Earth Defence Force 2017 for the Xbox 360, or EDF for those in the know, has got to be one of the best crappy games most people will never give a second look, if not a first. The game’s plot is almost non-existent and revolves around killing hordes and hordes of invading aliens, from giant insects to the occasional massive robot or drop ship. Variety is not a word I would use to describe EDF unless you’re talking about it’s weapons. There are over 75 unique weapons found in the game and are earned from killing enemies and collecting the spoils left behind. Of the 50 some levels most look very much the same. The graphics are sub par compared with most other action games on the platform and occasionally there is some harsh slow down. There are vehicles in the game as well, but they are so poorly implemented with almost unusable control schemes that make them more aggravating than fun.

So, why is this game so amazing? The real treat to it is it’s Split-Screen Co-Op play, available through the entire single player campaign. You can destroy pretty much any building you see and the weapons range from flame throwers, to homing missiles, to acid guns. The action is non-stop and just plain fun. It’s wildly satisfying when you fire a rocket directly at a 50 foot ant and watch as it explodes and catapults off the screen toward the sky. The game is strangely addictive, but it probably won’t hold up for very long. If you want a good, fun, mindless action for about 10-20 hours then this game is a good solid rental, but pass if you’re looking for more depth.

Boom!

If you’re interested in picking this game up, you can find it used at GameStop here: