PSP's Parasite Eve '3rd Birthday' a third-person shooter

by Randy Nelson { Aug 20th 2008 at 6:45PM }

In development for PSP and mobile phones, Square Enix's third Parasite Eve game has largely been – like many of the company's titles are wont to be – a mystery. A new Famitsu interview with director Hajime Tabata (who's also heading up Fantasy Agito XIII for PSP) reveals that the game is a third-person shooter. Square Enix ... third-person shooter ... Dirge of Cerberus ... yikes!

Thankfully, Tabata says that while the game may share a genre with the reviled FFVII spin-off, it's different in that it's a "true" third-person shooter. Dirge was ... not-so-true, evidently. The game may also boast Wi-Fi play, something that Tabata says his team is "investigating." Hey, the game's lead, Aya Brea, is an investigator of sorts ... maybe she can help with that?

(Fun fact: If the above image were to be used as the game's US box art, it would receive an automatic "M" rating from the ESRB ... because Aya is pointing her gun directly at the "viewer." Fun!)

Tags: parasite-eve, parasite-eve-the-third-birthday, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ComicShaman @ Aug 20th 2008 6:52PM

Parasite Eve has always taken its lead from Resident Evil, which in turn has gone to the 3rd-person shooter mode. So this isn't too surprising.

I loved both the first too games. I'm very much looking forward to spending more quality time with Agent Brea again.

syrik zero @ Aug 20th 2008 7:17PM

I don't think the original was ANYTHING like any Resident Evil. Parasite Eve was a turn based RPG. Resident Evil still hasn't done that so there is no lead

Tiptup300 @ Aug 20th 2008 11:29PM

Joystiq, I demand you take down that image. My simple brain can not process the fact that it's just an image, so I thought someone was going to shoot me. I just shit my pants. Although stupid people do that anyways.

zuburi @ Aug 21st 2008 2:24AM

Agree with syrik. Parasite Eve got unfairly compared to Resident Evil because they both came out in the same timeframe and they also both used 3D characters on pre-rendered backgrounds. Gameplay was completely different, and Parasite Eve got unfairly blasted for being a "bad" game by reviewers because it wasn't "as good as Resident Evil."

It's kinda like saying Killer 7 took its lead from Jet Set Radio.

syrik zero @ Aug 21st 2008 2:16PM

Parasite Eve was such a great game! I wish they would just do a remake of the original. Or at least keep the same gameplay style with a new story. The gameplay was tons of fun

j.howlett @ Aug 20th 2008 6:52PM

why would box art that doesn't reflect gameplay have an effect on esrb ratings?

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Aug 20th 2008 8:34PM

Why does a character in a movie smoking get an instant R rating?

j.howlett @ Aug 20th 2008 8:54PM

what if the character only smokes in the poster but you only see them carrying cigarettes in the movie?

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Aug 20th 2008 11:30PM

Cigarette seen = instant R... which makes All Dogs Go To Heaven, 101 Dalmations, and Aladdin officially R rated films under the new standard...

...sad, isn't it?

The Doctor @ Aug 20th 2008 6:54PM

Is that fun fact real? I didn't know ESRB governed box art and trailers until this and the Mega64 story. Where can I read up on all of that?

Tiptup300 @ Aug 20th 2008 11:39PM

Make an xbox live account set to under 18, you can't see anything T and up. (Demos, Videos, Music Videos, Movies)

Nightvortez @ Aug 20th 2008 6:57PM

So it's more like 2 and less like 1? Fuck...

mmendoza27 @ Aug 21st 2008 12:47AM

You sir, get an R-rating for having a cigarette in your avatar...

P.S. Oh yeah, and for saying the word "Fuck" too. ;)

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:06PM

Yay, the relationship between me and my PSP ever grows! ^^ I must get PSP 3000.

nightmare452 @ Aug 20th 2008 7:12PM

Thanks you SE!

3rd person shooter, YEEEESSS!!! My second fav genre, just behing FPS.
My psp gets at least three games now before it finally gets no games (this one plus Agito and Locoroco2)

wickedpheonix @ Aug 20th 2008 7:15PM

So is that concept art or did the PSP all of a sudden get much better graphics?

...or so I just not know what I'm talking about? (not familiar with FF games here, yeah I know...)

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:24PM

Don't judge PSP graphics, they are superb in thier own right.

However, this is just CGI clippage.

Christian @ Aug 20th 2008 7:29PM

Why can't they make two versions of game, one "M-rated" one "T-rated"

Superstar90 @ Aug 20th 2008 7:39PM

A shooter? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Especially on a PSP :(

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:47PM

Coded Arms destroyed faith in shooters for PSP, Killzone regained people's faith :D

Resistance will reinforce that, and Parasite eve will follow in its footsteps.

Then I woke up and realised I can't predict the future.

Superstar90 @ Aug 20th 2008 8:02PM

But Killzone was an isometric shooter, which work for handhelds....

I just wish it was still a regular RPG, I was really psyched about it, now I'm not even going to bother with it.

j.howlett @ Aug 20th 2008 8:50PM

i made it through a couple levels of coded arms and got used to it. i also played some of the syphon filter levels that really improved things as a shooter. maybe PE will be good

Obie @ Aug 20th 2008 7:45PM

Note to self: Bridezilla with a gun = Run aweh!

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:48PM

'You better say 'I do' or I'll blow your caps off! Understood!'

Joe @ Aug 20th 2008 8:19PM

I hope Parasite Eve on the PSP will still be M like the last ones. I really enjoyed the last two. Both were had a different set ups and it sounds like this one will too. I really hope there will be some sweet cut-scenes because Crisis Core had some great ones and I would love to see what SE can do for Parasite Eve's.

jmf @ Aug 20th 2008 9:40PM

That would be awesome boxart though.....

Cutty @ Aug 20th 2008 9:58PM

Parasite Eve II was more of a shooter than an RPG, so I imagine this will be the same.

zombienutz @ Aug 21st 2008 12:45AM

I just want a good Parasite Eve sequel, and I would prefer it to be similar in format to the first one. Oh well, at least the franchise is still alive...maybe?

Nesta @ Aug 21st 2008 1:39AM

God Damnit. What a disappointment. When I first heard about this game I got really excited - like many people I imagine - hoping it would return to the series roots.

Sadly what we're getting sounds like more of a departure than the less than stellar PE2 was. Ahh well... too good to be true I guess. Here's hoping the game is at least decent for what it is.