A new trailer for Earth Defense Force 6 promises a design overhaul for the four selectable classes in the game, as well as other additions and quality-of-life improvements new to the series.
The long-running cult classic Earth Defense Force series is an unapologetically overwhelming and bombastic third-person shooter about blasting massive insects and robots with a vast array of powerful weaponry. Over the course of the series, the character roster has expanded from one class to four, allowing players to combine class-specific weapons and strategies to more effectively wipe out alien invaders.
Ever since the reveal of Earth Defense Force 6 last year, D3Publisher and Sandlot have hosted livestreams and released trailers to promote the new series entry. In addition to promising quality-of-life improvements and a direct story continuation from Earth Defense Force 5, the game will feature redesigned versions of the Ranger, Wing Diver, Air Raider and Fencer classes. New enemies and quality of life improvements are also showcased, and the swarms of giant insects iconic to the series naturally return. The trailer is presented in the same half-comedic format as other Earth Defense Force trailers, framing the video as a news broadcast intended to inform the remaining population of the apocalyptic world.
The redesigned characters feature a gritty, battle-hardened look, but the changes should be nowhere near as divisive as Mass Effect: Legendary Edition's Kelly Chambers design change. Rangers look very similar to their Earth Defense Force 5 counterparts, but have a more angular helmet design, and Air Raiders do not see many changes either. Conversely, Wing Divers see a major change in armor design, notably camouflage pants and shirt underneath the various external protective padding, while Fencers are given even beefier armor and an even larger Power Frame in general.
The changes to the armor do not appear to impact regular gameplay much, but there are still notable improvements, both to gameplay and game mechanics. Rangers can climb over small obstacles such as railings with ease, and an entirely new enemy type will enter the battleground. Given the release date and previous game's release platforms, Earth Defense Force 6 may be the first next-gen Earth Defense Force game.
The story, which continues on from Earth Defense Force 5, involves facing a new, massive threat and defending the remains of humanity, and fans will not have to wait long for Earth Defense Force 6 to launch later this year. In the meantime, spinoff game Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is available now and should keep fans of the series satisfied until 6 launches.
Earth Defense Force 6 releases late 2021 for as yet unspecified platforms.