Earth Defense Force: World Brothers Critic Reviews

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is not only the best Earth Defense Force spin-off but one of the best games in the series with its fun gameplay, loads of customization options, solid PS4 Pro and PS5 performance, and varied roster.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers could have gone horribly wrong. I mean, yes, the series was starting to feel a little stale, but at least it was comfortable. Trying something so new could have been a huge misfire. In this case, though, it’s not. World Brothers takes the series in a somewhat new direction and it mostly succeeds in what it wants to do, which means that it’s worth playing whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a grizzled EDF vet.

Just when I thought Earth Defense Force was becoming stale, World Brothers came along and renewed my faith in the franchise. Its bright voxel visuals act as the perfect reflection of its improved and varied gameplay as well as its excellent sense of humour.

If you want to just not think and shoot the big bugs into little square bits and pieces with a library of characters and weapons, EDF: World Bros. might be just the comfort food you need.

The latest Earth Defense Force spinoff is the perfect introduction to the series for your kids, your younger siblings, or anyone who's always wanted a more cartoony approach to alien extermination. It doesn't rewrite the EDF playbook or attempt too many new things, but it's still very much an Earth Defense Force game at its voxelized heart.

Even if World Brothers were just a quickie distraction meant to tide fans over until the post-apocalyptic madness of EDF6 it would still be worth a look. It manages to be so much more than that, though — the huge cast, constantly surprising powers, humorous writing and huge numbers of classic enemies and heroes all combine to turn this into a celebration of the franchise. Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a love letter to one of the craziest videogame series ever, and its simplified look and gameplay ironically make this unbelievably niche title one of the best jumping-on points the series has ever offered.

Overall, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a fun remix of the Earth Defense Force formula. Not only is the art style almost entirely adorable, but the way the gameplay has been split across your team members keeps the game fresh and fun.

All in all, EDF World Brothers is good, but it is also just EDF with a new coat of paint and I don’t need one every year or two. I want these titles to be special and had I not had an EDF title in the last five years (let alone two) I think World Brothers would have been more exciting to play. However, as a fan of EDF it is just another EDF game and honestly had I not been reviewing it I would have likely skipped it because past the coat of paint and new mechanics, it is just shooting giant bugs and monsters. With that I will basically say that this game is on par with EDF 5. It is still fun but nothing special.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers offers enough zany action to shine through any flaws presented during the hectic missions. The story keeps itself in the absurdity of Tokusatsu that sells the overall experience. Still, the combat system can be frustrating, which shows up more given the enormous amount of playable missions, but it’s undeniable this content will keep you playing for hours to come.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a good spin-off for the series, thanks to a nice graphic style and a simple but fun gameplay. The lack of variety is the only important issue to keep in mind.

Ultimately, World Brothers is a good introduction for newcomers that’ll appeal to long-time fans too. It’s not especially deep and solo play can feel slightly repetitive in longer stints, but if you gather a few friends, you’ll have a lot of fun with this colourful spinoff.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a great entry point for those looking to get into the long-running series, and one that’s more accessible than ever thanks to an aesthetic that makes it more suitable for younger players. Throw in new features like the character switching mechanic and you have a game that’s a blast to play in small doses when alone, but really shines when played with others. Ultimately though, repetition is still an issue, as the gameplay never really evolves as you move through the lengthy campaign.

Although the effort to make the series fresh and accessible is admirable, it’s backfired. Fans will be disappointed, newbies will wonder what all the fuss is about.