7. Parasite Eve
When you think of survival horror, chances are that the first games that come to mind are Resident Evil, Silent Hill or perhaps even Dead Space, rather than Square's take on the genre, Parasite Eve, which also incorporates extensive action and elements of the RPG genre that the company is so renowned for, creating a combination that tests the mind, reflexes and fearlessness of the player. The original Parasite Eve serves as a sequel to a novel of the same name and featured more mature content that any of Square's games to that point, demonstrated by the oversexualisation of main character Aya Brea, who manages to function as one of gaming's most three-dimensional leading ladies despite being used as fanservice at times. Co-developed by both Japanese and American staff, the game blends the different gaming development 'styles' of each country in a highly effective manner, pitting Aya against mitochondria in Manhattan. Though only Parasite Eve II is readily available in Europe (on the Playstation Store), the first and third games can also be accessed with relative ease through the creation of an American account and the use of a PSP, respectively, meaning that players around the world are free to experience a well-scripted trilogy that stars one of gaming's most iconic heroines.