The 3rd Birthday

Game Chronicles (8.7 out of 10)

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.

Vandal Online (8.7 out of 10)

Quizás nuestra mayor pega sea que el rumbo tomado por Square Enix lleve a la protagonista a un género bastante explotado –quizás no tanto en PSP, pero sí en otros sistemas- en lugar de mantener la frescura de los originales, que ahora más que nunca habría resaltado en el catálogo. Pero es una cuestión sencilla: evolucionar o morir. Y The 3rd Birthday es notable, ha sabido adaptarse a los nuevos tiempos sacrificando algunos aspectos pero sin olvidar completamente sus raíces. No decepciona una vez conoces la nueva mutación de la saga.

TotalPlayStation (8.5 out of 10)

This is the calibre of game that you would expect to be coming out for the PSP at this point in time. With unique features, nail biting battle and an interesting story concept The Third Birthday is more than worth the purchase.

IGN (8.5 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday is great game, no question. It has depth, great production values throughout (despite the disappointing script) and the raw mechanics give PSP gamers a mostly satisfying RPG-shooter despite the system's inherent flaws. As gamers prepare for the NGP and North Americans get a refresher course on Parasite Eve via PlayStation Network, we're hoping The 3rd Birthday is a sign that bigger things are planned for Aya Brea. This series deserves it.

Game Revolution (B+)

If you can get past the difficulty swings, The 3rd Birthday is a surprisingly fun experience. It's pretty; it's easy to dive into (a pun!); and the story is told in such a way that it's easy to follow… especially for a Square-Enix game! As a continuation of the PE storyline it's all right, but looking at this as its own game, no baggage behind it - it doesn't really tie into the other two games anyway - it's a great shooter on a portable system.

GamingXP (82 out of 100)

“The 3rd Birthday“ hat mich absolut überrascht. Die Story stimmt, die Sequenzen sind eine wahre Augenweide, und selbst absolute Neulinge im Shooter-Genre können zumindest problemlos einsteigen. Die Rollenspielaspekte mit den Erfahrungspunkten haben mich als RPG-Fan überzeugt, wohingegen die Strategie in den Schlachten niemals zu kurz kommt. Wenn Sie ein Fan von Genre-Mixes sind, sollten Sie sich das Spiel nicht entgehen lassen! Anmerkung: Die japanischen Wertungen für “The 3rd Birthday“ sind erstaunlicherweise viel höher als die westlichen Wertungen, das liegt wohl am Kollektivgeschmack der Gamer. Anders lässt sich das nicht erklären, aber grundsätzlich lässt sich die Kritik auf Folgendes zusammenkürzen: Unglaublich, was Square Enix aus der PSP technisch herauskitzeln kann, und ein Anspielen wird wärmstens von mir empfohlen!

Worth Playing (8 out of 10)

Besides that and the somewhat incomprehensible story, I found myself really enjoying The 3rd Birthday. 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.

videogamer.com (8 out of 10)

3rd Birthday hasn't been designed with the palette of the fans in mind. It's likely that most of the old time followers of the series will be put off by the extremely shooter-driven gameplay - but despite having the structure of something very standard, the game has a deceptively creative centre. It might be overstocked with dark corridors and bullets, but it plays with that derivative style, fills it with scenes that are graphically impressive and wholly cinematic in effect, and ends up with something that is surprisingly interesting and entertaining.

Eurogamer.pt (8 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday pode não ser aquilo que os fãs desejavam, todavia, não deixa de ser um bom jogo. O tempo que esteve em produção permitiu-lhe tornar-se sólido em quase todos os aspectos. A repetitividade é o maior falha que irão encontrar, mas ao mesmo tempo, é bastante divertido. Com a NGP cada vez mais próxima, este poderá ser um dos últimos grandes títulos a ser lançado na PSP.

Meristation (8 out of 10)

En fin, una de cal y otra de arena, insistimos. The 3rd Birthday cumple con las expectativas, convirtiéndose en uno de los títulos más apetecibles del catálogo de PSP por su peculiar ambientación y, especialmente, por el magnífico trabajo realizado a nivel técnico. Divertido pero muy alejado del mito que supuso Parasite Eve en su día. Son casi diez horas de nostalgia (siempre y cuando evitemos el modo fácil) que una vez digeridas llevan irremediablemente a pensar qué hubiese sido de Aya Brea de haber regresado directamente al catálogo de sobremesa, donde probablemente hubiese tenido un lugar más destacado, acorde con las pretensiones de sus creadores. Sea o no cierto el rumor de que Square Enix prepara una cuarta entrega para el futuro, The 3rd Birthday cumple pese a sus carencias. Una forma inmejorable, por cierto, de cerrar el ciclo de una consola en la que no se vislumbran más lanzamientos de este calibre.

ZTGameDomain (8 out of 10)

For those that may have passed this up when it launched on PSP last year, the Vita updates are just icing on the cake. 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.

Gameblog.fr ( )

Aya Brea oublie ses origines pour nous offrir un jeu de tir en vue à la troisième personne, nerveux, séduisant et intéressant. On pourra toujours pester contre un scénario alambiqué, une caméra chatouilleuse et une durée de vie un peu légère mais l'ensemble tient parfaitement la route et s'impose facilement comme un excellent titre sur PSP. D'autant que refaire le jeu avec des tenues plus ou moins sexy est possible, pour les amoureux de blondes au corps parfait !

Multiplayer.it (8 out of 10)

Sembrava di trovarsi dinanzi al classico e poco riuscito sparatutto in terza persona giapponese che tentava di imitare successi occidentali come Gears of War. Fortunatamente però, dopo un paio di ore di gioco e la presa di confidenza coi comandi, le paure sono svanite come d'incanto, e il "sole" della speranza è tornato a splendere nei nostri animi: contrariamente a quanto ci si aspettava, e per fortuna aggiungiamo noi, The Third Birthday non è un semplice sparatutto. Ma qualcosa di più. Grazie a un gameplay più profondo, all'interessante sistema dell'Overdrive, alla possibilità di personalizzare per certi versi armi e abilità della protagonista, il gioco si rivela come uno un validissimo sparatutto tattico con elementi GDR. Di quelli che certamente fa la gioia di tutti coloro che lo approcceranno con la mente sgombra da pregiudizi e consapevoli che esso non è forse il Parasite Eve che stilisticamente ci aspettavamo, ma certo resta un buon gioco sotto ogni punto di vista.

PSX Extreme (7.8 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday has a lot going for it, but it falls short of being a top-notch production due to significant control issues, a high level of frustration, and a main character that looks and sounds great, but doesn’t contribute much. The cut-scenes really are mind-blowing, the story is a plus provided you stick with it, the design, pacing and structure are all good, and some of the boss fights are borderline memorable. You just have to find a way to stay alive… I still say that, although every single game must have some “twitch” element these days, the “old-fashioned” mechanic from the original Parasite Eve would’ve worked wonderfully here. Yes, Square-Enix, I’m aware of your new “direction.” I still don’t like it. But this game isn’t bad.

Cheat Code Central (3.8 out of 5)

On other hand, T3B may be the most gorgeous PSP game I've seen yet, with only Peace Walker giving it a run for its money; Yoko Shimomura's beautiful soundtrack is the perfect blend of old and new motifs; the action, once you get the hang of it, is mostly a lot of fun, give or take a few ridiculously unfair scenarios. Even the real-time damage to Aya's costumes, needlessly sexist almost to the point of parody, are a nice touch, since you have to repair them in order for any given outfit to perform at top defense (a notion I had to learn the hard way on more than a few occasions). The 3rd Birthday is undoubtedly a hot mess, but if fans can look past its flaws, there good game lurking somewhere beneath its surface, waiting to be enjoyed. Well, as long as you're not looking for Parasite Eve 3.

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20)

The 3rd Birthday fait table rase de l'héritage légué par la série Parasite Eve et tente le pari fou de renouveler le genre du TPS à l'aide d'une idée diablement efficace : l'Overdive. A lui seul, ce système nous fait oublier les quelques défauts du titre pour focaliser toute notre attention sur ses qualités, à commencer par un gameplay tactique et survolté que l'on n'espérait pas si accrocheur. Les nombreuses possibilités de customisation favorisent aussi grandement la replay value du titre.

GameZone (7.5 out of 10)

If that sounds kind of creepy and exploitative, it is. We haven’t even mentioned the way Aya’s clothes gradually disappear into ragged shreds over the course of a firefight, an extra that must have taken hours of modeling and texture design. It makes for a funny contrast, really—at times 3rd Birthday seems like it wants to be taken seriously; other times it’s a B-grade midnight movie. Quality issues aside, it’s a fun 3D shoot-‘em-up, and the PSP could use a few more of those.

Gaming Nexus (B)

With its impressive visuals and compelling storytelling, The 3rd Birthday is an exciting new chapter in the Parasite Eve series. Too bad the game is marred by stiff controls, frustrating gameplay and cheap bosses. If you can get past these hiccups you'll discover another worthwhile PSP game!

3D Juegos (7.4 out of 10)

Con un montón de extras por desbloquear, un buen número de archivos que leer para comprender la historia del universo Parasite Eve, y una aventura que nos puede mantener pegados a PSP durante más de diez horas, The 3rd Birthday se consolida como un muy buen juego de acción y rol que gustará a los seguidores de la serie, y eso a pesar de alejarse jugablemente casi por completo del original. Interesantes añadidos como el Overdive y la intensidad de los combates, logran que cada minuto de juego sea todo un espectáculo y un placer, pero también algunos errores en su ejecución y una cierta repetición de situaciones pueden tornar estas mismas batallas en luchas excesivamente frustrantes.

Gamers' Temple, The (74 out of 100)

Is Aya Brea's third adventure worth it? If you like shooters and past Parasite Eve titles, probably. If you want a Square Enix title with a more RPG slant, then steer clear. I had fun with the game beginning to end, but I have a sneaking suspicion I could be one of the few that will.

Digital Chumps (7.2 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday seems to have a lot going for it. It's absolutely gorgeous on the platform, resurrects a dormant but loved franchise, offers significant customization, and boasts alluring combat mechanics, but the pleasure is ultimately short lived. Square Enix and HexaDrive sought to introduce fresh mechanics to set The 3rd Birthday apart from its peers, but they forgot to center a cohesive game around their collection of neat ideas. Much like its protagonist, too often The 3rd Birthday is caught with its pants down.

Inside Gaming (7 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday has glorious graphics, a good soundtrack, and some interesting gameplay mechanics. It also has aspects that are merely average and others that plain don’t work. Despite the amazingly talented team behind the game, the individual pieces do not come together for a great game. There are too many holes and inconsistencies. Some gamers will be happy to put up with the game’s quirks in order to enjoy the stunning visuals, but others will be turned off by the banal gameplay, frustrating camera control, and confusing story. The 3rd Birthday should have been brilliant, but is merely decent.

Eurogamer.it (7 out of 10)

Se vi siete avvicinati al gioco (o state per farlo) con in testa e nel cuore le nottate passate con i due capitoli originali, cercate di fare un passo indietro. Solo in questo modo riuscirete a godere al meglio quanto di buono questo titolo ha da offrire...

GamesRadar ( )

The story may turn off fans of the first two Parasite Eve games, but if you can get past the inane plot and characterizations, there's still a solid action-RPG underneath. Even on the easiest difficulty it's quite challenging too, and there are lots of real incentives for playing through multiple times and leveling Aya's equipment and abilities (of course, upon completing your first playthrough the first item you unlock is a maid outfit… ugh). It's almost worth recommending more to people totally new to the series, because if you're not invested in the characters you'll have less issues with the direction The 3rd Birthday has taken. Here's hoping Aya gets the respect she deserves if Parasite Eve ever gets a full sequel on consoles.

Gamekult (7 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday fait partie de ces jeux où la forme finit par l'emporter sur le fond. Car il faut admettre que ce Parasite Eve sauce TPS peut vite sembler creux et monotone, entre un gameplay très assisté, un level design linéaire et un scénario abracadabrant qui ferait passer Kingdom Hearts pour un modèle de limpidité. Malgré ces vrais défauts, la réalisation impressionnante comme le concept d'Overdive rendent ce jeu d'action particulièrement addictif à mesure que les niveaux s'enchaînent. Plus les ennemis pullulent et résistent, et plus on prend plaisir à nettoyer les zones en "bondissant" d'un soldat à l'autre. Le charme de l'héroïne comme l'ambiance apocalyptique très bien rendue y sont sans doute pour quelque chose. Et puis les jeux PSP de ce niveau de finition sont trop rares pour être boudés quand ils se présentent.

PlayFrance (7 out of 10)

En laissant l'action prendre le pas sur le RPG, The 3rd Birthday risquait déjà de décevoir les joueurs qui s'attendaient à un titre dans la veine des deux précédents Parasite Eve. Mais avec ses niveaux linéaires, ses combats répétitifs, et son scénario tiré par les cheveux, le jeu de Square Enix pourrait aussi bien s'attirer les foudres des fans de jeux de tir à la troisième personne. Alors certes le concept de l'Overdive est amusant durant les premiers niveaux et la réalisation globale est de bonne facture, mais on attendait sans doute un peu plus d'une telle licence. A essayer avant d'acheter !

Hooked Gamers (7 out of 10)

It is not the worst crime action game committed to the PSP, but neither is it the Parasite Eve sequel we've all waited these last 10 years for (yes we have).

Games TM (7 out of 10)

Broken up into neat little chunks, The 3rd Birthday is ideal for portable gaming - handy, with it being a PSP game - and its mix of action, RPG elements, a challenging (though sometimes unfair) level of difficulty and a few nifty tricks to keep things strategic make it another solid title in the PSP's catalogue.

Gamer.no (7 out of 10)

Når alt kjem til alt er The 3rd Birthday eit spel det er vanskeleg å ha ei bestemt meining om. Mesteparten av spelet er trass den forvirrande historia svært solid underhaldning, men det blir til dels øydelagt av ei rekke absurde møte med fiendane.

Game Informer Magazine (6.75 out of 10)

Parasite Eve fans may find themselves turned off by the frenzied action-oriented approach of The 3rd Birthday, and the execution certainly has its ups and downs. Even though The 3rd Birthday may not be one worth celebrating, we're hoping Square Enix can get it right if it decides to someday bring the franchise back to its console roots.

RPGFan (67 out of 100)

If you're not attached to Aya Brea and can deal with the problematic gameplay, The 3rd Birthday might be worth a playthrough.

1UP (B-)

The 3rd Birthday's emphasis on fast-paced combat and the Overdive mechanic help the game overcome its more abstract flaws (despite some occasional repetition). Still, for old fans of Parasite Eve, the game's treatment of its heroine and legacy is frustrating. It's a decent enough game on its own merits, but this definitely isn't the sequel fans have been waiting for all these years.

Spazio Games (6.6 out of 10)

La narrazione non convince, così come la stessa direzione artistica complessiva, popolata da personaggi troppo anonimi, mostruosità troppo derivative, e paesaggi per lo più ridondanti e mancanti di varietà. La sensazione è quella che Square Enix nel tentativo di dare nuova linfa al franchise l’abbia invece fatto deragliare, privandolo della forte personalità con cui è stato lanciato lo scorso decennio sul mercato. Il prodotto nelle proprie fasi shooter sa divertire, ma è un divertimento che viene presto a noia, mostrando chiari segni della pochezza contenutistica dietro lo stesso, nonostante le trovate più originali come il sistema Overdive. Acquisto in definitiva consigliato solo con molte riserve, specie a chi si volesse approcciare per la prima volta alla serie, che farebbe così molto meglio a scaricarsi dallo store americano Sony il primo, e molto meno dispendioso, episodio della saga.

Gamer Limit (6.5 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday is a fun and reasonably well-made game that, unfortunately, attempts to do too many things to do any of them terribly well.

4Players.de (65 out of 100)

Was als Rollenspiel mit Active Time Battle-System begann, ist mittlerweile eine beinahe reinrassige Baller-Action mit Schulterkamera. Und der thematische Wechsel wäre sogar aufgegangen, wenn Aya Brea nicht nur durch schicke Kulissen toben und ihre schauspielerische Leistung in größtenteils hervorragenden Zwischensequenzen präsentieren würde, sondern auch mechanisch überzeugen könnte. Doch trotz taktisch interessanter Ansätze wie dem Personenwechsel bleibt die Action zu gewöhnlich und unnötig hakelig, was vor allem dem unausgereiften Deckungssystem, den unnötigen Trial & Error-Sequenzen sowie der problematischen Kameraführung zuzuschreiben ist. Zudem wird die mit schweren Themen überladene Geschichte sehr verworren erzählt. Wer sich trotz aller Mankos mit Aya Brea in ihre Vergangenheit aufmacht, kann zwischen all den Mankos und Problemen durchaus ansprechende Feuergefechte finden. Vom Kult ist allerdings nicht viel übrig geblieben.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (6 out of 10)

Eventually it becomes clear how Aya developed her Overdrive ability, and who she was getting married to, and what the Twisted are all about. The problem is, it's hard to ever truly engage with it when so many of the The 3rd Birthday's key encounters are fundamentally spiteful. If you're really determined to eke some enjoyment from the rubble of frustration, there are a few moments that might make you feel like it's worth it. Sadly those occasions don't come along nearly enough to justify all the joyless attrition en route.

Eurogamer.se (6 out of 10)

Rent grafiskt och ljudmässigt håller The 3rd Birthday hög klass. Musiken är riktigt vass, och vi får ett par nyskapade spår och ett par nyversioner av klassiska stycken från de två första spelen i serien. Och SquareEnix förrenderade sekvenser är fortfarande i allra högsta klass.

Jeuxvideo.fr (6 out of 10)

D'un côté, notre petit cœur de fanboy a envie de remercier Square Enix de nous avoir enfin donné une suite à Parasite Eve, même dans des conditions aussi bizarres (et avec des rebondissements scénaristiques qu'on imaginerait plus dans un Kingdom Hearts lambda). Mais de l'autre, on est courroucé voire attristé par la tournure des événements, transformant par chirurgie vidéo-ludique un RPG assez novateur en 3rd person shooter désincarné. On aurait aimé que les retrouvailles avec Aya se fassent avec plus de joie qu'un ajout de vieille copine retrouvée au hasard sur Facebook. Ça sera pour la prochaine fois, on espère dans un peu moins d'une décennie...

JeuxActu (12 out of 20)

Retour attendu par les nombreux amateurs d'une des séries les plus atypiques de Square Enix, The 3rd Birthday surprend dans le bon sens avec un système de jeu efficace et bien adapté à la PSP, mais également dans le mauvais sens avec un sérieux manque de renouvellement dans son concept et surtout un scénario obtus et découpé à la hache. Un manque de passion dans la progression qui rendra une replay-value – pourtant auréolée de dizaines d'armes, tenues et éléments ADN – assez dispensable. Parasite Eve s'est finalement parasité lui-même par les attentes et les impératifs modernes.

GameOver (Greece) (6 out of 10)

Σαφέστατα ο τίτλος έχει και τις καλές του στιγμές και ίσως κάποιοι περάσουν κάποιες ευχάριστες ώρες. Αλλά μέχρι εκεί. Το The 3rd Birthday απέχει πολλά χιλιόμετρα από τους προκατόχους του, που ακόμη και σήμερα παραδίδουν μαθήματα...

GameSpot (6 out of 10)

Frequently frustrating combat and an annoying central character prevent The 3rd Birthday from making the most of its unusual mechanics.

Joystiq ( )

So, no and sorry, series stalwarts, this isn't Parasite Eve 3. It's something else that's new, and while not thoroughly original, it's at least consistently enjoyable during its short ride.

Gamer.nl (6 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday probeert de Parasite Eve-serie een doorstart te geven, maar maakt ondanks de sublieme presentatie niet veel indruk. De klunzige camera, het bovenmatige verhaal en de stroeve besturing benadrukken de onzorgvuldige uitwerking. En dat is spijtig, want het concept is verrassend, afwisselend en uitdagend.

Pocket Gamer UK (6 out of 10)

It can conjure moments of brilliance, but ultimately The 3rd Birthday is bogged down by indecisive design choices

GameTrailers (5.4 out of 10)

Parasite Eve this is not. The 3rd Birthday squanders some clever concepts with clumsy execution, and the end result is just another mediocre shooter that has very little in common the PlayStation classics that preceded it. This is one birthday that is not worth celebrating.

Thunderbolt Games (5 out of 10)

All that said, The 3rd Birthday isn’t a terrible game; in fact, it has one very important thing going for it - namely, the Overdrive system. Action fans simply looking for some fast-and-furious shoot-em-up hijinks on their PSP may find enough value in that unique mechanic alone to validate a purchase, especially considering the game’s myriad of unlockables (mostly in the way of ability/weapon upgrades, cheats, and costumes) available for those willing to grind through multiple playthroughs. It’s important, however, that one doesn’t expect Parasite Eve III when popping this into their PSP, as that would surely result in acute disappointment.

Metro.co.uk (5 out of 10)

Few PSP games look as good, but this is still a hugely disappointing return for Parasite Eve and the ruination of a once intriguing heroine.

RPGamer (2.5 out of 5)

The 3rd Birthday is a difficult game to recommend. There are aspects of it that really shine and make it an enjoyable experience, but others features, particularly the game's tortuous story, will surely disappoint those who were expecting the game to be in the vein of the previous Parasite Eve titles. It feels as though Square Enix has taken a huge step back in terms of its depiction of women, which is truly disappointing considering Aya's former pedigree. If you can get past the game's overall tone and technical issues, then there can be enjoyment, but for those who fear that the fetishization of Aya Brea may be too much to handle, wisely steer clear.

Legendra (5 out of 10)

The 3rd Birthday consiste en un bon défouloir, court et rythmé. Et c'est ce qu'il aurait uniquement du être. En essayant de verser dans un scénario faussement complexe et décousu, ce spin-off se ramasse lamentablement. L'histoire n'a ni queue ni tête, le joueur est embrouillé et se contente au final de foncer dans le tas, sans savoir trop pourquoi. Square aurait du savoir rester plus modeste. Vouloir traiter d'un sujet aussi large que le voyage dans le temps et ses répercussions de façon cohérente en moins d'une dizaine d'heures, ce n'est pas vraiment réalisable, ou du moins, SE n'a pas réussi à transformer l'essai, et The 3rd Birthday en paye le prix.

The A.V. Club (C-)

There are other problems. Aya looks like she went to a Halloween store and bought the slutty Chrissie Hynde costume, a combat-wear choice made even more ridiculous when it’s repeatedly ripped off her body by damage, for no other reason than to show off her underpants. That’s small potatoes compared to the alienating narrative, though. It’s a shame. Yoko Shimomura and Mitsuto Suzuki’s soundtrack is wonderful, the shooting really is a joy, and the visuals are remarkable for the platform, but there is no soul in this husk. Like its protagonist, The 3rd Birthday is a pretty body with nothing inside.

PlayStation Lifestyle (4 out of 10)

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.

Gameplay (Benelux) N/A

Jammer genoeg is het verhaal weinig boeiend en maakt de wispelturige camera het geheel erg onoverzichtelijk. Wie hoopte dat The 3rd Birthday netjes zou voortborduren op de paranormale horror van Parasite Eve II, zal met deze titel bedrogen uitkomen. Spelers zonder verwachtingen die zich niet laten afschrikken door de talrijke minpuntjes, vinden een degelijke actie-RPG met enkele originele elementen.

de Volkskrant N/A

Er zitten absoluut ingenieuze en intrigerende elementen in The 3rd Birthday, maar de hoeveelheid kaf maakt het moeilijk om het koren te onderscheiden. Het is bouwmateriaal waar ze in Hollywood nog wel een aardige B-film van kunnen brouwen. Het zal alleen niet meevallen om een actrice te vinden die aan Aya Brea kan tippen.