A Parasite Eve game...but only kinda
Don't move to Manhattan

I mean, the traffic is terrible, the people are rude, the properties and apartments are outrageously priced, and to make matters worse the entire place keeps getting overrun by monstrous creatures who think that you will make a fine evening meal. Before I get started, I'd like to get one statement out of the way. If you are here looking for what amounts to Parasite Eve 3, then you're in the wrong place. While it uses a lot of the same names and character models, it's far enough removed from the previous games that I believe it was wise to not include the name Parasite Eve in the title. Gameplay, story, tone, and even personalities are completely different. Now, that's not to say it's a bad game by any means. It's a game that brings a certain tactical element to a fast paced, 3rd person style gameplay. One with rpg elements that seem very useless at first, but suddenly become very important. Most importantly of all, it's fun. It has several unique mechanics that prove to be quite easy to use, and add immensely to the entire experience. The most intriguing is the Overdive system. As well as being a large part of the plot (which I'll cover in the story section), it also central part of the battle mechanics. The main thing the Overdive systems allows you to do, is jump from npc to npc. When jumping to different npcs, you retain your weapons and appearance. However, you gain whatever weapon that npc was holding, and health. As an npc dies, you can quickly switch to another, but the npc will still die. The story of this game, while not connected to previous games, isn't horrible either. Overall, it's a fairly solid game, with gameplay mechanics that are smooth and a blast to use. Battle in general is just a joy, and the game really knows how to keep the adrenaline pumping. Enough with the intro though, let's do an overdive into the details.
.....that pun was atrocious, I apologize



Graphics

The graphics are pretty strong in this game. The cutscenes are beautifully rendered, and the gameplay looks realistic and flows pretty smoothly in general. The effects look pretty impressive, and a lot of work has been put into properly texturing and rendering buildings and terrain in general. The shooting looks appropriate, and it's clear when you are hitting your target, and when you're completely missing them. Which is always welcome. However, I do have a number of gripes with the graphics. The most notable of course being the fact that Aya's clothes fall off as she receives damage. While this isn't horrible in and of itself, it really serves no place in gameplay other than sex appeal. If the clothes were some indication of current health, that would be fine...but it isn't. Once your clothes become reduced to nearly nothing, they stay that way till the end of mission, or until you change at one of the safe zones. It's distracting and adds nothing to gameplay. Also, the "Babels", the enemies you fight, were boring and horribly designed. Movement was difficult to predict, and though they certainly seemed inhuman, they didn't look particularly terrifying or interesting. However, this is an action game. So, do your job right, and they won't have much screen time. One thing that does get in the way a bit is the level design. While it's not too bad, at points it becomes very difficult to navigate.



Sound

I have very little to say about the sound in this game. The voice acting is strong, the sound effects are accurate, and the music does it's job. While I have no complaints at all in this department, I have nothing to single out and praise either. Basically, it doesn't stand out one way or the other. The music is kind of basic, sounding almost at Super Nintendo quality at times, but it fits with the high octane pace of the game, so it's fine. I suppose one thing I can say about sound, is the fact that advice you receive via radio is often ignored because it has a tendency to be drowned out by gameplay. This is a common issue in shooters however, and it has subtitles, so it's not a major issue.



Addictivness

The gameplay is fast paced, and varied enough that you can approach combat different ways. The overdive system lends versatility as well, and is so well implemented that you actually want to use it as much as possible, often positioning npcs around a battle field so you can strategically swap between them. You can also have everyone concentrate fire on a single enemy, and even overdive into enemies for a huge burst of damage (after which you'll be put right back into the body you were previously inhabitting). You also have the liberation which allows you to clear and area quickly. All that, coupled with the variety of guns, and variety of upgrades for weapons, and for Aya herself, and you end up with combat that's a pure delight, and varied enough to keep you constantly coming back for more. And even when you are familiar with everything combat has to offer, it's still versatile and smooth enough (almost swashbuckling in nature) that you never get bored. The overdive system alone will keep you coming back to this game. And there is plenty to unlock in subsequent playthroughs. I often load the game up just to replay certain missions, and take on certain boss fights again, so of course I'd rate the addictivness of this game pretty high.



Story

The story starts with Aya Brea, recurring protagonist with inhuman power due to her awakened mitochondria.  At start of game she's found in a wedding dress, and suffering amnesia. Along with loosing her memories, she also seems to have undergone a drastic personality change. A large biological tower has erupted in Manhatten, bringing along with it a host of creatures. The tower has been dubbed Babel, and creatures called Twisted. 1 year after this incident, a group calling themselves the CTI, counter twisted investigation, popped up to combat the creatures. Aya is a member of the CTI, and is unique due to her powers, and specifically her ovrdive ability. This has allowed them to construct a machine, that only she can use. It allows her to jump into the body of people from the past. They use this machine to send her back to when the tower first rose, in order to investigate what happened. She eventually discovers, however, that she can have an impact on events, and effect the present day. this of course, has several unforeseeable consequences. She also uncovers facts about the incident and her history that will threaten to tear her apart.
Now, whenever you get into bed with time travel, you're gonna create plot holes. This series defiantly has issues in that department, it's no more than would be expected. And while they have effectively established this as a spinoff game, and non-cannon, the inclusions of previous characters seems like a slap in the face given how drastically they changed some of them. Many of the characters were completely altered, and even the new characters seemed bland and two dimensional. While some part of the story were pretty cool, a lot of it was easily ignored, and the twist ending served to be more confusing than anything. While the plot wasn't horrible, it's not the highlight of this game I'm sad to say. It was a little basic, and easily forgettable.



Depth

While the game itself is pretty linear, you'll find several reports and back stories, and such to read up on. This is where you'll find a lot of the depth in the game. Some of it is actually pretty interesting, and you can spend a large amount of time reading through all of it. The game also has a pretty decent length, especially for a psp game, and you have the ability to replay missions added to this. Also, you can try runs through certain missions challenging yourself in weird ways. Often, I try run throughs without loosing a single npc. You also have in game achievements you can work to unlock. For a linear, hub based shooter, the game has a surprising amount of depth.



Difficulty

This game is pretty tough. At first enemies are pretty easy to take down, but quickly tougher enemies start showing up. You have to stay on top of upgrades, and make sure you utilize the mechanics, or you'll become overwhelmed. While it's challenging, it's rewarding, and of course makes the game more fun. The moments that weren't fun were the ones that had me wondering what the heck I was supposed to do. This didn't happen often, but often enough to be annoying. Sometimes it was because I missed a single line of instructions while I was busy mowing down twisted, sometimes it was an easily missed ladder, and sometimes it was just obtuse instructions. Luckily it never got to the point where I had to consult a strategy guide, but it did result in me wondering around fighting the same respawning creatures over and over till I finally figured out what I was supposed to be doing.



Final Verdict

3rd birthday is an action packed, fast paced, and unique 3rd person shooter. A mostly good looking game with only a few small gameplay issues. A story that's not too bad if you ignore the connection to previous Parasite Eve games, but it still far from highlight of the experience. If you can let the story go though, you'll have endless fun jumping from person to person, diving into enemies, and tactically moving around npc's to gain advantage on deformed creatures that pour out of Babel, and attempt to lay waste to all of Manhattan...and your pants. It's a well implemented system, that is very engrossing

and I hope they use it when they finally come out with a proper Parasite Eve game.





  Graphics 7   Sound 7   Addictive 10   Depth 8   Story 6   Difficulty 8

Hideous creatures descend on Manhattan. Ground reports from the squad tasked with containing the pandemonium refer to these life forms as "the Twisted." An investigatory team known as the CTI is formed within the year.

The Overdive system emerges as a means of opposition, but only one viable candidate exists – Aya Brea. A gift as she awakens from a lost past on this, the occasion of her third birth.

Features

• Developed by a dream team of Square Enix production staff including producer Yoshinori Kitase (Final Fantasy series), director Hajime Tabata (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII) and character designs by Tetsuya Nomura (Kingdom Hearts series).

• Aya Brea, the heroine of the Parasite Eve series returns to fight the Twisted with powerful new weaponry and her 'OverDive' ability, letting her dive into the bodies of other people for strategic advantage in the battlefield.

• With cutting-edge graphics, memorable characters and an engrossing cinematic storyline, The 3rd Birthday will keep you on the edge of your seat!

• Customise and tailor Aya’s abilities and combat skills using the DNA system.

Overall 9.3    Graphics 7    Sound 7    Addictive 10    Story 6    Depth 8    Difficulty 8

A Parasite Eve game...but only kinda   baileyface544
Don't move to Manhattan I mean, the traffic is terrible, the people are rude, the properties and ap...
  Graphics 7   Sound 7   Addictive 10   Story 6   Depth 8   Difficulty 8
      Review Rating: 4/5     Submitted: 09-10-14     Review Replies: 2

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