It seems safe to say that anticipation is at an all time high for the likely forthcomingResident Evil 3 Remakeafter cover art for it leaked online, yet what differentiates it fromResident Evil 2 Remakehype is that the latter has already released.Capcom’s remake ofResident Evil 2garnered universal acclaim following its release, and it has even been nominated for Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards ceremony. May believe that theRE3 Remakewill be able to hit the same success, which could open doors for other developers to remake even more classic horror games with updated graphics and mechanics. Perhaps one of the most deserve is Square’sParasite Eve.
For those unaware,Parasite Evefirst released in 1998 as an action role-play survival horror game for the PS1. It follows NYC police officer Aya Brea as she attempts to stop the Eve, an entity attempting to destroy the human race through spontaneous combustion. When it launched, it received tons of praise for its graphics of the time and gameplay, but was considered too linear. It would go on to have two sequels:Parasite Eve 2in 1999 andThe 3rd Birthdayin 2010.
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As players explored Manhattan in the originalParasite Eve, there was a chance of random encounters in certain hotspots, which created a real-time combat system with an active time bar in that location. Players could choose to move, attack, use Parasite Energy, use items, change equipment, or attempt to escape. Its RPG elements included modifiable weapons, experience points, and a standard level-up system. As such, not only could a remake of this be compared toCapcom’sResident Evil Remakes, but it also makes sense in terms of Square Enix’sFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.
The scare factor ofParasite Evecould be explored, bringing the general horror of the game up a few notches. Many consider Parasite Eve to be creepy, but not necessarily scary in the way some expect, save special scenes like the mutating dog and the two big spontaneous combustion scenes. And while many were worried of thePOV change forResident Evil 2at first, givingParasite Evethe same over-the-shoulder camera angle would only add more to this. Given more up-to-date combat, more emphasized yet dark tones, and updated graphics, its horror elements could all easily change for the better.
The weapon upgrades could take on a similar role toResident Evil 2but also emphasize ammo conversation and survival mechanics over general RPG choice. Instead of a plethora of weapons to be found over the map, cutting those back and better emphasizing the seriousness of combat and the need to conserve would do much to elevate its horror elements. That said, there’s no reason that the RPG elements couldn’t be touched up a laFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeeither.
TheFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeis taking the traditional combatand modernizing it, with action being emphasized as well as the RPG elements. This combination of tactical approach yet active combat could do much forParasite Eveas well, making the game a joy on modern consoles. And, if nothing else, this proves that Square Enix is capable of such a remake, even if the genres are slightly different.
Like both theResident Evil 2 Remakeand theFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, it could also add more to the story, emphasizing more character development, more location, and offering more explanation to the events of the game. After all, even if it hadRE-like horror elementsandFF7-like RPG elements, the heart that would determine the game’s overall success and replayability is its story. And it wouldn’t even have to change that much, but with a few additions here and there, it’d make fans of the classic appreciate the original and the remake all the more.
Of course, the big question is not how theParasite Everemake would look, but if it’s even possible as a project. For this, there have been teases over the past few years, with one of the first being a hint atBrea in theFF7 RemakeE3 2015 trailer. Yet very little from this manifested until E3 2019 season began.
Prior to E3 2019,Square Enix filed a new trademark forParasite Eve, leading to speculation that the game would be revealed at the annual showcase. That didn’t prove to be the case, and while there is still hope that the game gets a remake, a trademark does little to guarantee anything. For now, fans of the franchise seeking its return will just have to wait and see if Square Enix has anything cooking, but chances are, even if it does, it’ll likely release quite some time after each part of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remake.
