Anti-climax of the year
The only real game to compare with is the super fun EDF:2017 so as I played through EDF:IA I put together a bunch of Pros and Cons comparing the two.
PROS:
-Straight out you notice the massive improvement in graphics, although not comparable to a big budget game, are definitely better than 2017.
-New game modes add some replay value.
-The stats menu is a good touch to see h/m bugs you have killed.
-Adding a sprint function so you don't have to roll to move anywhere at speed.
-More boss varieties and heaps more of them to fight.
-Having revivable "bots" (computer teammates) adds to the fun.
-The mech unit is actually usable! And got rid of the lame chopper and bike.
-At the end of each mission you get time to run around and collect all the pickups. (In 2017 you had to leave an enemy alive while you collect them)
- Done away with easy mode.
-Spider webs aren't as deadly!
-Tank vs. Giant spider and Hectors.
CONS:
-The game is short, 2017 had 53 missions, and IA has 15. They appear longer, but this is a deception, it's just that they throw wave after wave of bugs at you which is boring and time consuming.
-With the excessive waves of insects, checkpoints would have been nice.
-The weapon select menu is not as user friendly.
-Prefer to find the weapons as opposed to buy them.
-Would like to have more generic enemy types, not just ants and spiders again. (A centipede would be cool)
-You get shot a lot by the dumbass friendlies.
-The friendly banter is very repetitive (the kid won't stop telling me to think outside the box!)
-Music is boring
-Can't invert the flight controls when riding in the drop ship.
-Sully
-Have to destroy a lot of anthills, but the ants just come out of the ground randomly anyway, so it seems pointless.
-Hectors don't look as cool.
-But the worst all is the loss of that 50's sci/fi movie feel of 2017. There is no atmosphere anymore.
It's not that AI is a bad game; it's just that 2017 is astronomically better, despite the minor improvements. I wish they kept the fun 50's B movie going instead of changing to modern warfare.
Not sure if I'm a fan of the soldier select either.
I will be going back to do another 100+hrs of 2017, but now I've finished AI, I may not play it again.
Bottom line: It's a poor man's 2017 so if you don't own 2017 get it. If you do then this game if fun too, just don't compare them as much as I do or you will be disappointed.