PaRappa the Rapper

Parappa the Rappa is the kind of inexplicable game that you have to own - even if it's just to take to a friend's house who might find the concept unbelievable.

If you are looking for a game that will be fun for the whole family, look no further. Parappa the Rapper has gone where no game has gone before and pulls it off with ease. If you sit down and give the game a chance, you will be hooked. One word of caution, though; if you have a bad neck, stay away from this game. It is virtually impossible to play without bobbing your head or moving some part of your body. You have been warned!

PaRappa isn't for everybody. It's very silly and odd, and somewhat childish. But if you're the kind of gamer that still watches cartoons, you may just fall under the spell of PaRappa. I know I did. I gotta believe!

Overall, the game is short and is easy to beat, but this is another example of how games shouldn't be judged by the length of the game, but the quality of the experience. The magic of PaRappa will not be easily cloned and we'll probably only get one like it in our lifetime. Sure to transcend cultural differences, PaRappa is special; plain and simple.

Part of what makes gaming such an amazing experience is the ability to dust off an old game, replay it (to the best of our abilities) and remind ourselves of some of the memorable moments that helped define our personal gaming personas. Looking back with fond reverence and dwelling on the fun times we had is part of what makes our game time so enjoyable and unforgettable, a fact which is undeniable regardless of who you are or what you play. In a way, this is why classic collections are bound to surface, as they're an effort to rekindle the spirits of gamers looking for a nostalgic fix and it really works. While some see this ploy as a simple money making scheme that cashes in on the love of the gamer to their past games (and it is, in many ways), the truth of the matter encompasses a greater whole - a simple love of gaming and of the game.

PaRappa is undeniably cute and hip - the ideal PlayStation mascot in that he's so universally acceptable and nonthreatening. Many have purchased PlayStations solely on the basis of seeing PaRappa, justifying their purchases as toys their families could enjoy. For the record, chicks dig PaRappa too, so if having a cute game means you can convince your otherwise game-loathing girlfriend to pick up a controller, "it's all good."

The simple controls require you to hit combinations of buttons to the rhythm of the song, causing Parappa to rap, although his words sound a bit disjointed. The characters and backgrounds transform depending on your performance, and there's even some room for you to get creative. Parappa the Rapper is a triumph of originality, and younger gamers in particular should have a ball with it.

Those gamers who began playing music games only very recently may want to stay away from this particular rhythm game, but fans of the original, who don't mind re-wiring their brains to play, will find that Sony's beanie-wearing pooch packs as much charm now as he did before.

Despite the aforementioned low replay value, however, I'm glad PaRappa the Rapper was released. It still holds up even today, and perhaps having some renewed attention given to the Hip-Hop Hero will convince Sony to have a development house revamp PaRappa the way it should have been revamped, instead of the horrific sequel we got five years ago.

PaRappa the Rappa is an excellent example of what a PSP game can be and is perfect for portable gaming. The unique style of the game paired with the simple control system allows anyone to pick up and play it, while the higher levels really offer a challenge for long time gamers. There are a few problems with it but overall, PaRappa the Rappa on PSP is a fun diversion for at least a few days.

In light of the PS3 download service and its extremely cheap PSOne titles, the standalone release of PaRappa the Rapper doesn't really feel right, especially considering that nothing worthwhile was added. Still, this being a first party release, it does retail at a bit cheaper price than your standard PSP games. So while the grading is still off, and the song selection is still scant, PaRappa has so much charm in its songs that it's still worthwhile all of these years later, whether you're revisiting it or playing it for the first time.

The good news is that PaRappa the Rapper, along with Gitaroo Man Lives!, proves that you can have solid music games on the PSP. Hopefully this is just Sony testing the waters to see if they should invest their time and money into re-releasing games like Frequency and Amplitude. Even if we never see those types of games on Sony's handheld, the good news is that PaRappa the Rapper is a solid PSP game that is worth checking out. If you're one of those people who missed PaRappa the first time around then there's no excuse not to check this game out (or at least find the original PlayStation disc), fans of the series may want to just hold on to their ten year old copy and wait for Sony to give us something brand new.

I would have to say there are very few gamers who wouldn’t enjoy Parappa. It could be longer, but there are always the expert levels to conquer. I’d recommend at least renting it for a night. If you’re up until 2, you’re probably going to want to buy it later that morning!

PaRappa the Rapper has transitioned into an ancient old remnant from yesteryear. It’s a nostalgic look at the groundwork laid out for games such as Space Channel 5, Guitar Hero, and Gitaroo Man. But in the end, gamers should only pick up PaRappa the Rapper as quick trip down memory lane with a rental or borrowing from a friend.

The number one issue with the PaRappa the Rapper is its age. Although it translates pretty well in terms of visuals and most of the gameplay, it still feels dated by today's standards. The button combinations end up being overly simplistic, which is annoyingly offset by the poor PSP button layout. People remember PaRappa more for its music and graphics than anything else, but with all of the hindrances this new version provides, what was once fun becomes both boring and frustrating pretty fast. Even the multiplayer addition and the possibility of future downloads does not make this a game worth purchasing. For any nostalgic gamers or people who want to see what all those "greatest games ever" lists are talking about, PaRappa the Rapper is worth a rent. However, with so few features and so many headaches, the game just can't be recommended for purchase.

The PSP version of PaRappa the Rapper is essentially a game for those who enjoyed the original game all those years ago and who now want to play the game again whilst on their travels. Even at its budget price of £19.99 though, the game does feel light on content. Rhythm games have moved on a lot since PaRappa the Rapper was originally released back in 1997. Back then it was seen as innovative and original but compared with the rhythm games you can buy today on the PSP, such as Gitaroo Man Lives!, it feels quite basic. Still the game manages to retain its charm and I daresay some will appreciate being able to play this on their PSP.

Aufgrund des hohen Schwierigkeitsgrades ist dieses Spiel nicht für Anfänger geeignet, da der Frust über lohnlosen Mühen sehr schnell Oberhand gewinnt und der Spielspass schnell sinkt. Selbst „I gotta believe!“ hilft da nicht wirklich viel. Fans der Parappa Reihe werden mir in dieser Hinsicht wahrscheinlich widersprechen.

All said, PaRappa the Rapper is an interesting game that is the unfortunate victim of age. Sony did almost nothing to improve the game, outside of a few downloadable songs and it is short enough as it is. For those of you diehard fans that would like to play it on the go, you might want to consider picking this up for the PSP. Otherwise the short length, unforgiving gameplay and dated everything will turn most others away.

Fort d'une cote de popularité importante auprès des amateurs de jeux de rythme, Parappa revient les mains dans les poches sur PSP, sans se soucier de proposer du neuf à ceux qui n'ont cessé d'espérer son retour sur console. Il faut donc se contenter d'un simple remake dépourvu de niveaux supplémentaires et de chansons inédites, et dont le gameplay a du mal à procurer les mêmes sensations que sur la version originale. Mais si la difficulté exagérée et la courte durée de vie du titre ne vous rebutent pas, libre à vous de vous laisser tenter.

Parappa the Rapper returns to the main stage for one more encore on Sony’s PSP. The remixed version slimmed down to UMD size is a close reproduction of the original and will satisfy gamers who want to relive the “good old’ days”. For all new groupies Parappa might seem a little dull and short on content. Even with the laughable downloable options there isn’t much to keep your ears entertained for more than a few hours. I suggest you wait until the price drops on this remade classic before you slap on your dog collar.

Sorry to say, but this simply isn't as entertaining as I hoped. Sure the colours are vibrant, the music is catchy but this is essentially the same game we've seen for the last decade with a couple of new tricks. PaRappa The Rapper could have been a reinvention for the series, and could have kicked off a new franchise on the PSP, but right now it's a waste of time and money. Pull out your PSOne copy, it's the same thing...

For a remake, this version of Parappa the Rapper feels a little rough around the edges to suggest for a $30 price tag. Even with the stellar sounds and addictive beats, the gameplay is simply too unbalanced with the scoring and way too precise on the button presses to amount to any fun. For a ten-year-old game it is a worthy remake, but it could have been done better and for a cheaper price.

I am not quite as overjoyed as I was the moment before I tore the shrink wrap off the game. I must admit that it was nice to see all the old masters and have a chance to rap beside them again. It was nice revisiting the Dojo (Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind!), getting driving lessons, and selling junk at the flea market. It was like having old friends come to visit for a spell. But these old friends are all quirky and weird now, and they smell funny. The technical shortcomings give the game very low replay value, much different than the original. To use a quote from Parappa the Rappa himself, "I gotta believe!"... I gotta believe I'll find an old copy of the original someday soon.