Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Global Defence Force builds upon the simple yet addictive third-person action formula of its predecessor, Monster Attack. Players can choose between the heavily armed GDF infantryman or switch things up with the agile, jetpack-equipped Pale Wing. Each class brings unique strengths: the infantryman provides raw firepower with dozens of rifles, rocket launchers, and heavy weapons, while the Pale Wing excels in hit-and-run tactics with a limited flight ability and powerful melee attacks.

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Mission structure has grown in ambition compared to the first game. While Monster Attack often dropped you into open fields to mow down bugs, Global Defence Force adds scripted objectives—rescue survivors, defend strategic points, or escort vehicles through hostile territory. These varied goals help break up the sheer bug-blasting madness and offer a sense of purpose. Throughout each mission, enemy drop pods reward successful combat with weapon unlocks and health upgrades, encouraging exploration and tactical positioning.

Cooperative play returns in split-screen mode, letting two players team up locally to tackle each wave of towering arachnids, colossal robots, and massive UFOs. Although online multiplayer is absent, the offline coop experience retains that old-school couch-party charm. Enemy variety has been significantly beefed up too—new alien types demand different strategies, so swapping weapons and leveraging each class’s abilities becomes a satisfying tactical dance.

Graphics

Visually, Global Defence Force embraces its B-movie aesthetic with unapologetic charm. Giant insects skitter across vast, open environments rendered in vibrant colors, and when you unleash a rocket salvo on a hovering UFO, the explosion effects feel weighty and impactful. While textures aren’t cutting-edge by modern standards, the game’s scale—towering foes and expansive skies—often distracts from the occasional polygon pop-in.

Environments have been expanded and refined since Monster Attack. City streets, desert plateaus, and mountain ranges are larger and more detailed, providing varied backdrops for your battles. Dynamic particle effects—dust clouds, debris, and fiery blasts—add immersion to each firefight, and the improved physics engine makes destructible objects tumble realistically when struck.

The interface remains clean and functional, with weapon and health pickups clearly highlighted to keep the action flowing. Character models for the infantryman and Pale Wing are surprisingly detailed for a budget title, and cutscenes (though sparse) help set the stage for alien incursions in each new locale. While not a showcase for next-gen graphics, the overall visual package delivers on spectacle and scale, which is exactly the sell for an alien-blasting romp.

Story

Global Defence Force picks up two years after the first game’s climactic victory against the alien mandible menace. Renamed from its Japanese title, Chikyuu Boueigun, the English release positions the GDF as humanity’s last line of defense after the “Earth Defence Force” moniker is dropped. This time around, the invaders have returned with upgraded weaponry and fresh tactics, prompting the GDF to unveil its own advanced arsenal.

While the narrative serves primarily as a backdrop to the action, brief cutscenes and mission briefings establish stakes—alien super-weapons threaten city centers, and civilian casualties rise if you fail. These story beats are enough to drive you forward but won’t win any awards for depth. Purists may miss the radio chatter from allied squads and commanders, which played up the sense of camaraderie in the original Japanese release. Sadly, that audio was cut from the English version, leaving the battlefields feeling a bit more solitary.

Despite its simplicity, the story’s constant one-two punch of “enemy resurfaces / you push them back” keeps the adrenaline pumping. You’re never left wondering why you’re firefighting giant beetles or smashing armored walkers—the premise is straightforward: aliens attack, GDF pushes back, rinse and repeat. If you’re looking for narrative complexity, this isn’t your game. But if you’re here to mow down hordes of extraterrestrials, the story hits its marks efficiently.

Overall Experience

Global Defence Force offers a satisfyingly over-the-top alien-slaying experience that thrives on sheer scale and nonstop action. The addition of the Pale Wing class introduces fresh combat styles, and the expanded mission design keeps the gameplay loop engaging across its dozen-plus stages. Whether you prefer pounding enemies with heavy artillery or darting in for close-quarters melee strikes, there’s room to experiment and master your loadout.

The game’s biggest strength is its unapologetic embrace of B-movie thrills: giant bugs, hulking mechs, and UFO swarms all make for dramatic set pieces. Local split-screen coop ensures that this is a perfect pick for couch co-op, even though online play is absent. The progression of unlocking new weapons and health upgrades via pickups injects a light RPG element that rewards thorough exploration and encourages replaying missions to collect every armament.

On the downside, the narrative remains thin, and the lack of radio chatter in the English release undercuts the sense of a sprawling global war effort. Graphically, it won’t rival AAA blockbusters, but its strengths lie in spectacle, enemy variety, and satisfying combat feel. For fans of arcade-style shooters who crave giant robotic foes and insectoid invasions on an epic scale, Global Defence Force is a relentlessly fun, if occasionally rough-around-the-edges, thrill ride.

Retro Replay Score

null/10