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The 3rd Birthday is still one of my favorite PSP titles, and playing it again on the Vita just re-enforced my love of the series. Once PSOne titles start working on the Vita I can finally have my Aya Brea trilogy in one place to play at my leisure, and while this new game is a radical departure as far as gameplay is concerned, it still fits right in with the theme of the series as a whole.
Expect 15-20 hours of gameplay just to get through the game and that's not including any replays for secrets, alternate paths, or checking out any of the secrets or unlocks. The 3rd Birthday rivals a lot of console action-RPG's these days, and while it probably would have played better and received a wider audience on the PS3, I have to commend Square Enix for publishing a fantastic sequel and an exceptional gameplay experience on the PSP that any fan of the genre or the series should definitely check out.
The combat seems deceptively simple, but it becomes pretty hectic and involved as you progress through the missions. The Overdive ability is pretty unique, and jumping from soldier to soldier to flank an enemy works really well. The controls are easy to use on the PSP, and like most Square Enix titles on PSP, the game looks amazing. It's definitely worth checking out for PSP owners who are hungry for new games on their handheld. I absolutely suggest checking it out, even if you have no prior experience with the Parasite Eve series. The gameplay is what really sells this game, though, so don't come into this title expecting to be wowed by the future exploits of Aya Brea.
9
Alemadd19
Not an average shooter on PSP: this game has some very fun features that make the gameplay original and always fun.
7
clown_sama
game has a special place in my heart but growing up and looking back at it…it was pretty mid game with a confusing story. but if you played at least 2 square eniqx games then your no stranger to confusing plots
0
MessyStinkman
Looks bad, runs worse. Sounds pretty good. A story that is so unbelievably stupid, disconnected and up its own rear that it beggars belief. Gameplay that is dull and uninspired, and outside of the "mindjacking" mechanic does nothing that hasn't been done a million times before in other, better third person shooters. This is still, to this day, the only game I have ever just thrown in the trash. Do not pay money for this under any circumstances.

The 3rd Birthday

Released On: 
Mar 29, 2011
Metascore
71
User score
6.3
My Score
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Metascore
43% Positive
24 Reviews
52% Mixed
29 Reviews
5% Negative
3 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
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  • Negative Reviews
Jun 27, 2011
87
Game Chronicles
Expect 15-20 hours of gameplay just to get through the game and that's not including any replays for secrets, alternate paths, or checking out any of the secrets or unlocks. The 3rd Birthday rivals a lot of console action-RPG's these days, and while it probably would have played better and received a wider audience on the PS3, I have to commend Square Enix for publishing a fantastic sequel and an exceptional gameplay experience on the PSP that any fan of the genre or the series should definitely check out.
May 6, 2011
80
Eurogamer Portugal
The 3rd Birthday may not be what fans wanted, however, it is still a good game.
User score
45% Positive
77 Ratings
28% Mixed
47 Ratings
27% Negative
46 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Mar 15, 2025
10
Kyotaki
Um jogo bem diferente da franquiade Parasite Eve, mas mesmo assim consegue ser bastante incrível com sua jogabilidade e táticas de tiro. Um jogo repleto de ação e diversidade
Aug 1, 2024
10
Mgl2140
O jogo surpreende com gráficos impressionantes para o PSP, trazendo cenários detalhados e personagens bem modelados, com animações fluidas e efeitos visuais impactantes durante as batalhas. Aya Brea, a protagonista, tem um design marcante e uma história rica, que adiciona muita profundidade à trama. Uma das mecânicas mais inovadoras do jogo é o "Overdive", que permite a Aya possuir corpos de outros soldados no campo de batalha. Isso adiciona uma camada estratégica única, permitindo aos jogadores escolher a melhor posição e personagem para combater os inimigos. O combate é rápido e emocionante, misturando tiro em terceira pessoa com habilidades especiais, e há uma boa variedade de armas e upgrades para explorar diferentes estilos de jogo. A história é intrigante e cheia de reviravoltas, mantendo os jogadores sempre curiosos para descobrir mais. Aya passa por um desenvolvimento convincente ao longo do jogo, enfrentando conflitos internos e desafios que a tornam uma personagem realmente cativante. A trilha sonora, composta por Yoko Shimomura, é simplesmente fantástica. Ela varia de músicas tensas e atmosféricas a faixas épicas e emocionantes, complementando perfeitamente a ação e a narrativa. Os efeitos sonoros também são detalhados e realistas, desde os sons de tiros e explosões até os ruídos ambientais, que ajudam a imergir ainda mais os jogadores no mundo do jogo. No geral, "The 3rd Birthday" é uma experiência ambiciosa e memorável para os fãs de ação e RPG, destacando-se por sua jogabilidade inovadora e uma narrativa envolvente que mantém os jogadores engajados do início ao fim.
Apr 5, 2011
76
Cheat Code Central
The 3rd Birthday is fun, if not quite Parasite Eve. You may have to dig for its value at times, though the tough gameplay is eventually rewarding.
May 17, 2011
70
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Has pleasingly strong gunplay. [June 2011, p.112]
Mar 25, 2011
67
RPG Fan
The 3rd Birthday is disappointing; it brings back a series and a character that fans adore, and destroys what fans held as a paragon. The narrative is filled with holes and problems, the tough Aya people were hoping for is absent, the gameplay is a mess, and the story tries harder to throw you into cheap plot twists rather than to be enjoyable.
Mar 30, 2011
60
Gamer.nl
The 3rd Birthday tries to ride the success of the Parasite Eve franchise, but doesn't manage to impress despite its stunning visuals. The clunky camera, over-average story and sloppy controls really undermine what would otherwise be a surprising, challenging and varied game.
Apr 4, 2011
40
PlayStation LifeStyle
Some of the first magazine advertisements for Parasite Eve, back in the late 90′s, used the tagline, "The Worst Foe Lies Within the Self." How oddly ironic that all these years later, a new Parasite Eve game should come out in which the worst foe truly is not a monster, but flaws within the design of the game itself. That's heavy.
See All 56 Critic Reviews
Nov 25, 2020
10
LuisBelly
literally, the best game on psp. it have the best lore and the best plot. controls are simple, not hard or bad, you get used to it fast. the graphics are what you expect from a psp game. mechanics are what a TPS need. thanks HexaDrive and SquareEnix for making this mestrepeça.
Sep 4, 2025
7
clown_sama
game has a special place in my heart but growing up and looking back at it…it was pretty mid game with a confusing story. but if you played at least 2 square eniqx games then your no stranger to confusing plots
Jan 26, 2025
7
Antonio1998
Un bel gioco anche se come terzo capitolo di Parasite eve mi sarei aspettato un po’ di più… un gioco comunque ben fatto, divertente e buona storia.
Jun 24, 2023
3
tonberry_ftw
Perfect example of how to obliterate a franchise and a character. They should've never made this.
Sep 14, 2015
3
Manto
I really like Parasite Eve 1 and 2. Much. So, this "third" thing... Let's start with the average score: 5 +1 It has nice graphics. And I mean it. +1 The music is good, really good. +1 The world and struggle feels somewhat real. When you have to face those strange Twisted, you feel the desperation. It feels like those things can and will end the world. +1 The controls are simple and easy to grasp. The Pros made a 9. Now for the Cons... -1 Butcher of what Parasite Eve is. A slap in the face to the fans. Disrespectful. -1 Forgettable characters. Changed and destroyed the ones we know and love. -1 Plot holes and a story that makes no sense. -1 Sexualized Aya Brea. Disrespectful to the character. -1 The targeting systems doesn't always work as intended. The camera doesn't help either. -1 Frustrating fights. Sometimes its just unfair. Try the second boss (the wasp thing) for proof. At the end, The 3rd birthday gets a fair 3.
See All 47 User Reviews
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Summary(Also known as "Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday") Hideous creatures descend on Manhattan. Ground reports from the squad tasked with containing the pandemonium refer to these life forms as the Twisted. An investigatory team known as the CTI is formed within the year. The Overdive system emerges as a means of opposition, but only one viabl... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
  • PSP
Mar 29, 2011
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