So the ESRB has picked up The 3rd Birthday now and given it an expected M-Rating and a breakdown of what may offend people who play it. The description really isn’t much of a surprise to anyone who has followed the game so far, but if you haven’t been following it then a lot of the game mechanics are explained and fans of Parasite Eve will be happy to know that the blood and horror has returned.
A new mechanic which may interest some, and make others wonder how they thought about it, is the fact that Aya’s clothing tears depending on how much damage she takes and can reveal parts of her body as the description says. Also the famous shower scene has returned yet again despite earlier statements that it would not be included in The 3rd Birthday. But don’t take my word for it, catch the full description from the ESRB below:
This is a third-person shooter in which players assume the role of a federal agent (Aya) who uses her special abilities to battle an alien invasion. Players use machine guns, pistols, shotguns, and explosives to attack and kill alien creatures (i.e., “the Twisted”). Battles are accompanied by realistic gunfire, explosions, and screams of pain; enemies generally explode and disappear when defeated. Several cutscenes contain large pools or splashes of blood; in one sequence, slow-motion blood droplets fall over a crowd as multiple characters are killed at once.
Aya’s character can change into a variety of outfits (e.g., lingerie bunny costume, short skirts, bikini tops); when she is injured, her clothes also take damage and reveal large amounts of cleavage/buttocks. One unlockable video depicts Aya in the shower, with her breasts and buttocks partially obscured by steam and varied camera angles. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” appear in the dialogue.
