Resident Evil changed everything. When originally released in 1996, what was once a niche genre for enthusiasts was now a blockbuster staple in every second home. All of a sudden people were craving zombies, horrifying monsters and disturbing themes. It was so popular that Square, far more known for its more traditional JRPGs, decided to throw its hat in the ring and make Parasite Eve.
On the surface, the game appeared to be textbook survival horror. But dig a little deeper and you could see that Square was unable to escape its roots. Turn based mode happened in a sphere similar to Vagrant Story, upgrades were plentiful and incremental, and the storytelling had more cutscenes than gameplay at least in the early stages. Thematically this was still horrifying…but under the hood was a different story.
Was this blend of genres ultimately successful, giving survival horror a fresh new perspective? Or is it impossible to reconcile grim resources management with the power fantasy that RPGS almost always offer?
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On this episode, we discuss:
Story
How does Parasite Eve use real world science to lend an air of credibility to the horrific changes that are happening all over Manhattan? Does it execute the smaller details well even if the larger picture is a bit silly at times?
Combat
How enjoyable is the moment to moment real time combat of Parasite Eve? The game requires you to dodge attacks, and pick the best moment to strike. Is this too simplistic or does it work well?
Progression
How do the weapon and armour upgrades work in Parasite Eve? Does it provide the player with a satisfying sense of progression, or is it all just a confusing mess?
We answer these questions and many more on the 132nd episode of the Retro Spectives Podcast!
Intro Music: KieLoBot - Tanzen K
Outro Music: Rockit Maxx - One point to another
Parasite Eve OST: Yoko Shinomura
What crazy weapon upgrade paths do you like to use? Is the NG+ mode worth playing? How is Parasite Eve 2 different from the original? Come let us know what you think on our discord server!
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