Don't play Parasite Eve expecting to get a regular Squaresoft RPG. Based on a popular Japanese novel of the same name, Parasite Eve takes on a new style unlike anything Square had done to date. This cinematic RPG combines regular RPG elements with a Resident Evil style twist and what results is one of Squaresofts more memorable games.

The game follows the adventures of the beautiful and young NYPD officer Aya Brea. While visiting an opera house chaos erupts when Eve, a young woman who has been transformed by her self-aware mitochondria, ignites the audience in flames (it looks really cool when she does it, too!). With her mitochondria induced powers, Eve begins to rampage the city, mutating animals, burning the innocent and just making things all around unpleasant for the lovely citizens of New York. Mysteriously, Aya is unaffected by Eve's powers and, with her partner Daniel, she begins an investigation to unravel the mystery of Parasite Eve! At times the storyline can get a little bit slow as the characters go on and on for hours talking about genetics and mitochondria, and when it isn't slow it's often a bit confusing. Overall the storyline isn't the best I've seen, but it's still enjoyable and and will make you think a little bit.

Aya is a very likable main character and she's a refreshing change from the regular spikey haired, sword-wielding teenager with a troubled past that most Squaresoft games feature. The remaining cast consists of Aya's partner Daniel, and the guy who handles all the complicated mitochondria stuff for them, Maeda. Also, let's not forget Eve. By the time you're done with this game she'll have you shivering at the mere mention of the word "mitochondria." Parasite Eve is only around 15 hours long, so character development is kept to a minimum. The two most important characters in the storyline, Aya and Eve, are the only ones with any significant development. The game is very linear as you move from place to place without time to do the countless hours of sidequests that some gamers look forward to. This is where it's obvious the game was based on a novel as the game consists of mostly storyline with gameplay almot thrown in as an afterthought. If you like to wander around a lot training chocobos and searching for secret weapons, then Parasite Eve may not be for you. Although there is some replay value with additional storyline and boss fights for those of you who need a little more out of your RPGs.

As Aya levels up she will gain her own Parasite Powers, such as heal and haste, so that she can compete toe to toe with Eve. One of her more memorable abilities in the game is called "Liberate" where Aya's mitochondria transform her and allow her to attack multiple times in a row doing some serious damage. As you progress through the game you are also allowed to customize and upgrade your weapons. This can be very important and will allow you to beat some of the more difficult bosses. The hybrid turn-based/real-time combat is pretty cool and allows Aya to run around and dodge enemy attacks while continuing to fight back. This battle system may seem awkward at first, but it'll grow on you...or at least it did on me.

The graphics in Parasite Eve are some of the most beautiful graphics you'll find in any game. Having been created several years ago they are now outdated, but for their time the graphics are top notch. The backgrounds and characters are about as nice as they come, and the cinematics are in a level all their own. The game is full of these awesome cinemas and all of them are memorable. The opening cinema where Eve lays waste to the opera house has to be one of my all time favorites, and the game is honestly worth playing just for these outstanding graphics.

Parasite Eve can be a little slow at times, and it's one of the harder Playstation games I can think of. Along with the linearity of the game, these features may turn a lot of gamers away from Parasite Eve before it's been given a fair chance. The game is very original and has opened up a door for new styles of RPG's to emerge. With groundbreaking graphics and a great style of gameplay, Parasite Eve has become a classic that no RPG fan should be without. Besides, you can probably find it for $10 by now, so what do you have to lose?