PaRappa the Rapper (PS)

The game that went on to inspire its own genre - the music game. You play a dog, Parappa, who has to rap his way past arch-rivals Master Onion and Cheap Cheap Chicken to win over your darling, a flower called Sunny Funny. The games focusses on timing and music rapping (inc. beats) It really is the kind of game that you will want to play again and again - simply for its originality if for no other reason. ...  Read the complete review

Parappa the Rarappa is a fresh, funny game. One that started a whole new genre - music creation. Music 2000, that Dolphin undersea game, Bust-a-Groove...they all came out afterwards, inspired by this little game. Being a first generation PS game, Parappa's graphics aren't that good. Characters are flat but bend to move, which kinda looks cool. Backgrounds and props are both flat and 3D. But graphics aren't important. The words in the game, some hilarious, feature more. All you have to do is press buttons in time with words appearing on the screen. This makes you 'rap' the song. Do it well with little mistakes and you go on to the ...  Read the complete review

... then make it this one. You've got to hand it to the Japanese as they really do have the most original ideas for games and they also execute them exceptionally well. Take Bishi Bashi, Vib Ribbon, Chu Chu Rocket and other fantastic examples of gameplay before graphics and official licences. This is really basic gameplay but often the most simple is the best, take David Beckham as a living example. Gameplay The gameplay is singularly fantastic with the basic hit the button in time with when it comes up on the screen working perfectly. Along the top of the screen there is a music bar along which the PlayStation buttons will appear and you must press ...  Read the complete review

This is a unique game. The main aim is to copy sequences of buttons presses displayed on the screen, keeping to a rhythm. This is far more fun than it sounds, as your button presses correspond to the rapping of the cartoony PaRappa - his proficiency depends on yours. The style is cutesy, the music fun and compelling enough to make you want to delve further, and the simple idea generally excellently pulled off. This is very entertaining stuff in the short term - it isn't going to last you forever, but is ideal as a game to rent. Funny and unusual, you should play it at least once. ...  Read the complete review

Parappa The Rapper is a very unusual game. It stars a rapping dog, and the object for the player is to press the triangle, square, circle and X buttons very quickly in a certain sequence, which is displayed on screen. A lot of music is used which really adds to the game, and this is a brilliant game which is very addictive and will have you tapping along and playing it all day! The sequel to this game, "Um Jammer Lammy" is also well worth checking out. ...  Read the complete review