Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
Encyclopedia
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is a third-person shooter
developed by Vicious Cycle Software
, and published by D3 Publisher
, for the PlayStation 3
, Xbox 360
and Microsoft Windows
. It is the sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017
.
The story is divided into three separate chapters, which are divided into five separate missions. The first chapter is akin to an introduction to the game, while the second chapter has Strike Force Lightning moving across industrial New Detroit to discover the fates of several downed Landers scattered across the city, as well as their pilots and cargo. Only one of them is salvageable, and it becomes piloted by the cool-headed Captain Sully, a character that returns in later missions. The third chapter follows the story of Lightning finding and transporting "The Cube" to a nest in central New Detroit. Before it is deployed, an Ant Queen emerges from the nest, forcing Lightning to do battle with it to secure the drop zone.
Once the Queen and her minions are dead, "The Cube" is dropped in the middle of the nest, and Lightning quickly makes their way to the evacuation zone. As their transport Lander is about to begin it's descent, a new Ravager ship (Akin to a much larger and more heavily armed version of a Ravager Carrier) appears in the skies, downing the Lander. Lightning rendezvouses with Echo and X-Ray squads, EDF troopers who were stuck in Central Detroit without evacuation, and they make their way to another evacuation sight where they must defend against several Hectors (large Ravager Mech Walkers) until they are rescued by Lander Captain Sully, who (at the time) violated an EDF No-Fly Zone
without remorse.
Over 300 weapons are available. These can be purchased using a new unlock system that partially replaces the in-game weapon drop system of EDF: 2017, though some weapons are only dropped by elite enemies. Four different classes are selectable from the menu, each with special functions and exclusive equipment. All armor colors can be customized.
Trooper Armor: Trooper armor is the standard loadout for EDF soldiers. It has access to more weapons than any other class, and upgradable abilities that allow it to be a versatile, all-around unit. The Trooper Armor is also the only armor available in Survival Mode.
Jet Armor: Jet armor is a suit Lightning Alpha can acquire to take the fight to the skies. It uses energy to replenish weapons. The jet pack allows the fastest movement across the map for any class but also the weakest protection.
Tactical Armor: Tactical armor fulfills a wide ranging support role, and is the only class that can deploy turrets, mines and radar dishes. Stronger equipment is unlocked as the story progresses.
Battle Armor: Battle armor transforms players into a veritable walking tank. Slow moving and hard-hitting, it comes equipped a portable energy shield and can equip some of the most powerful weapons in the game. Battle armor also can release its entire pool of energy in a massive electric blast, damaging everything unfortunate enough to be close by.
Both split-screen and online co-operative play are included. A six-player Survival mode is also available, with a squad of EDF soldiers defending against endless waves of bugs.
D3 Publisher of America
also includes a Pain pack. The Pounds of Pain pack features 15 weapons mostly for the Battle Armor but also a few for the Trooper Armor and Tactical Armor, available from Gamestop
. The Death From Above pack features 15 weapons mostly for the Jet Armor but also a few for the Trooper Armor and Tactical Armor as well, available from Bestbuy.
gave the game a score of 7.0/10, saying it was "simple and intensely rewarding" although it "lacked variety and depth".
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
developed by Vicious Cycle Software
Vicious Cycle Software
Vicious Cycle Software is a video game development company based in Morrisville, North Carolina, United States.-History:Vicious Cycle was founded in 2000 by Eric Peterson, Dave Ellis, Marc Racine and Wayne Harvey after layoffs at the local MicroProse development studio forced several game...
, and published by D3 Publisher
D3 Publisher
D3Publisher is a Japanese video game publisher founded on February 5, 1992. Current CEO and president is Yuji Ito, and It is known for its Simple series of low-priced console games. Their games have been released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2,...
, for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. It is the sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017
Earth Defense Force 2017
Earth Defense Force 2017, known in Japan as is a third-person shooter developed by Sandlot, and published by D3 Publisher, for the Xbox 360. It is the follow-up to Global Defence Force, and is the first game in the series to be released to North America...
.
Story
The player defends a fictional city called New Detroit against an alien invasion, aided by bio-engineered terrestrial insects. The Player goes by the name of 'Lightning Alpha', leader of an elite team of fighters, known as "Strike Force Lightning." Along with two squad mates, Lightning is (usually) aided by local EDF fighting forces in the area, though they are little more than cannon fodder compared to Lightning.The story is divided into three separate chapters, which are divided into five separate missions. The first chapter is akin to an introduction to the game, while the second chapter has Strike Force Lightning moving across industrial New Detroit to discover the fates of several downed Landers scattered across the city, as well as their pilots and cargo. Only one of them is salvageable, and it becomes piloted by the cool-headed Captain Sully, a character that returns in later missions. The third chapter follows the story of Lightning finding and transporting "The Cube" to a nest in central New Detroit. Before it is deployed, an Ant Queen emerges from the nest, forcing Lightning to do battle with it to secure the drop zone.
Once the Queen and her minions are dead, "The Cube" is dropped in the middle of the nest, and Lightning quickly makes their way to the evacuation zone. As their transport Lander is about to begin it's descent, a new Ravager ship (Akin to a much larger and more heavily armed version of a Ravager Carrier) appears in the skies, downing the Lander. Lightning rendezvouses with Echo and X-Ray squads, EDF troopers who were stuck in Central Detroit without evacuation, and they make their way to another evacuation sight where they must defend against several Hectors (large Ravager Mech Walkers) until they are rescued by Lander Captain Sully, who (at the time) violated an EDF No-Fly Zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
without remorse.
Gameplay
Players take the role of Lightning Alpha, who battles against wave after wave of deadly gigantic insect and robot enemies. Insect Armageddon predominately takes place in the city of New Detroit, the target of a concentrated bug invasion that only the EDF can stop. The graphics have been greatly improved, but still retain the arcade-shooter physics of its predecessor. Vehicle controls have been fixed, with improved tank and mecha vehicles that can be manned by more than one player. credits are accumulated in-game which is used for a wide variety of tasks.Over 300 weapons are available. These can be purchased using a new unlock system that partially replaces the in-game weapon drop system of EDF: 2017, though some weapons are only dropped by elite enemies. Four different classes are selectable from the menu, each with special functions and exclusive equipment. All armor colors can be customized.
Trooper Armor: Trooper armor is the standard loadout for EDF soldiers. It has access to more weapons than any other class, and upgradable abilities that allow it to be a versatile, all-around unit. The Trooper Armor is also the only armor available in Survival Mode.
Jet Armor: Jet armor is a suit Lightning Alpha can acquire to take the fight to the skies. It uses energy to replenish weapons. The jet pack allows the fastest movement across the map for any class but also the weakest protection.
Tactical Armor: Tactical armor fulfills a wide ranging support role, and is the only class that can deploy turrets, mines and radar dishes. Stronger equipment is unlocked as the story progresses.
Battle Armor: Battle armor transforms players into a veritable walking tank. Slow moving and hard-hitting, it comes equipped a portable energy shield and can equip some of the most powerful weapons in the game. Battle armor also can release its entire pool of energy in a massive electric blast, damaging everything unfortunate enough to be close by.
Both split-screen and online co-operative play are included. A six-player Survival mode is also available, with a squad of EDF soldiers defending against endless waves of bugs.
D3 Publisher of America
D3 Publisher
D3Publisher is a Japanese video game publisher founded on February 5, 1992. Current CEO and president is Yuji Ito, and It is known for its Simple series of low-priced console games. Their games have been released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2,...
also includes a Pain pack. The Pounds of Pain pack features 15 weapons mostly for the Battle Armor but also a few for the Trooper Armor and Tactical Armor, available from Gamestop
GameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
. The Death From Above pack features 15 weapons mostly for the Jet Armor but also a few for the Trooper Armor and Tactical Armor as well, available from Bestbuy.
Reception
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon received moderate to positive critical reviews, achieving a 69 aggregate on Metacritic. MMGNMMGN
The My Media Gaming Network is an Australian video games and entertainment website. It focuses on content relevant to local and PAL audiences, including video games, movies, television, Apple and PC hardware...
gave the game a score of 7.0/10, saying it was "simple and intensely rewarding" although it "lacked variety and depth".