Earth Defense Force 6
- July 25, 2024
- SANDLOT
- 35h median play time
"EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6" is the sequel to "EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5," where players assume the role of an EDF soldier fighting against alien life forms threatening humanity. The game is a third-person shooter with a primary focus on destroying numerous giant enemies. The story takes place in 2024 AD, where mankind has recently won a long battle against unknown invaders, and peace has been restored .
Reviews
- EDF 6 builds upon the foundation of EDF 5 with improved gameplay mechanics and a more engaging story.
- The game features a wide variety of new enemies and weapons, enhancing the chaotic fun of the EDF experience.
- Quality of life improvements, such as dedicated equipment slots for each class, make gameplay more enjoyable and strategic.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes, particularly on AMD hardware, making it frustrating to play.
- Many missions are recycled from EDF 5, leading to a sense of repetition and lack of innovation.
- The requirement to link an Epic Games account for online play has been a major point of contention among players.
- story1,469 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of EDF 6 is a direct continuation from EDF 5, featuring a time travel theme that allows for the reuse of many missions from the previous game, which some players find repetitive. While the narrative is often described as campy and over-the-top, it has garnered praise for its surprising depth and engaging twists, making it more compelling than previous entries in the series. However, the pacing can suffer due to lengthy tutorials and unskippable cutscenes, which detract from the overall experience, especially in the early missions.
“The story is surprisingly decent (never in my wildest dreams did I think I would say that about an EDF game, but I am genuinely interested in what comes next.)”
“The story is a direct continuation from EDF 5 and amazingly it's one of the best parts of the game and not in the ha ha it's so bad and silly that it's good fashion.”
“The story is both fascinating and engaging without being overly complicated, and it keeps up the engagement level with tons of weapons and enemies to battle with.”
“The storyline is annoying and creates a lot of unwelcome repetition.”
“The story is a confusing mess that repeats tutorial-like missions for plot reasons.”
“Many missions are reused, not just reused from previous games, but legit in this too, same mission twice, just slightly different enemies if you're lucky.”
- gameplay335 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in EDF 6 is a continuation of the beloved mechanics from previous titles, enhanced with quality-of-life improvements, new weapons, and a wider variety of enemies. Players appreciate the chaotic, arcade-style action and the introduction of additional equipment slots for classes, which adds depth to combat strategies. However, some users have reported stability issues, including crashes and desync in multiplayer, which can detract from the overall experience.
“Gameplay is great, and exactly what you expect from EDF.”
“With new weapons and equipment, more level variety, and way more new enemies, EDF 6 builds upon the foundation that previous games found successful, making the gameplay an absolute jewel that we have come to expect from EDF.”
“The gameplay loop is addicting and as of writing there are a ton of people playing so it is easy to fill a match, so long as you are playing on hard, hardest or inferno.”
“Wish I could comment on the gameplay, but the game is just broken.”
“The gameplay is largely tedious at best.”
“The same classes, the same weapons, the same maps, the same janky UI + gameplay issues.”
- graphics264 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated, often likening them to PS2 or early PS3 levels. While some appreciate the charm of the retro aesthetic and the focus on gameplay over visuals, others criticize the lack of significant improvements and the limited graphical options available. Additionally, there are notable performance issues, particularly for users with AMD graphics cards, which further detracts from the overall experience.
“Graphics are way better, maps are much more detailed (some are copy and paste with graphics improvements), destructible environments are much improved, and for anyone that enjoyed the airstrike/bomber style of play that Air Raider had.”
“The graphics are improved from 5, with better lighting, better shaders, new/better ambient occlusion, and better textures.”
“Just as campy and lovable as the past ones, and the new graphics slap like crazy.”
“Impossibly, the graphics and gameplay feel worse than 5 in many ways.”
“While I get the tie-in for the story, the graphics and color palettes are almost offensive in their ugliness.”
“The graphics are very dated.”
- optimization86 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe frame rate drops, crashes, and overall poor performance, particularly in comparison to previous entries in the series. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, these instances appear to be the exception rather than the rule, highlighting significant inconsistencies across different systems. Overall, the game is deemed poorly optimized, with many recommending caution for potential buyers until performance issues are addressed.
“I've also had impeccable performance, never crashed once or had any network issues whatsoever across 100+ missions in co-op.”
“Performance seems great (5700 XT GPU) with only one or two missions causing frame drops down to the 40s or lower, like ones with a lot of webs.”
“So far for me I have had 0 of the performance issues everyone is talking about. I have what would be deemed a mid-build PC these days (RTX 3070, Ryzen 3700X, 32GB RAM) and the game runs perfectly.”
“For $60, you get a mediocre PC port with frequent crashing, poor performance, reused assets and content, expensive DLC packs, no uncapped framerates, no ultrawide support, and no self-awareness of the fact that they are making a game that needs to be sold to people in 2024.”
“The optimization is truly worse than ever in this title, but I can't help but admire that they are willing to go down with the sinking ship that is whatever engine these games have run in all these years.”
“There have been some really good class changes, additional slots, and it does pick up where EDF 5 left off, but without solid multiplayer, with pop-in, frame stuttering, and crashes that the prior games don't have, I can't recommend this game at this time.”
- music58 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the new soldier songs, which are considered inferior to those in previous titles like EDF 4 and 5. While some tracks are praised for being atmospheric and fitting the chaotic gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the recycled content and lack of originality in the soundtrack. Despite a few standout pieces, the consensus is that the music fails to capture the charm and quality of earlier entries in the series.
“The music and sound design are amazing, except for the drone ear rape.”
“Music is there, some of it is solid; it is a fitting accompaniment to the mayhem on screen.”
“The soundtrack is the best in the series so far, in my opinion.”
“The only negative I can report is that the song the soldiers sing for this game is... really bad.”
“I would have been happier if they just reused songs from 4.1 and 5 instead of wasting their time giving us these abominations we currently have in the game.”
“Even the music and menus are the same as EDF 5 as soon as you're finished with the 'prologue'... this is extremely lazy.”
- humor57 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of campy, B-movie style dialogue and absurd situations, often eliciting laughter through its cheesy voice acting and ridiculous storylines. While some players find the repetitive nature of missions and cutscenes detracts from the comedic experience, others appreciate the quirky charm and funny moments that arise from gameplay glitches and friendly fire mishaps. Overall, the humor remains a defining feature of the franchise, appealing to fans who enjoy its over-the-top antics and lighthearted approach.
“It is hilarious that time travel was the chosen storyline because basically the entire EDF franchise is doing exactly the same over and over, and now you get to do it over and over in the same game while doing things over and over already.”
“If you enjoy humorous NPCs and a hilariously questionable storyline, EDF is the game for you.”
“The EDF franchise is best described as every old B-movie blended together into a video game; it's cheesy, it's over the top, and it's downright hilarious at times.”
“Think Groundhog Day, but not funny or fun.”
“Was it supposed to be funny or meta or something?”
- stability38 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent crashes and significant glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes and on certain systems. While a portion of users report smooth gameplay with minimal issues, others highlight severe freezing and the need for task manager intervention to close the game. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, with many players expressing frustration over the number of bugs and crashes encountered.
“It runs great.”
“The game is great, runs great and believe me when I tell you that it keeps things fresh for the entire duration, a hell of a feat for a game with about 160 missions.”
“Runs great on PC, lack of graphics options is a bit sad as usual but it works fine, which is all I'm asking for.”
“If you try closing this message with the mouse or doing anything besides pressing enter when this happens, the game freezes on this screen and can only be closed via task manager.”
“But it crashes like a mother f***er for no reason regardless of all the troubleshooting, and it's just more aggravating than it is enjoyable.”
“I would easily put the number of freezes I experienced before the end of the campaign at above 300.”
- grinding35 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early and end-game stages. While some enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to farm for powerful weapons, others criticize the lengthy missions and the necessity of grinding to progress, which detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant flaw that could benefit from improvements to enhance gameplay flow.
“After playing through the game, there are two complaints: unskippable and meaningless base 251 missions, horrendously tedious and pointless.”
“There's literally no other way to play the end-game material without tens if not hundreds of hours of repetitive lower-level farming just to get your health up so you can somehow survive the hordes later on to get the final gear.”
“This issue completely takes away from the game; it's not enjoyable anymore because of how ridiculously grindy the end of the game is, which is really unfortunate.”
- monetization15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of microtransactions and locked content that was already in the game files. Many reviewers express frustration over deceptive advertising regarding cross-play capabilities and the requirement for a third-party account, which was not clearly communicated prior to purchase. Overall, the lack of updates and the focus on monetization have left players feeling disappointed and misled.
“Enjoy this series, and reward quality video games that aren't rife with monetization.”
“And then on top of that, they have microtransactions and DLC drops ready to go by launch and still have no fixed crashing issues.”
“It could've been so much more, and it should've been so much more at such a price point, and this is ignoring the Epic Games account mess; this game is a clown fiesta and a cash grab.”
“Instead we get this EDF 5.5 for $60 plus whatever they will charge for the mission packs, which aren't even out yet, plus tons of microtransactions.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game has received high praise for its significant improvements in art style, sound, and music, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the blend of wacky physics and a morbid undertone, particularly as the game transitions from a post-apocalyptic setting to a more refreshing environment. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the enjoyment of gameplay, making it a standout feature of the title.
“The sound, music, and voice lines seem to have had a general upgrade; the music especially feels great and atmospheric.”
“EDF has always been a fun series with wacky physics and a goofy atmosphere, and the changes in EDF6 to the inventory system allow you to bring even more fun gadgets to the battle.”
“A game with better atmosphere than expected, featuring massive battlegrounds with sometimes thousands of enemies at once, and 147 levels (the DLC missions haven't even released in this version yet!).”
“Personally, I didn't mind; it created a sort of morbid atmosphere because you, the player, know what will eventually happen.”
“After trying to rebeat EDF5 in just the 4 days before launch, this game feels like a great sequel. I'm loving the changes to the classes, I'm loving the missions so far, and I'm loving the atmosphere.”
“13 missions in, the atmosphere changes to not post-apocalyptic and is refreshing from the beginning of the game.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it features detailed environments and subtle humor that can evoke warmth, the voice acting is criticized for lacking emotion, particularly in the first three-quarters of the game. A poignant moment, such as a character's death, resonates deeply with some players, highlighting the potential for emotional engagement, but external controversies may hinder the overall enjoyment and connection for many.
“This game has amazing detail with the cities, landscape, etc. and... if you know a little Japanese... there is subtle wholesome humor everywhere, along with the translated... semi-serious vibes of the game.”
“I cried at Sergeant's death.”
“Feels like a refined EDF 5.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers a vast array of missions, difficulties, and weapons that can lead to countless hours of fun, some players feel that the experience can become repetitive over time. Many enjoy the chaotic gameplay and the ability to play with friends, contributing to its overall appeal, but there are calls for additional modes, like survival, to enhance replay value further. Overall, it remains a beloved title in the series with significant replay potential, especially for dedicated fans.
“Pure arcade-y fun that packs a surprising amount of depth and replayability.”
“I love the EDF series, it's a lot of fun to play with friends and has a lot of replayability as evidenced by my hundreds of hours in previous titles on Steam alone.”
“This game has over 130 missions, 5 difficulties, and thousands of weapons to add to your arsenal. Its replayability is unmatched; you can enjoy it on your own or with friends. It's a game that doesn't take itself seriously and has stuck to its roots from the day it started.”
“Has the same flaw as all the other EDF games, where the only replay value is just increasingly more ridiculously powerful combinations of enemies, until at some point you simply give up in utter disgust.”
“Hence less replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is enhanced through the introduction of new enemies, character designs, and weapons, alongside expanded roles for existing classes like the ranger, wing diver, and air raider, contributing to a richer gameplay experience.