Earth Defense Force 2017 review

A shooterrific attack of the sci-fi clichés that you won't want to miss

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12DOVE Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Campy B-movie charm

  • +

    Variety in enemies

  • +

    Tons of content and value

Cons

  • -

    Isn't the prettiest game ever

  • -

    Vehicles handle badly

  • -

    Almost certainly tough to find

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Giant ants shoot orange acid from their butts, but explode into green goop when blasted with a grenade. 30-story-tall robots with plasma cannons for arms explode in fireballs so big, they obscure your entire field of vision. You can bring down an entire skyscraper with a single, well-aimed rocket, and then climb into the helicopter that used to be on its roof to make it easier to pump a mutant alien dinosaur full of missiles without being torched by its flame breath.

If anyone ever tells us again that video games aren't educational, we're going to point to these and other important lessons we've learned from campy, third-person sci-fi blaster Earth Defense Force 2017. Then we're going to say, "So, now who do you want guarding your backside when the alien invasion force shows up and starts laying it down, Ms. Cragazzle? Huh? Yeah, that's what we thought" because we've wanted to say that ever since grade school, but never got the chance before.

More info

GenreAction
DescriptionA glorious third-person shooter that blends campy sci-fi staples like monster ants and giant robots so enthusiastically - and with such huge bursts of gears and guts - that you won't mind if it doesn't look quite as amazing as other games.
Platform"Xbox 360"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating"12+"
Alternative names"EDF: 2017"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Eric Bratcher
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.
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