I just started playing Parasite Eve yesterday and I'm very interested in the mix of survival horror and RPG that the game has. I won't put my expectations too high for the second game, but so far I'm having a good time with the first.
I just started playing Parasite Eve yesterday and I'm very interested in the mix of survival horror and RPG that the game has. I won't put my expectations too high for the second game, but so far I'm having a good time with the first.
I advise you to not read anything regarding game reviews then it might shape couple precpetions about the game before you play it influencing your view of the game.
The question: Parasite Eve 2 - Is it GOOD?
The answer: A resounding YES.
The opening/setting/themes:
Much like the first game in the duology (there is no such thing as "3rd Birthday" or "Parasite Eve 3" unfortunately), Parasite Eve 2 starts off with a remixed version of the song "Primal Eyes," now titled, "Forbidden Power." While the original song (and isn't that a lovely pun on the game title, both the game and the opening song using the same initials PE) sets the stage perfectly, the remix is IMO a better score. As for the opening itself, rather than just using cuts of the various cut scenes found in the game along with the various chapter titles mixed in, Parasite Eve 2 includes snippets of gameplay showing what the game looks like in-play and tosses in Final Fantasy IX-style "characterization" texts (such as "Aya Brea Question Identity" and "Kyle Madigan Question Morality" which is under constant scrutiny through the game) to both set the stage for the game in tone and story. Chef's kiss.
As OP stated, we are then treated to a scene briefly explaining the events of the first game, and how Aya got to where she is now. This is nice, as many games of the era would leave such things all in the manual. What OP missed, and which lead to his issues in the early game, is that he apparently didn't take the blatantly obvious hint to continue target practice, which would've taught him the basic controls of the game (or read the manual). A rather huge oversight, especially as getting a high score here provides bonuses later on. Shortly after the opening events in the first area, which serves as an extended training tutorial + story set-piece and introducing us to "No9" - a human-monster who seems to be both hunting and controlling the monsters in the tower, the game takes us to the Mojave Desert - a location that's not exactly close to the much-vaunted "Area 51" or "Roswell" but is intended to give such vibes - a perfectly ordinary location that shouldn't have anything odd happening here, but is. Which we discover via the Area 51-esque Shelter...
Another theme that OP apparently completely missed out on was Eve, Aya's
child clone who was named after Mitochondria Eve
from the first game (and "apparently" got hijacked by it to serve as the final boss - which was the goal of No9 in-game). As Aya's clone, Eve could easily be viewed as either (or both) Aya's twin sister (which she once had, Maya, before Maya's death prior to PE and had her cornea implanted into Aya thereby giving Aya her powers - I'm left to wonder if OP did the New Game+ of PE and cleared the Chrysler Tower for the true ending) AND as Aya's child.
Graphics:
PS1 gorgeous.
Sound/Music:
Most of the music is appropriate for the area/scene. Not something you're going to play in the car with a few exceptions (the opening, the battle themes, and a few others), but serves to enhance the gameplay. Sound effects are sharp and on point providing what the player expects. Some of the noises the monsters make aren't the best, but are fairly typical for console monsters of the era.
Gameplay:
This is the part where you either love it or hate it. PE2 removed the overhead exploration style of PE and replaced it with Resident Evil-style pre-rendered backdrops with static camera angles. However, the basic combat remains very similar: free-range movement, gunplay, and (eventually) not-magic powers. Due to story (and graphical) reasons, Aya does not have the same powers as she had in the first game, which in-story were borrowed from her twin sisters' mitochondrial DNA in her transplanted cornea, but her very own. Story because (spoiler), graphical due to Aya's model being much larger in PE2 - the "naked mitochondrial creature transformation" likely wouldn't pass the censors. In battle you can move Aya around a limited "battle" arena that's created on the exploration map (a la Chrono Trigger & PE) for better firing angles (as the monsters move around to attack as well), change targets, chose which weapons or powers you want to use, consume/use items, etc.
Personally, I love PE2's gameplay style. It keeps the RPG elements of the first game while focusing on a slightly faster paced action battle system.
Controls:
Due to the change in gameplay (aka pre-rendered static angles), character movement is now 3D "tank control" rather than the 2D "point-&-go" of the first. This works exceptionally well;l the controls are tight and responsive, and the game is easy and enjoyable to control. Aya (and spoilers) will do exactly what you tell her to do. Button usage is obvious and comfortable - one will not be fighting the controls in this game.
Story:
Engaging, in a word. The story follows Aya, now based in LA, some three years after the first title as she hunts the creatures that "apparently" escaped the NYC blockade from PE. After a massive attack on the Akropolis Tower in LA, Aya follows the boss creature, "King GOLEM No. 9" - an Artificial Neo-Mitochondrial Creature that has retained his human intellect - from LA to the desert, where he serves largely as her personal foil in multiple confrontations. We eventually learn that beneath the desert is an old missile complex that had been purchased by "private venturists" and converted to a state-of-the-art lab complex called Neo-Ark (or Shambala depending on region) for cloning and mitochondrial research, and the birthplace of the ANMCs/monsters both No.9 & Aya are hunting. To say more on that is spoiler, but while No9 may have "the same job" as Aya, he is NOT her friend. Let's not forget the multiple endings based on if certain characters live or die, if you find and report various things you may or may not discover...
Monster Design:
Vastly different from the first game, which focused on the idea of "what would a creature made of mitochondria look like?" PE2 instead focuses on "artificially forced evolution of existing animals and people via mitochondria." Due to this, many creatures will seem similar to existing animals, which some may mistakenly view as "lazy" or "goofy" instead of intentional for story purposes. Some monsters were then further modified, typically boss characters, to give them more modes of attack, larger stature, etc.
Conclusion:
Parasite Eve 2 is an excellent game, easily a 9/10. The graphics are fantastic. The music and sound are largely exceptional. Controls are spot-on. The story is great with actual replay value. Overall, Parasite Eve 2 is just a fun Playstation-era great game!
from the first game (and "apparently" got hijacked by it to serve as the final boss - which was the goal of No9 in-game). As Aya's clone, Eve could easily be viewed as either (or both) Aya's twin sister (which she once had, Maya, before Maya's death prior to PE and had her cornea implanted into Aya thereby giving Aya her powers - I'm left to wonder if OP did the New Game+ of PE and cleared the Chrysler Tower for the true ending) AND as Aya's child
Yes i absolutely did miss the + game content i completely found out on accident the other day looking up some PE song and read the comments and was like "wait what? Why did nobody tell me this?" mini aya would have been more likeable or i would have cared about what's supposed to be mini me if she was introduced earlier the only good lore moment is when you take the helmet off her revealing the child face that's it.... And to my dumbassery refusing training i did the same in the first game it's just that sometimes I'm a bit impatient about this.....stuff
Not a terrible game but the controls compared to the first game are atrocious , yup that's right it lost what made PE unique.
No problem going with another direction but keeping the core gameplay would have served their vision better , does PE2 play good? Well actually no , the survival horror aspect is non existent you still get tons of ammo and can tank many hits like crazy so Nope it fails in being a survival horror cuz unlike RE it doesn't limit your resources as much.
The monster design is hilarious and would say works pretty well for a comedic setting way better than what PE2 sets out to do , the bosses aren't necessarily bad per say but with the removal of the combat system from 1 bosses felt a lot easier to fight.
I fully disagree. You say that it doesn't limit your resources, but RE never limited your resources either. I have always beaten RE with an overabundance of ammo and health in the item chest. I think if you're lacking in resources in a RE game or even have to manage your items in them, you're probably bad at playing survival horror. Why keep the core game-play if you already have the first game to play, just replay the first one. I never understood why a sequel has to follow the same game-play as it's predecessor, it seems flimsy and counterintuitive to remain stagnant, I think that sentiment just stems from a fear/dislike of change, new things, or a fear of failure.
To me, the "problem" with the Parasite Eve franchise as a whole is that the series doesn't know what they wants to be. Each game has a completely different identity, gameplay, and ideas that can be very disconnected from each other. So if you go to one game expecting the same experience you had before, but better/improved/added on, you will be disappointed.
These pivots can be hit or miss. For example, from Resident Evil Code Veronica (or Resident Evil 3) to Resident Evil 4 and then to 7. This was considered a success by most people. Then we got Parasite Eve 1, 2 and 3rd Birthday.
To me, the "problem" with the Parasite Eve franchise as a whole is that the series doesn't know what they wants to be. Each game has a completely different identity, gameplay, and ideas that can be very disconnected from each other. So if you go to one game expecting the same experience you had before, but better/improved/added on, you will be disappointed.
These pivots can be hit or miss. For example, from Resident Evil Code Veronica (or Resident Evil 3) to Resident Evil 4 and then to 7. This was considered a success by most people. Then we got Parasite Eve 1, 2 and 3rd Birthday.
Then changing is part of the series' identity, and in the end every game is about Aya Brea shooting paranormal creatures one way or another. It's not a real problem IMO.
I fully disagree. You say that it doesn't limit your resources, but RE never limited your resources either. I have always beaten RE with an overabundance of ammo and health in the item chest. I think if you're lacking in resources in a RE game or even have to manage your items in them, you're probably bad at playing survival horror. Why keep the core game-play if you already have the first game to play, just replay the first one. I never understood why a sequel has to follow the same game-play as it's predecessor, it seems flimsy and counterintuitive to remain stagnant, I think that sentiment just stems from a fear/dislike of change, new things, or a fear of failure.
Ok good for you how many times you played resident evil games? I did just like 2 times one for every character ans and i had to conserve ammo especially as chris in RE1 , and what difficulty you play on? I did all hard so maybe that's why i had very limited resources.
It's not the fear of change i have it's the identity and building on already established basis PE2 throws out everything that made PE1 good trying to garner same success as RE this harms the game more than it helps it fights in the first game depended on your positioning and evading attacks then making decisions on who to shoot the second game you don't need all this cuz if you are fast enough you can eliminate the toughest enemies while standing in one spot why change an already good system that made the game stand out?
To me, the "problem" with the Parasite Eve franchise as a whole is that the series doesn't know what they wants to be. Each game has a completely different identity, gameplay, and ideas that can be very disconnected from each other. So if you go to one game expecting the same experience you had before, but better/improved/added on, you will be disappointed.
These pivots can be hit or miss. For example, from Resident Evil Code Veronica (or Resident Evil 3) to Resident Evil 4 and then to 7. This was considered a success by most people. Then we got Parasite Eve 1, 2 and 3rd Birthday.
iv always seen parasite eve and dino crisis as a copy of the aliens franchise first one is a damn good horror second is more action film and the third one is garbage
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