Page 3 • Official Earth Defence Force 2017 (EDF) thread • Gaming • Xbox 360 • Eurogamer.net

Phattso 2 Apr 2007 11:12:58 27,426 posts
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Finally got my copy from play.com this morning. While I wouldn't say I prefer it to Crackdown (or any of the big name 360 releases) it does have its own charms.

Controls were a bit unsatisfying (jump on left trigger make Phattso angry) but thankfully there's the option to fully remap to buttons/triggers/bumpers of your choice, which is a real rarity these days so kudos to the developers. Run speed still feels like sliding through treacle, but that's probably just my post-Crackdown dislike of anything that doesn't let me leap over buildings.

Graphics are... a mixed bag. Some elements are quite impressive, but the animation in particular is quite poor throughout and the lack of shadows (no doubt done to keep the framerate up) does rob the world of a lot of life. And it doesn't save the framerate anyway, which is horribly inconsistent in places. D'oh!

Loading times vary from acceptable to annoying, but it has cheesy dialogue and giant ants so it scores big on the B-Movie scale.

Overall I'm well happy. Less than twenty quid for a new game, albeit far from the standard of the usual fare, is something I wouldn't mind spending on a more regular basis if more titles like this get released.

If you like shooters, and have killed the graphics whore in your soul, you could do a lot worse than giving this a go.

repairmanjack 3 Apr 2007 10:29:32 6,133 posts
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Completed all levels on easy the other night. Level fifty-two puts more enemies on screen than every other 360 game combined. Any flaws that bug you at the start are completely forgotten as you get deeper into the game. As said earlier, you'll know if it's for you once you get to the walkers on the beach level - but it just gets better and better.

Probably one of the most fun titles on the 360. Expect to see it make a few people's game of the year lists nearer Christmas.

Flub 3 Apr 2007 20:51:17 42 posts
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Bloodkult wrote:
Just did the first bit with the massive robots coming out of the sea!
It's like the beach assault in MOH but with 200ft robots and a megaton of TNT and a sunset. Jesus! It's god-damn amazing! The explosions are massive beyond words, it's like the freaking apocalypse.

It's just getting better with every level, although my wife wants me to stop shouting "holy shit!" at the screen everytime something explodes.

How the hell did I miss this series? I heard the PS2 one is even better?!

My face has been well and truly rocked. EDF! EDF!

I just did that mission. Totally fantastic. This game is Fun with a capital FUN. Mindless running and blasting. The game does nothing small. Every enemy is bloody huge.

Loving this game to bits.

bonker 3 Apr 2007 22:32:56 792 posts
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Funny (and cool) to hear you guys talking about this game - hasn't EDF been on every gaming platform for like the last 20 years?

muters 4 Apr 2007 00:48:13 94 posts
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You know, I think EDF gets a bad rep for being a mindless shooter. Try playing it on the harder difficulties with a simple run 'n' gun attitude, you will die. DIE.

Phattso 4 Apr 2007 14:47:13 27,426 posts
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To be honest, muters, it is a mindless shooter 90% of the time - but I don't really see that as a bad thing per se. There are some tactical elements, but they are usually limited to two things:

1 - Pick the right two weapons to take with you.
2 - Don't engage the behemoth units up close.

;-)

What this game does do that I haven't felt in a long time, is really sell one on the sense of scale. The variety in the bad guys, and the way they're hurled at you (literally in the case of those fucken spider units) keep the whole thing fresh. And the awe inspired by some of the levels is all too rare nowadays.

I have, quite literally, found myself open mouthed in amazement staring at the screen thinking "it wants me to kill what now?!" when some 2000 foot robotic fortress is stomping out of the ocean at me. And then blinking in astonishment that not only do I have to kill that, but also the swarms of things it's spewing out and a full platoon of 500 foot machines as well!

At its most frantic, it's like the 2D IREM shooters of old with a screen full of bullet particles and you trying to weave your way around them to get off the killer shots. Fantastic stuff.

I can honestly say I'm enjoying this game ten times more than even my most positive expectations would have suggested. I dare anyone not to be sucked in and totally hooked by the tenth level. Go on! I DARE YOU!

Phattso 4 Apr 2007 14:56:22 27,426 posts
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Actually, I even feel motivated to produce my first Reader Review. Better finish the game first, mind.

MrTomFTW Moderator 4 Apr 2007 14:59:31 47,501 posts
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Yeah, I was going to write a reader review about this. But as I generally only get on the Xbox at weekends it's slow going.

Huntcjna 5 Apr 2007 12:07:05 13,890 posts
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/orders

Phattso 5 Apr 2007 12:43:34 27,426 posts
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Everyone should have to buy this game. Puts some of the full priced titles in my collection to shame, in terms of grininduceability (I've trademarked the word, so you'll owe me royalties if you nick it).

Agent_Llama 5 Apr 2007 12:45:36 3,691 posts
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I think I shall cave and order - �17 compared to �65 for Guitar Hero = a lot less guilt.

[maven] 5 Apr 2007 12:46:39 5,799 posts
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Ordered both = plenty of guilt, but it's my easter present to ME!

Whizzo 5 Apr 2007 12:49:17 44,810 posts
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How much is the shop price for this? I've got my 360 with me and am taking it around a mate's place for most of the weekend so this sounds perfect for some beer induced co-op.

Phattso 5 Apr 2007 12:51:27 27,426 posts
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Whizzo wrote:
How much is the shop price for this? I've got my 360 with me and am taking it around a mate's place for most of the weekend so this sounds perfect for some beer induced co-op.

RRP is �29.99 I think, so I suspect most high street shops will have it for around the �25 mark or less.

Agent_Llama 5 Apr 2007 12:52:10 3,691 posts
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[maven] wrote:
Ordered both = plenty of guilt, but it's my easter present to ME!

I can't get away with saying it's an Easter present, thanks to the PS3 sitting next to me. Oops.

[maven] 5 Apr 2007 12:52:22 5,799 posts
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RRP is 25 pounds according to Amazon

Phattso 5 Apr 2007 12:55:30 27,426 posts
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[maven] wrote:
RRP is 25 pounds according to Amazon

I was going by play.com (as that's where I bought it) but certainly �25 is the most I would expect someone to have to pay for the game.

Whizzo 5 Apr 2007 13:01:00 44,810 posts
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That doesn't sound too much over the odds then and I don't mind paying a bit more for the fact I could get it today. I did have a look in the Tesco near me at lunch time and they didn't have it.

They did have some Wiis in stock though, which was a surprise.

Whizzo 8 Apr 2007 21:56:35 44,810 posts
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Well I took the plunge and bought it offline for 25 quid, I'm extremely glad that I did, what a fantastic title!

It's never going to win any awards for technical excellence, plotline or presentation, it does win the Whizzo stamp of approval for explosions though! When a Hector goes up you know it that's for certain. :-)

Five hours in on normal with a bunch of levels played in co-op and I'm on the second part of the pit clearance (around level 25 or so), it has been, in all senses of the word, a blast.

One of my favourite console titles this year and I can see why there's no online co-op, I can't imagine how much bandwidth it would require to sync up dozens of enemies swarming all over the players but I'd hazard a guess at : fuckloads.

This is a daft game that's just brilliant. A bit like Crank was as a movie. ;-)

Windypops 9 Apr 2007 11:31:30 49 posts
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Bought this on the strength of Kieron's review and... I'm just not feeling the love. I'm only a few levels in, so maybe it'll click; but at the moment it's trade-in fodder for me.

mr_steve100 9 Apr 2007 11:33:52 1,238 posts
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Whizzo, does it have offline/splitcreen co-op throughout all its levels? That might be something that would persuade me to a purchase.

Inquisitor Moderator 9 Apr 2007 11:35:48 14,558 posts
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You've never heard of swapsies then windy?

Windypops 9 Apr 2007 11:41:30 49 posts
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Inquisitor wrote:
You've never heard of swapsies then windy?

No. I'm new round these parts. But keep your goddamned hands off my wife.

Phattso 9 Apr 2007 11:43:42 27,426 posts
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mr_steve100 wrote:
Whizzo, does it have offline/splitcreen co-op throughout all its levels? That might be something that would persuade me to a purchase.

It does. This was mentioned in the EG review, and was the subject of much debate in the earlier pages of this thread (when we briefly and incorrectly thought it had online co-op

.

bonker 9 Apr 2007 16:57:20 792 posts
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Just picked this up - thought it had online co-op tho, shoulda kept up with the thread! :/

Official Earth Defence Force 2017 (EDF) thread • Page 3