Earth Defense Force

Japanese series logo as of 2012

Genre(s)| Third-person shooter, turn-based strategy
Developer(s)|

* Sandlot
* thinkArts
* Vicious Cycle Software
* Yuke's

Publisher(s)|

* D3 Publisher
* Agetec
* Xseed Games
* PQube

Platform(s)| PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
First release| Monster Attack
June 26, 2003
Latest release| Earth Defense Force 6
August 25, 2022

Earth Defense Force, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun (Japanese: 地球防衛軍, lit. Earth Defense Forces), is a series of third-person shooter video games. The series is published by the Japanese company D3 Publisher as part of the Simple series.

## Contents

* 1 Story
* 2 Games
* 2.1 Main series
* 2.1.1 Monster Attack (2003)
* 2.1.2 Global Defence Force (2005)
* 2.1.3 Earth Defense Force 2017 (2006)
* 2.1.4 Earth Defense Force 2025 (2013)
* 2.1.5 Earth Defense Force 5 (2017)
* 2.1.6 Earth Defense Force 6 (2022)
* 2.2 Spin-offs
* 2.2.1 Global Defence Force Tactics (2006)
* 2.2.2 Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (2011)
* 2.2.3 Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain (2019)
* 2.2.4 Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (2020)
* 2.2.5 Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (2024)
* 3 Reception
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Story

In 2013, radio waves from deep space are picked up by scientists, proving the existence of extraterrestrial life. The Earth Defense Force, a unified multinational military, is founded a few years later, in case the aliens prove to be hostile. In each of the games the player assumes the role of an EDF soldier during an alien invasion.

## Games

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### Main series

#### Monster Attack (2003)

The first game in the series was originally released in Japan as Simple 2000 series Vol. 31: The 地球防衛軍 for the PlayStation 2. Chikyū Bōeigun or Earth Defense Force was created by Sandlot as part of D3 Publisher's Simple series of budget-priced games on a compact disk. It was later distributed in PAL format on CD in Europe by Agetec, Inc. under the title Monster Attack.

#### Global Defence Force (2005)

Main page: Software:Global Defence Force

Chikyū Bōeigun 2 is the second game in the series, released for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in Europe as Global Defence Force but was not released in North America. A PlayStation Portable version of the game, titled Earth Defense Forces 2 Portable was released on April 7, 2011, in Japan. A remake for the PlayStation Vita, entitled Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space (or Earth Defense Forces 2 Portable V2 in Japan), was released on December 11, 2014, in Japan, with a North American port released on December 8, 2015.

#### Earth Defense Force 2017 (2006)

Main page: Software:Earth Defense Force 2017

Earth Defense Force 2017, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun 3 is the third game in the series, released for the Xbox 360. It was the first game in the series to be released in North America. A PlayStation Vita version of Earth Defense Force 3 was announced on June 5, 2012, as Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable.[1] The new version includes both local and online co-operative play,[2] as well as the return of Palewing from Earth Defense Force 2.[3] The game was released on September 27, 2012, in Japan.[4] A port of the game is planned to be released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan on October 14, 2021.[5][6]

#### Earth Defense Force 2025 (2013)

Main page: Software:Earth Defense Force 2025

Earth Defense Force 2025, known in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun 4, was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on July 4, 2013, in Japan. Developed by Sandlot, it is a direct sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017. It features four player online co-operative play. It was released in February 2014 in North America and Europe.

Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair, an updated port, was released for the PlayStation 4 on April 2, 2015, in Japan[7] and on December 8, 2015, in North America.[8] Europe has an estimated release date for February 12, 2016, and European players are able to play with North American players online according to Ryan Graff from publisher XSEED Games.[8] A Nintendo Switch version is planned to be release in Japan in 2022.[9]

#### Earth Defense Force 5 (2017)

Main page: Software:Earth Defense Force 5

Earth Defense Force 5 was announced at TGS 2016,[10] and was released on December 7, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 in Japan.[11] The game was released on December 11, 2018, in North America and Europe.[12]

#### Earth Defense Force 6 (2022)

Earth Defense Force 6 is a sequel to Earth Defense Force 5 and was released on August 25, 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Japan.[13][14][15] The game will release in early 2024 in North America and Europe.[16]

### Spin-offs

#### Global Defence Force Tactics (2006)

Main page: Software:Global Defence Force Tactics

Chikyū Bōeigun: Tactics, known as Global Defence Force Tactics in Europe, is a turn-based strategy game, taking place after the events of Global Defence Force.

#### Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (2011)

Main page: Software:Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is the fourth game in the series, released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows. It was the first game in the series to be developed outside Japan and also the first to feature online co-operative play.

#### Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain (2019)

Main page: Software:Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain was announced at TGS 2017. Under development by Yuke's, the game has been described as "more serious than the series’ traditional campy tone."[17] The game was released on April 11, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 worldwide.[18]

#### Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (2020)

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers was announced on June 23, 2020 as an action spin-off with voxel graphics for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Developed by Yuke's, the game was released on December 24, 2020 in Japan and on May 27, 2021 in North America and Europe.[19][20][21][22]

#### Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (2024)

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is a sequel to Earth Defense Force: World Brothers. Developed by Yuke's, the game will release for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2024 in Japan.[23]

## Reception

Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter has terminated with signal "24". Despite generally mixed reviews, the Earth Defense Force series, particularly from Earth Defense Force 2017 and onwards, has been described as having a cult following. Joe Juba of Game Informer defined Earth Defense Force 2017 as a cult classic, stating that "the developers at Sandlot clearly want to tell a story about humanity's struggle against giant invading ants and robots, and the passion for that story shines through despite its technical shortcomings";[24] in reviewing Earth Defense Force 5 five years later, he similarly opined that the series has "always had a single-minded commitment to one simple truth: It's fun to use weird weapons to blast lots of aliens."[25] Though Jim Sterling gave Earth Defense Force 2025 a negative review, they did acknowledge that the series "has managed to earn itself a fierce cult following through audacity alone".[26]

## Notes

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## References

1. ↑ "Earth Defense Forces Set for PlayStation Vita". AndriaSang. 2012-06-05. http://andriasang.com/con1bm/edf_vita/.
2. ↑ "First Look: Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable". AndriaSang. 2012-06-07. http://andriasang.com/con1cv/edf_first_look/.
3. ↑ "Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable Trailer Featuring Palewing". AndriaSang. 2012-07-05. http://andriasang.com/con1t6/edf3_trailer/.
4. ↑ "Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable Date Officially Announced". AndriaSang. 2012-06-29. http://andriasang.com/con1ps/edf_vita_date/.
5. ↑ Romano, Sal (April 26, 2021). "Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space and Earth Defense Force 2017 coming to Switch". https://www.gematsu.com/2021/04/earth-defense-force-2-invaders-from-planet-space-and-earth-defense-force-2017-coming-to-switch.
6. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 27, 2021). "Earth Defense Force 2017 for Switch launches October 14 in Japan". https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/earth-defense-force-2017-for-switch-launches-october-14-in-japan.
7. ↑ "Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair revealed for PlayStation 4". September 2014. http://gematsu.com/2014/09/earth-defense-force-4-1-shadow-new-despair-revealed-playstation-4.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Earth Defense Force 4.1 and 2 Launch Today on PlayStation". 8 December 2015. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/12/08/earth-defense-force-4-1-and-2-launch-today-on-playstation/.
9. ↑ "Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair coming to Switch in 2022 in Japan". July 30, 2021. https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/earth-defense-force-4-1-the-shadow-of-new-despair-coming-to-switch-in-2022-in-japan.
10. ↑ Purchese, Robert (September 13, 2016). "Earth Defense Force 5 announced for next year". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-13-earth-defense-force-5-announced-for-next-year.
11. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (September 19, 2017). "Earth Defense Force 5 Release Date Announced For Japan". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/earth-defense-force-5-release-date-announced-for-j/1100-6453423/.
12. ↑ Romano, Sal (September 20, 2018). "Earth Defense Force 5 launches December 11 in North America and Europe". Gematsu. https://gematsu.com/2018/09/earth-defense-force-5-launches-december-11-in-north-america-and-europe.
13. ↑ "絶望の未来に生きる。『地球防衛軍６』2021年発売！ 前作から3年後の世界で戦い続ける人類の物語" (in ja). 2020-06-23. https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2020/06/23/20200623-edf6/.
14. ↑ "Earth Defense Force 6 delayed to 2022 in Japan, confirmed for PS5 and PS4". September 29, 2021. https://www.gematsu.com/2021/09/earth-defense-force-6-delayed-to-2022-in-japan-confirmed-for-ps5-and-ps4.
15. ↑ "Earth Defense Force 6 launches August 25 in Japan". April 29, 2022. https://www.gematsu.com/2022/04/earth-defense-force-6-launches-august-25-in-japan.
16. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 12, 2023). "Earth Defense Force 6 coming west in spring 2024 for PS5, PS4, and PC". https://www.gematsu.com/2023/10/earth-defense-force-6-coming-west-in-spring-2024-for-ps5-ps4-and-pc.
17. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (September 19, 2017). "New Earth Defense Force looks like a more serious take on fighting giant ants". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/19/16332198/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-ps4-yukes-d3publisher.
18. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 25, 2019). "Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain launches April 11 worldwide". Gematsu. https://gematsu.com/2019/01/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-launches-april-11-worldwide.
19. ↑ "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a voxel graphics spin-off coming to PS4 and Switch" (in en). 23 June 2020. https://www.destructoid.com/stories/earth-defense-force-world-brothers-is-a-voxel-graphics-spin-off-coming-to-ps4-and-switch-595232.phtml.
20. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 8, 2020). "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers coming west in early 2021". https://www.gematsu.com/2020/07/earth-defense-force-world-brothers-coming-west-in-early-2021.
21. ↑ "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers launches December 24 in Japan". September 23, 2020. https://www.gematsu.com/2020/09/earth-defense-force-world-brothers-launches-december-24-in-japan.
22. ↑ Nelva, Giuseppe (April 1, 2021). "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers Gets Western Release Date for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC". https://twinfinite.net/2021/04/earth-defense-force-world-brothers-western-release/.
23. ↑ Romano, Sal (August 10, 2023). "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 teaser trailer". https://www.gematsu.com/2023/08/earth-defense-force-world-brothers-2-teaser-trailer.
24. ↑ Joe Juba (May 27, 2013). "Cult Classics – Earth Defense Force 2017 – Features". Game Informer. http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/05/27/cult-classics-earth-defense-force-2017.aspx.
25. ↑ Juba, Joe (December 7, 2018). "Earth Defense Force 5 Review – A Weakening Resistance" (in en). Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/review/earth-defense-force-5/a-weakening-resistance. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
26. ↑ Jim Sterling (February 19, 2014). "Earth Defense Force 2025 Review - Giant Insects". The Escapist. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/11025-Earth-Defense-Force-2025-Review-Giant-Insects.

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## External links

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*[lit.]: literal translation