PS1 - Parasite Eve: An enjoyable classic that needs a modern release
- ⚡Xe⚡
- Mar 21
- 3 min read
Last week, after only six streaming sessions, I finally finished Parasite Eve. It’s been one of the highest priority games on my backlog, and it didn’t disappoint. I played the PS1 version on my PS Vita TV, which ran perfectly.
The game is a mix of horror, action, and RPG elements. As a Square title, it carries DNA you can also find in Final Fantasy, combined with survival horror influences similar to Resident Evil.
You play as NYPD rookie Aya Brea, who witnesses a theater full of people spontaneously combust during an opera on Christmas Eve. The story leans into real science, specifically the Mitochondrial Eve theory, imagining what would happen if mitochondria evolved beyond human control. The plot is creepy, unique, and keeps you hooked from the start.
Gameplay is engaging right away. Ammo management isn’t as frustrating as I feared, and the game combines random encounters with a variant of ATB that lets you freely move your character to dodge attacks. Once you learn the battle system, the game is fairly easy, but the final boss ramps up difficulty significantly, making the last part pretty frustrating (Quick saves helped here 😅). Weapon upgrades and bonus points could use better explanations, but leveling up and using skills is satisfying. The biggest challenge is the limited inventory space, which often feels cramped and makes organizing items a chore.
Given its gameplay and story, Parasite Eve is perfect for a modern remake or remaster. Updated graphics, voice acting, and quality-of-life improvements would lift the experience to another level.
If you can accept dated visuals and want a short, intense horror RPG, this is a strong "Xe's Recommendation".
What should I stream next? 🤔
Parasite Eve
Platform: PS1
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square
Genre: ARPG
Release Year: 1998
About Parasite Eve:
Parasite Eve is a 1998 role-playing video game developed and published by Square. The game is a sequel to the novel Parasite Eve, written by Hideaki Sena. It is the first game in the Parasite Eve video game series. The story follows New York City police officer Aya Brea over a six-day period in 1997 as she tries to stop Eve, a woman who plans to destroy the human race through spontaneous human combustion. Players explore areas of New York while using a pausable real-time combat system along with several role-playing elements.
Parasite Eve was SquareSoft’s first M-rated game and its first major collaboration between American and Japanese development teams. It was produced by Hironobu Sakaguchi and directed by Takashi Tokita. The music was composed by Yoko Shimomura, who was widely praised for creating an "inorganic" and "emotionless" soundtrack that led to two album releases. Parasite Eve received positive reviews. Critics praised the graphics and gameplay but felt the game was too linear and had limited replay value.
The video game adaptation was part of a renewed interest in Japanese horror sparked by the original book. It was released alongside a film adaptation and two manga series, one based on the book and the other on the video game. The original title was followed by two sequels, Parasite Eve II in 1999 and The 3rd Birthday in 2010. It was also re-released on the PlayStation Network in 2010. By 2010, the first two games, Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve II, had shipped over 3 million copies worldwide.
Comments