TGS: Parasite Eve II update

[09.18.99] » Aya's second adventure skews away from the RPG genre.

   The latest wave of Parasite Eve II information flowing in from the Tokyo Game Show reveals that the game almost may be more of an adventure title than an RPG. While Aya still fights via a menu and possesses HP, MP, and other statistics, PE II also features a lot more action -- the ability to dodge enemies without engaging in battle, in particular, makes for a more intense game.

   More information on the storyline has also been divulged. PE II occurs three years after [parasite eve]. The mitochondria rebellion has been tamed -- at least until September 9, 2000. On this day, new mitochondrial mutants appear in Los Angeles' Acropolis Tower. As she was the hero of the first outbreak, Aya and her FBI MIST team are called in to investigate the situation.

   Perhaps as an effect of the new outbreak, Aya's Parasite Energy spells have been enhanced; she now wields a greater variety of spells (and uses MP to cast them instead of PE). The weapon customization feature from the original also returns, allowing you to create your own weapons by dismantling other weapons and "stealing" attributes from them. Finally, Square also mentioned the prospect of a second character joining Aya -- while you wouldn't actually control him or her, the other, AI-controlled character should help out in battle.

   But while many of [parasite eve]'s features return, the development staff doesn't. Parasite Eve II is crafted by a rookie Square team in Osaka, and character designer Tetsuya Nomura is nowhere to be seen, causing many to wonder whether the new team is up to the challenge of creating a second Parasite Eve. Gamers will soon discover the answer to the question when the game arrives in Japan this December.