Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS5) Review: Polished EDF

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 is a surprisingly polished EDF spin-off that is fun for newcomers and veterans of D3’s beloved alien invasion series. Now, depending on why you like the EDF series, this polish is potentially a disappointment, as the jank of past games was a large part of the charm. However, there’s enough reverence for past games, deep-cut references, and general weirdness for even the most ironic or diehard fan to get a real kick out of this voxel-styled shooter.

Despite the Minecraft-style makeover, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 still plays faithfully like EDF games of yesteryear. Yep, you’ll be taking down hundreds of giant ants, hopping alien frogs, and other goofy enemies with a variety of weaponry. There’s a lot of content with over 100 missions and five difficulty levels to try them on, so while missions are typically short and bite-sized, there are a ton of things to do.

The other unique aspect of the World Builders games is that you get to collect a four-member team — you swap between members using the directional pad. This adds a nice variety to the gameplay, as you can use a ranger to shoot down ants from a distance and then switch to a flying character to quickly make up ground and deliver melee attacks. You’ll rescue a variety of characters in the missions, ranging from new nationality-based characters to ones based on past EDF games.

The gameplay is often where EDF games can sort of fall apart despite their inherent charm. However, World Brothers 2 is by far the most polished Earth Defense Force game I’ve ever played. Sure, the action can get repetitive sometimes, as there are only so many ways to throw a ton of ants at a player, but it generally runs well, and gameplay is chaotic yet responsive. Despite being a celebration of past entries, this winds up being a great entry point thanks to its overall level of polish and solid online co-op play that makes it easy to play with a buddy.

There are also a ton of different weapons (over 600 of them) to try out, and variety really is the spice of life in Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. Weapons and character-specific skills (which typically clear out a bunch of enemies at once) are leveled up through use, so it pays to stick with a squad you like (although you can easily make several presets and switch between them if your current loadout struggles with a mission).

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 Review: Final Verdict

Whether you’re a series veteran or just interested in why gamers love to shout “EDF!” repeatedly, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 winds up being a lot of fun. It’s the most polished version of shooting giant ants that you’ll find. So, what are you waiting for, soldier? Enlist in the Earth Defense Force today.