Earth Defense Force (video game)

1991 video game

This article is about the 1991 video game. For the unrelated video game series, see Earth Defense Force.

1991 video game

Earth Defense Force

Developer(s)| Jaleco[a]
Publisher(s)| Jaleco[b]
Producer(s)| Yuki Arai
Programmer(s)| Yuji Takahashi
Artist(s)| Nekomasa
Takeshi Shimizu
Composer(s)| Tsukasa Tawada
Platform(s)| Arcade, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Super NES, Virtual Console
Release|

January 1991

* Arcade

* NA: January 1991[1]
* JP: March 1991[1]

Super NES

* JP: October 25, 1991
* NA: January 1992[2]
* EU: 1992

Virtual Console
Wii

* EU: October 29, 2010
* JP: January 11, 2011
* NA: July 14, 2011

Wii U

* NA: May 22, 2015
* JP: August 26, 2015

iOS

* WW: January 14, 2011

Switch

* WW: September 17, 2020
* AU: September 18, 2020

PS4

* JP: September 17, 2020

Genre(s)| Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Earth Defense Force is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Jaleco and published as an arcade video game in 1991.[3] It was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Super Earth Defense Force, dropping the two-player cooperative gaming mode while adding graphics and selectable weapons.[4] The Super NES version was released in Japan on October 25, 1991, and in North America in January 1992. The Super NES version was eventually released on the Wii Virtual Console in Europe on October 29, 2010, and in 2011 for Japan on January 11, and North America on July 14. It is included in Nintendo Switch SNES Online as of September 2019.

## Gameplay

[edit]

Released as a horizontal shooter game in the US in 1991, the object of Earth Defense Force is based on survival of the game's levels, punctuated by the defeat of bosses at the end of each one.[5] It is a fixed-length game, with a proper ending at the completion of the last level.

The player normally begins each level with three "shield" points, each able to absorb one enemy attack. The shield points are represented in the upper right corner by green squares under the heading "Shield". Additional shield points can be earned once a predetermined game score is reached. Up to five shield points are represented on screen, but a player can acquire more than five shield points, but they cannot be seen. This is extremely rare though, due to the difficulty of the game and the score intervals at which additional shield points are acquired. Loss of all shields results in the loss of one of three credits, or continues, and loss of all continues results in the player seeing the game over screen.

The game uses a unique leveling system, in which the player gains experience from defeated enemies to gain newer, more powerful versions of the weapons the player has access to.

## Plot

[edit]

The story varies slightly between the two different versions of the game.

The arcade version takes place in the equivocate future date of Earth, 20XX. The Earth is unexpectedly attacked by the mysterious Azyma Empire: a space-bound monarchy currently dedicated to eradicating all life on the planet from its flagship the Orbital Satellite Buster. The Earth's only hope lies in the recently developed XA-1 and 2 space fighter ships used by the organization known as E.D.F: Earth Defense Force.

In the Super NES version, the Azyma Empire has established headquarters on the dark side of the Moon. After attacking the Earth, it is revealed that they have a secret weapon being developed on the Moon, one capable of destroying all life on Earth. The E.D.F. is ordered to send their XA-1 fighters in to drive out the invaders and destroy their ultimate weapon.

## Development and release

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2014)

|

Subsequent to its release an enhanced version was broadcast via the Super Famicom's Satellaview subsystem to Japanese gamers under the title BS Super Earth Defense Force.

## Reception

[edit]

Reception

Review scoresPublication| Score

|

ACE| (SNES) 850/1000[6]
Aktueller Software Markt| (SNES) 8/12[7]
Famitsu| (SNES) 22/40[8]
Games-X| (SNES) 3.5/5[9]
Joystick| (SNES) 87%[10]
Nintendo Life| (SNES) 6/10[11]
Total!| (SNES) 61%[12]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment| (SNES) 7/10[13]
Zero| (ARC) 2.5/5[14]
Control| (SNES) 48%[15]
Electric Brain| (SNES) 78%[16]
Super Action| (SNES) 71%[17]
Super Pro| (SNES) 43/100[18]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2025)

|

In Japan, Game Machine listed Earth Defense Force on their April 15, 1991 issue as being the eleventh most-popular arcade game for the previous two weeks.[19] Power Play said the game offered little excitement and criticized the mediocre background graphics.[20]

Super Earth Defense Force received a 22.12/30 score in a 1993 readers' poll conducted by Super Famicom Magazine, ranking among Super Famicom titles at the number 73 spot.[21] The game also received average reviews from critics.[22][23][24][25]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Ported to iOS by Dotemu.
2. ^ iOS port was published by Dotemu. Switch and PS4 versions were published by Hamster Corporation.

## References

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1. ^ a b Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). ジャレコ Jaleco; Jaleco USA; E (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency [ja]. pp. 33, 121, 151. ISBN 978-4990251215.+[ja]&rft.date=2006-10-13&rft.isbn=978-4990251215&rft.aulast=Akagi&rft.aufirst=Masumi&rft_id=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n34/mode/1up&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Earth+Defense+Force+(video+game)" class="Z3988"> `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
2. ^ "Super NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
3. ^ "Earth Defense Force". MobyGames. Retrieved 9 Nov 2013.
4. ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Super Earth Defense Force". Allgame. Archived from the original on 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
5. ^ "Super NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
6. ^ Whitta, Gary (January 1992). "Consoles Section: Super E.D.F." ACE. No. 52\. EMAP. p. 87.
7. ^ Rückert, Lars (March 1992). "Konsolen: "Fatal E.D.F."". Aktueller Software Markt (in German). Vol. 7, no. 3\. Tronic Verlag. p. 119.
8. ^ "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: SUPER E.D.F." Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 150\. ASCII Corporation. November 1, 1993. p. 38. (Transcription by Famitsu.com. Archived 2015-08-24 at the Wayback Machine).
9. ^ "Console Connexions: Super EDF". Games-X. No. 31\. Europress. November 21–27, 1991. p. 33.
10. ^ Morisse, Jean-François (December 1991). "Consoles News: E.D.F. (Super Famicom)". Joystick (in French). No. 22\. Sipress. p. 166.
11. ^ McFerran, Damien (October 31, 2010). "Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force (Virtual Console / Super Nintendo) Review". Nintendo Life. Cuttlefish Multimedia. Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
12. ^ "The Total Guide to... Shoot 'em ups!". Total!. No. 14\. Future Publishing. February 1993. pp. 25–29.
13. ^ Mandel, Josh (February 1992). "Video-Game Reviews: Super Earth Defense Force". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 37\. Larry Flynt Publications. pp. 46–48.
14. ^ Wilson, David (April 1991). "Dosh Eaters: Earth Defence Force". Zero. No. 18\. Dennis Publishing. p. 54.
15. ^ "The Global Story". Control. No. 6\. Maverick Magazines. February 1993. pp. 86–89.
16. ^ Lee, Onn (1992). "Games Reviews: Super E.D.F." Electric Brain. No. 24\. Space City Publishing. pp. 23–24.
17. ^ "Crusty Library". Super Action. No. 5\. Europress. February 1993. pp. 104–113.
18. ^ "Feature: Shooting Stars". Super Pro. No. 5\. Paragon Publishing. April 1993. pp. 40–47.
19. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)" (PDF). Game Machine [ja] (in Japanese). No. 401\. Amusement Press, Inc. [ja]. 15 April 1991. p. 25\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2025-05-18.+[ja]&rft.atitle=Game+Machine's+Best+Hit+Games+25:+テーブル型TVゲーム機+(Table+Videos)&rft.issue=401&rft.pages=25&rft.date=1991-04-15&rft_id=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19910415p.pdf&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Earth+Defense+Force+(video+game)" class="Z3988">
20. ^ Edgeley, Clare; Gaksch, Martin (May 1991). "Power Tests / Automatenspiele: Satt Action". Power Play [de] (in German). No. 38\. Markt & Technik. p. 140.+[de]&rft.atitle=Power+Tests+/+Automatenspiele:+Satt+Action&rft.issue=38&rft.pages=140&rft.date=1991-05&rft.aulast=Edgeley&rft.aufirst=Clare&rft.au=Gaksch,+Martin&rft_id=https://archive.org/details/Power.Play.N38.1991.05-kultpower/page/n139/mode/1up&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Earth+Defense+Force+(video+game)" class="Z3988">
21. ^ Super Famicom Magazine (August 1, 1993). "ゲーム通信簿". 90年11月から'93年6月21日発売までの323本を収録!! スーパーファミコンオールカタログ'93 (special supplement) (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. p. 52.
22. ^ Boss Music (January 1992). "Super NES Pro Review: Earth Defense Force". GamePro. No. 30\. IDG. p. 80.
23. ^ Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Williams, Ken (April 1992). "Review Crew: Super E.D.F." Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 33\. Sendai Publishing. p. 24.
24. ^ McNamara, Andrew; Martinez, Ed; Petzoldt, Rick (Spring 1992). "Only You Can Save the Universe in SNES's Earth Defense Force". Game Informer. No. 4\. Sunrise Publications. pp. 26–27.
25. ^ Davison, Pete (August 9, 2021). "Blissful Death: the varied blasting of Super Earth Defense Force". Rice Digital. Rice Digital Ltd. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2025-05-18.

## External links

[edit]

* Earth Defense Force (Super NES) at MobyGames
* Earth Defense Force at the Killer List of Videogames

Portals:

* Video games
* 1990s

*[WW]: Worldwide