The mood the atmosphere and story set up is just constantly interrupted and swept aside by loading screens. The gameplay is solid, but I feel the use of a battle system mechanically separate from the map detracts from the horror aspect of the game by creating a disconnect between the exploration and combat. Enemy encounters appear to be random and in the same vain of Final Fantasy, but they are actually scripted to specific locations.
#PARASITE GAME 8 BIT FREE#
The game handles combat with a battle system not dissimilar to other Square titles: an active wait bar is used to indicate when Aya can perform her next action and she is free to move around the field while it is charging. The complete absence of any puzzles, a noticeable lack of interaction with environmental oddities, and the painfully slow walk/run speed only exacerbate the grindy feeling. The story takes place over the course of six days and the pacing stays brisk throughout the first four, only to drag pretty heavily with long, tedious areas and an excessive amount of combat in day 5. Due to having been developed in conjunction with a US team, the localization is outstanding and even the exposition dumps filled with microbiology terms are well explained and easy to understand. The plot follows Aya Brea, an NYPD officer tasked with hunting down Eve, the manifestation of mutated mitochondria gone rogue. Upon first glance, Parasite Eve is Square’s response to Capcom’s Resident Evil, but in reality, it is more of a grounded sci-fi/horror themed JRPG than a survival horror title. Parasite Eve's gameplay may not be perfectly integrated or balanced, but Square could be credited for carving a new interesting grammar in JRPGs, one that completes the circle of influence beginning with Sweet Home and continued via Resident Evil. On the bright side, its FMV graphics, designs, environments and soundtrack are all striking. Unfortunately, cases of awkward hitboxes and odd enemy behavior mitigates some of its gameplay strengths, alongside a few other annoyances like the final boss. Despite this, there are two neat gameplay ideas: A traversable on-map battle screen combining ATB command selection with free movement and dodging, feeling like a cross between top-down shooters and Chrono Trigger, and Tools - rare items that could transfer stats and traits between weapons and armor. Notable for pairing grotesque horror with JRPG sensibilities, the fusion was more superficial than mechanical, with traditional RPG aspects appended to its sci-fi horror backdrop. Parasite Eve was an expansion of the 1995 novel.