Parasite Eve (Shimomura, Mizuta, 1998, 1999)

Parasite Eve (Shimomura, 1998)
     In 1998, more and more games were developed with a "cinematic" angle then ever before.  A prime example of this was "Parasite Eve", an action-role-playing game whose premise was loosely based on a Japanese horror film of the same name from the previous year (which itself was based on a book by Hideaki Sena).  Posed as a semi-sequel with an entirely different set of characters, this story, set in New York City, played out very much like an action adventure story with many "Hollywood" style explosions and climaxes.  The score was created by Yoko Shimomura, and she based the music on techno, opera and piano-driven action themes (as well as many more ambient textures).

     Despite the fact that this is a late 90's synthesizer-driven score, the arrangements and beautiful themes still make this one of my favorite videogame soundtracks of all time.  The only minus for this score is that due to the limitations of the budget/technology at that time, the "vocalise" operatic lines were created from synthesized/sampled textures.  However, if one considers that the "opera singer" character is a mutated DNA monster, I suppose it makes it easier to think of it as an "effect".  The CD has 2 bonus tracks where a "real" opera singer sang the vocal parts for the two most important cues, which gives an idea how great it would have been with live vocals on every track.  In any case, it's still a great score and highly regarded in videogame soundtrack circles.

     The CD presentation is somewhat chronological, but I reordered the tracks below in what I think is the best listening order.  Many tracks are re-used, so for those I matched each track in it's most "iconic" sequence, but the other sequences are noted as well.  There are four main themes: the Aya theme, the Eve theme, the Primal Eyes theme and the Parasite Eve "main" theme.

CD.Trk	Dur	Title	Game Sequence
1.1	2:21	Primal Eyes	Main Title (Primal Eyes theme)
1.2	1:12	Waiting as Something Awakens	Opening scene: Christmas NYC, Aya arrives at Carnegie Hall. (also: Aya, Daniel, Maeda and Ben meet at the opera after the final battle) (Aya theme)
1.3	2:17	Overture ["La mia verita"]	Source music: Opera scene (also at end).
1.4	2:07	Se Il mio amore sta vincino (Eve's Aria)	Source music: Vocal aria "If my love is near…": As the vocalist Melissa sings, Aya reacts.  The other opera performers and audience members begin bursting into flames (also at end, but no bursting into flames).
1.5	0:36	Memory I	Aya has a flashback to a hospital room.
1.6	2:41	Gloom and Doom	Aya pursues Melissa backstage. (also: Aya and Daniel visit the destroyed police station/Aya explores the hospital basement/warehouse).
1.8	2:07	Sotto Voce	Aya reads Melissa's diary and learns that she is taking lots of medication and experiencing blackouts. (Eve theme)
1.7	1:39	Theme of Mitochondoria	A rat changes into a monster and Aya battles it. (also when Dr Klamp talks about mitochondria and how it has evolved conciousness, when Maeda tells the story of the Japan incident, and when Eve's mitochondria awakens when fighting Maya).
1.9	2:05	Arise within You	Battle Theme: Aya fights many creatures.
1.10	2:07	Main Theme [Piano Solo]	Source music: Aya finds Melissa at the piano.  Melissa completes her transformation into Eve.  (Parasite Eve theme)
1.11	2:02	Surface of the Water	Aya follows Eve into the underground sewer tunnel.  She eventually catches up with Eve, who tells her that she is not yet "ready", but that she will be.
1.21	2:19	Plosive Attack	Boss Battle Theme: Eve escapes the sewer tunnels and delays Aya with a giant, mutated alligator. (also: giant worms in Central Park/Kerberos at police station/giant spider at hospital roof/giant centipede in train tunnel/giant crab in warehouse/T-Rex in museum/when Aya paraglides from her helicopter to face the final version of Eve on Ellis Island)
1.12	1:37	Memories of "Aya and Eve"	Camera pans around lower Manhattan, as Aya's "voice-over" describes the following 6 days as filled with terror and familiar memories. (also: Aya talks to Klamp after he combusts).
1.13	4:02	Out of Phase	Aya works the case at her police station. (also: Aya, Daniel and Maeda stock up on supplies in the evacuated city)
1.14	1:52	Urban Noise	Aya and Daniel drive to the Museum of Natural History to interview Klamp.
1.22	3:40	Missing Perspective	Aya explores Central Park, searching for Eve. (also: Aya explores the hospital cont'd.)
1.15	1:02	Mystery Notes	Aya follows Eve outside the Central Park amphitheatre.
1.16	3:04	Influence of Deep	Aya confronts and fights Eve in the horse carriage.  Eve asks why Aya sides with the humans. (also on the opera stage/in the piano room).
1.23	1:09	Memory II	After the horse carriage crashes, Aya has another memory of the hospital room. (Aya theme) (also when Aya has a flashback when visiting the hospital).
1.17	1:14	Phrase of Aya	Aya expresses her concern to Maeda and Daniel that she may be a monster herself, and wishes to be alone. (Aya theme)
1.18	0:42	Phrase of Mitochondoria	At Klamp's lab, Maeda examines the mitochondria in Eve's blood. (also when Aya and her police coworkers discuss mitochondria and Aya and Daniel decide to visit a researcher at the museum).
1.19	1:34	Theme of Aya	Maeda examines Aya's blood and finds out that her mitochondria defeats Eve's mitochondria. (Aya theme)
1.20	3:07	Under the Progress	Aya looks for Daniel's son Ben at the attacked police station. (also when Aya and Daniel drive to Central Park to stop Eve's concert)
1.26	1:14	Memory III	Maeda and Daniel explain that Aya's sister Maya's liver was given to Melissa, and that Maya's liver's mitochondria caused her to mutate into Eve.
1.25	3:07	Phrase of Eve	Aya confronts Eve on the hospital roof.  Eve causes a jet pilot to combust and the jet crashes into the hospital.  Eve escapes with a sperm sample. (Eve theme) (also: Klamp explains to Aya, Daniel and Maeda that Eve needs sperm without mitochondria).
2.1	2:44	Matrix	Aya searches Chinatown for signs of Eve.
2.2	2:32	The Omission of the World	Aya searches the underground train tunnels for Eve.
2.3	3:32	Wheel of Fortune	Aya searches the museum for Eve.
1.24	1:42	Force Trail	The Navy plans a helicopter attack on Eve's giant gelatinous creature. (also when Jets earlier take off and patrol the city).  (Primal Eyes theme)
2.4	2:43	Kyrie	As helicopters approach the giant Eve creature, it becomes a ball in order to protect the pregnant Eve, and destroys the copters and planes with force beams. (also: Aya confronts Eve at the Central Park amphitheatre as audience members begin dissolving/Aya confronts Eve at the museum, and a giant gelatinous creature smashes into the museum and carries the pregnant Eve away).
2.5	1:52	Across the View	Aya boards a helicopter since only she can get close enough to Eve and the giant monster to destroy it without igniting.  They approach the creature and the other helicopters sacrifice themselves as shields. (variation of Force Trail, also with Primal Eyes theme)
2.6	4:42	Femmes Fatales	Aya and Eve battle on Ellis Island in front of the fallen Statue of Liberty.  Aya is able to transform herself into an energy being and destroy Eve. (Eve theme)
2.7	1:20	A Piece of Remain	Back on the Nimitz, Aya is congratulated on her success.
2.8	2:14	Musica Mundana	The Ultimate Being surfaces out of the slime remains and ships begin exploding.  The Nimitz is evacuated, but Aya stays to finish her battle.
2.9	4:52	U.B.	Aya battles the UB.  During the fight the UB transforms several times.  Daniel jumps from the helicopter to give her special bullets combined with Aya's own blood cells.
2.10	0:25	Escape from U.B.	The crippled UB chases Aya towards the engine room, where Aya sets the ship to self-destruct.
2.11	1:49	Main Theme	Back on land, Daniel and Maeda explain that Aya had gained special powers from a cornea transplant from Maya, as well as from a differently-evolved form of mitochondria.  The sun comes up.  (Parasite Eve theme)
2.12	1:14	Theme of Aya [Reprise]	At the opera a second time, during the aria, Aya's eyes start glowing red.  She stands up and the rest of the audience's eyes begin glowing as well.  (Aya theme)
2.13	1:55	I hear a voice calling me to awaken (J.S.Bach)	KANATE NR.140 [Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme] BWV140 (Music box) End Credit 1
2.14	5:58	Somnia Memorias	End Credit 2 (Shani Rigsbee)
2.15	1:56	Consensus	Aya explores the final floors of the Chrysler Building (secret battle).
2.16	1:47	Someone calls me...., Someone looks for me......	Maya speaks to Aya from within the "original Eve".  Eve regains control and they fight.
2.17	7:53	Main Theme [Orchestral Version]	End Credit 3. (Parasite Eve theme)
2.18	2:43	Influence of Deep (CM Version)	(version with live vocalist: Judith Siirila)
2.19	2:05	Se Il mio amore sta vincino (CM Version)	(version with live vocalist: Judith Siirila)

Parasite Eve II (Mizuta, 1999)
     The sequel to Parasite Eve was composed by Naoshi Mizuta, arranged by Hiroshi Nakajima (with some reappearances of Shimomura's themes from the previous game).  The game was redesigned with new characters and settings, keeping only Aya Brea, the main character from the first game (and arguably, the villain).  For this reason, it seems appropriate enough that the music is also in a different, less melody-driven style.  Since the middle section of the game takes place in "Dryfield", a name perfectly appropriate to its landscape, the music takes on more of a western-horror element.  The piano element is no longer present, and is replaced by swamp rock electric guitar and more ambient textures.  Though not nearly as accessible as the first Parasite Eve game's soundtrack, the music here has some fascinating layers, if one digs down deep enough.

     The CD presentation is in chronological order except for CD1 track 13, which occurs in the second half of the game when Pierce arrives at the Neo-Ark lab.

CD.Trk	Dur	Title	Game Sequence
1.1	2:05	Forbidden Power (Theme For Aya)	Main Title sequence. (The first section is a new version of "Primal Eyes".)
1.2	3:52	Mist	Aya in MIST HQ. (Uses the theme from "Out of Phase".)
1.3	2:29	Aya Again	Opening credits with text (alternate version)
1.4	0:40	Don't Move!	Aya enters the Akropolis to look for NMCs (Neo-Mitochondrial Creatures).
1.5	1:19	Nightmare In The Battlefield	Aya finds lots of dead bodies strewn about.
1.6	1:03	Deadly Calm	Aya explores the Akropolis looking for survivors.
1.7	1:43	The First Encounter	Aya fights an NMC.
1.8	1:51	Tower Rendezvous	Aya encounters a woman who turns into an NMC in a café (jazz source music).
1.9	2:19	Metamorphosis	Aya fights the transformed woman.
1.10	3:47	Watch Out!	Aya further explores the Akropolis looking for NMCs.
1.11	2:07	Ambush!	Akropolis Battle Theme.
1.12	3:03	What The Hell Happened?	Aya further explores the Akropolis after Rupert's encounter with the strange man.
1.13	1:27	Do Something!	In the research shelter outside Dryfield, Aya goes to meet Pierce.
1.14	2:31	Weird Man	Aya battles the Artificial Neo-Mitochondrial Creature, Golem Number 9.
1.15	1:42	Return To The Base	Back at the base, Aya gets a new assignment.
1.16	3:08	Ghost Town	Aya reaches Dryfield.
1.17	2:15	Hunt In Dryfield	Dryfield Battle Theme.
1.18	0:34	Don't Shoot	Aya is held at gunpoint by Douglas.
1.19	3:19	Douglas Blues	Douglas offers to let Aya stay at the local motel.
1.20	1:56	Water Tower	Aya meets Kyle at the top of the watertower.
1.21	4:54	Hiding Place	Aya visits Douglas in his gun trailer. (A variation of Douglas Blues combined with the "Out of Phase" theme.)
1.22	1:13	Dryfield	After hearing a scream, Aya investigates outside.
1.23	2:17	The Bottom Of The Well	Aya goes down a well.
1.24	2:18	Stealth Assult	Dryfield Well Battle Theme.
1.25	2:22	Heaven-Sent Killer	Aya runs into Number 9 again inside one of the houses.
1.26	0:54	The Depth Of Aya's Memory	After Number 9 accuses Aya of being "Eve's", she passes out and is woken by Kyle.  They decide to head out of town to investigate the shelter.  (Includes "Theme of Aya".)
1.27	1:49	From Dusk Till Dawn	Sunset in Dryfield.
1.28	1:56	Vagrants	Source music: blues rock record.
1.29	4:46	Dark Field	Night time in Dryfield.
1.30	2:13	Gigantic Burner	Aya fights the giant fire-spewing NMC from her motel room balcony.
1.31	4:06	Douglas' Grief	Douglas' dog dies.
2.1	2:30	Voice Of Mitochondria	Kyle explains to Aya that the shelter is making viruses that trigger DNA mutations in mitochondria.  They decide to investigate.
2.2	2:53	Pick Up The Gauntlet	Kyla and Aya are attacked by NMCs when they stop the truck outside a mine entrance.
2.3	3:56	Abandoned Mine	Aya enters the mine.
2.4	1:54	Into The Shelter	Aya enters the research shelter.
2.5	2:33	Wipe Out The Creatures	Shelter/Neo-Ark Battle Theme.
2.6	1:48	Hold Your Breath	When caught in a fumigation room, Aya escapes down a garbage chute.
2.7	3:33	Crawling Waste Emperor	Aya fights a giant NMC in the waste compactor.
2.8	1:29	Chase	The Crawling Waste Emperor chases Aya after she opens the gate.  She lures it into a compactor pit.
2.9	0:51	Sigh Of Relief	Aya reunites with Kyle.
2.10	1:48	Passing Through The Sewer, You'll Find...	Aya travels through a sewer tunnel.
2.11	1:13	Battle On The Waterside	Shelter 2 Battle Theme (past sewer tunnel).
2.12	2:07	Inner Part Of The Shelter	Aya and Kyle enter the Inner Part Of The Shelter.
2.13	2:03	Innermost Part Of The Shelter	Aya and Kyle enter the Innermost Part Of The Shelter.
2.14	1:10	Negative Heritage	The President is informed of Aya's progress, and he authorizes a satellite weapon to be activated.
2.15	0:57	Man Made Nature	Aya enters the Neo-Ark entrance foyer.
2.16	1:42	Ark	Aya explores the Neo-Ark.
2.17	1:31	Fool's Paradise	Aya explores the top of the ziggurat monument and solves the "David Bowie puzzle".
2.18	1:10	Mitochondria Reactor	Aya explores the Neo-Ark basement laser room with the dormant NMC.
2.19	0:51	Mental Deranger	Aya explores the lower floors and follows a small masked figure.
2.20	1:23	Stalker	Aya fights the giant NMC on the bottom level.
2.21	1:16	Cruelty Of Eve's Fate	Aya and Kyle find a young Eve, who was used by the facility to control the NMCs.  (Includes "Theme of Aya".)
2.22	1:06	Killing Field	Aya and Eve ascend back up to the Ark and look for a way out.
2.23	2:57	Golem Soldiers	Aya fights golem soldiers as she pursues Number 9, who has taken Eve.
2.24	1:37	Prestige Of A Nation	The President is faced with a decision about whether or not to destroy the facility from orbit.
2.25	5:10	Intrusion	Aya re-enters the facility to track down Eve.
2.26	2:38	Brace Yourself	After the satellite strike destroys the top part of the Ark, Aya descends to look for Eve, but is attacked by stealth golems.
2.27	3:20	Brahman	Aya fights a gigantic NMC.
2.28	3:12	Distorted Evolution	Eve is transformed by the gigantic NMC into a final enemy.
2.29	1:15	Logic Of The Superpower	The President is informed of a successful cover up.  He also finds out that his mole has gone off the grid.
2.30	1:37	Aya's Diary	Aya records the aftermath of the Dryfield incident in her diary.
2.31	1:03	Epilogue	Aya takes Eve to a nature museum where they run into Kyle.
2.32	3:51	Gentle Rays	End credits.
2.33	5:10	Weird Man (Deleted Core Mix)	Bonus
2.34	5:10	Hiding Place (Comfortable Mix)	Bonus.  (Dub remix of Out of Phase theme.)
2.35	0:04	OMAKE	Easter Egg Bonus

Links
Parasite Eve Music Wiki Entry
Yoko Shimomura Wiki
Naoshi Mizuta Wiki