Yuke's - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/tag/yukes/ PS5, PS4, PS Plus, and PSN News, Guides, Trophies, Reviews, and More! Thu, 06 Jul 2023 21:59:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.3 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/03/cropped-favicon.png?w=32 Yuke's - PlayStation LifeStyle https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/tag/yukes/ 32 32 How the AEW Fight Forever Roster Stands Out https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/06/aew-fight-forever-royal-flush-roster/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/06/aew-fight-forever-royal-flush-roster/#respond Thu, 06 Jul 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=886733 The wrestling world is dominated by the WWE, so it isn’t surprising that its video games have a headlock on that category, as well. Other passionate contenders have stepped into the ring — Fire Pro Wrestling World deserves some praise — but not many can compete with the production value, budget, and hilarious glitches of […]

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]]> The wrestling world is dominated by the WWE, so it isn’t surprising that its video games have a headlock on that category, as well. Other passionate contenders have stepped into the ring — Fire Pro Wrestling World deserves some praise — but not many can compete with the production value, budget, and hilarious glitches of the WWE 2K games. AEW, however, can and has stepped up with AEW: Fight Forever, which has a large pool of talent that’s still somewhat new to the digital world. And this fresh roster is a big part of the game’s appeal, so here’s how each of them stacks up.

Anna Jay

This Georgia girl has a fat ass and a bad attitude, which translates to a rotten time for most of her opponents. The Queenslayer is fierce and not afraid to drop some serious offense in the ring or use foreign objects when the situation calls for it. Formerly of the Dark Order, Anna Jay A.S. has more recently allied herself with the Jericho Appreciation Society and tag partner Tay Melo, but it isn’t hard to imagine there’s ambition there for her own path. Her gear looks great and some people have announced publicly that they think she’s, “the hottest bitch in this place.” Gold is most likely in Anna’s future, but with a savvy player backing her, that’ll be sooner rather than later.

John Silver

The Dark Order has had a lot of ups and downs since its debut, but one of the standouts in their ranks as faces or heels has been John Silver. The muscular mound may be of smaller stature than most wrestling icons, but he can certainly go in the ring and has always felt like somewhat of an underdog, which makes it fun to play him against larger opponents or in matches with seemingly impossible odds. Johnny Hungiee may not be one of the most-picked characters in the game at first, but his charisma spills through even in this digital form. This student of Mikey Whipwreck’s is pro-meat, all beef, and purely entertaining.

Hikaru Shida

She isn’t just a former AEW Women’s World Champion, but the person to hold that belt the longest at this time, so let’s put a little respect on the name. Hikaru Shida is a woman of few words, a samurai on a mission, and as of late that has seen her facing off against The Outcasts. She’s a stylish person anywhere she goes, so it makes sense that her in-game model looks excellent, moves are fluid, and this Japanese warrior is a site to behold in action, especially when using her trademark kendo stick.

Powerhouse Hobbs

Will Hobbs lives up to the name Powerhouse. Everything he does is executed with raw strength and willpower. He is a dominant heel and his moves feel like any one of them could end a conflict right in the middle of the ring. The bigger guys aren’t usually my preferred combatants, but Powerhouse moves decently and I get a kick out of doing his Oklahoma Stampede finisher every time. Hobbs is a former member of Team Taz, associates with QTV, and held the TNT Championship, but his goal is to be the first African American AEW World Champion, and it seems like that chapter is already written in the Book of Hobbs, it’s just waiting to happen.

Jade Cargill

Her dominant reign may have hit a snag recently, but that doesn’t mean that Jade Cargill isn’t still that bitch. Cargill started out strong in the company, debuting in a feud involving Shaquille O’Neal, as well as Cody and Brandi Rhodes, and she’s continued to conquer the brand with the baddies and showed off her strength with an impressive TBS title run. She’s an imposing figure who sells the shit out of her moves, and it’s great how crisp that Jaded finisher looks in the game. Every piece of her assault feels like it’s going to hurt. Cargill has shown improvement over her time in the company and she’s the type to do stylish and nerdy entrances (Mortal Kombat, X-Men, and Thundercats – her gear looks good, but those would have been great to see here), leaving quite the impression. Jade is the brand of heel this game needs.

Nyla Rose

As a wrestler, it took a little time for Nyla Rose to grow on me. I was way more interested in her life as an actress, her work with Marvel Comics, and the path she is taking as a transgender athlete. Over the years, however, I came to respect the former champ’s in-ring work more and enjoy Rose’s matches, especially from a presentation standpoint. The Native Beast is a vicious heel and even in a loss, she comes across as a threat. Her model in the game isn’t perfect, but Nyla’s entrance with the mask and that song works very well. I was a bit surprised at how much I enjoy playing as Rose, as her moves can be a bit unruly at times and not connect. There’s just something satisfying about destroying opponents with that Beast Bomb.

Orange Cassidy

Whatever.

Penta El Zero M and Rey Fenix

I was first exposed to this duo in a fantastic promotion known as Lucha Underground and these two have never ceased to impress me since then. The Lucha Brothers are champions whether they’re currently holding belts or not, whether it’s AEW, ROH, or AAA, whether it’s together or in singles competition, both of these men are kings of the wrestling business. They have the look, moves, and off-the-charts showmanship even though they barely speak. This pair is also two-thirds of the dangerous Death Triangle group, which along with Pac, might be the most overall talented stable in the company.

Ricky Starks

The man who refers to himself as Absolute Ricky Starks is full of confidence, charisma, and interesting poses. He made his debut in an open challenge against Cody Rhodes and went on to join Team Taz, but everyone who took note of his NWA run knows that his path as a singles competitor is destined to be paved with more gold than just the FTW title. And his revolution will be televised. It’s just a shame that we don’t get to hear Starks more in the game.

Thunder Rosa

This is a wrestler who has made a name for herself in other companies and stands out for a multitude of reasons, but the face paint certainly helps. Thunder Rosa has an excellent look, but she’s definitely had some better gear than what we see here — at least she gets her flag. This ferocious fighter from the graveyards of Tijuana has been a part of some brutal matches, especially against Britt Baker, and being able to recreate those encounters is a thrill. The former Women’s World Champion can be a force of nature, but she has sadly been dealing with injuries as of late. However, her absence may just inspire players to pick the unstoppable warrior in this game even more.

Sammy Guevara

Sammy Guevara was one of the fresh faces in AEW that stuck out. He was a part of the first match to ever take place on Dynamite and as I read up on his training with Booker T, I was sure Guevara was someone to keep an eye on. Now, as one of the pillars of the company and a couple of titles under his belt, the ceiling for the Spanish God seems incredibly high. Playing someone with such spectacular aerial offense is exciting, especially since missing one or two high-risk maneuvers doesn’t take the player completely out of the match. And for those matches, I don’t want to feel like a daredevil I just hit that GTH, because it has such a satisfying crack when it connects.

MJF

He’s better than you (and me too).

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/06/aew-fight-forever-royal-flush-roster/feed/ 0 Earth Defense Force Goes Voxel with World Brothers, Set for Release This May https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2021/04/01/earth-defense-force-goes-voxel-with-world-brothers-set-for-release-this-may/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2021/04/01/earth-defense-force-goes-voxel-with-world-brothers-set-for-release-this-may/#respond Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:15:20 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=845833 KILL EM GOOD

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]]> D3PUBLISHER has announced that the long-awaited voxel-styled Earth Defense Force: World Brothers, will be releasing digitally on May 27th, 2021 for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game will release globally in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Revealed at the Tokyo Game Show in 2020, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers takes a very different approach to the long-running franchise with it’s new 3D Voxel art style. It will however feature the same over the top, bug killing fun that the series has been known for. Players will be able to use a large array of weapons and soldier classes, along with unique abilities to destroy every damn bug that crosses their path. As they say, the only good bug is a dead bug.

In Earth Defense Force: World Brothers, you will have the chance to take on solo campaigns with AI teammates, or find some friends for 4-player online Co-op. Sadly, the game does not support cross-platform play, but it does have two-player split-screen on the PlayStation 4. For those unfamiliar with the series, please check out the new launch trailer below to get a good glimpse of what to expect.

And yes, even though this is being announced on April Fool’s Day, it is not a joke. However, the EDF Twitter account is having a little bit of fun today by announcing that a treaty has been signed with the alien menace, and as such, the Earth Defense Force is no longer required. It is now (at least for the day) the Earth Peace Force, dedicated to peace on the planet.

Do you plan to join up for the war against bugs on May 27th when Earth Defense Force: World Brothers releases for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC? Please grab some raid and make your way through the bugs to leave comments down below.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2021/04/01/earth-defense-force-goes-voxel-with-world-brothers-set-for-release-this-may/feed/ 0 Publisher 2K Sports Has Parted Ways With WWE Developer Yuke’s https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/08/06/publisher-2k-has-parted-ways-with-wwe-2k-developer-yukes/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/08/06/publisher-2k-has-parted-ways-with-wwe-2k-developer-yukes/#respond Tue, 06 Aug 2019 17:24:07 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=794257 Development will now be headed by Visual Concepts.

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]]> After almost a 20-year partnership, publisher 2K Sports has split with long-time WWE 2K developer Yuke’s. Instead, the wrestling games will now be developed by Visual Concepts, a studio that has been co-developing the series’ games since 2013.

Interestingly, Yuke’s will now develop its own wrestling IP, with the intention of competing against WWE 2K. The Japanese studio expressed its concern for the future of the WWE 2K games, pointing to 2K Sports as the reason for the recent decline of the series. Although, WWE 2K19 was referred to by some as a return to form for the franchise.

In a statement from Yuke’s senior vice president and producer Hiromi Furuta, it was revealed that the developer was wanting to go in a new direction for some time now:

We are aware that our creators are beginning to lose sight of their passion and confidence and becoming focused only on completing assigned tasks. That’s not the direction Yuke’s wants to go in.

Right now, looking at the market demands, players are expecting something new every time we release a game and we feel like we haven’t achieved what we’ve really wanted to do.

For example, in many cases we’re still using old assets and we’re not able to do some things in the way that we want to.

We are trying to launch a new wrestling game. Of course, we will retain the WWE team, but we are also aware that our creators are beginning to lose sight of their passion and confidence and becoming focused only on completing assigned tasks. That’s not the direction Yuke’s wants to go in. So, in order to compensate, we’re going to start a new wrestling project.

According to 2K Sports, the publisher seems to be happy with the change:

As we’ve continued to invest in the WWE 2K franchise, we’ve seen the Visual Concepts team display incredible passion, talent and commitment to the future of the series. We thank Yuke’s for their years of partnership and are excited to see what the Visual Concepts team brings to the franchise moving forward.

WWE 2K20 will be developed by Visual Concepts, and is expected to release on October 22, 2019 for PS4 and elsewhere.

At this point, it’s unclear what the new Yuke’s wrestling IP will look like. Since the project has been labeled as a new IP, we likely won’t see the studio take another professional wrestling company under its belt.

What do you make of this sudden split? Let us know in the comments!

[Source: Video Games Chronicle]

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/08/06/publisher-2k-has-parted-ways-with-wwe-2k-developer-yukes/feed/ 0 Participation Trophy – Worst PS4 Games in April 2019, And What They Could Have Done Better https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/05/06/worst-ps4-games-april-2019/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/05/06/worst-ps4-games-april-2019/#respond Mon, 06 May 2019 17:30:06 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=769757 No foolin' here, these games could've been better.

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]]> April showers bring low review scores, or so they say. The Month of Fools saw some great releases and reviews here at PlayStation LifeStyle, including MLB 19 The Show, Days Gone, Mortal Kombat 11, and even some hardware. But it can’t all be good vibes and sunshine in a month known for rain, so here we are with April’s lowest-scoring games, along with what they did wrong, what they did right, and some constructive feedback for what the developers could have done to please more gamers. A note: we summarize our three lowest-scoring games, however this month there were two ties across six games. Overall, things were downright cheery compared to March, and especially compared to February! Each of those months had some real low scoring games that we didn’t enjoy, though everything can be improved somewhat!

Our effort here is to provide constructive criticism and feedback for games that we felt were duds this month. There were a lot of games with some great potential, but for whatever reason seemed to miss the mark. Each month we take a look at these games and detail what went wrong, but perhaps most importantly, we try to focus on what the game did right, and how it could have improved on its more negative aspects that earned it a lower grade on the review scale.

The Worst PS4 Games for April 2019

Despite scores averaging higher for this month’s feature, three people each reviewed two of the above-mentioned games: Lucas White, Paulmichael Contreras (that’s me!), and Joseph Yaden. Don’t say we never take some for the team! How’d we do this month? Were our scores too high or low? Any flops you’re surprised didn’t make the list? Let us know in the usual spot.

For more information on our review scoring, please read our Review Policy.

PS4 Participation Trophy For Worst PS4 Games of April 2019 | PSLS

  • Skorecery

    Skorecery

    Developer: GrappleHook Games

    Publisher: GrappleHook Games

    Score: 5/10

    Reviewer: Jenni Lada

    Read our review here. If you ever describe your video game as a mixture of such iconic games as Pong and Super Smash Bros., as indie developer GrappleHook Games did in their PR emails, then you should know the bar has been set impossibly high. Thus, it wasn’t terribly surprising when Skorecery failed to meet such lofty expectations.

    What Went Wrong?

    In a few words, not enough content. There are only two game modes, with four total game types to choose from. Also, despite supporting up to four players, only two characters are available to choose from! Yes, this means that during a full game, there will be at least two of each character on screen, which sounds like a headache to keep track of.

    What Went Right?

    Despite mashing up a few genres of games, Skorecery does have a control scheme that is easy to understand. There are also several variables to toy with, which can change up how matches progress, ensuring some variety across the meager four game modes.

    What Would Have Helped?

    For a game that supports up to four players, having at least that many different characters to choose from seems like an obvious thing to fix first. Though, the two characters that are currently available are apparently barely discernible from one another, so any new characters introduced would also need new attributes. If creating more game modes is really out of the question, then including the ability to play against the computer would appeal to all the single players out there.

  • Our World Is Ended

    Our World Is Ended

    Developer: Red Entertainment

    Publisher: PQube

    Score: 5/10

    Reviewer: Lucas White

    Read our review here. Our World Is Ended is a visual novel which features an interesting story about a world where a team of video game developers accidentally manage to warp reality through their augmented reality technology. It’s just a shame they didn’t also figure out how to warp a better game out of our actual reality.

    What Went Wrong?

    Visual novels aren’t so much a game as an interactive story, as the name of the genre implies. But pacing is critically important in visual novels, and Our World Is Ended just doesn’t have the right stuff. It starts off at a good pace, but quickly focuses on zany conversations between characters, without progressing the intriguing core of the story forward. There are also a lot of perverted jokes, mostly about breasts, which get old very quickly.

    What Went Right?

    The art style, blending the real world with an augmented one, is impressive. The colors also almost pop off the screen, with vibrant scenery helping to set the stage for whatever zany conversation is currently taking place. Outside of the constant barrage of boob jokes, the game’s sense of humor is actually enjoyable, with riffs about the games culture usually landing pretty well.

    What Would Have Helped?

    Turning to awkward perversion or jokes about body parts is old hat at this point. It’s been done to death, especially in this genre. So, enough of that already. A way to focus on the main plot, instead of being forced to have meaningless conversations with characters that doesn’t, would have helped to let those who are only interested in the actual story to move on more quickly. There are other equally lengthy games to get to, after all!

  • Space Junkies

    Space Junkies

    Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier

    Publisher: Ubisoft

    Score: 6/10

    Reviewer: Paulmichael Contreras

    Read our review here. Space Junkies is Ubisoft’s attempt at taking an arena shooter, setting it in space for microgravity-based fun (RIP LawBreakers), and putting it all in VR for extra nauseating points. The result is indeed fun, but the frustrating control scheme ended up being its undoing.

    What Went Wrong?

    The DualShock 4 is a fantastic controller. But it’s great at traditional, non-VR gaming. Using the light bar to attempt to aim a gun in VR is a nightmare. It’s awkward at best, and a drifting, inaccurate mess the rest of the time. Space Junkies (at launch, anyway) offers nothing in the way of alternate controller usage, meaning players are stuck with using the DS4 for now. Cross-platform play is also supported. But cross-platform play is always a good thing, right? Well, in this case, not really. The control schemes available on PC are much more conducive to accurate aiming, and thus, it’s not really a fair fight. To top things off, the online population was already low when Space Junkies launched, and has only gotten lower. The game defaults to searching for any open game session, instead of attempting to fill up a lobby with console gamers if playing on the PS4. This may get games started more quickly, but PS4 gamers have to be ready to get killed a lot, which is never fun.

    What Went Right?

    The core of Space Junkies is a fun arena shooter. Ubisoft appears to have nailed the formula of arena mechanics just fine. There are sprawling levels that feature tight corridors and a plethora of weapons and powerups to nab, plus a lot more verticality than most arena shooters, as a reminder that players aren’t tethered to the ground like some boring Earthbound mortals. The Unreal Engine powers Space Junkies, which results in a steady, high frame rate which is a requirement in VR to reduce the likelihood of players contracting motion sickness. Cross-platform support is even included, to help boost the chances of getting into a game, which is good as the online population is likely barely in the double digits at this point in time…

    What Would Have Helped?

    It should be pretty obvious by now but allowing alternate control schemes could have single-handedly boosted Space Junkies’ score out of mediocrity. Admittedly, the Aim Controller might have been a tough fit, but it couldn’t have been any worse than the gimpy result that was using the DualShock 4. Ubisoft is apparently planning to support the Move controllers, which will help things. Hopefully, it’s not too late. Cross-platform play should have also prioritized getting console gamers into games against other console players, especially considering the control scheme issues on console. PC gamers have a huge control scheme advantage in this case.

  • Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

    Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

    Developer: Spike Chunsoft

    Publisher: Spike Chunsoft / Lancarse

    Score: 6/10

    Reviewer: Lucas White

    Read our review here. Zanki Zero: Last Beginning is a first-person dungeon crawler, with a story told in a visual novel style. It also features survival elements, and plenty of puzzles. Unfortunately, by attempting to be a jack of all trades, Zanki Zero: Last Beginning ended up being a master of none.

    What Went Wrong?

    Since there are so many systems to keep track of, they don’t play particularly well together. This is even evident in the story, as reviewer Lucas White said “Character drama falls flat,” and that the game “relies too hard on shocking content.” Characters don’t really seem to care about what events just transpired, as they just exclaim one or two things and then move on. Combat is also a droll affair, tasking players with moving out of the way of incoming attacks over and over again, in a format that was designed with turn-based battles in mind.

    What Went Right?

    Zanki Zero: Last Beginning has a definite vibe, as it features colorful visuals, good characters animations, and even a decent soundtrack. Additionally, tweakable difficulty settings that can be constantly fiddled with enable gamers to get through some of the game’s systems that they’d rather not bother with more easily, or skip some requirements altogether. This further drives the point home that Zanki Zero’s disparate game systems don’t work well together, but the tweakable options help to ensure that those who are only here for a story can get to it without being hampered by the gameplay.

    What Would Have Helped?

    Paring down some of the game systems would have made for a more coherent experience. Perhaps then more time could have been spent on fleshing out the story, to give characters proper motivation and reactions to everything that occurred to them. Also, it’s okay to embrace some standards in your genre. If the first-person dungeon crawler genre is known to be turn-based, it’s because that style has worked in the past. So embracing what’s worked couldn’t hurt. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.

  • Dangerous Driving

    Dangerous Driving

    Developer: Three Fields Entertainment

    Publisher: Maximum Games

    Score: 6/10

    Reviewer: Paulmichael Contreras

    Read our review here. Three Fields Entertainment is made up of Burnout veterans. So, they know their stuff when it comes to arcade racing. But just because you know how something works, doesn’t necessarily mean you can replicate it on your own, as we saw with the slightly disappointing release of Dangerous Driving.

    What Went Wrong?

    Any arcade racing game requires that players react quickly to the action unfolding on the screen, and Dangerous Driving is no different in that regard. Unfortunately, the game can and does get in the way of players reacting in time, as stuttering issues are immediately evident. Worse still, the occasional physics issue also means that grinding against a turn’s wall or railing will occasionally cause your car to go airborne, which makes no sense. We’ve even seen races start where the player’s car spawns in such a way that causes the physics to go crazy, and it gets launched all over the map, which does not allow the race to start. There is also only one game mode, though online racing has been promised by Three Fields Entertainment. For now, though, the single mode is all on offer – split screen isn’t an option, either.

    What Went Right?

    The Burnout pedigree of the development team is obvious. Truly, the handling and overabundance of sparks effects make some parts of Dangerous Driving feel like a spiritual successor to Burnout Paradise, if only for a few fleeting moments. There are a decent amount of tracks to choose from, as well as a nice chunk of (non-licensed) vehicles to drive. You can even preview upcoming harder classes of cars at certain points in the campaign. Finally, load times are quick, which means you can go from one smashing success to another, or retry an event to attempt to post a better time or score in no time.

    What Would Have Helped?

    Split screen support in an arcade racer seems like a no-brainer. The promised online modes may see some use for a while after the update is released, but that is likely contingent on servers staying online. Split screen has no such requirement, and thus would ensure better replayability. Some customization of vehicles besides random paint jobs would have been nice, as well. But most crucially, getting rid of all stuttering issues, and maintaining a higher frame rate would have helped to live up to the Burnout legacy that Three Fields Entertainment aims to uphold.

  • Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain

    Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain

    Developer: Yuke’s

    Publisher: D3 Publisher

    Score: 6/10

    Reviewer: Joseph Yaden

    Read our review here. If you’re not a fan of insects, then you either love or hate games like Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain. It features gigantic insects, which you may hate, but you also murder thousands of them, which you may love. The rest of the game could have used some work, though.

    What Went Wrong?

    The Earth Defense Force series has never been particularly deep. It’s a simple story about saving the world from gigantic insects. Iron Rain continues in that tradition, and all the baggage that comes with: repetitive, shallow gameplay, with more repetitive, shallow gameplay, and some more repetitive, shallow gameplay. A linear, forgettable story, complete with a main menu whereby you select the next story mission to play, makes Iron Rain feel like a game ripped from the PS2 era. The music is also repetitive, fitting in with the general theme of repetitiousness. Did we mention it’s repetitive?

    What Went Right?

    Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain has support for up to four players to take on massive insects together. This is really the best way to experience the game. Honestly, a good group of friends can make even a mediocre game a ton of fun, so this feature is a godsend. The versus mode also struck a chord with reviewer Joseph Yaden, who said he found himself “actually having more fun playing the versus mode than the campaign.”

    What Would Have Helped?

    A continuous campaign mode could have helped to keep players interested a bit longer. It’s jarring these days to complete a mission and then be taken back to a main menu, instead of being ushered right into the next story mission. More upgrade options could have also helped the game feel less like a game from last decade. More varied missions types would have also done wonders to break up the repetitive campaign.

  • World War Z

    World War Z

    Developer: Saber Interactive

    Publisher: Saber Interactive

    Score: 6.5/10

    Reviewer: Joseph Yaden

    Read our review here. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: four players team up to take on a horde of zombies, as they attempt to reach a spot to defend, and progress in a level. World War Z is actually a game based on a 2013 movie, within the same universe as the 2006 novel of the same name. Beyond a few unique competitive modes, the game could easily be mistaken for a Left 4 Dead clone, just with less polish.

    What Went Wrong?

    The campaign feels eerily similar to Left 4 Dead. This might be a good thing, if it had any personality of its own. Instead, World War Z lacks witty dialogue, and it also tells you exactly what you need to do at any given moment. This is in stark contrast to Left 4 Dead, which required teamwork to figure out where to go and what to do next. Each of the four campaigns may take place in wildly different locations, but the general flow of progression remains the same throughout, leading to some repetitive gameplay.

    What Went Right?

    Some interesting PVPVE game modes change things up in meaningful ways, as you not only have to contend with human enemies, but also zombies. A fulfilling upgrade system also allows you to get much better equipment. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the gunplay is solid, as each weapon has a noticeable handling model, and most simply feel good to fire. In co-op modes, the game is mindless enough that you can multitask and chat with friends or even listen to a podcast as you mow down countless zombies.

    What Would Have Helped?

    Counterintuitively, taking away hints and guides in the co-op campaign would have resulted in more teamwork being forced upon players, which would have led to more satisfying completions. Since the game is loosely based on the movie, drawing more from that plot, or just dipping into the book’s narrative, would have made the story more interesting. We’re not saying World War Z needed blockbuster-type stories, but the short campaigns would’ve benefitted from more exposition in between the waves of zombies.

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]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/05/06/worst-ps4-games-april-2019/feed/ 0 Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Review — Raining Repetition (PS4) https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/review/760701-earth-defense-force-iron-rain-review/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/review/760701-earth-defense-force-iron-rain-review/#respond Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:00:49 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=760701 How will this fare when aimed towards a Western audience?

The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Review — Raining Repetition (PS4) appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> With this being the first entry in the series to appear on PlayStation 4 (Correction: This is is third entry to appear on the PS4, after the EDF4.1 port and EDF5. We apologize for the error), you might have certain expectations for Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain. When considering the quality of games that have released this generation, specifically towards the latter half, seeing a mediocre release is particularly striking, comparatively speaking. That’s why it’s super noticeable just how dated and so-so Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is. The novelty of killing space ants wears off quickly and when you combine that with the repetitive gameplay loop, the “samey-ness” of the soundtrack, and the lack of a hook to draw you in, there is a ton going against Iron Rain, sadly. It does have its moments of fun, so it isn’t all doom and gloom, but as our expectations have evolved, Iron Rain seems to be stuck in the past.

For those unfamiliar, the Earth Defense Force series has always been about one thing: murdering tons of alien bugs. It’s done so in a cheesy, yet endearing way that always felt arcade-like in nature. In this entry, the same formula appears, only it is laser-focused on pleasing a Western audience. At least, that’s the goal of the D3 Publisher and developer, Yuke’s. For the most part, it does succeed with this goal, in part by adding recognizable U.S. cities like San Francisco, and muting the bright and vibrant colors to appear more serious in tone. It’s an apparent shift that is sure to grab the attention of people here in the states.

Earth Defense Force Iron Rain Review — Shoot, Shoot, and Shoot Some More

The gameplay itself remains mostly unchanged, with the focus on using a wide variety of weapons to eliminate hundreds (maybe thousands!) of bugs throughout each of the levels. You have access to different gear, like med kits, grenades, decoys, and other things you’d expect out of an action game. There are also three different classes to choose from, a lightweight class that can essentially fly, a medium build with a balanced move-set, and a heavy class with an emphasis on armor.

You can tell there was effort made to diversify the gameplay experience, but the overall feeling is very repetitive and it makes everything blend together. The campaign mode is structured into levels, each with their own objectives. However, this structure feels very outdated. Not that a game with levels is inherently bad, but having to go back to the menu to select the next mission takes you out of the experience and makes you well aware that you’re playing a video game.

It’s just not something you really see anymore, as games nowadays are more seamless and do a better job of keeping you immersed. Not every modern game is like this, sure, but most of the memorable titles keep you engaged, so Iron Rain feels like it was developed in a vacuum. That’s sort of the crux of this game: If it were the year 2006, you’d probably have an easier time falling in love with Iron Rain.

Once you’re within a level, the objectives are quite bland: Kill x amount of bugs, defend point x, survive for a certain amount of time. Perhaps the very nature of a game about killing aliens lends itself to these repetitive mechanics and formulas, but there has to be a better way to execute on it. After a while, repetition starts to sink in and there isn’t much substance here to keep you coming back.

The only thing I can see that would warrant replayability is the upgrade system. When you kill enemies, you get gems that act as a currency that you can use to spend on upgrading your health and purchasing better weapons. But even this feels like an outdated mechanic as there isn’t much else to it besides buying things from the store. It would be neat if there was the option to upgrade different abilities or skills that would fundamentally change the way you play, but alas, what’s here is quite forgettable.

Earth Defense Force Iron Rain Review — A Story Worth Telling?

As for the narrative, you’ll likely be disappointed in that department, too. Again, it’s what you’d expect: Save the world from the bugs. That’s it. Perhaps that’s all you’d expect from a game like this, but during a time when there is such an emphasis on storytelling, it’s unfortunate that Iron Rain didn’t explore this further. It wouldn’t have to be the pinnacle of storytelling to win me over, but something better than “save the world” is sort of expected. There are cute moments of dialogue between the characters that might make you smile, but the overall story didn’t do much for me.


Repetition is the running theme with Iron Rain, even with the music. The track that plays when you first boot the game up will get annoying quick, since it plays during most of the menus and loading screens. Aside from that, there aren’t any memorable tracks that stand out, which is a shame. It shouldn’t be too hard to come up with catchy music that fits with killing space ants, so here again is a missed opportunity.

Earth Defense Force Iron Rain Review — More Fun With Friends

It’s not all terrible, though. Some of the fights are challenging and fun, and the visual spectacle of taking down an entire building does stand out. And there is something mildly satisfying about shooting a group of bugs with a rocket and watching their carcasses flop around. Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is most successful when playing with other players, which is the recommended way to play.

A squad of up to four players can complete the same missions found in the single player mode, but playing this way is a bit more satisfying, as you can more easily obtain gems to acquire more gear. It’s also quite fun to gang up on a gigantic robot or alien as a group, because you can strategize and work together to take it out. This sense of camaraderie definitely makes things more enjoyable. If you’ve already played through the single-player mode, you might be disappointed to learn that there isn’t much of a difference when playing with friends, in terms of the levels themselves. That’s why it’s recommended to just start with co-op from the beginning.

Playing with a group will also result in an easier time getting through the levels, as you have multiple opportunities to revive yourself on the fly. While playing solo, you can respawn after death, but you must have a certain item to do so and it’s far less forgiving. The design of the difficulty is odd because it seems to fluctuate very abruptly. Once you get to the fourth or fifth mission, there is a tremendous spike in difficulty and it comes across as jarring. After you die, you must restart the entire mission, which in some cases can set you back up to 45 minutes. Frustration started to set in after dying towards the end of a mission, which didn’t help since the motivation to continue playing was already low to begin with. If you’re a trophy hunter, you might want to consider playing with friends, because it will take a while to achieve the Platinum trophy.

Aside from the campaign, there is a competitive multiplayer mode that offers an interesting take on what you might be used to with a typical versus mode. In it, you compete against other teams to get the most points, which are acquired by defeating enemies. However, killing an enemy doesn’t automatically result in points, and you must physically run to where that enemy died to retrieve gems. Grabbing the gems will net you points, so it motivates you to run around and swoop up some points just after an opponent gets a kill.


Each round, the enemies get tougher and larger in scale, and I found myself actually having more fun playing the versus mode than the campaign. If you get a group together that knows what they’re doing, there is a lot of fun to be had with the potential of some tense and memorable moments. It would be interesting to see this mode explored more, with maybe a more interesting progression system in place that would motivate for multiple play sessions. As it stands now, the mode is fun, yes, but it’s not enough to warrant playing for hundreds of hours. Even still, don’t skip out on this mode because it’s one of the highlights of the whole game.

At the end of the day, Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain feels like it should have come out over a decade ago. There are a few fine ideas and some fun moments, but this kind of game just doesn’t hold up when there are so many other fantastic titles releasing so frequently. It’s not a bad game, but time and money are limited, so I can’t recommend Iron Rain unless you’re a die hard Earth Defense Force fan, or if you can manage to get it for a great price, sadly. If you’re wanting an in-depth co-op experience with a deep progression system and a memorable story, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

For more on Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, check out our interview with series producer, Nobuyuki Okajima, where we discuss the series and more.

Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain review code provided by publisher. Version 1.00 reviewed on a standard PS4. For more information on scoring please see our Review Policy.

The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Review — Raining Repetition (PS4) appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/review/760701-earth-defense-force-iron-rain-review/feed/ 0 It Will Take ‘Quite a Long Time’ to Earn the Platinum Trophy in Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-trophies-will-take-a-long-time-to-earn-the-platinum/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-trophies-will-take-a-long-time-to-earn-the-platinum/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:00:36 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=748841 If you're wanting to earn the Platinum trophy, it's going to be a long one.

The post It Will Take ‘Quite a Long Time’ to Earn the Platinum Trophy in Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> Some people are avid trophy hunters, falling victim to the addictive metagame and getting a lot out of the games they play. (Sometimes, much to our dismay.) If you’re curious about earning the Platinum trophy in the upcoming Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, we’ve got the scoop for you. However, prepare to put a lot of time aside to get it.

Recently, we interviewed series producer, Nobuyuki Okajima and asked him all sorts of questions about the upcoming game. We even asked about the trophies and if it would take a while to earn the coveted Platinum. Okajima said, “We have many trophies, from very easy ones to very difficult ones. I think we [have] a really good balance.” He also stated that earning the Platinum would take “quite a long time,” squashing any ideas (instead of bugs) that this would be a quick and easy Platinum.

The trophy list has not been officially revealed yet, which is not unusual. The game’s release is still a couple months out. Moreover, judging by the gameplay loop and the fact that you get graded on your performance each mission, you can easily envision a time-consuming trophy list. Plus there are bound to be some competitive multiplayer trophies that get you to try out the 4v4 Mercenary mode. We’ll be sure to keep you updated once the trophy list goes live or gets leaked.

Will you be picking up Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain?  Do you think you’ll be able to earn all the trophies? Let us know!

Earth Defense Force Preview Event 2019

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The post It Will Take ‘Quite a Long Time’ to Earn the Platinum Trophy in Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-trophies-will-take-a-long-time-to-earn-the-platinum/feed/ 0 Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Interview: What Matters When Making Games for Foreign Audiences https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-interview-with-nobuyuki-okajima/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-interview-with-nobuyuki-okajima/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2019 17:00:31 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=748331 See what Nobuyuki Okajima has to say about the next EDF!

The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Interview: What Matters When Making Games for Foreign Audiences appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> Ahead of the launch of Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain, PlayStation LifeStyle got a chance to sit down with Series Producer Nobuyuki Okajima to ask him some questions, with the help of a translator, about the upcoming action game. We also got our hands on Iron Rain itself, in both single and multiplayer modes. One of the biggest takeaways from the preview event is that Iron Rain is a game that is aimed towards a Western audience, as opposed to the previous entries that have been more focused on the Japanese market.

As such, this entry features a lot of changes, so if you’ve never really gotten into or heard of Earth Defense Force, this one might be one to keep your eye on—especially if you’re into killing giant bugs from space. It’s action-packed and over-the-top.

Joseph Yaden: So, I’m a newcomer to EDF. I’ve played Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space on the PS Vita and I’m not very good at it. Do you think Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a good EDF for newcomers who have never played the series before and can just dive right in?

Nobuyuki Okajima: It’s a perfect game for newcomers who have never played EDF before. Our whole concept is providing a game to the Western audience that have maybe heard of the EDF name or maybe not. But the world view and the systems are perfect for newcomers.

Good to know. So you bring up the point of it being marketed towards Western audiences and I think that’s part of why you’re working with Yuke’s, right? But it’s interesting because Yuke’s is mostly known for their wrestling games. So, what else about Yuke’s drew you to them and made you decide to partner up and make Iron Rain?

Yuke’s is a Japanese studio, but they make a lot of games for the Western audience and the creators understood my concept. For me, it’s very important that the studio can communicate [with] me in Japanese.

Oh, that’s a good point. Since you’re [aiming] Iron Rain towards a Western audience, do you think it might have the reverse effect, where it [could] alienate the Japanese players? With the past EDF games, they’ve been sort of popular here, but they’ve been way more popular in Japan. Do you think it might be really popular here, but not so much in Japan?

I don’t worry about that—the reverse effect.

Do you have any plans for post-release content? I know that’s really popular with a lot of games now. You don’t just buy a game once, play it once and are done with it. A lot of games are thriving on stuff coming out afterwards [like] DLC [and] that kind of thing. Is that something that’s on your mind for this game?

We are considering some additional content, like weapons and items. Some of them, we’ve already announced. Like, we made an announcement for a preorder [that comes with] a large DLC.

And I know with the multiplayer, since it might be a really big thing that a lot of people play, do you have any plans for microtransactions?

We do [have] some of the weapons and custom parts, and additional DLC release, but we won’t [have you] using real money [and] changing it to in-game currency. Like an in-app purchase—we won’t do that.

The staff and I at PlayStation Lifestyle are really involved in trophy hunting. How involved are you with [deciding] what the trophies are like and how difficult they are?

We have many trophies, from very easy ones to very difficult ones. I think we [have] a really good balance.

And how long, approximately do you think it would take to get the Platinum trophy?

Quite a long time. [Laughs]

How long has Iron Rain been in development? 

Maybe like, two and a half years. Almost three years, if you count from the very beginning.

And looking past Iron Rain, what do you think the future of Earth Defense Force looks like? Maybe something for next generation? Do you have any ideas or plans for that?

I cannot talk very much about the details of the next generation [for] EDF, because of many rumors going [around]. But the classic numbered EDF series will remain the same. Iron Rain is a spin-off and it has its own universe and stands by itself.

Interesting. I was kind of wondering if Iron Rain was maybe a continuation of the other ones, or if it’s its own new thing. So if Iron Rain is successful, [is it possible] that we’d see a continuation or something that kind of looks like this one?

If it is successful, then maybe Iron Rain 2, or something, yes.

One thing I noticed almost immediately when comparing Iron Rain to the older ones is that it had a similar change [of direction] to the one Monster Hunter World had, where it was really aimed towards Western audiences. Do you think that comparison is accurate? Do you think Iron Rain will appeal to us [in the United States] the same way Monster Hunter World appealed to us?

I would have to wait for the release to see. But I think [what we’ve done] so far has been really successful in the West. The game basically will be what we’ve done before, but more focused towards gamers over here. If you take some locations like San Francisco, you’ll find that that you can relate to it much closer than Tokyo or something in Japan.

Do you think location is the biggest [aspect] when aiming towards a Western audience, or do you think that there are other things that play a factor, too?

It may be the biggest thing, but it’s not the only change [introduced]. The game system itself is comparable to [that of] an FPS, and the graphics are more realistic.

Will you be picking up a copy of Iron Rain when it launches on April 11, 2019? Let us know in the comments!

Earth Defense Force Preview Event 2019

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The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Interview: What Matters When Making Games for Foreign Audiences appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-interview-with-nobuyuki-okajima/feed/ 0 Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Developer ‘Considering’ DLC https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-dlc-could-happen/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-dlc-could-happen/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2019 16:00:56 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=748853 Not that there's any lack of content in the base game, but this is good news.

The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Developer ‘Considering’ DLC appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> The upcoming Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is generating a ton of hype, and PlayStation LifeStyle got a chance to have a chat with Series Producer, Nobuyuki Okajima about the upcoming game. At a recent preview event, we asked Okajima about plans for post-release content for Iron Rain, and it seems like it could very well happen. Seeing as how many games live beyond their initial release with lots of add-on content, we’re hoping this comes to fruition.

When asked about plans for Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain DLC, Okajima had this to say:

We are considering some additional content, like weapons and items. Some of them, we’ve already announced. Like, we made an announcement for a preorder [that comes with] a large DLC.

He didn’t give any specifics about ideas, but based on his response, it seems likely that we’ll see extra content after launch. Iron Rain has a pretty robust mulitplayer mode that we could easily see having extra maps, items to acquire, and bosses to destroy. Along with that, the concept lends itself well to having extra missions or customization options to download to extend the longevity of the game.

Whatever the case may be, Okajima stated that there will not be any microtransactions in any form, so the only paid content will be in the form of an expansion, if that ever comes to be.

Are you looking forward to Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain? It’s out on April 11, 2019!

Earth Defense Force Preview Event 2019

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The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Developer ‘Considering’ DLC appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-dlc-could-happen/feed/ 0 Here’s Why Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Was Developed by Yuke’s https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-yukes-development/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-yukes-development/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:00:08 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=748847 Yuke's is normally known for the WWE games.

The post Here’s Why Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Was Developed by Yuke’s appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> Although Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is being marketed heavily for Western audiences, you can still find sprinkles of Japanese style throughout. Even still, this is the most Americanized version of EDF, and the development process had to change to appeal to those of us in the states. Because of this, Producer Nobuyuki Okajima wanted a developer that understood Western culture, which is why Yuke’s was tasked with the creation of Iron Rain.

But is that the only reason? After all, Yuke’s is primarily known for its work on the WWE games, which are a far cry from EDF. PlayStation LifeStyle got a chance to interview Okajima recently and we asked him why Yuke’s was chosen to develop Iron Rain. Okajima responded:

Yuke’s is a Japanese studio, but they make a lot of games for the Western audience and the creators understood my concept. For me, it’s very important that the studio can communicate [with] me in Japanese.

Communication is super important when it comes to development, so it makes sense that Okajima would want a Japanese studio on the project. It also helps that Yuke’s knows what the Western market wants, so the fact that it is developing Iron Rain is not that strange. It is interesting playing an action game by a studio that almost exclusively makes wrestling games, though.

Okajima was also asked about the Japanese market and how Iron Rain is expected to perform there. Specifically, we were wondering if there was a fear of alienating Japanese consumers, since the game has Western audiences in mind. Okajima stated that he does not worry about that. It may perform similarly to Monster Hunter: World, which also focused more on Western consumers. If that’s any indication, it could do well, since that game shipped almost 3 million copies in Japan alone.

It will be interesting to see how Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain turns out, since it’s going through so many changes. Sure, it’s still EDF at its core, but it could find more of an audience here in the West, thanks to the work done by Yuke’s.

You can pick up a copy of Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain on April 11, 2019.

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The post Here’s Why Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Was Developed by Yuke’s appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-yukes-development/feed/ 0 Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Will Not Include Microtransactions https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-will-not-include-microtransactions/ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2019/02/20/earth-defense-force-iron-rain-will-not-include-microtransactions/#respond Wed, 20 Feb 2019 14:00:33 +0000 https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/?p=748831 There are items to buy with in-game currency, though.

The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Will Not Include Microtransactions appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

]]> It’s pretty much expected that any game with a multiplayer mode that comes out these days will feature some sort of microtransactions. Maybe not every game, but it’s most certainly a common practice that has gained much controversy in recent years. We’re happy to report that the upcoming Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain will not include microtransactions of any kind, according to Series Producer, Nobuyuki Okajima.

Recently, PlayStation LifeStyle got a chance to sit down and chat with Okajima about Iron Rain. When asked about the notion of spending real world money in the upcoming EDF game, he had this to say:

We do [have] some of the weapons and custom parts, and additional DLC release, but we won’t [have you] using real money [and] changing it to in-game currency. Like an in-app purchase—we won’t do that.

Okajima was also hinting that post-release content could be coming for Iron Rain, but did not give many details, as the developer is still “considering” it. Whatever content is released, we at least know we won’t have to spend our hard earned dollars on microtransactions.

The 4v4 competitive multiplayer mode, Mercenaries, would be ripe for getting you to buy in-game items with real money, so it’s refreshing to learn that everything can be earned for free. Mercenaries has you battling against another team to destroy bugs and collect gems dropped by them to earn points. Yuke’s and D3 Publisher could have monetized the random pickups or items you acquire, giving you an advantage against other players, but luckily, that is not the case with Iron Rain.

Does this news surprise you? Will you be giving Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain a try when it releases on April 11, 2019? Let us know!

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The post Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Will Not Include Microtransactions appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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