Parasite Eve 2 is the new survival-horror RPG from Square that continues the story which began in the first game 3 years ago.  Taking cues from all the criticisms of the first game, the developers have improved all the aspects of gameplay to create an exceptional new environment of mutant mitochondria horrors.

The story follows the continuing adventure of Aya Brea, an ex-New York detective responsible for stopping the Mitochondria Eve infestation in New York 3 years ago.  Since then Aya has moved to LA and become part of M.I.S.T., a special task force devoted to fighting new instances of Neo-Mitochondrial Creatures or NMCs.  Throughout the game, the player controls Aya as she investigates a growing conspiracy of diabolical scientific experiments in human evolution that increasingly get out of control.  In my opinion, the story lacks the central tension between the two characters of Aya and Melissa that was the focus of that game.  Instead, there is a larger cast of characters and a plot line that is ambiguous at best and certainly less intense.  This time around the focus is more on Aya and her origins as well as what happened with the leftover mutant cells from the New York battle.

The graphics are the usual pre-rendered backgrounds, with creepy color tones and eerie music.  This time, instead of the city, most of the game takes place in the desert, lab, and sewers, which really changes the overall mood of the game from that of the first game.  Sound effects range from squeaks and taps as Aya walks around to a myriad of animal sounds as attacks occur.  The CG sequences are very impressive, as one would expect from Squaresoft.  Unfortunately, there are not as many as in the first game.  

Gameplay is where Parasite Eve 2 excels over the original.  Rather then the menu-based combat of the first one, the action is less constricted, with battles taking place in real-time as Aya runs around to dodge enemies and get the best angles for firing her guns.  Aya must first lock-on the enemy with the square button, and then shoot with the upper R1 button in succession.  Magic is handled through Parasite Energy that must be unlocked and leveled up with experience.   Through battles you gain Bounty Points, that can be traded in for new items, weapons, ammunition, and armor.  Both weapons and armor have different attachments and effects which affect their usefulness.  Items can only be accessed during combat if they are attached to the armor, so better armor with more spaces is more important then just defense.  HP and MP amounts do not grow with experience but rather they are dependent on the armor Aya is wearing.  Besides the usual monster battles, most of the game consists of solving a variety of puzzles and solving clues that lead to what to do next.  These involve running errands for people, finding keys, pressing switches and entering codes.  

Overall, the gameplay is more like Resident Evil then the first Parasite Eve, although the lock-on system makes it a much easier game.  The gameplay also offers enough variety to keep you interested despite the so-so plot and lackluster settings.  Although not a great survival-horror game, fans of the original should definitely check it out.