Parasite Eve

An action RPG with horror elements and a modern setting based in New York City, Parasite Eve is a collaboration of Squaresoft’s studios, and also happens to be the company’s first M-rated video game.

You play as NYPD rookie Aya Brea, who attends an opera with a blind date, and that’s when shit hits the fan, and the spontaneous human combustions start happening. As you chase after a weird female being called Eve, the game starts.

After finishing day 1 and exploring New York City by car, that’s when I really started like the setting, and once the story started opening up, I really started digging that, as well as the graphics. It is however a linear play through, so enjoy it while it lasts.

The tank controls and the pre-rendered backgrounds take me back, but early Resident Evil titles taught me to deal and appreciate those, which applies here as well. As the game liked to talk about genes and mitochrondria, and after referencing The Selfish Gene, the story became more interesting.

Parasite Eve’s presentation and experience are well done on the PlayStation. The combat’s active time bar system and the parasite energy spells borrowed from Squaresoft’s other games like Chrono Trigger, and it's item management plus cast of characters, makes this quite an unique horror RPG for it’s time. 

Also, some damn fine and moody tunes here and there!

Rating: 7.6

This sequel happens 3 years later on the west coast in Los Angeles, where Aya has moved on and works for a different unit now, but soon enough, a new similar outbreak will occur.

The graphics have improved and set up the mood even better, as you will traverse towards facilities, institutions and shelters and face off against more intimidating and definitely larger creatures and bosses than the original, making things a bit scarier.

Genetic engineering and superior technology are major themes playing out in the story. Parasite Eve II plays with more survival horror mechanics and lesser RPG elements, this means that this sequel feels more like a Resident Evil clone especially with it's controls.

But it still has it's own identity, with a revamped combat system, puzzles to overcome and parasite energy spells to use alongside the normal weaponry. The story and soundtrack aren't as memorable, but fans should check it out.

Rating: 7.4

The 3rd Birthday is definitely more action packed than the previous games, and is also loosely a spin-off entry.

It also feels more like an arcade game, as this is a regular third person shooter now, and instead of tank controls, you can move quicker, and even better, rolling around is being able to move faster than just performing regular running.

Aya's portrayal and personality have changed for the worse though, as this game was an attempt to re-introduce her, but in a different light then. While the presentation and story are okay, the camera control and the gunplay control could have been better.

This is my least favorite of the trilogy, and maybe it's for the best that it ended here.

Rating: 6.4