The Ranger class is perhaps the simplest in the series. You are one in a massive infantry. A human being with a gun. There's nothing particularly special about you, but somehow what you were born with was enough to bring down giants. The Ranger class is a hero class, because unless you were a hero... you'd be dead.
There is something thrilling about being given a choice of two weapons and just being kicked out into a chaotic battlefield. It reminds me of some of the frightening front-line scenes in Starship Troopers. No matter how much you train, nothing prepares you for that first chaotic clash. Swarms of monsters all trying to rip you apart. How does anyone survive something like that? Wanna know how? Become a Ranger and watch it unfold before your very eyes.
The Ranger was the very first class allowed in the series. The other classes (Wing Diver, Fencer, and Air Raider) came later. So at the beginning of this war of monsters and giant robots, all we had were men with guns. We didn't need anything else. We just ran out there and shot stuff until there was no movement. The only progress we could expect was better and sometimes weirder guns to play with--and I do mean play. R&D was constantly churning out odd ideas such as a rifle that shoots in two different directions. How can you possible shoot that gun and NOT call it playing?!
Earth Defense Force 5 was the first time in the series that the Ranger class got a major update--the ability to call in vehicles. At first, there was a bit of protest to the very idea. The once ground-bound forces were suddenly able to drive a tank or a crawling mech. It was a breach of trust, some might say, to allow such a sacred class to be changed in such a major way. Are we just going to ignore the vehicle call-ins and play the game old fashioned?!
...
Wait. There's a really cool bike in here. Holy crap, this is a cool bike. None of the other classes got a bike this cool. They didn't even get a bike! It's a bike with two freaking machine guns mounted on it. Yeah, sure, it crashes on every bump on the road, but I just gave a giant alien a bullet enema! HELL YEAH! I love this bike! 'Nuf said. The Ranger update was ultimately accepted and enjoyed.
The three other classes of the Earth Defense Force are wonderful and perfectly balanced, but there is nothing like just playing as a simple Ranger. You may be one among many, but at the end of the day, you're going to be the one who fights and kills an alien god. At the end of the day, you'll be a hero, and every one else will be in awe as they look upon what looks like a man... but is really something so much more.
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A bike? Who could want more? Yeah, interesting that the Ranger is the cannon-fodder guy. He, more than any other soldier of the EDF must be more than the sum of his parts if he hopes to survive, especially if wants to personally face off with the final boss.
ReplyDeleteI did face off with him and it was a doozy. They pretty much call the final boss an alien god, and when you fight him, it really starts to feel like it. It's tough but very satisfying when you pull it off.
DeleteThe Ranger seems like a great class to give you the front-line feeling. I like your reference to "Starship Troopers". I think I would enjoy the change with the vehicles.
ReplyDeleteThe vehicles were a great addition. I may have acted like I was unsure about it, but I think my initial reaction was more like... cooooooool!
DeleteWe underestimate what a man with a rifle can do. High-tech weaponry and armor are useless without someone who knows how to use them. They are merely tools to complete the mission.
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on the man. A great man can make all the difference.
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