Force 5 is absolutely, thoroughly, another Earth Defense Force. If you know what that is, you know what you’re in for. It’s the first one built for modern hardware, which means more stuff happening on screen, but it’s not an upheaval of the formula, nor is it a magical facelift.

Earth Defense Force 5 mixes a compelling sense of power and powerlessness, creating chaotic, overwhelming battles filled with laughter and drama that make it hard to put down.

Despite the series' long-running nature, Earth Defense Force 5 is a standout action game, revelling in its own absurdity while crafting a brilliantly fun and lively action game around it. Its huge battles are a joy to watch play out both from up close and afar, and the wide variety of weapons and play styles with each player type offers plenty of reason to come back for more after the final bullet has been fired.

As campy and over-the-top as ever, Earth Defense Force 5 remains the best not-Starship Troopers shooter we'll see. EDF still remains a niche title without amazing production values, but there's a definite charm to hunting down thousands of insects with your friends.

Earth Defense Force 5 takes a small but significant step forward in terms of progression and multyplayer, masterfully combining furious action with grotesque scenery. The result, despite the graphic backwardness, proudly manages to keep up, giving us great old-school action.

If you’re looking for anything like logic in an Earth Defense Force game, you’re missing the point. These games are designed to allow you to blow up as much of the world around you as possible with a minimum of fuss, and, like I said, you get a rocket launcher in the very first level. Earth Defense Force 5 won’t win any awards, but if you want more of the same from this now-venerable series, it’ll deliver everything you could possibly be looking for.

Earth Defense Force 5 is the best title the franchise has seen. Minor improvements makes it worthwhile to spend another dozen of hours killing bugs. Especially when playing co-op the game will outshine it's bad to mediocre story and graphics.

EDF is what it is. Fans of the franchise and those who are looking for its weird take on fun will find a very unique game, very enjoyable even with all its flaws.

This series started as a budget title and still looks like a budget title when compared in both depth of gameplay and graphics to other full priced games. It’s hard to recommend this title at $60 to anyone but the hardest of hard core EDF fans.

Earth Defense Force 5 may seem like a mess but it all adds to its charm. The pure joy of taking on hundreds of monsters and watching the destruction unfold is something the franchise has always been good at. EDF 5 is easily the best in the franchise.

Insane massive battles with excellent B-movie flair, a lot of fun with friends, but lacks just a little variety.

The highest compliment I can give is that this game is probably the closest I'll ever get to that Starship Troopers shooter I've always wanted to play but will probably never realize. If I squint my eyes just a little bit I can make believe I've left the EDF and joined the Mobile Infantry. Welcome to the Roughnecks. Would you like to know more?

Earth Defense Force 5 is a blast through and through. Blowing away insects and spaceships with a shotgun or energy blaster never gets old, and the various classes are diverse and worth trying out to see which one best fits your play style. Admittedly, 110 missions of non-stop shooting does get a bit tiresome, but just when you think you've seen it all, the game introduces a new enemy type or throws in a big set-piece level to shake things up. Even with the added improvements and changes, though, this is still a typical Earth Defense Force. Besides, who needs plot when you have giant mechs fighting giant monsters?

Earth Defense Force 5 is a tried-and-true entry in the franchise. It's cheap, cheesy, low-budget, and a ridiculous amount of fun. All the same flaws and foibles from the previous games are still present and accounted for, but some of the additional polish makes the game more enjoyable for casual play. All in all, EDF5 is a completely by-the-numbers offering that delivers exactly what it says on the box. If you want to experience the franchise for the first time, EDF5 is a great place to start. If you're a longtime fan hoping for something new, you might want to wait for a price drop.

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.

Even with it’s inherited flaws, this is still one of the best installments yet for the series. EDF 5 makes no apologies for what it is and is more accessible than its predecessors. The game has just the right blend of cheesiness and action-packed gameplay that makes for a cult hit.

A fun game despite the fact that it looks like a past gen videogame and doesn't do anything really new.

Earth Defense Force 5 has none of those things – but that’s okay. This series has always had a single-minded commitment to one simple truth: It’s fun to use weird weapons to blast lots of aliens. That fact may never change, but in an industry that has been steadily raising the bar, Earth Defense Force 5 allows the series to fall further behind.

Blasting the giant alien spiders and ants into mincemeat and watching buildings and bridges crumble under the force of a well-placed explosion (and the Havok engine) is still mindlessly entertaining, at least for a while, and each class and all their weapons are fun to jump in and out of at will. The biggest bummer is that what was a unique hook in Earth Defense Force 2012 has become less inspired and not really infused by much in the way of new material. Earth Defense Force 5 is strong evidence that the series is in need of reinvention.

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.

Earth Defense Force 5 is an EDF game through and through. Although it doesn't feature anything particularly new and exciting, it still makes for an enjoyable and ridiculous time that's best played with friends.

It's hard to believe that EDF 5 is a decent game because of the poor graphics performance, dull story, and repeated gameplay. But still, as a fan-based game, it's the best one in the franchise, and fans of the series definitely can find a way to enjoy it.

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, like previous Earth Defense Force games, clearly have a following – and if you’ve enjoyed the games before, you’ll enjoy this one just as much. If you’re new to the franchise, you’re not going to get much depth, but under the right circumstances and with the right mindset, you might be able to squeeze out a fun time.

Yyron Lannister once told john Snow to know your weaknesses and wear them like armor. That’s exactly what the creators of Earth Defense Force 5 are doing. They know exactly what problems and shortages their game is suffering from, and yet instead of just trying to hide them, they throw them in your face and even make fun of them, and that’s really brave. EDF 5 is not perfect, and everybody knows that. But it’s fun and offers everything you would expect from an EDF game.

Familiar thrills from this no-frills series. [Issue#158, p.85]

It has been a long time since I've played a game so self-aware of its own flaws, yet so proud to embrace, even celebrate them.

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 over Earth Defense Force 4.1, you may be disappointed.

So look, there isn't much meat on the bones in regards to story, enemy, or mission variety, but there is depth in a character grinding aspect.

Earth Defense Force 5 is a game with a loyal fanbase that certainly does not want revolutions in the genre. However, this is not an excuse for creating a lazy product, without an attempt at improvements yet still full-priced.

Earth Defense Force 5 is not that step forward that we hoped to see for the series, but a ramshackle more of the same that seems not able to do anything.

Earth Defense Force 5 is an intentionally bad-looking and dated technical mess of a third-person shooter that boldly relishes in its campiness and mechanical simplicity. Mowing down the endless seas of extra-terrestrial arachnids and UFOs while melodramatic voice clips play in the background makes for an excellent stress reliever or a fantastically fun time with some friends, but its complete lack of depth causes the monotony of repetition to quickly seep into what’s an otherwise joyous celebration of video game escapism. If this is your first giant bug slaying rodeo, there’s plenty here to keep you keep you amused for dozens of hours, but it functions best as a distraction from our notably less zany reality.