Parasite Eve

"It'd make a better movie than a game..."

Introduction

Parasite Eve has been called a ''Cinematic RPG'' by many. The high quality full motion video could easily be mistaken for an animated film. Once you start playing it it's easy to see why.

High Points:

-Weapon customization
-Free to move during battle
-Excellent graphics
-Very mature look
-Modern weapons
-Good replayability

Low Points:

-Poor story
-No character development
-Very short for an RPG
-A lot of bad music

Storyline - 3

Parasite Eve takes place in New York City and is focused mainly on two people. Eve, for one, has a mysterious control over people's mitochondria (an organelle within animal cells that is responsible for producing energy in the form of heat.), and Aya Brea, a young police officer, who seems to be the only person that is not affected by Eve's ''mitochondrial control''. The problem is that Eve is causing people's mitochondria to produce so much energy that they spontaneously combust. So the game starts here as you take control of Aya and attempt to stop Eve's doings.

Well, it certainly is interesting, but for some reason it just doesn't keep me interested. The story takes very few unexpected twists and turns and is really quite straightforward. When you think about it though, it does make some biological sense, but science doesn't always make a good story. In fact, it does sound a little crazy doesn't it? Can't you just see all of New Your City evacuating because they are worried about their mitochondria going crazy? Yeah, didn't think so. The character development is especially poor, but when you consider the length of the game, they really don't have the time to develop the characters anyways. When something happens to one of the main characters you really don't care about them like you would in Final Fantasy (One of Square's better games). Though the plot isn't very interesting, it does make for some great FMVs!

Game Play - 8

Parasite Eve introduces a new element into the traditional RPG genre. It's still almost the basic take turns hitting each other, but it gives you more control over whether or not you get hit in battle. Instead of just standing around like a dud waiting to get hit while your ATB bar fills, you can move around and dodge the enemies' attacks. You can also get a wide variety of guns for Aya to use instead of swords. Finally, a game that is more modernized in the weapons department. Other than modern weapons, Parasite Eve also allows you to customize your weapons by adding ''Bonus Points'' or using upgrading items on your weapon. Armor can be upgraded in the same manner as weapons. You can also take abilities off of one weapon or armor and add them to another. On your weapon you can upgrade its attack power, range, and bullet capacity in addition to special effects of the weapon. There are other stats you can upgrade on your armor too. After you're all equipped you're ready to go and do battle with all the mutated monsters that Parasite Eve offers. When a battle starts, you'll know it due to the screen going black and white and the heart thumping sound. Then you are free to move as your ATB bar fills. When it does fill, you have the option to attack, use, an item, or use some of your Parasite Energy magic. You can select attack and a neat globe showing your weapons range will appear. You can't hit enemies outside of your range very well, so you have to make sure that you're in range of the enemy. After you win a battle you win experience and possibly some items. When you level up, you will earn BP for upgrading your weapons and adding to some of your stats.

Parasite Eve's game play isn't perfect though. First of all, there isn't any money that you can find in this game nor is there any shops for you to buy stuff at. You just have to rough it and find all of your items in the field. This is also the first RPG where you only get one character to use throughout the game. It really kind of gets boring using the same old character the whole time. The games length is majorly affected by Aya's running speed. I mean, she's out to save New York and she just jogs at a leisurely pace! I don't think she's even trying... If she would run a little faster, the game would be a lot shorter. It's already short enough as it is, but that complaint is in another section. I believe that this game is supposed to be a little scary like Resident Evil, but for some reason, I just don't see any resemblance. Resident Evil is scary and suspenseful, Parasite Eve is not. It just doesn't have the same atmosphere. Overall, the game play is defiantly one of Parasite Eve's higher points, second only to the graphics...

Graphics - 9

The graphics are wonderful! They're probably my favorite part of the game. The mutations look so real that you could almost see your pet hamster turning into a savage beast! Then there are the burning bodies, gushing blood, and more burning bodies! Of course, that's only the FMVs. The regular in-game graphics aren't all that great compared to the FMV. My only complaint here is the lack of light. Everything is really dark. I think it was a sad attempt to create a scary atmosphere. I agree that Parasite Eve deserves the term ''Cinematic RPG''.

Sound - 3

By the way of music, Parasite Eve has its good music, and a lot of bad music. I can only think of one or two songs I like in this game. There are only a few memorable songs in the game, but you'll remember them because they are so bad. Sometimes during dialogue, when you least expect it, you will hear this awful sound coming from nowhere. The battle music is surprisingly mellow. What is this? It's supposed to be a scary game! At least all of the guns make the right sounds. I don't think that it was the mitochondria that killed all of those people, it was the sound.

Control - 9

It's easy to control. That's all that matters. Only minor places where it's hard to find that ''special spot'' to open a treasure chest or door.

Replayability/Length - 6

Ok, this is how it is. The length is really bad and the replayability is good. It only took me about 10 hours to beat Parasite Eve the first time and now my record is 2 and a half hours for the ninth time through. But that's really rushing through the game and not reading all of the dialogue. Now for the replayability, I'm sure that you'll want to replay the game in the EX mode that it offers after you beat it the first time around. It's really the same game with the Chrysler Building unlocked--which is really just a long, confusing, boring maze for you to run around in with a boss every now and then. My favorite part in replaying the game is that they let you keep one weapon and one armor of your choice to use in your next game! If you keep replaying the game, you can keep making your weapon more and more powerful. Now that's kind of fun to do. It's really easy to replay too due to its short length.

Final Thoughts:

This game looks really cool, but that's about it. It introduced a new element into the RPG genre. This game cost me $20 at a local store and was defiantly not worth is in my opinion. If you do get it though, don't expect much more than pretty pictures. If you're looking for a suspenseful game, don't look at Parasite Eve, go rent Resident Evil. If you're looking for an RPG, look at the Final Fantasy series. Just don't get this game. Square has made many great games, but every company has its failures and this is Square's.

Parasite Eve Score - 5

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 06/23/01, Updated 06/23/01