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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The story varies between the different versions of the game.
The story varies slightly between the two different versions of the game.


The Arcade original takes place in the equivocate future date of Earth, 20XX. The newly formed Azyma Empire dedicates itself to protecting the Earth from any possible threat. To do this, the empire constructs a massive computerized satellite called the Orbital Buster, and this satellite also serves as the Empire's flagship. Unfortunately, an error causes a malfunction in the Central Computer, causing the Orbital Buster to launch an attack on all surrounding satellites and to misidentify the human race as an enemy of the Azyma Empire. The Earth's only hope lies in the recently developed XA-1 and XA-2 spaceships held under the organization known as E.D.F: Earth Defense Force.
The Arcade original takes place in the equivocate future date of Earth, 20XX. The Earth is unexpectedly attacked by the mysterious Azyma Empire: a space-bound monarchy currently dedicated to eradicating all life on the planet from its flagship the Orbital Satellite Buster. The Earth's only hope lies in the recently developed XA-1 and 2 space fighter ships used by the organization known as E.D.F: Earth Defense Force.


In the Super Nintendo version, an evil alien race has populated the dark side of [[The Moon]]. After initiating an attack on the Earth, it is revealed they have a secret weapon being developed on The Moon, one capable of destroying all life on Earth. The E.D.F. is ordered to send their XA-1 fighters in to drive out the invaders and destroy their ultimate weapon.
In the Super Nintendo version, the Azyma Empire has established headquarters on the dark side of the Moon. After attacking the Earth, it is revealed they have a secret weapon being developed on the Moon, one capable of destroying all life on Earth. The E.D.F. is ordered to send their XA-1 fighters in to drive out the invaders and destroy their ultimate weapon.


== Development ==
== Development ==

Revision as of 10:33, 1 September 2014

Earth Defense Force
Earth Defense Force
North American SNES box art
Developer(s)Jaleco
Publisher(s)Jaleco
Composer(s)Tsukasa Tawada
Yasuhiko Takashiba
Platform(s)Arcade, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Virtual Console
ReleaseArcade
  • INT: 1991
SNES
  • JP: October 25, 1991
  • NA: January 1992
Virtual Console
  • EU: October 29, 2010
  • JP: January 11, 2011
  • NA: July 14, 2011
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Earth Defense Force, known as Super E.D.F in Japan and Super Earth Defense Force E.D.F in-game, is a 1991 horizontal scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Jaleco.[1] Originally an arcade game, the game was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, dropping the two player cooperative gaming mode. In its SNES incarnation, graphical adjustments were made to some of the game's levels, and new selectable weapons were added.[2] The game was released on the SNES in Japan on October 25, 1991, and in North America in January 1992. The SNES version was eventually released on the Wii Virtual Console in Europe on October 29, 2010, in Japan on January 11, 2011, and in North America on July 14, 2011.

Gameplay

Released as a horizontal shooter game in the US in January 1992, the object of Earth Defense Force is based on survival of the game's levels, punctuated by the defeat of bosses at the end of each one.[3] It is a fixed-length game, with a proper ending at the completion of the last level.

The player normally begins each level with three "shield" points, each able to absorb one enemy attack. The shield points are represented in the upper right corner by green ovals under the heading "Shield". Additional shield points can be earned once a predetermined game score is reached. Up to five shield points are represented on screen. However, a player can acquire more than five shield points, but they can not be seen. This is extremely rare though, due to the difficulty of the game and the score intervals at which additional shield points are acquired. Loss of all shields results in the loss of one of three credits, or continues, and loss of all continues results in the player seeing the game over screen.

The game uses a unique leveling system, in which the player gains experience from enemies defeated to gain newer, more powerful versions of the weapons the player has access to.

Plot

The story varies slightly between the two different versions of the game.

The Arcade original takes place in the equivocate future date of Earth, 20XX. The Earth is unexpectedly attacked by the mysterious Azyma Empire: a space-bound monarchy currently dedicated to eradicating all life on the planet from its flagship the Orbital Satellite Buster. The Earth's only hope lies in the recently developed XA-1 and 2 space fighter ships used by the organization known as E.D.F: Earth Defense Force.

In the Super Nintendo version, the Azyma Empire has established headquarters on the dark side of the Moon. After attacking the Earth, it is revealed they have a secret weapon being developed on the Moon, one capable of destroying all life on Earth. The E.D.F. is ordered to send their XA-1 fighters in to drive out the invaders and destroy their ultimate weapon.

Development

Reception

Since its release, Earth Defense Force has met with moderate critical reviews, as evidenced by a three out of five star rating by Allgame. Subsequent to its release an enhanced version was broadcast via the Super Famicom's Satellaview subsystem to Japanese gamers under the title BS Super Earth Defense Force.

References

  1. ^ "Earth Defense Force". MobyGames. Retrieved 9 Nov 2013.
  2. ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Super Earth Defense Force". Allgame. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
  3. ^ "Super NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  4. ^ Weiss, Brett Alan. "allgame ((( Super Earth Defense Force > Overview )))". Allgame. Retrieved 2008-06-28.

External links