Earth Defense Force 2025 | "DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!"

Finally, we get to see Sandlot’s super efforts on EDF 4 (which will be known as EDF 2025 here) in action and I’m quite happy with the more polished look to the game as well as the new character class system (which seems inspired by Vicious Cycle’s work on Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon) that shows off the new Air Raider, Wing Diver and others in action. Between this and yesterday’s announcement of Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable getting released over a month earlier than initially announced as a digital-only PSN title (I think that’s some sort of first), things are looking up for fans of the series. That said, the game NEEDS both a physical as well as digital release in North America so more people can play it.

Memo to Sony and D3Publisher: Think about it – while anyone can take a Vita to any wi-fi hotspot to get games for that handheld, those people who can’t get broadband at home or use a friend’s connection CANT BUY PS3 GAMES OR CONTENT ON PSN AT ALL. Stop NOT taking the money we want to spend on games and listen for a change. That said, how about a low print run disc version which will indeed sell out if you simply let the fans know it’s coming (or even better, Ask us HOW we like to buy our games in the future). That is all.

The EDF Wants YOU! Well, not right now, but soon enough. Get ready for more big bugs, big robots and big futuristic weapons to take them out with sometime in 2013. Although the game is still working its way through development over in Japan, Sandlot’s upcoming Chikyuu Boueigun 4 (Earth Defense Forces 4) is indeed coming to North America and Europe as Earth Defense Force 2025 next year. For hardcore EDF fans like me, this is fantastic news, particularly given that we’re also getting Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable on the PlayStation Vita in February. Yep, I have the import and in fact, I’m currently playing through EDF 2 Portable on the PSP because I’m that hooked on the awesome fun of this pick up and play run ‘n gun series since about 2004.

As you can see from the lovely screenshots below, EDF 2025 is going to be Sandlot’s most polished work to date. Not bad at all for what was initially created as a budget game for the Japanese market. Now, all we need to see are some official game trailers and it’s even more on than it already is. While a concrete release date for EDF 2025 has yet to be revealed, the press release is dated “June 28, 2025”, but let’s not make anything of that until there’s a more official update in the future. All D3Publisher of America needs to do now is actually update their official site to include this game as well as EDF 2017 Portable, which is set to hit the PlayStation Vita on February 12, 2013. Between these two EDF games and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim coming out next year, it’s going to be an absolutely epic year for kaiju fans. And if that new Godzilla gets let loose next year, expect lots of screaming in the streets as we all run into the theaters to see these flicks and then into game shops to snap up these two games.