February's Game of the Month: Earth Defense Force 2025

  

Yeah, it's not even out until the 18th of the month, but I've owned the Japanese version of the game since it came out last July and it's pretty amazing and VERY replayable, a great thing in this age of games you can blow through in less time that it takes to make a crock pot dish. EDF 2025's four distinct classes, 780 weapons, over 90 levels (with more coming through three DLC expansions) and both couch co-op and multiplayer modes means this one will be in some play stacks for a good long while.

Sure, it's not the "best" looking game and yes, developer Sandlot isn't whipping out visuals that are going to compete with the greatest-looking games of last generation. That said, the scale of the maps plus the level of destruction here is remarkable, and combined with the seemingly simple gameplay that grows deeper as the game gets more challenging, makes this one a keeper even after you've beaten it. Which will take weeks if you're going for every bit of content.

So yeah, BUY THIS GAME. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 only (Sandlot doesn't make PC Games, sorry!).

Review: Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable: It Might Just Be One Game That Keeps the Vita Alive...

While Sony's otherwise excellent new portable gaming system wasn't quite the big hit the company thought it would be in 2012, there were a number of great games released for it last year that made it a more than worthy purchase. 2013 is getting off to a solid start for the handheld thanks to D3Publisher's recently launched Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable, a greatly enhanced "port" of the Xbox 360 game and the first new EDF game by original Japanese developer Sandlot to hit a Sony platform since the stellar Earth Defense Force 2 Portable on the PSP about two years ago. EDF 2017P offers up seven new stages, four new enemy types, new Vita-exclusive weapons, online wi-fi co-op and versus mode play for two to four players. That $40 price point may seem high for a download-only game, but trust me, you'll get that money's worth thanks to dozens (and potentially hundreds) of hours of outrageously challenging gameplay in solo mode and a fun online component where you can meet up and blast bugs with like-minded EDF recruits.

Onechanbara Z Kagura Coming to Xbox 360 (In Japan): Hey D3PA, Don't Leave Us Hanging!

Thanks to YouTube user shinshaobaka for posting this video!

Yeah, yeah, this game isn't for every taste, but I happen to love the cheesy, bloody zombie killing by the boatload goodness of the Onechanbara series. I actually own all of them except for the PSP import and while they're not the best action games out there, there's just something to be said about scantily clad zombie killing gals with attitude, ridiculously challenging bosses and tricky to complete side quests. Well, we'll have to see what D3Publisher's US arm thinks about all this. I'd love to see this one hit the 360 here as a budget release on a disc and not JUST a quickie XBLA download. Granted, it probably won't get a manual (like the 360 version of Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon), but hey, at least more people will get to enjoy the crazy ride. Actually, it WOULD be nice to see the series head back to a Sony home console, as that's where the first four games appeared...

White Knight Chronicles II Story Trailer (It's Getting Closer...)

Level-5's more polished follow up to the original is set to hit stores on September 13, 2011. Here's a look at a bit of exposition from the upcoming PS3 exclusive. It's definitely a spectacular year for all sorts of RPGs, that's for sure. This one definitely deserves some quality play time if you liked the first game but wanted to see a few things fixed or reworked.

Bangai-O HD Missile Fury Gameplay Trailers: A Double Shot Of Treasure Madness

Part bullet-hell shooter, part puzzle game and ALL Treasure 2D bliss (presented in stunning HD), D3Publisher's download-only Xbox Live Arcade game is a total gem that will thrill shooter fans while giving the Bejeweled crowd something to blow their minds. The game manages to mix in a high level of challenge while offering some truly incredible blasting and quite possibly the largest character sprite I've ever seen. As you can see from these incredible videos, this one isn't easy at all. But it's definitely a bargain and highly recommended (even if it's not on a disc).

White Knight Chronicles II Goes Gold, Gets Pre-Order Goodies

OK, I'm a few days late with this news (oops), but hey, that backlog pile was a pain to dig out from under. D3Publisher of America has sent WKC II off to the presses and has announced a cool-looking armor set will be made available as a pre-order bonus (via DLC, of course) through participating GameStop retail locations or through the GS website. Don't ask me about what the armor does other than look nice and showy, but I'm gathering that once you hop online with it, you can expect a few compliments from live party members if they didn't score the bonus gear. WKC II is set to land in stores on September 13, 2011 (and remember, you get the remastered version of the first game FREE on the disc!).

White Knight Chronicles II: New, Improved & You Get The First Game Free

With so many big-name RPG's rolling out this fall from a few big name publishers, it's easy to overlook some genre gems coming from unexpected places. D3Publisher of America is also branching into console RPG territory with the upcoming release of White Knight Chronicles II, exclusively for the PS3. The Level 5-developed JRPG features a huge amount of improvements over the original, which has itself been enhanced and added to the package as a ridiculously awesome bonus.

Review: Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon

Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360

Developer: Vicious Cycle

Publisher: D3Publisher of America

# of Players 1 - 2 (online: 2 - 6)

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: B+

The bugs are back and badder then before thanks to developer Vicious Cycle and D3Publisher of America. Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon manages to be a leaner, meaner, faster and in a few way, better game than its predecessor thanks to tweaks to the run 'n gun formula that streamlines the number of missions yet enhances the gameplay. Controls are tight, the action is more reasonably paced (initially) for new players and for the most part, the addition of online play is not bad at all. Some gamers whose experience with this budget series began with EDF 2017 (and those who seem to think the game ONLY appeared on the 360) might find nit-picky faults with some elements of EDFIA. However, those of us who've been around since the series debut on the Japanese PlayStation 2 and/or love original developer Sandlot's work on the franchise now have a new dev team to moon over because they've taken the gameplay and refined it for a just as fun (and at times, more fun) to play experience.

Official Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Survival Guide

OK, I was going to print the actual strategy guide PDF, but at a whopping 46 pages (!), that would be a bit too much in the way of overkill. Here's the EDFIA Survival Guide instead if you haven't seen it yet. Simple and easy to memorize. The game rocks by the way - review to come...

Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Destruction Trailer (The Game Is Almost Here...)

Yes, yes... the game is in retail stores across North America on Tuesday, but here's a peek at another UK trailer, this time focusing on stuff blowing up and falling apart extremely well indeed. I'll post the awesome Survival/Field Guide tomorrow.

E3 2011: Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Trailer (UK)

Yes, it's the UK version (Namco Bandai is publishing the game there), but sonce D3 hasn't posted this yet, I'm running this version here (which is the same save for an ESRB descriptor at the beginning and D3Publisher's logo at the end) just to keep you EDFIA fans happy and ready for July 5, 2011. EDF! EDF!

Gallery: Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Bestiary

Want to know what sort of over-sized opposition you'll be facing off against this July 5th? Well, here you go - a look at some of the enemy types from D3Publisher of America's upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 bug-blasting action game. Hmmm... Fireworks on the 4th and more fireworks on the 5th? Sounds like a plan...

Earth Defense Force Insect Armgeddon Update: Pre-Order Kickoff GO!

D3Publisher of America has launched the pre-order program for its upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 release Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon with a pretty neat deal for those who want a little more bang for their buck. GameStop and Best Buy locations will be offering those who slap down a deposit one of two different cool DLC weapons packs for the game's customizable armor sets.

July 5, 2011 is the official release date for the game and (YES!) D3 is dropping into NYC next week with EDFIA and a bunch of other upcoming titles, so expect a few hands-on reports once I finally come up for air. Three more screens and another trailer below the jump!

WIN FREE STUFF! D3Publisher Announces Sweepstakes 4 Gamers Facebook Promotion!

Lazy ol' me is finishing up a few articles and reviews (yes, that Dead Space Weekend thing I mentioned to one or two of you a while back went well - all three games played back to back over the weekend), but while you're waiting for new stuff to read, why not enter a cool contest and try to score some MAJOR prizes? Below the jump, you must go, Padawan...

Earth Defense Force Insect Armgeddon Update: New Screens + Pesticide Gun!

Where previous EDF games have similar acid-spewing or other weapons based on alien technology (which meant you couldn't reload them once you ran out of ammo, grrrr!), I like the all-new Pesticide Gun variants as well as the BIG explosions seen in these latest EDFIA screens (they almost look like a mini Genocide Gun with that blinding light). Go, Vicious Cycle! Spring is just around the corner and I'm pretty psyched about the final version (and still hoping we see some more surprises in terms of bonus materials). If you've been following this one from the beginning, you can see that the game is really shaping up nicely and should be quite a blast to play online or offline.

Note to D3: You ARE planning to get EDF 2 Portable out here in the US as well (on UMD and PSN, of course!)? Say YES and I'll be sure to tell too many people to buy the game. Hell, I'll go buy a few extra copies, for that matter!

Screens and details on the Pesticide Gun series can be found below the jump. I'll post the new game footage once D3 posts it on YouTube (as I'm away from a high-speed connection for a few days)

Review: Earth Defense Force 2017

Platform: Xbox 360

Developer: Sandlot

Publisher: D3Publisher of America

# of Players: 1 - 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: B+

One of those "cult classics" that, three years after its US release is still a hell of a lot more fun than certain bigger budgeted (and bigger hyped) games, Earth Defense Force 2017 is finally back on the Xbox 360, this time as a download only Games on Demand release. Whether you missed out on it the first time back in 2007 or you're replacing that copy you sold off on ebay, 2017 is still an absolute blast to play, mixing in dozens of hours of non-stop hardcore action with couch co-op and a grand, campy "B" movie aesthetic that permeates the game from start to finish. Sure, there's no online play, the character and vehicle controls are a tad quirky and the game isn't exactly "state of the art" in terms of presentation. On the other hand, the old school gameplay coupled with some truly and terrifyingly challenging levels go a long way in proving pure fun trumps innovation any damn day of the week. That twenty bucks might seem like a "premium" price for a game in these days of too many indie games going for a buck or few on XBLA, but trust me, you're getting easily three to four times that value in gameplay length alone.

Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon 2011 Calendar Brings Warmth To The Holiday Season (and how!)

So... guess what showed up today courtesy of D3Publisher of America? Yow-za. Now, D3 just NEEDS to answer that musical question: "Will Pale Wing be in EDFIA?" All kidding aside, that "exclusive interview" cover teaser, has me HOPING she's added into the upcoming game as a playable character (and they've had Vicious Cycle use one of the lovely ladies in the calendar as a model for her). One can only hope! Note to D3: the more fan service the better!
By the way... What, NO screen shots at all in the calendar? (Just kidding!)

A Date With D3...

Heh. Got an email from UPS that says D3Publisher has sent me an Earth Defense Force Calendar... This should be really interesting (I need to take a pic of the huge fold-out Onechanbara calendar they sent back when those games were released and post it one day). Expect an update with pics around the 15th (the expected delivery date)... I do love the holidays!

In unrelated news, I'll be giving away some spectacular stuff this month, so watch this space for a big ol' announcement...

Earth Defense Force 2017 Now Available On Xbox Live (Finally!)

I was wondering when D3Publisher was going to answer the call of the wild ones who either sold off or traded their copies, missed out on Sandlot's superior sleeper or just want to play what all the fuss is about. Having played and beat the disc version to death and beyond a few years back, I'll re-review the downloadable version shortly and see if it's still as addictive as ever. in addition to the Xbox Live Games On Demand relaunch, D3 is looking to draw in fans old and new by reviving the EDF 2017 website.

Sadly, there's no news of a PS3 port of 2017 any time soon, but I'm hoping D3 has plans to introduce western gamers to the two previous games in the series in the form of the PAL versions of the game (Monster Attack and Global Defence Force). While PSN would be the best format for some EDF fans, I'm also hoping (memo to D3: DO this for the fans!) the games are added to the Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Blu-Ray disc for those who don't yet have PSN accounts. Hell, there's more than enough space on that format to fit the localized versions, that's for sure...

In case you haven't played EDF before, it's a fantastic chunk of run 'n gun arcade action that's surprisingly deep and incredibly long in terms of netting the game's small amount of achievements. 53 levels, completely destructible structures in the outdoor maps, split-screen co-op (no online play, sorry!) Over 150 weapons to collect and some of the toughest difficulty spikes (in solo play particularly) you'll ever see await those daring with twenty bucks in hand. Trust me, the experience is worth twice the price, folks...

(Later Than Usual) Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Update: Split Screen Is In, But The Whining STILL Continues...

Proof positive that you can never, ever, EVER please ALL pf the people all of the time, D3Publisher of America recently updated the official Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon page as well as the game's Facebook page last week with the absolutely grand news that split-screen cooperative gameplay (or couch co-op) is now a part of the upcoming release. While a good deal of cheers and back-slapping has lightened the mood of assorted message boards, there are STILL some die-hard hard-heads griping about aspects of the game that would ONLY be truly justified complaints if these posters actually got their hands on an up-to-date (and still in-progress build).

Yeesh. Cue any sort of facepalm theme music or related animated GIF at this point