The 3rd Birthday
3rd Birthday, The is a PSP shooter game released in 2010 developed by HexaDrive. It centers on combat encounters, aiming and shooting, and positioning and evasion, with controls and information arranged around the directional pad, single analog nub, shoulder and face buttons, with a camera or another accessory only where required.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.7 / 10
About this game
3rd Birthday, The is a PSP shooter game centered on combat encounters, aiming and shooting, and positioning and evasion. Missions pace progress through enemy waves, routes, objectives, and weapon opportunities, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Aiming feedback, projectiles, hits, and danger zones need to remain readable, while the portable widescreen, UMD streaming, compressed audio, and handheld-scale interface need to preserve targets, text, and action readability. The genre-specific limitation is that camera turning, aiming methods, dense encounters, and peripheral support can increase control pressure. Platform conditions also include single-nub camera control, UMD loading and noise, Memory Stick saves, battery life, regional language, ad hoc requirements, and retired online services affect present-day use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.
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PlayStation PortableAI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
Inventive portable combat and visuals suffer from weak story and repetition.
The 3rd Birthday on PSP features Aya Brea but plays as a third-person shooter spin-off rather than a survival-horror continuation of Parasite Eve. Overdive lets her move between soldiers' bodies, shift behind enemies and finish stunned targets; Crossfire and weapon-impact choices add tactical decisions to brisk arcade shooting. The direct PSP review found those mechanics rewarding once understood, but the game explains them poorly. Around eight hours of campaign play and unlockable costumes and weapons provide some reason to return. The later stages become repetitive, however, leaning on waves of durable enemies and abrupt punishment. Detailed portable environments, elaborate cutscenes and strong set pieces show notable production craft, while confusing time-travel storytelling and awkward voice performances undermine the drama. The reviewer observed smooth running on PSP, but supplied no numeric frame-rate measurement. This version works best for players who enjoy experimenting with body-switching combat and can tolerate weak onboarding and a tired final stretch. It is a poor substitute for the older series' horror identity.
Strengths
- Overdive tactics and detailed PSP visuals stand out.
Weaknesses
- Poor teaching, repeated late fights and muddled narrative.
Who it is for: PSP action fans willing to learn its distinct systems.
Play notes: Not a survival-horror sequel; no numeric frame rate was measured.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Unlocks help replay, yet late repetition hurts momentum. | Reviewed | 5.9 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Body-switching enriches gunplay but is poorly taught. | Reviewed | 7.2 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Visual polish cannot carry the confused narrative. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Smooth observed PSP performance contrasts with weak onboarding. | Reviewed | 7.0 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- HexaDriveSquare Enix
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Release date
- 2010
- Platforms
- PlayStation Portable
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Shooter · Primary genre
- Tags
- DodgeReplayableShootingScience FictionFast-pacedSolo-friendlyLinear Levels3D GraphicsPlayer versus EnvironmentReal-time CombatThird PersonMain Story Under 10 Hours
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- PlayStation PortableWorldwide2010
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided