Earth Defense Force 2025 (360/PS3) review

[QualityChimp]

Yes, it was good to see you online!
We've been playing through on easy and normal difficulties so far.

There's just shy of 100 online missions, so we've still not been through them all!

The weapon caps stops you from relying on the same few weapons, although I'm looking forward to getting something meaty to use.
I've been stuck with the same kit for a while because I've not had any new drops for a while.

There's a gun based on spider tech that's supposed to be amazing for air enemies, but the two I've got so far are bobbins.

I really want to try one of my motorbikes out, but normally the helicopter makes tactical sense!

[Deuteros]

Don't play in offline mode, moonwhistle, even if you're playing on your own. Always play online and, if you have a second controller, do the following:

In an attempt to speed things up, I've done a few missions solo but in splitscreen online, using a second controller and a guest account and selecting a different class than the one I'm actually using. It pays off rather well since I get progression on both classes and both improve their health equally (the drops aren't split between the two). The weapon drops are split but since these will be repeats most of the time anyway, I think it's worth it.

Plus, for some strange reason, the enemies are as hard to beat solo as if you were playing with three others! According to the japanese wiki, the enemies' health multipliers are:

1 or 4 players: x3
2 players: x1.86
3 players: x2.5

I'm not sure if that was a bizarre conscious decision or just something Sandlot missed.

Also, the weapon and health restrictions when playing online can be disabled once you reach a 70% completion of the game.

[Golgo]

1 or 4 players: x3
2 players: x1.86
3 players: x2.5

Is this right?! Have people experienced it like this in SP?

[Deuteros]

Those multipliers are for the online mode. I'm not sure if there are any for the offline one. Yes, the multiplier for playing online solo makes no sense but, as well as being what's listed on the japanese wiki, it has been confirmed to be true by someone who has 1000/1000'd the game.

[QualityChimp]

I find it perfectly logical that somebody who has enough time to 1000g both the Japanese EDF4 and the US EDF 2025 has the gamertag of "NoLifeDGenerate".

[Golgo]

Thanks! Maybe intended as an incentive to make people play online with others, which makes a kind of sense...

[S3M]

One more, four. You can have two people playing on the same console online with up to two others, which is a nice feature. Only one of those two people needs to have a Gold account, the other one signs up as a guest.

Cheers Deuteros that good to know, was thinking of picking this up but might wait till a price drop as Dark Souls II is out next week.

[moonwhistle]

I am working my way through the singleplayer too. No idea if I'm online of not. I specifically don't want to get loads of armour, super weapons or other classes yet. I think the fun and sense of comradeship relies on a restricted set of weapons and fear of death. I think the gameplay really suffers when you are over powered. I've played a little of hard mode online too and it wasn't any more difficult than normal thanks to the better weapons available. I suspect the **** won't really hit the fan until hardest or inferno are tackled.

I've also been tinkering with the different weapons of the wing diver. The close range and mid range weapons (first 2 categories) seem way too similar. The rapid machine guns eat too much flying juice and are crap while airborne. I don't like any of the special weapons so far either. That leaves me with the electric shot gun lasery things, the plasma launchers and the snipers. I'm sure there's more to it than that though!

[Deuteros]

I find it perfectly logical that somebody who has enough time to 1000g both the Japanese EDF4 and the US EDF 2025 has the gamertag of "NoLifeDGenerate".

I hadn't noticed that! I did notice he completed both EDF 2017 and EDF: IA, though. I guess we could say he's a bit of a fan of the series...

@moonwhistle

The Rapier and its upgraded iterations are a must and a staple of the Wing Diver. I'm using the Gleipnir (from the free Wing Diver Weapon Set, there's a free one for each class) a lot.

[QualityChimp]

I am working my way through the singleplayer too. No idea if I'm online of not.!

I think what Deuteros is saying is that you can choose to play online, but don't have to play with people.

Press Start > choose game save > select online gameplay (2nd option) > 1 player

You can then create a room, set it to friends-only and randoms won't join, although I'm quite enjoying the random factor!
All your level progress, weapons and health are carried over. I'm pretty sure weapons and armour you've won in single player carry over but level progress doesn't.

The game is aces anyway, but the online mode has made this leagues ahead of 2017.

On that mission we played together where the tripods are revealed, I was hovering in my helicopter in front of one, thinking, "I wonder if it can hit me" as it aimed its spiked leg at me like a coiled snake, ready to strike.
A second later, as I plummeted to the ground, I then knew the answer was "yes".

[moonwhistle]

I hadn't noticed that! I did notice he completed both EDF 2017 and EDF: IA, though. I guess we could say he's a bit of a fan of the series...

@moonwhistle

The Rapier and its upgraded iterations are a must and a staple of the Wing Diver. I'm using the Gleipnir (from the free Wing Diver Weapon Set, there's a free one for each class) a lot.

I think I may have been neglecting the rapiers and will try to use them more. The thunderbow is excellent too though and seems to behave like a shotgun. I tried the Gleipnir and didn't like it at all. It might have its uses but it seems weak and I don't like the indirectness of it.

I think what Deuteros is saying is that you can choose to play online, but don't have to play with people.

Press Start > choose game save > select online gameplay (2nd option) > 1 player

You can then create a room, set it to friends-only and randoms won't join, although I'm quite enjoying the random factor!
All your level progress, weapons and health are carried over. I'm pretty sure weapons and armour you've won in single player carry over but level progress doesn't.

The game is aces anyway, but the online mode has made this leagues ahead of 2017.

On that mission we played together where the tripods are revealed, I was hovering in my helicopter in front of one, thinking, "I wonder if it can hit me" as it aimed its spiked leg at me like a coiled snake, ready to strike.
A second later, as I plummeted to the ground, I then knew the answer was "yes".

Ah, thanks for explaining. I've been playing in the normal singleplayer (not online) and it appears that all my weapons and armour have carried over to online. I don't know about level progress but that doesn't seem to matter.

I should be on again later and will keep an eye out for you chaps!

[Zaki]

although I'm quite enjoying the random factor!

Ass taser

[prinnysquad]

I was quite pleased with my performance last night. I thought about it during the day a few times and felt a warm glow.

That's EDF.

[QualityChimp]

Lawks a mercy, guv'nor. Tough times for the EDF at the weekend.

We tried several times to take down the LEGION OF MONSTERS, but failed miserably. Even on Normal.

I tried various support tools, such as plasma recharge for Katsu's Air Diver, healing posts and attack boosters, but once the collection of biggest enemies in the game reached us, the endless waves of acid, web, flame and stingers meant that visibility was nil and the posts weren't powerful enough.

Calling vehicles wasn't an option either. The motorbike couldn't get any traction because the ground was shaking so much, my smallest helicopter lasted seconds in the air and the larger tanks and choppers needed a certain amount of kills before I could call them in and if we did manage to kill something, I couldn't find a quiet space to drop it and take off.

I think more armour and bigger weapons are our only option.

More success was had in the spiders-only cave level (Den of Thieves?) that featured hundreds of spiddas and a King.
Braced at the tunnel entrance with power pods (increase attack strength) and healing posts we managed to finish the level on both Hardest and Inferno, but we were cutting it fine on the latter. Only a heroic dash for some health by Team juans got us through.

I'm still loving this game and daydreaming about which weapons to try to tackle the levels.

[^Katsu]

Myself & Mini Kitty did the Spider boss one & the Wasp equivalent last week she was sooo happy lol, was very good to get it done in 4 Player Inferno Online!
Mini Kitty said she really enjoyed the games she had with you guys over the weekend too

LEGION OF MONSTERS Armour is no good as it's capped Chimp(yChomper)!?
This level is REALLY Vexxing me, esp as it's the last level I need to complete as Wing Diver on Normal
Cannot rest until this is beat.

Robster you need to hook up with Moonwhistle to get yourselves levelled, and up your experience. Or play single player (full lobbies are not an excuse for no play), that investment carries over to the MP game too!
Poor Moonwhistle barely had enough Armour to cover 30% of the level requirement last nite so I had to call it a night.


The Ante is upped for most of us seasoned players, go get your Grind on!
Never the less I shall be stomping bugs again in 3hr & 19 mins.... EDF E-D-F DadadadadadadDdadadadadadDaaaah!