Earth Defense Force

Earth Defense Force, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun (Japanese: 地球防衛軍, lit. Earth Defense Forces), is a series of third-person shooter video games. The series is published by the Japanese company D3 Publisher as part of the Simple series.

This article is about the video game series. For the unrelated 1991 video game, see Earth Defense Force (video game). For other uses, see Earth Defense Force (disambiguation).
Earth Defense Force
Japanese series logo as of 2012
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, turn-based strategy
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
First releaseMonster Attack
June 26, 2003
Latest releaseEarth Defense Force: Iron Rain
April 11, 2019

Story

In 2013, radio waves from deep space are picked up by scientists, proving the existence of extraterrestrial life. The Earth Defense Force, a unified multinational military, is founded a few years later, in case the aliens prove to be hostile. In each of the games the player assumes the role of an EDF soldier during an alien invasion.

Games
Release timeline
2003Monster Attack
2004
2005Global Defence Force
2006Global Defence Force Tactics
Earth Defense Force 2017
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
2012
2013Earth Defense Force 2025
2014
2015Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair
2016
2017Earth Defense Force 5
2018
2019Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain
2020Earth Defense Force: World Brothers
2021
2022Earth Defense Force 6

Monster Attack (2003)

The first game in the series was originally released in Japan as Simple 2000 series Vol. 31: The 地球防衛軍 for the PlayStation 2. Chikyū Bōeigun or Earth Defense Force was created by Sandlot as part of D3 Publisher's Simple series of budget-priced games on a compact disk. It was later distributed in PAL format on CD in Europe by Agetec, Inc. under the title Monster Attack.

Global Defence Force (2005)
Main article: Global Defence Force

Chikyū Bōeigun 2 is the second game in the series, released for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in Europe as Global Defence Force but was not released in North America. A PlayStation Portable version of the game, titled Earth Defense Forces 2 Portable was released on April 7, 2011, in Japan. A remake for the PlayStation Vita, entitled Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space (or Earth Defense Forces 2 Portable V2 in Japan), was released on December 11, 2014, in Japan, with a North American port released on December 8, 2015.

Earth Defense Force 2017 (2006)
Main article: Earth Defense Force 2017

Earth Defense Force 2017, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun 3 is the third game in the series, released for the Xbox 360. It was the first game in the series to be released in North America. A PlayStation Vita version of Earth Defense Force 3 was announced on June 5, 2012, as Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable.[1] The new version includes both local and online co-operative play,[2] as well as the return of Palewing from Earth Defense Force 2.[3] The game was released on September 27, 2012, in Japan.[4] A port of the game is planned to be released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan on October 14, 2021.[5][6]

Earth Defense Force 2025 (2013)
Main article: Earth Defense Force 2025

Earth Defense Force 2025, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun 4, was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on July 4, 2013, in Japan. Developed by Sandlot, it is a direct sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017. It features four player online co-operative play. It was released in February 2014 in North America and Europe.

Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair, an updated port, was released for the PlayStation 4 on April 2, 2015, in Japan[7] and on December 8, 2015, in North America.[8] Europe has an estimated release date for February 12, 2016, and European players are able to play with North American players online according to Ryan Graff from publisher XSEED Games.[8] A Nintendo Switch version is planned to be release in Japan in 2022.[9]

Earth Defense Force 5 (2017)
Main article: Earth Defense Force 5

Earth Defense Force 5 was announced at TGS 2016,[10] and was released on December 7, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 in Japan.[11] The game was released on December 11, 2018, in North America and Europe.[12]

Earth Defense Force 6 (2022)

Earth Defense Force 6 is a sequel to Earth Defense Force 5 and set to release on August 25, 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Japan.[13][14][15]

Global Defence Force Tactics (2006)
Main article: Global Defence Force Tactics

Chikyū Bōeigun: Tactics, known as Global Defence Force Tactics in Europe, is a turn-based strategy game, taking place after the events of Global Defence Force.

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (2011)
Main article: Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is the fourth game in the series, released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows. It was the first game in the series to be developed outside Japan and also the first to feature online co-operative play.

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain (2019)
Main article: Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain was announced at TGS 2017. Under development by Yuke's, the game has been described as "more serious than the series’ traditional campy tone."[16] The game was released on April 11, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 worldwide.[17]

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (2020)

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers was announced on June 23, 2020 as an action spin-off with voxel graphics for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Developed by Yuke's, the game was released on December 24, 2020 in Japan and on May 27, 2021 in North America and Europe.[18][19][20][21]

Reception
Aggregate review scores
As of April 12, 2019.
Game Metacritic
Monster Attack –
Global Defence Force
Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space		 –
72[22][lower-alpha 1]
Global Defence Force Tactics –
Earth Defense Force 2017 (Xbox 360) 69[23]
(PS Vita) 68[24]
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (PC) 69[25]
(Xbox 360) 68[26]
(PS3) 63[27]
Earth Defense Force 2025 (PS3) 69[28]
(Xbox 360) 68[29]
Earth Defense Force 5 (PS4) 72[30]
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain (PS4) 69[31]

Despite generally mixed reviews, the Earth Defense Force series, particularly from Earth Defense Force 2017 and onwards, has been described as having a cult following. Joe Juba of Game Informer defined Earth Defense Force 2017 as a cult classic, stating that "the developers at Sandlot clearly want to tell a story about humanity's struggle against giant invading ants and robots, and the passion for that story shines through despite its technical shortcomings";[32] in reviewing Earth Defense Force 5 five years later, he similarly opined that the series has "always had a single-minded commitment to one simple truth: It's fun to use weird weapons to blast lots of aliens."[33] Though Jim Sterling gave Earth Defense Force 2025 a negative review, they did acknowledge that the series "has managed to earn itself a fierce cult following through audacity alone".[34]

Notes
  1. Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space is the PlayStation Vita re-release of Global Defence Force.

References
  1. "Earth Defense Forces Set for PlayStation Vita". AndriaSang. 2012-06-05. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  2. "First Look: Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable". AndriaSang. 2012-06-07. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  3. "Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable Trailer Featuring Palewing". AndriaSang. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  4. "Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable Date Officially Announced". AndriaSang. 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  5. Romano, Sal (April 26, 2021). "Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space and Earth Defense Force 2017 coming to Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  6. Romano, Sal (July 27, 2021). "Earth Defense Force 2017 for Switch launches October 14 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  7. "Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair revealed for PlayStation 4". September 2014.
  8. "Earth Defense Force 4.1 and 2 Launch Today on PlayStation". 8 December 2015.
  9. "Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair coming to Switch in 2022 in Japan". Gematsu. July 30, 2021.
  10. Purchese, Robert (September 13, 2016). "Earth Defense Force 5 announced for next year". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  11. Makuch, Eddie (September 19, 2017). "Earth Defense Force 5 Release Date Announced For Japan". GameSpot. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  12. Romano, Sal (September 20, 2018). "Earth Defense Force 5 launches December 11 in North America and Europe". Gematsu. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  13. "絶望の未来に生きる。『地球防衛軍６』2021年発売！ 前作から3年後の世界で戦い続ける人類の物語". PlayStation.Blog (in Japanese). 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  14. "Earth Defense Force 6 delayed to 2022 in Japan, confirmed for PS5 and PS4". Gematsu. September 29, 2021.
  15. "Earth Defense Force 6 launches August 25 in Japan". Gematsu. April 29, 2022.
  16. McWhertor, Michael (September 19, 2017). "New Earth Defense Force looks like a more serious take on fighting giant ants". Polygon. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  17. Romano, Sal (January 25, 2019). "Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain launches April 11 worldwide". Gematsu. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  18. "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a voxel graphics spin-off coming to PS4 and Switch". Destructoid. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  19. Romano, Sal (July 8, 2020). "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers coming west in early 2021". Gematsu. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  20. "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers launches December 24 in Japan". Gematsu. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. Nelva, Giuseppe (April 1, 2021). "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers Gets Western Release Date for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC". Twinfinite. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  22. "Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  23. "Earth Defense Force 2017 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  24. "Earth Defense Force 2017 for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  25. "Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  26. "Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  27. "Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  28. "Earth Defense Force 2025 for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  29. "Earth Defense Force 2025 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  30. "Earth Defense Force 5 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  31. "Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  32. Joe Juba (May 27, 2013). "Cult Classics – Earth Defense Force 2017 – Features". Game Informer. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  33. Juba, Joe (December 7, 2018). "Earth Defense Force 5 Review – A Weakening Resistance". Game Informer. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  34. Jim Sterling (February 19, 2014). "Earth Defense Force 2025 Review - Giant Insects". The Escapist. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
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