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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair

No polish or refinement, just lots of giant ants and plenty of ways to kill them. Ridiculously fun at its best, which it frequently is.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair Game Cover
83%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
96% User Score Based on 5,240 reviews
Critic Score 64%Based on 7 reviews

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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair Game Cover

About EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with comedy, anime, violence and science fiction themes. It was developed by SANDLOT and was released on July 18, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

It's a fight for the future of the planet between the Ravagers, a merciless swarm of alien invaders, and the Earth Defense Force (EDF) in this third-person shooter. As an EDF soldier you will go head to head in fierce combat against the hordes of giant alien insects and their slaughtering machines. The most overwhelmingly numerous forces of Ravagers the series has ever seen will take the EDF fight…

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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair screenshot
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Reviews

96%Audience ScoreBased on 5,240 reviews
story149 positive mentions
grinding176 negative mentions

  • story

    1,141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    13% positive mentions, 83% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The story in "Earth Defense Force 4.1" is largely a campy, B-movie style narrative centered around humanity's battle against giant insects and alien invaders, with minimal depth or coherence. Players engage in 89 missions that primarily involve exterminating enemies, often accompanied by cheesy dialogue and absurd scenarios, which many find entertaining despite the lack of a serious plot. Overall, the game prioritizes chaotic gameplay and weapon variety over storytelling, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy mindless action rather than a compelling narrative.

    • “The story is cheesy and cliche, the goal of each level is the same mostly (shoot everything bigger than a SUV until it stops moving).”
    • “The game has an amazingly campy story and dialog and it's absolutely amazing.”
    • “The story is simple, but the gameplay is top-notch.”
    • “I'm 20 missions in and still have no idea what the actual fuck is going on.”
    • “The story is virtually non-existent, but the gameplay is top-notch.”
    • “The story is simplistic and the voices are equivalent to a good bad movie, but the gameplay itself makes up for all of it.”

  • gameplay

    416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 58% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The gameplay of "Earth Defense Force 4.1" is characterized by its chaotic, over-the-top action and simple mechanics, focusing primarily on shooting hordes of giant insects and aliens. While many players appreciate the fun and addictive nature of the gameplay, noting its strong co-op experience and variety across four distinct classes, some criticize it for being grindy and repetitive, particularly in solo play. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over graphics and narrative, delivering a satisfying, albeit sometimes shallow, shooting experience.

    • “Gameplay is solid - usually you start off with everything under control, then enemies land and things go mad.”
    • “It's ridiculous in premise and gameplay, but what may first appear as a silly and simple shooter is surprisingly nuanced in every way.”
    • “The gameplay in this series remains incredibly consistent and its biggest strength.”
    • “The gameplay loop was mediocre and the gunplay doesn't feel good at all.”
    • “Got it thinking my son and I could play it together... he's 5, but he couldn't be bothered with how boring and repetitive the gameplay is.”
    • “Refunded this garbage after the longest and most boring 12 minutes of gameplay in my life.”

  • graphics

    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    18% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The graphics of "Earth Defense Force 4.1" are widely regarded as dated, often compared to those from the PS2 or early PS3 era, with many users noting their simplicity and lack of polish. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and the game's ability to handle large-scale battles without significant performance issues, others criticize the visuals as subpar and lacking in detail. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, they do not detract from the fun and chaotic gameplay experience.

    • “This game is the epitome of how gameplay can be so much fun that you don't need professional actors, hi-res graphics, or deep story.”
    • “The graphics improvement from insect armageddon is significant, and while there's limited graphics options, it doesn't ruin the experience.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, the story is nonsensical, and the voice acting is super cheesy.”
    • “The graphics look like they're from the PS3 era (they technically are, since this is a port) and the UI looks weird.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated, but generally the game looks and sounds amazing.”

  • humor

    181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    99% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its over-the-top, cheesy dialogue and absurd scenarios, reminiscent of B-movie tropes, which many players find endearing and hilarious. The ragdoll physics and chaotic gameplay lead to numerous laugh-out-loud moments, especially in co-op mode, where friendly fire and ridiculous weaponry amplify the fun. Overall, the game embraces its silliness, providing a lighthearted experience that encourages players to enjoy the chaos and absurdity together.

    • “The plot and dialogue are cheesy, ridiculous, and have that B-movie feel, which makes it very funny to hear and experience.”
    • “I have found myself uncontrollably laughing out of pure enjoyment as the entire city explodes and is overrun by rubble and parts of dead insects and aliens.”
    • “It's so stupid and campy and nonsensical that it's hilarious.”
    • “Shit AI, shit game design, unfunny dialogue.”
    • “I hate silly, stupid things and B-movie tones, but this game is among the extremely exceptional few that does silly well and does not come off as complete, utter, worthless unfunny nonsense like most other things do.”

  • grinding

    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    1% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 99% negative mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as both extensive and repetitive. While some find the grind enjoyable and rewarding, especially in co-op play, others feel it becomes tedious and detracts from the overall experience, particularly when farming for weapons and armor upgrades. Overall, the game is characterized as very grindy, but for those who appreciate this gameplay style, it offers a fun and chaotic shooting experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The only bad aspect is the level of grinding needed to get into the end-game levels or completing the higher difficulties.”
    • “A absurd grinding system that ruins the game for me.”
    • “Once the novelty wears off after a few hours, the game becomes very repetitive and grindy.”

  • music

    89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    22% positive mentions, 75% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players enjoying its catchy, campy nature that complements the over-the-top gameplay and themes. While some find the soundtrack repetitive and limited, the ability to sing along with NPCs and fellow players adds a fun, interactive element to the experience. Overall, the music enhances the game's atmosphere, making it a memorable part of the chaotic, bug-slaying action.

    • “But overall, this game is more than perfect to have a good time and even probably listen to some music that fits well with a horde of bugs being annihilated by bullets, lasers, rockets, and more.”
    • “Once you purchase this game, you will be singing the EDF songs over and over whether you like it or not, and trust me, you will like it.”
    • “The songs and cadences the troops have make me want to join the EDF right now, throw a helmet on, grab a rifle, and file in with the rangers.”
    • “Music and sound: fits the theme but soundtracks are few and get repetitive rather quickly.”
    • “The music of the soundtrack will be repeated in missions throughout, no way of avoiding it, but doubt there is much to really say against it since the game is very simple in design.”
    • “The music in EDF is nothing to really write about, but the game does have very good audio design.”

  • replayability

    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    45% positive mentions, 51% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, featuring over 89 missions, four distinct classes, and more than 700 weapons, allowing players to explore various playstyles and difficulty levels. With a strong emphasis on co-op gameplay and a wealth of content, including randomized enemy spawns and extensive character progression, players can enjoy countless hours of engaging action. Overall, the replay value is consistently highlighted as one of the game's strongest attributes, making it a favorite among fans.

    • “With over 89 missions to play through and 700+ guns to collect, EDF has ridiculous amounts of replayability.”
    • “The sandbox in this game is truly unmatched, and the five different difficulty levels make for an incredible amount of replayability.”
    • “Four classes that are all very different, all with their own giant arsenal of weapons, means there's a lot of replayability.”
    • “The game is phenomenally responsive and the variety of classes, plus the spectacle of the missions (most of which have tremendous replay value on higher difficulties) mean it never really gets old.”
    • “There's over 90 fixed scenarios to play, and a lot of replay value because you could try to beat them all with all four classes (a grunt, a vehicle user, a flying suit user, and a heavy suit user) at four different difficulty levels (as easy difficulty does not grant an achievement) and end up with hundreds of hours of play.”
    • “Focusing back onto this now, EDF 4.1, I'd have to say it massively improves the lot of its replayability in the usual large amounts of missions, 5 difficulty modes, now with 4 classes to try and master with additionally leveling in the form of better gear and grinding for armor, but overall a fun time to be had!”

  • stability

    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    9% positive mentions, 1% neutral mentions, 90% negative mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact gameplay, including issues with enemy spawning, freezing, and multiplayer connectivity. While some players find the chaotic fun and humor in the bugs, many express frustration over the game's lack of polish and stability, leading to a generally negative perception of its reliability. Overall, the game's stability issues overshadow its entertaining aspects, making it a challenging experience for many players.

    • “Runs great, community is still active, plenty of lobbies at all difficulties.”
    • “Runs great on fairly low-end to mid-tier hardware.”
    • “Despite the lack of graphical options, it runs great even on integrated graphics.”
    • “The game is extremely buggy, with constant freezes and crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “Definitely better than EDF 2025, but I can't stress enough how many glitches and bugs there are, including freezing and barely being able to game.”
    • “Dated graphics, framerate drops, horrendous physics, glitches, multiplayer crashes, and reports of the game outright not working on AMD processors all bring down the game in a big way.”

  • optimization

    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    30% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame drops, stuttering, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users noted improvements in performance on PC compared to consoles, others experienced severe lag and poor menu navigation. Overall, the game appears to struggle with optimization, especially in multiplayer modes and under heavy graphical loads, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “Performance: so far no frame drops while being swarmed by a lot of bugs, robots, and ships.”
    • “Coming from console to PC, it has received a major performance boost, and best of all, the game features more enemies, a few more levels, more weapons, more vehicles, and a remix and enhancement of most levels.”
    • “Performance-wise, the port is very, very well done.”
    • “This game is not optimized and ran like garbage.”
    • “Because it's terribly optimized and even if you have a system well over the recommended specs there is no guarantee that the game won't crash.”
    • “The graphics are dated, the port is riddled with flaws including poor optimization, framerate drops, horrendous keyboard/mouse support, lame samey horde mode levels, way too much screaming, broken multiplayer, and if you have an AMD processor then forget about it.”

  • atmosphere

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    24% positive mentions, 58% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its campy, B-movie charm, combining elements like engaging music, humorous dialogue, and chaotic action that evoke a sense of nostalgia for 80s films. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by the vibrant sound design and dynamic environments, which enhance the overall enjoyment despite a lack of deep narrative. The game's ability to blend ridiculousness with a fun, energetic vibe contributes to a unique and endearing atmosphere that keeps players engaged.

    • “The atmosphere in EDF is also very endearing, and it always puts a smile on my face when I hear the ridiculous scientist lamenting over the giant insects' destructive abilities over the radio or Ranger A: 'Why did you get married?'”
    • “This game has a way of really immersing you into the atmosphere; from the battle banter of your NPC allies (A+ for having NPCs under your command singing along with you and responding to your emotes), commander, and mission handler on the comms; really making you feel tiny as you behold your gigantic enemies, in the hundreds and hundreds that you're tasked with eradicating in each and every mission; and the way the lighting plays with the underground environments is something I have never seen in any other game before... it's both beautiful and distressing at the same time.”
    • “Atmosphere, music, locations, and all else - needless to say, the game, like earlier, is cliché, very much, but it does it with great pride and enjoyment in the easy-going nature of it and makes it more fun and kick-ass than serious and moody (as perhaps a real invasion of such an alien threat might as well be).”
    • “Atmosphere-eclipsing explosions.”
    • “It also lacks atmosphere.”
    • “But somehow... somehow... the whole game revels in its shoddiness, in its kitsch b-movie style and atmosphere complete with awful translations, and you end up reveling in it as well.”

  • emotional

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, with players experiencing a range of feelings from laughter to tears during intense missions. While the narrative may not offer a deep character drama, the camaraderie among NPCs and the thrill of overcoming challenging obstacles create surprisingly engaging emotional experiences. Overall, players find joy and connection in the game's lighthearted yet impactful moments, making it a memorable journey despite its simplistic storytelling.

    • “Surprisingly emotionally engaging in later missions.”
    • “I laughed, I cried, and I killed giant insects for 75 hours straight.”
    • “Extremely painful missions that make you want to cry by the time you pass them on hard or higher when you first do them.”

  • monetization

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 67% negative mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of monetization pitfalls such as loot boxes, ads, and microtransactions, creating a pure gaming experience. Players appreciate the absence of pay-to-win mechanics and express a desire for an in-game shop that offers customization options without resorting to cash grabs or DLCs. Overall, the game's design reflects a commitment to quality and player enjoyment over profit.

    • “It's great that there are no pay-to-win mechanics or annoying microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate that the game includes an in-game shop where you can use in-game currency to buy customization options, unique weapons, and outfits.”
    • “Just, please, avoid any and all DLC gear/weapons/vehicles/etc. It is not worth whatever it offers and is simply cash grabs. Even if minor in price, these items are useless past easy/normal and will make you loathe spending that money on such rather than, say, the cards to get yourself maybe a nice award medal thing for your Steam page to show your EDF pride!”
    • “It needs an in-game shop (no microtransactions stuff, just in-game currency) to buy the customization stuff and some unique weapons and outfits.”
    • “And not pay-to-win, no microtransactions nonsense.”

  • character development

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the amusing NPC dialogues that contribute to character depth, others criticize the lack of a complex storyline and elaborate character arcs. Overall, the game offers a simplistic approach to character development, with some finding it engaging and others deeming it inadequate.

    • “All the NPCs' dialogue is amusing and provides character development despite being short.”
    • “Incredible character development.”
    • “It's not a cinematic masterpiece; it doesn't have a deep, complex storyline, and it doesn't have elaborate character development. The graphics are a little better than the best PS2 games, and AI friendlies have a death wish.”
    • “Character development 0/10”
    • “Like 'grinding' in their games, for replay value and that constant 'ever-improving' character design that lets you try harder and harder difficulties, without that 'linear' predictable design in most modern games.”
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Critic Reviews

64%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews
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Play Times

33h Median play time
39h Average play time
10-81h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs
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EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is a shooter game with comedy, anime, violence and science fiction themes. Common tags for EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair include trading, aliens, difficult, mechs, robots and others.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is available on PC, Phone, Windows and Tablet.

On average players spend around 39 hours playing EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair was released on July 18, 2016.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair was developed by SANDLOT.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN, Earth Defense Force 2025, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 and others.