Hardcore Protects the Earth

I recall clearly the feeling of impending doom and eventual exhilaration in my youthful attempts to conquer classic arcade shooters like Space Invaders, Galaga, and Robotron at the local bowling alley. There is a certain magic in those great coin-op games rarely captured by even the most accomplished console masterpieces.

And you thought the bugs were bad.

That desperate urge to play on and on under the power of a single quarter is unique to the arcade scene, but occasionally a title recaptures the essence of those early classics. The likes of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Robotron: 2084, and the recently released Jetpac Refuelled on Xbox LIVE® Arcade successfully fuse hardcore gameplay with grin-inducing nostalgia.

Take the fight to them, press through their
ranks and send them back to the cold abyss
of space from whence they came.

With the release of Earth Defense Force™ 2017 though, get ready for a full-fledged, next-gen, 1,000 Gamerscore-boasting shooter that revels in old school difficulty. With dozens of levels and unlockable weapons, an unrelenting alien force that attacks in massive waves, destructible cityscapes, and a level of difficulty only the hardcore can cherish, Earth Defense Force 2017 is already a cult, hardcore classic.

The only thing missing is a coin slot in your Xbox 360™ to greedily swallow your quarters. Try the following challenges to successfully recreate that arcade tension.

Dominate the Inferno
Engage the aptly-named Inferno difficulty from the get-go, and you’ll finish every stage with a relieved wipe of the brow and a stiff unclenching of the white-knuckled grip on your controller. Eschew the temptation to gently immerse yourself in the chaos with lower difficulties. Be brave.

I like those odds.

The native satisfaction that flows freely with each level completed should be reward enough, but you'll also access the rarest, most powerful weaponry when playing on Inferno as well.

Building Preservation
Remember, you are a defense force for Earth, and I feel confident in proclaiming that shattering buildings and exploding skyscrapers isn't in the best interest of humanity. To that end, avoid firing explosives into any buildings. Leave a pristine landscape in the wake of every level.

Hand-Tossed Explosives
Speaking of explosives, prove your hardcore status by brushing aside the classic rocket and grenade launcher so well loved by the novice gamer. Machine guns, shotguns, and even laser guns are much more hardcore speed. Let your talent and frantic strategy determine the outcome, not overpowered weaponry. If you must opt for more devastating, area-effect weaponry, choose the more difficult to handle hand-tossed explosives.

Those buildings better still be standing.

Pressing the Attack
If you find yourself so inadequate to the task at hand that you are retreating back through the city just to survive, it's time to hit the reset button on the mission. Press forward and drive back the alien forces. Take the fight to them, march through their ranks, and send them back to the cold abyss of space from whence they came.

Point Man
I watched in sick dismay as a friend of mine took the controller and began picking off straggling enemies on the outskirts of the primary force, allowing his A.I. controlled teammates to thin out the densely packed invading core.

Bah! You're not some ancillary character providing lukewarm support from the fringes of the battle zone! You're the point man, the hero that should lead his fellow soldiers deep into the belly of the beast, so make sure you're out ahead and charging into the most dangerous fray you can find.

Earth Defense Force 2017 is a title any gamer should feel compelled to play. Its independent roots and modest budget make it an underdog worth cheering for, but more than anything, its slickly addictive, no-nonsense, hard as nails gameplay is worthy of hardcore praise. Quite simply, it is astonishingly rare to see an arcade shooter as a full-blown console game, and if the genre is to live on, it must be supported.

Article by Hardcore