Earth Defense Force 5

Sometimes you want a game with a deeply moving, emotionally driven plot -- other times, you just want to splatter monsters and bugs in a B movie-styled action shoot-'em-up. From a strict presentation standpoint, Earth Defense Force 5 doesn't even try to push the limits of what the PS4 is capable of, but that's never been the main draw of the franchise. For more than a decade and a half, the franchise has carved out a niche for itself, earning cult classic status as a "so bad it's actually good" B movie series of the video game world. Earth Defense Force 5 continues in this tradition with its oddly addictive combination of campy voice acting, quirky visuals, and insanely action-packed gameplay.

What Earth Defense Force 5 might be lacking in presentation, it makes up for in both content and in pure arcade fun. The game has over 100 missions to complete and more than 1,000 weapons and gadgets to collect. Many of these are tweaked versions of one another or vary by grade or power, but there's still a lot to add to your arsenal. Multiplayer is also a blast, whether you're playing in local split-screen or online play. Admittedly, there are still some occasional camera issues that pop up from time to time, which are more prominent in the smaller display of split-screen play. It never makes the game unplayable, but it can make it easy to get lost in the midst of all the on-screen action. And make no mistake about it, Earth Defense Force 5 is all about on-screen action. If you're looking for character development or epic stories, you're in the wrong place. But if you're looking for unadulterated action with so much cheese it's almost oozing out the seams, then this is definitely the game for you.