EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair

If you're looking for an adrenaline-pumping, bug-squashing, action-packed gaming experience, then look no further than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair! This third-person shooter game puts you in the shoes of an EDF soldier, fighting against hordes of alien insects and machines called Ravagers in a variety of intense missions.

What I loved about mowing down thousands of bugs and monsters easily eclipsed the things I disliked, like stumbling through a muddled story and repetitive missions. Despite its flaws, the Earth Defense Force series remains a bombastic bug-smashing beast.

A Class of its Own

The game offers four different classes for players to choose from, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. Unlike something like Dragon's Dogma with its restrictive character archetypes, classes feel a bit more "dynamic" in Earth Defense Force 4.1.

The Shadow of New Despair's combat system is easily one of the game's strongest features, allowing players to choose from four different classes, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. The Wing Diver class, in particular, is a blast to play as, with its ability to fly and shoot energy weapons.

Chaotic Mayhem

From skyscrapers to shanty towns, every city is a weapons platform ripe for dismantling. The series’ destructive scale reaches new heights, letting you level cities block by block. Laying waste with almighty weapons is a thrill unlike any other.

Thanks to some amazing dynamic environments, playing this entry in the Earth Defense Force series feels even more dynamic than ever before. Sure, the game still has a ways to go in the visuals department, but this also allows the game to run exceptionally well on almost any hardware.

What if the game looks like it was made for the PSP? Dissidia Final Fantasy came out for Sony's portable console, and it still looks great!

Team Up and Survive

We can't forget about the outstanding multiplayer mode! Playing with friends is an absolute blast, as you team up to take on the Ravagers together. The game's co-op mode is also a great way to reduce the difficulty and make the game more enjoyable.

But it's not just the gameplay that makes this game a winner. The cheesy dialogue and over-the-top action are a hilarious and entertaining addition to the game. And the sheer number of enemies that can appear on screen at once is mind-blowing! You'll be facing off against hundreds of giant ants, spiders, and robots, all while trying to avoid getting squished or blasted to pieces.

The Earth Defense Force series has always been a love letter to the corny world of Japanese B movies, and The Shadow of New Despair masters this formula. Sure, the game's graphics and animations could use some improvement, but honestly, who cares when you're having this much fun?

Pros

• Challenging gameplay
• Fun dialogue and charming characters
• Outrageously fun multiplayer

Cons

• Blocky graphics
• Repetitive missions
• Noticeably less enjoyable when played alone