PSP Addict Blog

Developer Square Enix HexaDrive
Publisher Square Enix
Designer Hajime Tabata (director), Yoshinori Kitase, Tetsuya Nomura, Isamu Kamikokuryo, Motomu Toriyama
Composer Yōko Shimomura
Series Parasite Eve
Platform PlayStation Portable
Release date JP 2010
Genre Third-person shooter
Mode Single-player
Media UMD, Digital Download

The 3rd Birthday (Za Sādo Bāsudei?) is an upcoming video game from Square Enix. The game is being developed for the PlayStation Portable and will mark the third entry in the Parasite Eve series after Parasite Eve 2, which was released in 2000. Very little information about the plot has been released. In April 2010, Yoichi Wada CEO of Square Enix mentioned in an interview that the game would be released in 2010.

The 3rd Birthday is a spin-off of the Parasite Eve series, which is why "Parasite Eve" has been excluded from its title. The title references the third appearance of Aya Brea and the significant changes for the design of the game compared to its predecessors. However, as it has the number "3" in the name and is the third game in the "Parasite Eve" series, fans have been referring to the game as "Parasite Eve 3".

Gameplay

Director Hajime Tabata has described the game as a "true third person shooter," but that it will be different than other games of the genre such as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. He noted that the gameplay and plot are intertwined due to an ability called "overdrive" which Aya will use to both examine and fight the game's enemies, the "Twisted." Shown at a trailer at Tokyo Game Show, camera will be over the shoulder, such as in games like Resident Evil 5 and Dead Space.

Plot

Late night on Christmas Eve, Aya and the other members of CTI: New York are called into headquarters in response to an outbreak of attacks in Manhattan by creatures called Twisted. These creatures emerged from a mysterious time distortion.

Aya is the main focus of this game. Due to her special powers, she still has the body of a woman in her 20s, although in terms of age she should actually be 35 years old. Motomu Toriyama, the scenario director, feels that it is rare to be able to focus on a woman in her mid 30s in a game and is taking the opportunity to properly depict the thinking and lifestyle of a cool woman.[5] Square Enix announced the title at their 2007 party in Japan for the gaming press. A promotional teaser has also been released which shows Aya in wedding garb.

Development

The game was originally announced as a mobile phone title. However, at the private fan event DKΣ3713 in August 2008, it was announced that The 3rd Birthday was also being developed for the PSP[8] with no mention of the previously-announced mobile phone version. In the Tokyo Game Show presskits, it was confirmed that the game would be exclusive to the PSP.

A teaser trailer was shown at the Tokyo Game Show. The trailer recaps the events of Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve 2 before switching to the events of The 3rd Birthday. Aya is in a street with snow falling. She looks up, concerned, as a vortex opens. The trailer continues with a man offering Aya his hand. She flings it away and the camera focuses on Aya as she shoots him. Whilst this is happening, a remix of the original theme can be heard. The trailer concludes with a creature emerging from the vortex into the street. Aya does battle with the creature and just as it attacks her, the camera pans into her eyes hinting at the possible return of parasite energy. The trailer ends with the logo of The 3rd Birthday and confirms that the game will be exclusive to the PSP.

Another trailer was released, this time the same trailer that was presented in the DKΣ3713 event. After also recapping the events of Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve II, Aya Brea is seen walking down the aisle in an empty church. As she reaches the altar a shadowy figure is seen in the doorway behind her. As she starts to turn, the mystery person opens fire with a rifle. Aya takes out her handgun, and just as she is about to shoot the figure turns and appears to be carrying someone. A wedding ring falls to the floor on the steps nearby. Blood on the floor begins to swallow the ring and once it has, the camera zooms into the ring with the same effect as zooming into Aya's eye in the previous trailer. The lights turn yellow and change into "The 3rd Birthday" logo, again confirming that the 3rd Birthday will be exclusive to the PSP.

Issue 6/5 of Famitsu has an interview of Tetsuya Nomura where he says that the first few stages of the game are already playable.

Magazine Screenshot: