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| Big-ass guns will also suffice. |
Story
The story takes place eight years after the events of EDF 2017, with most of the world quizzically back to normal after the near extinction of the human race at the hands of the Ravagers. You are a member of the elite squad known as Storm Team; a not-so-secret special forces branch composed of the best of the best of each class of soldier. At the start of the game it is revealed that the Ravagers were hiding and rebuilding on the moon while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Long story short: They are back with lots of new monsters, weapons, and a renewed sense of vengeance. As usual it is up to you and you alone (unless you are playing with others) to help halt this invasion in its tracks with a huge variety of weapons and strange technology at your disposal. That is pretty much the gist of the storyline; it adheres to the basics that all EDF games are renowned for. The focus is, as always in this series, centered solely on having a kick ass time. Let the extermination commence!
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| Its gonna get weird. |
Graphics
2025 is by far the best looking game in the series and a definite step up from 2017. Visually, everything has been improved across the board with dynamic shadows, higher-res textures, detailed enemy models, bigger levels, better particle effects, full ragdoll on almost every enemy, etc. Sandlot has really gone all out on this game, undoubtedly trying to give us a great distraction while they work hard on their already rumored next-gen EDF game. The swarming insects and fleets of robotic creations are back and in even greater numbers and varieties, flooding the screen with either weapons blasting or mandibles snapping in an attempt to overwhelm you as the developers gleefully display their best work in the series. There is a good amount of slowdown as the action ramps up and more bodies start filling the level, but the decrease in performance actually aids you in the more hectic moments when you need everything to slow down just so you can process the sheer insanity of everything going on around you. I must really state how happy I am that the devs decided to add many different weapon models this time around, staring at the same rifle or grenade launcher in 2017 could get old fast. Generally the more powerful a weapon is the more badass it will look this time around. Without a doubt this is the best looking EDF game in the series; a technical marvel considering just how much is going on as you play a mission. I must say that I am eagerly anticipating the announcement of the next game in the series, the thought of a next-gen EDF makes me squeal with joy. I have problems.
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| Because of course it has dragons. |
Gameplay
In most ways 2025 is exactly like 2017, only with added layers of refinement and tuning to make the core gameplay and features even better. EDF is a game series that has always concerned itself with being a game and nothing else. 2025 knows what it is; it never aspires to reach any higher. That is perfectly fine, seeing how we have a damn fun game here that could keep completionists busy for months just trying to unlock all the weapons and difficulties. Unlike 2017, this game features four different character classes suited for a variety of playstyles. There is the Ranger, which every fan of the series will recognize from 2017. This class serves the role of a balanced soldier, preferring assault rifles, shotguns, and rocket launchers to the other more specialized abilities employed by the other classes. The Ranger's special ability is a simple dodge maneuver that is much more useful that it sounds, letting you avoid deadly plasma barrages, acid saliva, sticky webbing and so many more things that would prove extremely detrimental to the health of an enterprising exterminator. The second class is the Wing Diver, an all female special ops wing equipped with jet packs and very little clothing. These fearsome ladies are able to zoom above the battlefield and employ their extremely effective laser and plasma based weapons, relying on their speed and agility to offset their abysmal starting health pool. The third class is the Air Raider, a support class with the ability to call down many different types of vehicles. If you have an affinity for mechs and tanks then this class should be your number one choice. The fourth and most unusual class is the Fencer. The Fencer is an extremely ponderous, heavily armored assault unit equipped with two weapons and two shields. What he lacks in speed the Fencer more than makes up for with devastating firepower and a fortress-like defense. Each class has its own entire arsenal of weapons that can be unlocked, a feature that will encourage players to test out each class and find which they are most comfortable with. Once on the field you are able to hook up with fellow EDF operatives and form squads of incredibly thick-headed AI soldiers that never stop yammering. Their dialogue smacks completely of B-movie script and is often hilarious; soldiers often contemplating the meaning of existence or complaining about their need for food as you are charging into a battlezone filled with giant insects and robots. The nitty gritty of combat is quite simple: Use any abilities you have and fire at things until they are dead, then saunter on over to any upgrade drops and go nuts collecting everything. Despite the extremely simple formula the game does this extremely well, giving you incentive to keep playing as it keeps throwing some extremely clever and just downright bizarre enemies at you to defeat. By the endgame you will be wondering why more games don't let you eradicate giant insects with laser rifles. There is something almost magical about how EDF manages to keep you entertained well after the credits have rolled; it is a game that knows its audience and how to keep them enthralled.
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| Yes, that is a giant foot behind those robots. |
Sound
The music is easily the most forgettable thing about the game. To be honest none of the games in this series have had particularly good music in my opinion. The music just has a very cartoon-ish vibe to it, which is definitely not out of place in a game where ants morph into dragons. The other sound effects have just obviously had so much more work put into them that the musical score just seems tacked onto the final product. Ambient sound effects are pretty much non-existent, with most sounds being generated by your weapons, AI squad mates, com chatter, and enemies. What is there though is very well done and more believable than what was prevented in 2017. Robots sound more mechanical and heavy whilst insects sound more like they probably would if you took their real life counter parts and increased their size exponentially. Aside from the corny music; everything else is still pretty solid and definitely does not detract from the experience. There is nothing more satisfying than hearing the resounding boom of a rocket detonating amidst a swarm of giant insects.
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| Can never have enough giant bugs. |
Conclusion
Overall, 2025 is definitely a step in the right direction for this long running series. It packs so much variety and unlockables, more than justifying its price with offering players 85 levels of pure mayhem and carnage. Sure the game may be packed with filler, but its just more icing on this bug gut cake. Sandlot knows how to make extremely enjoyable games that you can sit back and have a blast with, putting gameplay before story to ensure all players have one hell of a time in the perilous world of EDF. For all of its problems and slight technical issues; I really must remind you that you can plow into a horde of ants and robots with a giant mech. You know that's awesome; I know that's awesome. If you are looking for a game with a deep, branching storyline then you need to look elsewhere because the story is just downright laughable. If you are looking for a game that is the epitome of Japanese tropes and culture, then this is your dream game. Now just sit back, relax, and blow the living hell out of some giant arachnids8.5/10 (Xbox 360 version reviewed)
