Parasite Eve II

The original Parasite Eve was a very unique game there is no doubt. It showcased a really interesting mix of sci fi survival horror and RPG elements that was groundbreaking for the time and has seldom been replicated since. Throw in some amazing horror scenes and a fantastic soundtrack and you have yourself a classic. So how does the sequel stack up?

To sum it up, it falls short which is disappointing to see since you can see in the game where they could have changed things for the better.
Probably the biggest change to the game is the combat which is frenetic compared to the first games more calculated combat. This actually didn't bother me that much since as much as I like the first game its pacing was a bit of a slog. The combat in this game leans itself to faster encounters that lessens the horror a little bit but generates a more entertaining experience.
The downside to this change in the gameplay is the removal of the weapon crafting system of the first game. What is the point of making your gameplay more combat focused if you remove one of the most interesting aspects of the first games combat. Gone are the days of building a extremely powerful gun, instead you are stuck with the six or so guns they give which severely limits player expression. To make up for this, Mitochondria powers have been reworked so you can spec how you want. This is a fine addition as it cuts back on grinding a little bit and gives incentive for future playthroughs.

I am going to quickly list some other complaints I had with the game.
*The requirements for the good ending were not clear at all and I wish there was better signposting for that stuff.
*Key items are rarely highlighted so sometimes you will just be clicking on random objects in the environment until you find what you want.
*You spend about half of this game in a lab environment which sucks since I think lived in environments such as Dryfield are vastly more interesting to explore and was ultimately my favorite part of the game

I've mostly been saying negative stuff but I actually did like this game I was just disappointed that it ended up being a slog in parts and that I could where it could have done better. I really enjoyed some of the boss fights, especially the final boss and I still think the soundtrack was pretty good just maybe a little bit of a step down. Keep in mind that I played this on an emulator so I was able to reduce on time wasted from dying or other moments. If I had played this on original hardware I cant confidently say I would have given it the same score.

I really hope this franchise sees some sort of revival at some point since it is really fascinating. I really want to try Third Birthday at some point despite it being the reason we may never see this franchise again

Parasite Eve II is a stylish and somewhat compelling game that I really wanted to be good as I began to play it. The visual design and graphics in particular are really excellent and I enjoyed the survival horror aspects of the gameplay. Unfortunately, the game is ultimately bogged down by RPG elements that needlessly complicate things, and obscenely tanky controls which are somehow worse than tank controls in games released earlier and make for some infuriating combat.

Parasite Eve II marked a sudden change to tank controls, longer levels, fewer RPG elements and a proper focus on environmental puzzles, that increased its similarities with Resident Evil. Outside of upgraded graphics and production values, not much interests or separates it from the typical survival horror giants of its time. One notable feature is probably its extra game modes.

Once my favourite game ever, Parasite Eve 2 has tumbled down that list the more I have played it, not really getting exciting until the second half when the best enemies and monsters show up. The combat attempts to fix the classic Resident Evil problem of poor aiming by attributing much of the work to a lock-in and letting the challenge lie in positioning, but the tank controls simply don't give you enough leg room to meaningfully pull this off much of the time. And while the story is a notable departure from the previous entry and a suitable progression in terms of tone, increasing the paranoid feel, it's not enough to escape the cliches it is saddled with this time.

Still, arguably better art direction and a marginally better understanding of the interplay between RPG, shooter and survival horror still give it its own feel in the gaming sphere.