Parasite Eve, first launched in 1998, is a survival-horror tinged RPG that follows NYPD officer Aya Brea over the course of Christmas Week in New York Metropolis. The sport efficiently combines sharp fight, sharper cinematics, and a moody, alien soundtrack that was met with acclaim when launched. Its sequel, Parasite Eve II, eliminated Aya from the dynamic city setting and disposed of the Lively Flip Battle impressed fight, and leaned into its survival-horror mechanics. Impressed in its personal proper, Parasite Eve II appeared to be the conclusion of Aya Brea’s story.
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A decade later, The third Birthday would seem for the PlayStation Transportable. This quasi-sequel and quasi-soft reboot of the collection abandons most RPG parts. Aya’s tools is exchanged for outfits that are largely beauty; there aren’t any magic spells of any variety; and most customization is left to weapons and OE Chips, permitting for marginal adjustment perks and results in battle.
Whereas Parasite Eve II was set within the Las Vegas desert, The third Birthday returns the collection to Manhattan, as soon as once more on the cusp of the vacation. It has been fifteen years since Aya’s fateful go to to the Opera; sadly, the town and the world are in for shock with the looks of the Twisted, faceless creatures rising endlessly from the Babels, dwelling towers showing from the bottom all throughout the immediately devastated metropolis.
A yr later, Aya is one in every of a handful of members of the CTI, a company dedicated to stopping the invasion. Aya herself is the one member with the Overdive skill – permitting Aya to switch her consciousness into the physique of one other particular person, taking it over. The CTI intends to make use of the Overdive skill to ship Aya into the previous with a view to alter the course of historical past through the course of the sport’s episodic missions. This mechanic is thrilling and uniquely participating, particularly when a near-death and out-of-ammo Aya can actually dive into one other soldier, taking their well being and ammo over as her personal.
The third Birthday shares a standard heritage with Disaster Core: Closing Fantasy VII, mainly via the shared director, Hajime Tabata. Each titles are structured across the platform, that includes episodic or mission-based storytelling. Likewise, each video games boast stellar fight mechanics, unimaginable music, and beautiful cinematics. The trimmings for an awesome recreation are right here, however similar to Disaster Core, the narrative is disjointed and outlandish. Arguably there are some nice ideas right here: the Babels are monstrous and imposing, and the Twisted enemies are scary, albeit much less creative than enemies from prior video games. The execution is the place it falls aside.
Admittedly, the story makes extra sense throughout subsequent playthroughs (or studying a plot synopsis), however the preliminary expertise is disorienting, particularly for collection followers. Returning characters are few and much between, however their remedy right here is perplexing. Maeda virtually drools over Aya, whose characterization can also be disappointing. Positive, there’s a plot cause for it, however it’s disheartening to see the steely warrior of the primary two video games changed by a large, moaning punching bag.
Story qualms apart, the third Birthday deserves a second lease on life. I’m not speaking a couple of dizzyingly upscaled Closing Fantasy Sort-0 HD Remaster job, both. Somewhat, Aya Brea deserves the Disaster Core Reunion remedy: graphical overhaul, redesigned person interface, and different slight enhancements which might render the sport presentable on trendy consoles. The management scheme would definitely profit from the second set of shoulder buttons – similar to Disaster Core. One in all my bigger points with the title is managing the digicam throughout fight, particularly throughout tense escape encounters with the extremely harmful Reaper enemies.
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Assuming no adjustments to the story can be made, small modifications this time round may deal with another complaints across the title. I’d desire the builders embody toggles for some mechanics, mainly the one the place the circumstances of Aya’s outfit matches her well being. Fairly actually, too: parts of her high and denims will disintegrate as she is struck by enemies. The identical may be mentioned for the extreme moaning performed by Aya throughout fight. That is the primary within the collection to characteristic voice performing, and Aya spends many of the recreation squealing. These mechanics are cheesy and exploitative; doubly so when contemplating the plot implications concerning Aya’s character for all however the closing couple of minutes of the sport.
Disaster Core: Reunion improves on the unique in almost each means, however for the plot. Nonetheless, the enhancements to the person interface, graphics, and particularly the fight system redefine the title and make it a worthy trendy entry into the Closing Fantasy VII canon, quite than relegated to a legacy console. If given this identical remedy, The third Birthday may arguably redefine it’s personal standing throughout the bigger framework of the Parasite Eve universe. The builders may course right on the extra divisive features whereas refreshing the features that clearly labored the primary time about.
Aya Brea followers are hungry (and let’s admit it, thirsty) for extra motion with their favourite action-horror femme. The third Birthday is not at all an ideal recreation, however the tense fight and distinctive gameplay mechanics– bolstered by an unimaginable presentation – carries the day. Enhancing on this stable basis, whereas additionally addressing the sport’s deep narrative flaws, may elevate it to a contemporary traditional. Doesn’t Aya deserve one other probability?