EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN is a third-person shooter by YUKE'S and D3 Publisher. In 2040, EDF soldiers defend a devastated Earth against the alien Aggressors. Rather than a direct sequel, the game tells a standalone story with a customizable character, four different PA equipment types and cooperative battles.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN was released for PS4 in Europe on April 10, 2019 and for PC on Oct 15, 2019. In Japan, the PS4 version came out on April 11, 2019. The shooter is playable on PS5 via PS4 backward compatibility, but has no standalone PS5 version.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN is available natively on PS4 and PC. The PC version was released via Steam. On PS5, the PS4 game runs through backward compatibility. A dedicated PS5, Xbox or Switch release was not part of the two 2019 releases.

In combat, you fight from a third-person perspective with firearms, special equipment and support vehicles against giant insects and alien machines. Your choice of PA Gear determines how fast you move and which protection or attack options you get. Various weapons, equipment pieces and items can be combined for missions.

Golden Storm expands EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN with 14 missions. The add-on campaign introduces new enemies, including golden flying ants and a massive scorpion. It also adds more than 30 unlockable weapons, another vehicle and the Invisible Trooper. The expansion was released on PS4 on June 6, 2019, and on Steam on Oct 30, 2019. There are also smaller packs with weapons, costumes and other customizations.

The PC version requires a 64-bit processor, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 11 and 24 GB of free storage. Steam lists the Intel Core i3-8100 as the minimum processor and a GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon HD 7790 with 2 GB as the minimum graphics card. For the recommended settings, a Core i7-4770 or Ryzen 5 1400 and a GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon R9 280 are listed. The original Windows requirement on Steam covers Windows 7, 8.1 and 10, but the current Steam client has supported Windows 10 or newer since 2024.

In 2040, Earth lies in ruins after the Aggressors' attack. As a member of the Earth Defense Force, you fight alien creatures and machines with a special unit. The missions take place in a different world from the main series and combine the struggle for survival with internal conflicts over equipment and resources.

The campaign includes more than 50 missions across five difficulty levels. Large-scale attacks, varied enemy types and changing equipment mean missions can be approached in several ways. An additional 14 missions are part of the Golden Storm expansion.

Four PA Gear types form the basis of your equipment: Trooper, Jet Lifter, Heavy Striker and Prowl Rider. Each suit changes the movement system and combat options. The right choice depends on whether you prefer ground fire, air mobility, protection or quick repositioning.

The Trooper is the versatile ground suit of the EDF. With E-Dodge it performs a quick evasive boost and can use its energy for movement and protection. Its comparatively simple handling suits direct combat.

The Jet Lifter can fly freely through the air using E-Flight. This lets you take on enemies from above or cross dangerous areas. Its high mobility comes with noticeably weaker armor.

The Heavy Striker carries two weapons at once and protects itself with an electromagnetic E-Field against projectiles and explosions. For strong defense, it must keep an eye on its energy reserves. The protective field does not stop physical hits and kicks.

The Prowl Rider moves through the environment on wire cables using the E-Needle. During Overdrive, it can deploy a giant creature as the G-L.I.A.R. This unusual mix of fast movement and a controlled monster sets the suit apart from the other classes.

IRON RAIN supports up to two players offline in split-screen. Online, up to six players fight together against the Aggressors. A separate versus mode is designed for two to eight players. This means the co-op campaign can be played not only alone, but also in a larger group.

In the character editor you can change, among other things, face, hairstyle, body shape, voice and uniform. Choosing weapons and equipment is also part of preparing for missions. Additional costume pieces and weapons were released as smaller expansions.

The Aggressors attack with giant insects and alien war machines. Enemies include various ants, spiders, scorpions and large mechanical units. Fights against especially large enemies often require different weapons and positioning than battles against smaller swarms.

Combat vehicles support the EDF soldiers on the battlefield. Depending on your equipment, different vehicles can be called in as reinforcements. Some are built for heavy firepower, others serve as mobile support. With the Prowl Rider, the controllable G-L.I.A.R. adds a living combat unit to these classic vehicles.

The PC version features German on-screen text and subtitles. Voice audio is available in English and Japanese, among others. The German PlayStation Store also lists German on-screen text.