Someday, Hollywood will get hold of the Earth Defense Force series. They'll make it into a summer popcorn flick directed by Michael Bay with Ben Affleck in the starring role and a big sweeping message that'll hold the whole thing together. Today is not that day. Not only does Earth Defense Force 2025, the latest in the bug-shooting franchise continue the tradition of its campy b-movie action, it delves even deeper, becoming more silly and even more out there. It's a fun experience, especially if you're playing a group of likeminded friends. Be warned though, the game also fails to fix some of the game's nagging problems like frame-rate issues and dated visuals. You have to wonder though, would a game without those things even feel like Earth Defense Force?

"It can be a bit daunting, and maybe even a bit impressive..."

For those new to the Earth Defense Force franchise, you're basically playing a Japanese B action movie. The world is being invaded by long thought extinct ravagers who are basically just gigantic bugs. It's your job, as a soldier of the Earth Defense Force to blow them apart, and often with little regard for the world or people around you. Bugs will crawl all over buildings, chase citizens and even string webs throughout the city, and they'll do so in huge numbers. It can be a bit daunting, and maybe even a bit impressive to see the sheer amount of bugs and enemies headed your way at any time.

There's a very distinct old-school feel to the Earth Defense Force series, and it's clearly on display here in 2025. It's your typical run-and gun shooter that feels like you could have played it on your Super Nintendo in your parent's basement. Each level is fast and features very few objectives (mostly just blowing up all of the bugs in the level) and it's easy to jump in and jump out. For all of it's campiness and cheese though, EDF 2025 is a deceptively deep game with a ton of content. There are multiple character classes here, and over 400 different varieties of weapons to unlock. It's debatable whether or not these weapons and classes are needed since you'll be able to blast through most levels with the most basic setup.

"...not to say that it's unplayable, it's just sloppy. "

Be warned though, much like it's predecessors, Earth Defense Force 2025 is not a well-made game. That's not to say that it's unplayable, it's just sloppy. You'll constantly encounter frame-rate issues and incredibly questionable design choices that will make you scratch your head. The game doesn't play by any sort of rules, like how you'll be able to walk through certain solid objects but others will block your path or how jump and roll are tied to the same button, you just never know which one you'll do at any given moment (here's a hint, it's the exact opposite of the one you want to do). You'll also want to play with human players as much as possible as AI squadmates aren't exactly the smartest. There was an early level where we were trying to infiltrate an underground nest, and after a big battle with a new species of spiders, I looked to see my fellow soldiers still on the hill we came in on, firing and screaming at the wall in front of them. The last remaining enemy was on the other side of that wall and they just couldn't figure out why they couldn't get it, but they screamed bloody murder like it was right on top of them.

The campiness of the Earth Defense Force series has become a tradition just as much as the gameplay. Your squadmates are going to have interesting conversations while you hunt down the bugs. I couldn't help but laugh as they asked "hey, want to get lunch?" or "Have you tried that one spot yet?" Sure, they'll yell about the ravagers too, but the best moments are when they're not focused on the action at all. There's almost no way to take Earth Defense Force 2025 seriously, even more so than it's previous games.

It's campy, sloppy and even downright bad at times, but Earth Defense Force 2025 is an incredibly fun experience. You'll have as much fun as ever blasting through ants and spiders and other creepy crawly creatures and if this is your first go with the series, it's a great place to start, as long as you're not expecting a masterpiece. Grab some friends, grab some beers and start blasting some bugs because beneath all the shortcuts and b-movie appeal, Earth Defense Force 2025 is one fun time.