Did you know that there is a shoot-em-up Earth Defense Force game? No, not that old 1991 SNES game called Earth Defense Force that doesn't have anything to do with Sandlot's EDF series. I'm talking about a "real" Earth Defense Force shmup where you control a Wing Diver through vertical scrolling levels and kill giant ants and spiders and space ships. Yeah, that's the ticket. Earth Defense Force 4.1: Wing Diver The Shooter is a PS4 shmup that combines two of my favorite things - EDF and shmups - and it is freaking wonderful. Read more and watch gameplay right here.
EDF 4.1 Wing Diver The Shooter takes place during the events of EDF 2025 (later released as EDF 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair on PS4). You play as a Wing Diver in a 2D vertical scrolling shooter setup where you fly around and shoot every creepy bug and space ship you see. Just like in normal EDF games you pick up health refills and new weapons that enemies drop. All of the sound effects, enemy designs, and everything else are just like a normal EDF game. It's kind of freaking amazing, to be honest.
And it plays remarkably well, too. It is just a really solid shmup with a great recognizable and comfortable setting. It is quite short, as most shmups are, with only 6 levels total, but it is very replayable thanks to the fact you pick up new weapons to try out all of the time. I actually captured the last level and final boss fight when recording this video, but opted not to include it just for spoilers sake. You're welcome?
EDF 4.1: Wing Diver The Shooter is normally priced at $15, but goes on sale fairly often.
