Parappa the Rapper

First review of the upcoming Parappa for PSP.
Version
 PSP		Developer
SCE Japan		Publisher
SCE		Genre
Ryhthm action



By Ian Dransfield

Well isn't this a turn up for the books? The genre-creating masterpiece is back, this time on Sony's handheld, to tell the story of Parappa the Rapper, the beanie-wearing, in-love-with-a-flower-falling rapping dog and his adventures to the toilet. Brilliant.

"Whilst the game can easily be finished in a very short amount of time, the high-score replayability is sublime."

Those who've player Parappa the Rapper before will, unsurprisingly, know what's going on here. It's exactly the same, with only a widescreen format to boast and some other minor changes. The songs are the same, the levels are the same and it's just as easy to finish in half an hour. It's also still one of the best games that has ever happened.

Those that haven't played it before are missing out. Following the exploits of young Parappa as he learns karate with a giant rapping onion, learns how to drive with an angry rapping Moose, learns how to sell things with a giant rapping Rasta frog, learns how to cook with an irate giant rapping chicken that can leave the television set and enter his room, has rap-offs with the previous four instructors so he can go to the toilet before his guts explode and finally takes to the stage with a legendary rapping master and fulfils his destiny. And all this to impress a giant female flower called Sunny.

God I love this game!

It's Simon-Says, it's simple and it's challenging. If you think it's unfair that's because you're not good enough. Whilst the game can easily be finished in a very short amount of time, the replayability is sublime, and high score challenges are what this kind of game were made for - linearity of the raps is lost as soon as the game is finished once, as the 'Cool!' ranking is introduced into play and total freestyling is allowed. It was a stroke of genius back in 1997 and it still is in 2007.

"Characters are well-drawn, nicely animated and ooze charm from their paper-thin bodies."

One of the main reasons that Parappa the Rapper is such an excellent game is down to the incredibly characterisation throughout - characters are well-drawn, nicely animated and ooze nothing but charm from their paper-thin bodies. Parappa is kind, loveable and cute, Joe Chin is a goit and PJ Berri is thoroughly awesome. And it's not just the look of the thing - the sounds, the music and the raps themselves are all perfect and have a great deal of individual character. Anyone that has devoted any time to the game in the past will be able to recite at least one rap in full, if they don't already sing them all every day of their lives. Intharainorinthasnoow...

P L E A S E   V I S I T   O U R   S P O N S O R :

New additions to the PSP version do exist however, but rejoicing should be held for the time being - there are remixes of the original tunes available for free download, but these simply replace the soundtrack to each level, with raps remaining exactly the same and tunes just not quite fitting. It's an opportunity missed, that's for sure. The other new feature is ad-hoc multiplayer

It's magical, it's fun, it's wonderful and it's lovely. It's a reminder that not all games are about killing the HORDE or the LOCUST, and it brings us all into a world of fun, fun and fun. Seeing as the original came out ten years ago on a now-dead console, this new version is recommended to anyone, whether they've played the first or not.



















Graphics Sound Gameplay Depth Presentation OVERALL
9.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 8.0 8.0


THE VERDICT: Parappa the Rapper is a personal favourite - a fantastically well-crafted game, made with love, a sense of humour and the balls to do something different. This PSP remake does exactly as it should do, by not changing the core and offering a few extras on top, as much as they may be mere window dressing. A highly recommended purchase as long as you remember: I gotta believe!