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Parrapa The Rapper 2

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Written by: FearTheClown

Parrapa The Rapper 2 is the official sequel to Parrapa The Rapper on PSone, which had a spin-off type sequel called Umjammer Lammy. This game is created by a company with a name as equally odd as Parrapa's gameplay called NanaOnsha.





Graphically this game is quite 'different' with its South Park-esque character models (completely flat) on fully 3D backgrounds. There are no 'jaggies' on any character models like in most games with 3D character models. Instead, you're left with detailed and vibrantly colored characters and backgrounds that work out quite well for this type of game. Character design is original to say the least and animation is good as far as 2D flat characters go. Also, there is no 'pop-up' or fog at all. Considering the type of gameplay in Parrapa 2, it's a good thing that this game is so good graphically because there is no reason it shouldn't be. Colorful 2D characters on equally colorful backgrounds that have quite a bit of diversity to them.





The thing that may throw people off with this game, especially those who haven't played Parrapa 1 or Umjammer Lammy, is that the closest thing to this type of gameplay is Space Channel 5 (DC, PS2) or possibly even Dance Dance Revolution. To explain the gameplay I have to explain the story, so I'm going to combine the 2 into 1 explanation. You take the role of Parrapa, who is a dog looking character, and you are thrown into 8 levels where the only thing you do is watch long cinemas. The ONLY gameplay is when something happens and an NPC starts singing. Then your job is to copy what he says by pushing x, o, triangle, square, L1, or R1 as prompted to the tune of the music when a little face floats across a long little screen at the top of the TV and you push the right button right as it goes over it, wooh. To dummy it down a little bit, the NPC sings:



Kick, Punch, it's all in your mind.



The little command screen would look something like this:



o + + triangle + + + + L1 + x + + L1R1



So a little head would float across the above thing and you would push o, triangle, L1, x, and L1R1 right when the head floats over it, simple enough. To make things a challenge you also have a rating that can range from Bad, Good, or Cool (getting cool is extremely difficult). You start out each level on good and depending on how well you do with pushing the button right when the floating head goes over it, your rating is affected either positively by going up or negatively by going down. If you go into bad then you will fail the level because you need at least a good rating to pass the level. If you do fairly well on each level, you'll get a special bonus stage that get's repetitive and consists of pushing x, o, triangle, or square whenever a little onion person puts up a little board for you to break.





Now, the way this all ties into the story is Parrapa get's an inferior concept where he thinks that everyone, including his girlfriend, thinks he's a baby and he wants to be treated like an adult. He goes about this trying to defeat the Noodle Corporation that is turning everything in his town into noodles. It's hard to explain where the singing comes into play, but it works out pretty well unless you just think it's completely stupid that you get shrunk by your Dad's noodle undoer and have to grow big by repeating what an ant sings. For those times when you have 2 people over there is a multi-player mode that's unlocked after you beat the game once. Where you and a friend have to try and repeat what a little radio says, and whoever gets a higher score by pushing the right buttons at the right time better than the other player wins.





Sound is the main place where this game shines because of its 'singing gameplay'. The whole game is done in voiceovers that are done extremely well, and even though this game was released in Japan first, NanaOnsha has lip-synced all the characters mouths to what is said unlike some other big name title *cough FFX cough*. The songs in Parrapa 2 are very original and sometimes make fun of real songs. For instance, there is an NPC you have to mock called Mooesha (the character is actually a moose) where she sings a song that is similar to a real one of Moesha's. The songs usually have funny lyrics, unfortunately you don't really get to listen to them much since you spend most of the time attempting to repeat the song sequence. The songs are equally as wacky as the characters. The only problems with Parrapa 2 in this category is its lack of Digital Out support (if games like this that are based on sound don't support the Digital Out then what's the point of having it?), and the fact that a couple of the songs seem too similar to Parrapa 1's. For the most part though, here is where Parrapa 2 really shines through.





Control isn't a factor in this game since the only time you play is when you're pushing buttons to copy the song sequence, but you never actually control your character and run around. The only other complaint I can find is the loading times seem a bit long, but once you load up one of its 8 levels there is no loading for the rest of that level which is good.

Gameplay: 4.5
Graphics: 4.5
Sound: 4.5
Value: 3.5
Originality: 4.0

Final Score: 3.5   (out of 5)