Long before Helldivers II there was Earth Defense Force. Now in its sixth mainline game, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is, without a doubt, more of the same of its mission-based cuisine. This latest entry in the over-the-top, bug-splattering franchise delivers everything you’d expect and more. It’s a relentless, chaotic, and undeniably fun experience that will keep you coming back for more, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. And for fans of the series, that’s an exceptionally good thing. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is gigantic alien killing at its absolute finest.
The story picks up directly after the events of EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5, but a few years go by before things take a turn and things really kick off. The introductory mission is kind of bad and unnecessary with unlikable characters, they quickly become endearing as you embark on more and more missions together. The tutorial will be retreading old ground for veterans, but newcomers will learn about “emergency avoidance”, the game’s hilarious name for a simple dodge roll, and some of the basic weapons and systems. The sprint is a tactical sprint a la Gears of War. Interestingly, because of how bad things of gotten, the world looks post-apocalyptic for the first time, and sadly loses a bit of charm along the way. There was something satisfying about accidentally sending a missile into a perfectly good building. And now that everything is decrepit, it doesn’t feel as bad or even as funny. Thankfully the bug squashing is the best its been, and the story while not the best, often reaches new heights.
The core gameplay loop remains intact: you’re a soldier tasked with defending Earth from a seemingly endless horde of giant insects, aliens, and other monstrous creatures. You’ll run, gun, and explode your way through mission after mission, upgrading your weapons and gear as you progress. It’s a formula that has worked for years, and EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 refines it to a near-perfect sheen. There are a staggering 147 sorties to work through, that’s 30 more missions than the prior game had. There are five difficulties to play them on: easy, normal, hard, hardest, and inferno. The last two difficulties are locked until campaign completion. All of these missions can be played in split-screen or in online co-op, and co-op is the best way to experience this game.
The weapon selection is equally impressive. With a vast arsenal at your disposal, from standard assault rifles to experimental laser cannons, you’ll find something to suit your playstyle. Weapon customization is also deeper than ever before, allowing you to tailor your loadout to your specific needs. The best way to collect green boxes marked as “Weapons” in-game that drop from enemies. Doing so will do some dice rolls to give you a weapon you may or may not need. The initial loadout of weapons you roll with all are ballistics based, and very military in nature. Over time you’ll amass an array of weapons across all different categories. While it’s a bit of a joke weapon, my favorite to deploy is the air tortoise. It’s a missile launcher that fires a missile so slow it almost hits the ground before its jet engine engages and fires it towards the enemy, but note the ‘tortoise’ in the name because it fires extremely slowly. Thankfully it locks on, because it will hit its target, eventually. Grenades recharge over time, giving you ways to clear out the surrounding area.
There are four classes of character to play as, with their own progression and leveling. There’s the basic infantry class of Ranger, then you have the jetpacking women-only class of Wing Divers, Air Force tacticians who call in strikes with the Air Raider, and finally the Fencer, essentially walking armored tanks. There’s no bad class to play as, and there’s likely one to suit your playstyle. The Air Raider’s abilities often have issues when in underground areas, but otherwise is a problem-free experience.
One of the most significant improvements in EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is the enemy variety. The game introduces a plethora of new creatures, each with its unique behaviors and attacks. From towering, fire-breathing beetles to agile, jetpack-equipped aliens, there’s always a fresh challenge to overcome. The enemy design is as over-the-top as ever, and it’s a joy to watch these colossal creatures explode into a shower of colored blood.
While the core gameplay remains largely unchanged, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 does introduce some new mechanics. The addition of a jetpack for all classes is a welcome change, adding a new dimension to combat. You can now quickly maneuver around the battlefield, avoiding enemy attacks and reaching previously inaccessible areas. The game also features a new class system, allowing you to specialize in different combat roles.
Visually, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is a significant step up from its predecessors. The game world is larger and more detailed, and the enemy models are incredibly impressive. The explosions and particle effects are over-the-top in the best possible way, creating a truly chaotic and exhilarating spectacle. There’s almost no customization options to speak of. You can change the resolution, set anti-aliasing on or off, shadows on or off, and anisotropic filtering up to 16x, but that’s it. While the game doesn’t push the boundaries of graphical fidelity, it looks fantastic and runs smoothly.
The audio is another highlight. The sound effects are crisp and satisfying, and the music is energetic and fitting for the game’s over-the-top action. The voice acting is solid, with the characters delivering their lines with appropriate enthusiasm.
My PC Specs:
– Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
– Intel Core i9 13900K @ 5.8GHz
– ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360 ARGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
– G.SKILL TRIDENT Z5 6000MHZ 64GB (32×2) DDR5 RAM
– ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X
– WD_BLACK SN850X M.2 (4 TB)
– LG UltraGear 34GP950B-G (21:9 Ultrawide @ 3440×1440)
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is an evolution and successor to EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 both in gameplay and as a game. There’s so many quality of life improvements, more missions, a far more intriguing storyline, and the best enemy variety the series has ever seen. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is a triumph of mindless fun. It delivers everything fans of the series have come to expect and more. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it refines the formula to near-perfection. With its over-the-top action and addictive replayable gameplay, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is a must-have.
A Steam code was provided in advance by the publisher for review purposes
