Earth Defense Force X US-bound

Continuing the Simple 2000 series, D3 Publisher will bring the next-gen sequel to Chikyuu Boueigun 2 to the US next spring.

Earlier this year, D3 Publisher showed off Chikyuu Boueigun 3 (Earth Defense Force 3), the Xbox 360 sequel to the 2005 cult hit for the PlayStation 2, Chikyuu Boueigun 2. The latter game and its 2003 predecessor were part of the Simple 2000 games, a subbrand of D3 Publisher dedicated to budget-priced games--many of which earned praise for delivering high-quality gameplay for a low price.

Man, I wish I'd paid that interstellar exterminator bill!

Like its predecessors, Chikyuu Boueigun 3 features a kitschy sci-fi scenario that sees Earth invaded by antlike aliens, and players are tasked with destroying them en masse. Back in September, the game made a positive impression on attendees of the 2006 Tokyo Game Show with its free-roaming combat against new hordes of intergalactic insects and 1950s-style giant robots.

Chikyuu Boueigun 3 goes on sale next week across the Pacific, where it has already gained something of a cult following. Luckily, North American gamers will also get to take a shot at the title next spring, when D3 Publisher will release the game in the US and Canada as Earth Defense Force X.

As outlined in GameSpot's hands-on preview from TGS, Earth Defense Force X will feature a huge amount of shooting and no small amount of six-legged foes. It will also feature greater depth and improved graphics over its PS2 forebears, although its multiplayer co-op mode will be strictly offline.

Earth Defense Force X is part of a wave of next-gen titles from D3 Publisher, which is also publishing Dark Sector from developer Digital Extremes (Pariah, Warpath). More details on EDFX can be found in GameSpot's exclusive preview tomorrow afternoon.

48 Comments

  • Lord_Daemon

    Posted Jan 21, 2007 4:48 pm PT

    The first iteration was, as the label suggests, fairly simple but I had many fun hours blasting away at giant ants. I'm very happy they are bringing the series to the States now if only they would commit to a release of the Oneechanbara series I would be would be in cheezy gaming heaven.

  • Metilco

    Posted Dec 9, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    AHH I can't wait! I don't care how much it costs. Looks fun as hell!

  • Dman4Life1217

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 7:47 am PT

    Hopefully it will continue the trend of the simple series as being a budget title.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 6:45 am PT

    weird grafix. cool if the gameplay is any good.

  • datniccah187

    Posted Dec 8, 2006 1:42 am PT

    I'm down Earth Defense Force X....WHAT!!!! It looks soo fat.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 6:54 pm PT

    the screenshots look like garbage

  • lithus

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:13 pm PT

    The japanese have had a fetish for bugs in their video games lately.

  • peacenutman

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    I actually want this game. I'm surprised people hate this game because of its graphic, then again, the haters are probably graphic whore.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:14 pm PT

    well the title sounds good but the screen shot isnt too convincing...but ill still track it

  • Chirico_Cuvie

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:12 pm PT

    The game starts with giant ants and other insects. But later on you start fighting the Aliens' robots, then monsters they've brought from other worlds, and finally the aliens themselves. Eventually vehicles can be used. The earlier games did that anyway.

    See, the Aliens mutate the bugs and use them as weapons so they don't have to fight themselves. Same thing with the robots and monsters, it's only at the end when they finally have to face us once we've beaten their war puppets.

    Seriously, it's a weird game, but if you like weird you'll like it. EDF on SNES was a great shooter, although Axelay was better.

  • Guiltfeeder566

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 1:30 pm PT

    this game looks cool, might look into it.

  • audioust

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 1:00 pm PT

    will you be able to burn the bugs with a peice of broken glass, it would make it more realistic.

  • paradyme777

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 11:53 am PT

    This is going to be just fun. Killing big bugs is just as fun as killing tons of zombies. I'm going to be watching this game.

  • thestickman

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 8:38 am PT

    Haha, this is awesome. I remember watching some gameplay for the original PS2 version on G4 once, very very interesting. It'll be neat to see how the 360 sequel turns out.

  • peacenutman

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 8:15 am PT

    CrashSpyro123
    It's nothing like Shadow of the Colossus. I meant the size of the aliens. They are GiGANTIC, like the colossus in SOTC.

  • Coby7

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 8:03 am PT

    It would continue with Sony, but since the premise is to deliver a fun title at low cost, then D3's best choice is the Xbox 360. Maybe they'll port it to the PS3 once dev costs go down.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:56 am PT

    Lookin' forward to it!

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:55 am PT

    Ants, ANTS!!! Okay, maybe because we use to burn them with a magnified glass, but ANTS!?!!

  • cocote2049

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:47 am PT

    Not impressed you PS3 fanboys can have this I'll go kill General RAAM and play some R6 you guys keep the giant ants. BTW EDF SNES RULEZ

  • hemakm3

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:27 am PT

    cool.

  • undox

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 7:14 am PT

    I am with starwarsfr3ak. If the game started with the Sony, then it should continue with Sony.

  • starwarsfr3ak

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:57 am PT

    This game looks awesome. BUT PORT IT OVER TO PS3, not the SuxBox360!!! All their other games were on PS2, I mean cmon. Idiots...

  • Re_ensurer

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:30 am PT

    This is weird. It looks stupid, but at the same time, it looks very fun.

  • Boauk

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:17 am PT

    What's with all the jokes on the news' posts?

  • Alpha2

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 5:03 am PT

    eew that's some seriously ugly graphics, I hope that isnt actually what it looks like or they might as well have kept it!

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 4:58 am PT

    Can you hit them for MASSIVE DAMAGE?

  • KingofTrolls

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 4:05 am PT

    Did he say the predecessor was for PS2 and now Earth Defense Force X is for Xbox 360. RAWL MUAHAHAHAHHAHA. Eat it Sony.

  • mgsninja

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 2:44 am PT

    Didn't they play this game (PS2) on onthespot once?

  • ewjim

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 12:38 am PT

    "2005 cult hit for the PlayStation 2"?! Good joke! What kind of hit is it if I did't even heard of it!!!

  • CrashSpyro123

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 12:23 am PT

    It's nothing like Shadow of the Colossus.

  • peacenutman

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 11:09 pm PT

    I don't why people hate this game so much, it looks like Shadow of the Clossus with guns and and aliens.

    The gameplay looks similar to Lost Planet.

  • AnimeMasters

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 10:55 pm PT

    DO NOT WANT.

  • Doolum

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:52 pm PT

    i thought i'd never hear of that gme again.

  • animemog

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    Cancelled.

  • FiestaUnicorn

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    earth defense force was rad on snes.

  • Chirico_Cuvie

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:21 pm PT

    Glad to hear it. Sandlot is one of my favorite devs and now they have a system powerful enough to achieve their designs. The last two were pretty good considering they were budget titles. Thier best game was Gigantic Drive or the stupid U.S. name R.A.D. I'll admit that the games they make are the love it / hate it kind. You either buy into the craziness and have fun blowing up bugs and aliens while destroying your own city, or you just don't get the Japanese save the Earth dynamic. Consider this Contra meets Godzilla and Space Sheriff Garivan. I'm glad to see we're finally getting a few imports, regardless of their weirdness. Now what about Project Silpheed? It's been out for months and looks pretty damn good. I heard it was coming here but lately, nothing.

    Brain_Plug if you are really a 360 owner and not just a basher. Watch the trailer, if that doesn't make you want it then so be it.

    This is not a tactics game, it is an action shooter. Imagine a really dumbed-down GRAW except with aliens and spandex. D3 did make a strategy version for PS2 but I don't think it was the same developer.

  • porkmeister

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:13 pm PT

    This reminds me of the cheesy '50s movie called "Them!" in which giant radioactive ants attack a remote area. XD
    Anyways, this game looks kickass, and friggin' hilarious(even if it's not meant to be).

  • visionary

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:11 pm PT

    They need to make another Robot Alchemic Drive, I actually liked that game.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 9:02 pm PT

    This isnt tactics game is it?

  • snakes2solid

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:32 pm PT

    this game kicks butt... try playing the ps2 versions and then see what you think.....awesome " big monster" action and guns and tanks...and a decent co-op... can't wait til it hits the 360 and ps3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whohoooooooo!!!!,,, i own both for the import ps2 and they are awesome for budget titles...the best budget games i've ever played and i've played alot!!>..heck...they're better than alot of big budget games...lol

  • Brain_Plug

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    this game looks like crap, frankly, i wouldnt give a damn if it didnt come to the US.

  • l-town4l

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 7:21 pm PT

    omg this is awsome i always wanted to play this game!

  • Admiral_T

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 7:09 pm PT

    Forget this, I want Super Earth Defense Force for the SNES.

  • BlueBirdTS

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 7:04 pm PT

    I'll have to look into the game.

  • compman3000

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 6:35 pm PT

    daijibin lol

  • not-e-n-e

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 6:29 pm PT

    ANTS!!!

  • LordBrittish

    Posted Dec 6, 2006 6:25 pm PT

    Does this have anything to do with Earth Defense force on SNES?

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