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Parappa the Rapper Preview
Written by Philip Jones on Thursday, June 28, 2007
I just love that onion head guy.
Kick.. Punch.. It's all in the mind! The wise words once spoken unto a generation of Playstation users, a whole decade ago... Words that still hold their power and that are about to be once again burned into the minds of impressionable youngsters worldwide. How come? Sony decided last year that the time was right for the PSP to receive a visit from the rapping hound Parappa, the character created by the artist Rodney Greenblat. Parappa the Rapper was pretty much the start of the whole music game phenomenon which still pumps out games like DJ Max Portable and Elite Beat Agents. So it is to he, and his creator Masaya Matsuura that we owe quite a debt. Parappa was a character who went quite some way in defining the Playstation as a cool brand back in the 90's, one can only assume Sony's hoping that their faithful mutt can do the same job all over again.
If, for some bizarre reason, you've never had the opportunity to sample the delight that is Parappa the Rapper, you're in for a real treat. Right from the off the games all about sheer fun. Starting out in a rapping battle, in a dojo, against Chop Chop Master Onion, who as his name implies, is rather good at a bit of the ol' kung fu action, yet appears to have an onion for a head. It's genius! The music itself is also top notch, keeping you tapping your toes (and buttons) in time with the music, you hope.. As to pass the stages you have to copy your opponents lyrics accurately, otherwise the music changes to reflect just how rubbish you are. Quite enough to put you off your game.
The setting for the game is basically our rapping pooch on a journey of self improvement, in order to impress his girlfriend Sunny Funny, a girl with... well, a flower for a face. The reason for Parappa's gloom? The would-be girlfriend stealer that is Joe Chin, always one-upping Parappas efforts to impress. So off goes Parappa on his quest, learning to fight with an onion, drive with a moose, cook with a chicken and uh... sell stuff at a fleamarket with a frog! All the stages of his journey being shown by funny little movies involving him trying to impress, failing, then challenging himself with a cry of "I gotta believe!". The games graphics are amongst some of the most charming you'll ever see in a game, with nice animation and great vibrancy being delivered by the PSP screen.
Now it's going to be a new game to many of you as it is, but what about people who played it first time round. There's only so many times you can punch-punch-puuuuunch isn't there? On the PSP version you'll be able to face off with your friends with new wireless play modes, which adds a new dimension to the game. You'll also be able to download eight remixed tracks to rap along to and wirelessly transmit a demo over to a PSP owning friend. Longevity is going to be the issue here though. Essentially the game only has 6 different stages. You can change the backing track but if the raps are the same it's just a cosmetic change. The game needs not just remixes, but whole new raps! We can but live in hope...
Parappa the Rapper for PSP makes it to the shelves July 6th in Europe, and July 17th in the US, so get your beanie hats on, and remember... The skunk over there will bring you luck!
