As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I find myself utterly captivated by Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. Having dabbled in EDF games since their humble beginnings, this sequel stands out as a shining beacon of joy and excitement that harkens back to the Dreamcast era.
The Earth Defense Force series hasn’t been known for its complexity in gameplay. You find yourself thrust into a chaotic battlefield, tasked with eliminating hordes of enemies reminiscent of Japanese kaiju or classic sci-fi movie monsters. Despite the fact that I’ve been playing and enjoying these games for what seems like an unbelievable length of time, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 by Yuke’s somehow escaped my notice. It is clear now that it will not be missed in my future gaming choices, as it won’t be part of the B-movie style action the franchise offers.
In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2, the primary novelty lies in the miniaturized, voxel-style representation of the entire EDF universe, reminiscent of various LEGO titles, Minecraft, and Roblox. The gameplay is similar to the main series, but offers an irresistible allure with hundreds of diverse characters to unlock and use. The game unfolds in a range of settings that mimic real-world locations, populated by “World Brothers (and Sisters)” from distant corners of the earth, as well as iconic soldier classes from earlier EDF games, waiting to be uncovered.
As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, these globetrotting action pals, hailing from diverse cultures, often fall into predictable stereotypes. Yet, it’s all served up with such a dash of good-humored fun that it never feels awkward or offensive. Each nation gets a friendly poke, and I found myself chuckling at the sheer absurdity of it all. If there’s a Belgian out there who takes offense to their country being represented by an anthropomorphic cat blasting waffles as ammo, well, that would truly be a surprise!
In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2, there are over 100 missions to conquer, each offering varying degrees of challenge, similar to what’s typical for EDF games. Each level presents unique rewards and characters to unlock upon completion, encouraging you to replay every mission multiple times. You can customize your party for each mission by switching characters and loadouts, creating an engaging experience as you discover the most effective combinations in different scenarios.
Similar to primary choices, there will be combinations that are surprisingly impractical, such as equipping someone with an overwhelmingly large rocket launcher in situations predominantly requiring close combat. This would result in self-inflicted damage from explosions and a heightened risk of friendly fire. The destruction caused by friendly fire escalates based on the chosen difficulty level. There are certain weapons and even characters that are essentially worthless, giving the impression that the game is mocking you or daring you to conquer it with the weakest shooter conceivable. However, this is a recurring motif in the series as a whole, contributing to its quirky, endearing appeal.
In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2, there’s an absurd narrative that weaves its way throughout the game, introducing useful Non-Player Characters who aid you in battle by healing or attacking enemies. You can also revive fallen allies if you still have enough armor remaining. The theme of teamwork and cooperation propels the story forward, fittingly, as one of the game’s standout features is the constant presence of a four-person squad that you can switch between on the fly. Each member of your team wields a primary weapon and up to four skills, including a special ability that becomes available through killing enemies or collecting yellow crates during combat. These special abilities are often impressive, sometimes even destructive; however, be prepared for instances where you might find yourself scratching your head in bewilderment over the unexpected turns of events. Experiencing a swarm of giant ants only to summon a colossal voxel apple falling from the sky was not an experience I anticipated adding to my 2024 gaming bingo card.
Throughout the stages of the game, your team advances, granting a Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize to the member with the highest kill count. You also have the opportunity to adjust equipment and switch weapons. As a character progresses, they gain the ability to utilize various weapon classes and try out diverse attack styles. During the initial group of ten missions, I found myself favoring only a few characters, even though there were many to pick from. Characters from the main Earth Defense Force series tend to be my preferred choices because of their familiarity and straightforward loadout types. In my opinion, the Pale Wing is the most enjoyable character in Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2; she can quickly fly across the map, eliminating survivors at the start of a mission, then circle back with a destructive shotgun-like scatter weapon and a special move that impales enemies with a powerful melee lunge. I combined the Pale Wing with a Jet Armor from EDF: Insect Armageddon, another swift-flying soldier who carries a potent rocket launcher with a reasonable cooldown, an Infantry grunt from EDF3 with a long-range rifle, and Hope Brother – a South African tribal chief who wields an incredibly effective close-range spear attack. In the early missions, this combination works well, but there is a significant increase in difficulty, enemy size, and mission scope that kicks in after the tenth deployment.
In multiplayer games, it’s crucial to assemble a well-balanced team that can accomplish your objectives effectively. When faced with new, tough opponents, you might need to adapt your strategies or risk being overwhelmed repeatedly. This is where characters with long-range explosives and air strikes become particularly useful. Combining mid-powered enemies taken down by rifles and rockets with massive aerial bombardments against the larger, more resilient adversaries can be a winning combination.
Regardless of whether you end up utilizing every single one, the diverse collection and urge to collect them all remains an effective gameplay attraction. The joy of developing your personal army of soldiers to their full potential is incredibly rewarding. Watching these adorable siblings transform into deadly weapons tugged at my heartstrings a bit, similar to how I grew attached to keeping Jools and Jops alive in Cannon Fodder or bonding with the Fire Emblem inhabitants. I’m not alone in this feeling, am I?
From a mission perspective, veterans will find nothing out of the ordinary: it’s just about eliminating everything. You’ll encounter all your favorite EDF enemies, each in their most endearing forms. There are spiders, various types of ants, flying saucers, robots, giant reptiles, and more – the whole crew is present. At times, you may need to neutralize enemy spawn points as they will keep producing their foul creatures until destroyed. Occasionally, you’ll come across vehicles to manipulate, which can be tricky to handle but are highly effective in causing destruction, much like a 1985 Ford Fiesta with a faulty steering column.
Regardless of what you’re currently engaged in, Earth Defence Force: World Brothers 2 is primarily designed for entertainment. It boasts a captivating visual appeal, accompanied by excellent music, and an extraordinary volume of voice acting – every character, be they brother or sister, has their own unique voice, often resulting in humorous accents. The dialogue remains as corny as always, with a good deal of repetition, but it never becomes bothersome for me, which is part of the charm I’ve come to expect from the EDF universe. In my opinion, it’s the most delightful and entertaining game in the series since the iconic Xbox 360 installment first piqued my interest in the concept. It seems like a game I would have envisioned during the Dreamcast era, and it stirs within me the same kind of joy that SEGA and Nintendo can evoke.
Earth Defense Force 2: World Brothers is incredibly welcoming and simple to begin, yet it subtly proves challenging to excel at. Brash strategies will only take you so far, and despite its cheerful demeanor, things can become quite grim as the intensity ramps up and the looming danger of the alien threat becomes palpable. Even though you might feel like an ant while blasting them early in your journey, this seemingly insurmountable challenge never loses its appeal. It’s an outstanding game indeed.
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2024-09-26 10:16