The 3rd Birthday (Square Enix, PSP, TPP Action RPG)

[yezhanquan]

So, Aya is able to inflict terrible, terrible damage on her enemies with her ability. But, any idea what the tradeoff is?

[Iron Maw]

No idea, but her ability to possess her enemies/allies and switch out before they die does seems like a broken (but fun) mechanic. I image that there is probably a limit how you can use it, due effects on her mind or, such.

[Ryonea]

Originally Posted by yezhanquan

So, Aya is able to inflict terrible, terrible damage on her enemies with her ability. But, any idea what the tradeoff is?

From Andriasang.com:

Outside of the costume details, Jump has a look at one of Aya's "Over Energy" moves. In past trailers, you might have seen a move called "Inferno." This move deals great damage to the enemy, but at great cost, as Aya sacrifices herself.

Of course, it's not actually "Aya" who's sacrificing herself, but the soldier she's overdived into at the time. The 3rd Birthday Twitter actually made mention of the Inferno move a while back and noted that Aya can escape self inflicted death by overdiving into another soldier at the last second.

[yezhanquan]

Ok, so she should never try this while alone.

[Ravenblitz]

just started playing this... on hard mode & damn its too good for a PSP

can't get enough Aya!

[synaesthetic]

Hope the NA version allows me to switch to Japanese audio w/ English subtitles...

[zebra]

Originally Posted by Ravenblitz

just started playing this... on hard mode & damn its too good for a PSP

can't get enough Aya!

May I ask if it matters if you have played the former installments of the series?

[LotionExplosion]

Hold up....Correct me if Im wrong but.. The release date is December of 2011?

Whats the point of releasing the final trailer if its 12 more MONTHS!!?

[Ryonea]

Originally Posted by LotionExplosion

Hold up....Correct me if Im wrong but.. The release date is December of 2011?

Whats the point of releasing the final trailer if its 12 more MONTHS!!?

No, it has been released on 22nd December this year (the Japanese version). IIRC the English localization should be around March next year.

[synaesthetic]

Looks like Square has www.the3rdbirthdaygame.com, but hasn't done anything with it yet. It just redirects to a bunch of press releases.

Apropos of that, it looks like FFXIV's mediocreness is really hurting S-E... hope it doesn't sink them.

Edit: Oh, here's the actual site. http://na.square-enix.com/the3rdbirthday/

[yezhanquan]

Hmmm... Might delay this until 012 comes out. Aya as Lightning and Lightning as Aya: Can't really pass that one up.

[synaesthetic]

Oh, my girlfriend translated the "final trailer" dialogue between the characters from the cutscene excerpts.

Translation ahead:

Dying girl: I am...Aya...
Next girl that talks: Remember...Big Sister...The memories of Time Zero (I guess this is a game thing?)
Girl w/hair in a bun:Save Grey (Rei?) from taking my body 3 days ago (?) I know you can do it.
Girl in white coat: Eve...my little sister....!....Ascent! (?) The world has started to change!
Dude:Many will appear again. We shall meet at red-fog Babel.
Girl: (Name, too muffled by music) Is it good?
Man (whose name I missed): Yes, this is our chance to get back Eve.
Man in yellow jacket: Go to meet them. Your precious family
Aya: Kyle?!
Kyle: Aya! You remember?!
Aya: Please (get back...?) Eve
Some dude: Aya! (Drowned out by stupid fluffy music)
Aya: Eve, let's go home...
Dude w/gelled hair:Aya is wittnessing the potential of (the human) existence!
Kyle: It's best you don't know anything. Truth can be the pain that pierces you (how corny...)
Aya: Hand over Eve!!

[yezhanquan]

The old "You can't handle the truth". We'll see whether it works.

[Ryonea]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Girl w/hair in a bun:Save Grey (Rei?) from taking my body 3 days ago (?) I know you can do it.

While I'm not really sure too, I believe Gabrielle (the sniper woman) means to save Thelonius Cray by lending her body to Aya.

IIRC, there was a scene where Cray was lying down and talking to Aya. I forgot in which trailer.

[synaesthetic]

Yeah, but my girlfriend has no clue about Parasite Eve or T3B, so she was just translating by ear. I know the line was talking about Thelonius Cray. She just translated it a bit too literally. English isn't her strongest point.

[LotionExplosion]

Since the game came out in Japan, what did the reviewers say?

[Ryonea]

Originally Posted by synaesthetic

Yeah, but my girlfriend has no clue about Parasite Eve or T3B, so she was just translating by ear. I know the line was talking about Thelonius Cray. She just translated it a bit too literally. English isn't her strongest point.

Oh, I see... for someone who never played the game, she did a good translation I think

Originally Posted by LotionExplosion

Since the game came out in Japan, what did the reviewers say?

No specific comments yet, but the scores are out. From Andriasang.com

High Marks For The 3rd Birthday

The 3rd Birthday got high maks in Famitsu, scoring 10, 9, 8 and 9. No word yet on what the reviewers said.

[synaesthetic]

Scores like that on Famitsu are a really good sign. They are way harsh in their reviews.

[MrTerrorist]

6th Place Start For 3rd Birthday
Aya Brea's revival beaten by idol love sim AKB1/48.

No!!! Damm you AKB48 idols!

[TJR]

Originally Posted by LotionExplosion

Since the game came out in Japan, what did the reviewers say?

Importers have many good things to say about the production values and game mechanics. Production was almost all in-house, so they really worked at honing their action design skills. The balance is apparently very good too.

As for story, we'd better keep our expectations low. It wasn't a main focus (T3B is most definitely an action game), and as expected, Motomu Toriyama went wild with the plot.