August 25, 2000 (Europe)
September 12, 2000 (North America)
Parasite Eve II is the sequel to the video game Parasite Eve. It was developed and published by Squaresoft for the Sony PlayStation. It is the second game in the Parasite Eve series.
Parasite Eve II is set three years after the events in the original game. In her new adventure, Aya Brea is pulled into a new battle in the American southwest against the NMC creatures she battled in the Manhattan Incident. While fighting these advanced NMCs, Aya discovers a conspiracy that seeks to replace humans as the dominant species on Earth.
Gameplay diverges from the previous game as battles now occur in real time and in open areas. The gameplay is typical of the survival-horror genre, although RPG elements of EXP, MP, supernatural abilities resembling magic spells (but with a scientific basis), armor, and leveling are present.
A sequel to Parasite Eve II known as The 3rd Birthday was released in 2010, featuring Aya, Kyle Madigan and Eve Brea.
Plot[]
- Note: This plot summary follows the True/Good ending route.
Three years after the Manhattan incident, in September 2000, Aya Brea is an FBI agent working in the Mitochondrion Investigation and Suppression Team (MIST). The game opens with Aya practicing target shooting with co-worker Pierce Carradine. Aya messes up by shooting a target of a woman, and Pierce jokes if she has something against little girls. After their session, Pierce informs Aya that their boss, Eric "Hal" Baldwin, has dispatched Aya on an urgent mission at the Akropolis Tower in Los Angeles, California after reports of NMC activity.
Upon arriving at the tall building, Aya discovers a distraught scene. On the upper floors, she finds a slaughtered SWAT team and an NMC infestation. Aya finds a stranded woman sitting in a cafe. When Aya touches her shoulder, the woman falls to the floor and transforms into a monster. Aya is saved by another co-worker, Rupert Broderick. After battling her way through the top levels of the tower, Aya encounters a mysterious creature; a humanoid Artificial Neo-Mitochondrial Creature (ANMC) called No. 9 GOLEM. After battling the new creature, No. 9 triggers a series of bombs, destroying the Akropolis Tower. However, Aya and Rupert escape in a police helicopter last minute.
Aya meets "private investigator" Kyle Madigan on a water tower in Dryfield.
After returning to M.I.S.T.'s headquarters in L.A, Aya is tasked by her boss Hal with investigating strange incidents occurring in the desert town of Dryfield in the American southwest. The town consists of a truck-stop on a seldom used highway, with a motel, garage and diner. Upon arriving, she finds that Dryfield too is infested with NMCs. She later encounters a survivor, Gary Douglas, and his dog Flint, who acts as her source of news and equipment for much of the game. She later rescues Kyle Madigan, a private investigator who claims to be on a case that involves investigating the "Shelter", a nearby underground facility that may hold the answers to the recent outbreak of NMCs.
Aya accidentally burns Kyle with her powers.
Aya enters an abandoned house to find a woman screaming inside, but the woman dissolves into slime. No. 9 appears and he fights Aya. After the battle, No. 9 claims he "gets it now" and tells Aya "she's Eve's..." but does not finish. Aya has a biological mental/physical breakdown and telepathically sets No. 9 on fire before collapsing. That night, Kyle finds a sleeping Aya, and she accidentally sets his arm on fire when he approaches her at gunpoint, although he has no apparent injuries after. He reveals that he spoke to Gary Douglas, who knows where the Shelter is. Douglas offers to let Aya and Kyle use his truck to investigate the Shelter, and although Aya is reluctant to team up with Kyle, she eventually agrees to.
Aya hiding from the Burner.
Before leaving Dryfield for the Shelter, Aya finds gas for Douglas's old truck which Douglas himself fixes in the mean time. Aya decides to rest in the hotel but awakens and hears screaming outside, only to realize it was just from a television she left on. However, it turns out that a large ANMC has come to Dryfield which Aya defeats (depending on how fast the player defeats the monster, Flint may live or die).
Using the truck, Aya and Kyle go to the Abandoned Mine, the supposed entrance for the Shelter. The two successfully fight off a group of Desert Chasers outside the mine's entrance. During the heated battle Kyle is injured and stumbles into the mine as Aya finishes off the last of the ANMCs. Entering the mine, Aya is unable to locate Kyle and assumes he is dead after finding his pistol inside the mine where she defeated a large, powerful enemy.
Aya rescuing Pierce on the water tower.
Finding a hidden door inside the mine, Aya finally gains access to the Shelter. She fights the Glutton, a gigantic monkey turned into a monster due to experimentation, and reunites with Kyle. When Kyle is following Aya in the sewers, Aya opens the Full Moon Gate via a control panel using the passcode "15". She finds Flint injured, making her worry about Douglas. Aya separates from Kyle momentarily, agreeing to return to the Shelter later, and returns to Dryfield via the tunnel system. She follows Flint to the Water Tower and saves Pierce by bringing him three ice bags.
Aya returns to the Shelter. While exploring, she discovers that the ANMCs are the result of genetic engineering in an attempt to artificially create superior life forms, and that in some way she is closely involved. After accessing a computer belonging to Shelter researcher Fred Bowman, Aya discovers that the ANMCs were created from her own DNA. Aya discovers Bowman has transformed into an ANMC; he is hostile and Aya kills him, taking his ID card to progress in the Shelter.
Eventually Aya discovers the game's fourth and final area, the Neo Ark, the entrance to which is concealed in the Shelter. She finds out that the Ark facility was intended to be a showcase of ANMC technology, divided into different habitats, with zoo-like visitor commentaries and viewing platforms throughout the area. Habitat containment has broken down and the ANMCs are loose. This area is now infested with the creatures too. The goal in this area is for Aya to disable two power generators (Beta Generator and Proto Generator), which allows access to an area that could not be reached in the shelter.
Parasite Eve II - Cutscene 14 - Little Eve
Aya and Kyle rescue "Eve".
Aya returns to the shelter, which is now swarmed with GOLEM cyborgs. After descending elevators, Aya defeats the Puppet Stinger and is reunited with Kyle. Aya rescues a girl named Eve that has been manipulated into controlling the hostile NMCs. She also learns that Eve was created from her own DNA, making her Aya's twin clone. Aya examines Eve's demented child's room and realizes Eve endured physical, emotional and psychological abuse, from brainwashing monitors in her room to toy building blocks which were impossible to build with, simply to induce emotions like fear and frustration. Shortly after escaping an attack by unknown hostile forces, Aya and Eve are separated from Kyle. Aya and Eve find themselves back in Neo Ark, where Eve is kidnapped by No. 9 in a submarine tunnel.
Parasite Eve II - Saved by the Cavalry
The military fighting a GOLEM army.
Returning to the Shelter, Aya finds a path leading to the outside world. Emerging from the Shelter, Aya encounters a large force of GOLEMs, but is rescued by a battalion of U.S. Marines that have been activated by Aya's contacts at MIST. She later receives a gift from Mr. Douglas, via Flint, of supplies. She decides to use Flint to help her find Eve, using Eve's teddy bear in order to give him a scent to track. Flint leads her back into the Shelter, tracking Eve's scent, but is sent back to the surface in order to lead a blinded Marine to safety. During this time, Aya rescues Pierce in a freezer.
No. 9, with a complicit Kyle by his side, prepares to sacrifice Eve to the cocoon.
Aya tracks Eve down to a room containing an enormous cocoon, where No. 9 is attempting to meld Eve with the creature; Kyle at No. 9's side, complicit in his actions. Kyle explains that he is part of an organization trying to rebuild humanity by creating ANMCs to "revitalize" the evolution of human growth by creating a new food chain, and that neo-mitochondria is the future of humanity. He also claims that the ANMCs were volunteering humans who wanted a chance at eternal youth by sacrificing their morality and dignity. Kyle shoots Aya non-fatally in the shoulder. While Eve is communicating with the cocoon using her special helmet, Kyle suddenly turns on No. 9, wounding him with a gunshot before the cocoon creature devours him. Kyle explains he had to "play both sides" to figure out what was going on. Eve begins to speak for the first time, although she asks if "those are stars" coming from the sky, which she sees through a ceiling window.
The SDI Elephant targeting the shelter.
Moments later, a satellite weapon is fired with authority by the President; decimating Dryfield, as well as a part of the Shelter. Aya and Kyle find themselves separated by a hole that has penetrated all the Shelter's levels. One of Kyle's legs has been obliterated and he passes out. Aya looks down to see Eve hanging onto a piece of debris on the edge of one of the lower levels. Eventually, the cocoon breaks open, having being dislodged by the impact of the weapon, revealing the largest ANMC in the game.
After defeating this creature, mutated Eve emerges from the lake of mitochondria and biomatter below as a fast and powerful winged NMC resembling a large butterfly. With her last enemy in sight, Aya battles for one last time. After the final battle, various cutscenes are shown depending on the actions of the player during the game.
Endings[]
Parasite Eve 2 ending
Aya and Eve meet Kyle in the museum.
- True / Good ending: Once the bosses are defeated, Aya and Eve awaken surrounded by medics. Aya has a monologue about what happened to the characters. A year after the game's events, on September 1, 2001, after being given passes by Pierce, Aya and Eve visit the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, remembering the outbreak of mitochondria. Kyle meets up with them and it is implied he has a prosthetic leg under his jeans. The situation implies that Kyle and Pierce contacted each other and wanted Kyle's appearance to be a surprise. This ending is the happiest - however, although the game was released before 9/11, 9/11 is only 10 days away, making it a sort of bittersweet ending in retrospect. To obtain this ending:
- Save Flint from the Burner in Dryfield.
- After defeating the Glutton, when Kyle is following Aya in the sewers, open the Full Moon Gate via a control panel using the passcode "15". Return to Dryfield from the shelter. Follow Flint to the Water Tower and save Pierce.
- Read Pierce's memo in the Pod Service Gantry. Immediately call Jodie.
- Get the Teddy Bear by No. 9's motorcycle.
- Get the note from Flint, and give him the Teddy Bear.
- Rescue Pierce in Golem Freezer.
- Save the blinded soldier in the shelter.
- Normal ending: Once the bosses are defeated, Aya and Eve awaken surrounded by medics. The game ends on a cliffhanger.
- Missing any of the requirements for the good ending will lead to the normal ending instead.
- Sad / Bad ending: Once the bosses are defeated, Aya and Eve fall down a pod. Aya and Eve awaken surrounded by medics. As Aya is falling, she looks at Kyle to tell him something, but can't because she passes out.
- Obtained if you don't save Pierce.
- Obtained if you don't read Pierce's Memo or call Jodie afterwards (before exiting the Shelter).
- Contrary to a common misconception, Flint's fate does not affect getting the bad ending.
Gameplay[]
The status menu.
Parasite Eve II shifts from its cinematic RPG roots to the survival horror genre, while attempting to insert RPG elements into the mix. The RPG elements present are the use of:
- EXP (experience) to gain Levels, as well as obtain and strengthen Parasite Energy
- HP (Hit Points, or health)
- MP (Mitochondria Points used to power Aya's Parasite Energy abilities)
- PE (Parasite Energy, the game's equivalent of spells)
- BP (Bounty Points, which are earned by killing enemies - BP can be traded for weapons, armor, items, and ammo at shops.)
Combat[]
Aya fighting a Stranger monster in Dryfield.
Character controls have been changed to tank style controls, allowing fighting to be done in real space versus the limited battle area present in the original game. These controls eschew the turn based fighting present in the original, giving the player a more dynamic and free fighting system.
Camera movement is not controlled by the player. When moving around, there are sudden shifts in the pre-rendered backgrounds as opposed to the pan and zoom present in the original. These fixed camera angles can make battles tenser as the player may not always know where the enemies are off-screen.
Aya shooting a monster.
Unlike Parasite Eve, there is no Active Time Bar that governs the order of actions during a battle. Battles take place in real time, so the player is free to act as they see fit. Another contrast is the absence of the 'range dome' seen in the first game, allowing the player to shoot at off-screen targets and engage targets from a safe distance, although when Aya uses some offensive Parasite Energy, there is a green "field" which will miss enemies not in it. There are also no random battles; enemies will be found wandering in plain view, hence allowing the player to avoid confrontations and plan strategies. Aiming, as with most other games of this genre, is accomplished by cycling through the various 'lockable' targets within Aya's range.
For many battles, Aya can run away, although this will lose minor BP, Aya will gain minor MP.
Parasite Energy[]
Parasite Energy upgrade screen.
- Main article: Parasite Energy#Parasite Eve II
Parasite Energy can be obtained and strengthened using EXP.
Although the player may choose to upgrade what they want, maxing out Healing (as healing Aya is very important) and Energyshot (raises Aya's damage) should be the highest priorities, especially for beginners. Pyrokinesis (many enemies are vulnerable to fire attacks) should be a second priority. If the player can spare 1500 EXP for all three, level 1 Necrosis (poison) is useful as some bosses are vulnerable to poison and will take damage over time, level 1 Metabolism is useful for curing status effects, and level 1 Antibody is useful for a basic defense boost.
Something important which the game does not tell the player is that using Healing during combat will restore more HP than outside it, so the player should always try to do so. For example, if the player has 25 HP and uses Healing, their HP can become 75 outside combat, and 100 during combat.
Another important note is that the player should be conservative with MP. Unlike a lot of JRPGs where the player can use magic non-stop with little consequences, it is much harder to do so in Parasite Eve II where MP is more of precious resource. If the player uses Parasite Energy liberally, they can run out of MP which can be very dangerous during harder fights and make overall progress harder. Parasite Energy should be sparingly and only in emergencies or boss fights (with the exception of Healing, so if Aya is low on health, it is not a big deal to heal). For example, if Aya is inflicted with status effects but the player feels like they are about to win the battle anyway, they should not use Metabolism. Ammo is much more plentiful in the game and there are many infinite ammo boxes, so it is wiser to prioritize killing enemies by shooting instead of Parasite Energy.
Parasite Energy is divided into four areas:
Aya immolating an enemy with Fire PE.
- Fire - Offensive. Fire is perhaps the most useful method of attacking due to its devastating power and good range. It is composed of the fireball Pyrokinesis, the wall of fire Combustion and the explosive Inferno.
- Wind - Offensive. Wind comprises electrical attacks that have less power but higher tactical value because they are capable of immobilizing and poisoning enemies. These are the electric ball Necrosis, the electric pulse dome Plasma and the thunderstorm Apobiosis.
- Water - Defensive. Water involves healing energies; these are the status curing Metabolism, the HP restoring Healing and the offensively-used HP draining Lifedrain.
- Earth - Defensive. Earth relates to physical energies, so is most useful for defense, but can also give Aya a decent attack. The energies are the magnetic armor Antibody, the bullet-power improving Energy Shot and the offensive/defensive balls Energy Balls.
Equipment and items[]
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Weapons
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Armor
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Items
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Ammunition
Equipment can be obtained by purchasing it, prize from successful battles, or finding it in predetermined areas of the game. BP can be also traded for weapons, armor, items, and ammo at the shops.
Unlike most other survival horror games, ammunition is almost never in short supply. While Aya can only carry limited amounts of equipment with her, inexhaustible ammunition boxes exist in most areas and can be revisited as often as required for a top-up. This encourages the player to fight rather than run, which is essential to the gameplay as it is the only way to gain experience and thus for Aya to become powerful enough to succeed.
Players lose the ability to modify or create weapons and armor as was the case in the original. While equipment follows the original game's concept of being customizable, in general the weapons and armor are quite limited in the alterations available. For weapons, some can be accessorized with various attachments; i.e. attaching a grenade launcher to the M4A1 giving the user a secondary fire mode. Armors vary in their defense and specials but can be augmented by adding special items, such as Holy Water into the attachment slots. These items are not lost or destroyed if the armor is sold and the armors cannot be modified by taking stats from another.
Items in the game often serve two purposes. The player can use them directly from the inventory, or attach them to Aya's armor. The player should see the items page to see both possible different effects. For example, the player should directly use a Protein Capsule because it permanently raises max HP by 5, which is more important than its "attachment" purpose which recovers full HP during battle, as using Healing once or twice would have that same effect. In contrast, Holy Water, Ofuda and Skull Crystal should be attached to the armor and would be a waste to be consumed.
Unlockables[]
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Modes
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Rankings
Once the game has been completed, bonus items become available for the player should they choose to redo the game in Replay mode. Other modes also become available, such as Bounty Hunter and Scavenger which are more difficult for the player to complete. The most difficult mode "Nightmare" only becomes available after completing the game in Scavenger Mode.
Music[]
Parasite Eve II Original Soundtrack
- Main article: Parasite Eve II Original Soundtrack
Parasite Eve II Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album of video game music for Parasite Eve II. The music was composed by Naoshi Mizuta.
Reception[]
Parasite Eve II received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release in 2000. It received a score of 78.46% on GameRankings and 79/100 on Metacritic.
It received praise for an interesting new battle system and its suspenseful intriguing plot. The game's graphics were also praised, especially considering how it was released at the end of the PlayStation One's lifecycle in preparation for the PlayStation 2.
However, it was criticized for;
- Outdated, sluggish, awkward and clumsy tank controls.
- Massive amounts of backtracking.
- Often confusing and vague puzzles, almost as if the developers designed the game in order to sell strategy guides. In contrast to the first game's streamlined and straightforward nature, players of the second game are often unsure of what to do next and how to progress the next objective.
- Some criticized the game's setting for being boring after Akropolis Tower, as the rest of the game is set in an abandoned desert town or a laboratory-looking maze near the end, a contrast to exploring the locales of New York City.
- Fans of Yoko Shimomura's work on the first game were disappointed as her melodic music is replaced by silence or uninteresting ambience.
- The game's difficulty can be quite challenging, as it is arguably a level above than the first game. An argument can be made that Parasite Eve II is a "hard" game. Some players never finish the game because the final two bosses, fought back-to-back, can be extremely challenging, especially without a strategy guide.
- Some aspects of the game haven't aged well such as its low-polygonal in-game models and low-resolution 320x240 pre-rendered backgrounds. The game lacks significant voice acting, with the only voice acting in the game being limited to a few sparse grunts, screams, laughs, and short phrases, while previous PlayStation One games showed that voice acting was possible during the era, although in the game's defense, mainstream voice acting was just becoming a standard. The game was also released on two discs, since CDs at the time could only store a limited amount of data.
Trivia[]
- Like the first game, Parasite Eve II also features phones as save points.
- Square released "Parasite Eve II: The Official Lunchbox".[1][2][3]
- The game contains Coca-Cola advertising.[4] Aya can find a Coca-Cola bottlecap magnet which helps her out in the game.[5] She can also drink Coca-Cola bottles to restore her HP. This had led to the conspiracy theory that Square secretly partnered with Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola funded the game, although it could simply be because the developers wanted to convey the game is set in reality.
Pinball.
- There is a Einhänder pinball machine in Dryfield's restaurant.
- The game references Square's Final Fantasy franchise, particularly Final Fantasy VIII, with an unlockable Gunblade weapon and reference in dialog to Cactuars.
- Similar to the Final Fantasy series, its title name officially has a Roman numeral (II instead of 2), while Parasite Eve 2 is an alternate name.
External links[]
Videos[]
Trailers[]
Gameplay[]
