The Earth Defense Force games have grown on me over the years. How could they not? An army of one (well, sort of) against an armada of bugs, robots and aliens? What’s not to like? Obliterate everything I say. And Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 continues that trend.
This “less serious” entry in the series features a blocky, Minecraft style approach to characters and buildings. That makes it more accessible for younger players, though the action is still mostly non-stop. You’ll select a squad of soldiers and then set out to destroy enemies. You can switch between them easily, utilizing their special abilities.
Like the first game, World Brothers 2 offers an array of cool techniques and weapons to switch around. And as your squad grows, they become even more savvy in destroying everything in sight. Don’t forget those nifty vehicles as well.
It doesn’t change much from the formula of the first game. But when you’re having a ball saving mankind alongside friends in co-op, who cares? If it ain’t broke, destroy the aliens. (Or something like that.)
Engage the Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2!
So remember the first World Brothers where the Earth Defense Force have maintained peace? Well, it didn’t last. The aliens have returned with World Brothers 2. And across 100 levels, you’ll use your squad of soldiers to take down every last one.
Over the course of the game, you can “unlock” new soldiers by finding them throughout each stage. The more you acquire, the more potential your squad has for greatness. You can mix and match their weapons and abilities and see what works best. It’s a fantastic effort, and one that gives you near endless combinations to try.
The gameplay is pretty basic, relying on “move and shoot” tactics that the EDF games are familiar with. But it still works very well, thanks to its sheer wanton destruction. It’s a blast cutting enemy forces down to size – even impossibly large ones. And, again, being able to try out new techniques and weapons makes all the difference. Some are a bit silly, but, hey, that’s World Brothers for you.
There’s a lot to do here, and the solo campaign definitely has some spark to it. But if you really want to make World Brothers 2 a thrill, add some friends to the mix! The game supports up to four players in online co-op, and it works significantly well. Gathering your squad is a breeze, and, provided you’re on the same page, so is saving the Earth. I do wish there was a local option available, but it’s not a dealbreaker. There’s more than enough chaos to go around.
If you weren’t on board with the EDF games already, World Brothers 2 likely won’t convert you. But fans of the series, as well as action games in general, will happily endure this chaos. EDF!
World Brothers 2 Brings Adorable Carnage
With its blocky style approach, World Brothers 2 does quite a bit. You can destroy enemies into blocks with a few well-timed shots. It delivers sheer satisfaction of taking something out, but without the carnage. That makes this a great title for younger players and dedicated EDF fans alike. The visuals are a bit more polished than the first game, though the general blueprint is about the same.
World Brothers 2 also features some great sound. The in-game music follows the usual EDF route, with upbeat themes and silly character moments. The sound effects are good too, particularly the “adorable” monster noises. Yes, there can be adorable monster noises. Finally, there’s character voiceovers, though they do get repetitive. At least they’re true to their nature, so that’s a plus.
Overall, the team did a pretty good job with cleaning up the presentation a little. Again, it’s no overhaul, but World Brothers 2 follows the status quo while rolling with improvements. We’ll take it.
Saving the Blocky World In Style
If you can accept the slight repetitive nature of the shooting and the lack of local co-op, World Brothers 2 is a gas. Like the other Earth Defense Force games before it, it’s fun to play. And its variety of characters and weapons will keep you busy for some time. There’s also five difficulty settings, so you can crank up the challenge if need be. Don’t forget you can enlist your friends in solid online co-op as well.
Though the formula hasn’t changed with World Brothers 2, it works so well that we just don’t give a damn. Now bring on those mutant ants! Daddy has to test out his new flamethrower.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to D3Publisher for the review codes! You can get the game now for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Need more world-saving tactics? Check out our reviews of Earth Defense Force 6 and Iron Meat!
