In between ACOG-M40ing scrubs in Call of Duty 4, saving the universe in Mass Effect, and trying to legally marry Portal, I like to indulge in a dirty pleasure: playing admittedly horrible games. You know the feeling I'm talking about. You're perusing a game store, you see an old N64 title that you remember sucking, and you just have to have it, especially for $5. I catch that affliction about once a month.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a purist when it comes to niche gaming. I live for games like Disgaea and Harvest Moon 64, but it just feels GOOD to laugh at a game that was clearly made by Helen Keller armed with a coding program.

My current guilty pastime: Earth Defense Force 2017.

The the game is ludicrous, as I'm sure many of you know. You never run out of ammo, the vehicles are all but useless, and hundreds of giant aliens (including my favorite, a T-Rex with giant laser guns for arms) fill your radar with red dots 90% of the game.



All blinding flaws aside, EDF2017 is actually kinda fun in that B-Movie sort of way. No game has made me shout, "This is just f***ing ridiculous!" more times, and that is why garbage games will always have a special place in my heart.

Do yourself a favor, go buy FIFA: Road to the World Cup or Sonic R. Your eyes will only bleed for a short while, while the memories will last a lifetime.

Now back to Deus Ex.