PaRappa the Rapper 2
Score: 75% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: SCEA Developer: NaNaOn-Sha Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Rhythm/ Puzzle
Graphics & Sound: Gone are the horrendous jagged-edged graphics of old! Parappa the Rapper 2 looks fantastic on the PS2, as the 2-D hip-hop puppy and friends have a beautiful new environment to frolic in around 60 frames per second. Rodney Greenblat's famous cutout designs have never been brighter, and there's plenty more to look at this time around -- just don't let the visuals get in the way of the music! As is the case with any rhythm game, the tunes always come first. Fortunately, Parappa 2 boasts some phenomenally funky songs to bounce to, with production levels nearing an all-time high for the PS2. Chop Chop Master Onion's kung-fu ballad 'Romantic Love' seems particularly smooth coming through a nice surround-sound system (something no audiophile gamer should be without), and that bad boy Parappa himself still sounds oh-so-cute. One thing's for sure: the folks behind these voice talents are some of the best in the business, hands down.
Gameplay: Oh man, what a story. All Parappa wanted was a hamburger, but it would seem that the wacky Noodle Syndicate has turned everything into... that's right, noodles! Now our hero must travel around town, meeting new people and busting rhymes with old acquaintances while trying to prove his manhood to a teenage, female sun-thing. Quirky Japanese hilarity ensues. Following closely in the footsteps of Parappa the Rapper and Umjammer Lammy, Parappa 2 has players droppin' science through the same old styles. Each lyric in a song corresponds to a button on the gamepad, and it's up to you to keep up with Parappa's teachers by rapping along with the beat. Screw up, and the music drops to a more somber key; bust out your own personalized techniques, and Parappa gains more points. Not much innovation to be seen here, but hey, it's still a decent formula. With only 8 levels to traverse, nearly anyone can conquer Parappa 2 in under an hour on the first sitting. Two-player mode really takes the cake in replay value, though -- once you're sick of the normal game, challenge a friend to a freestyle battle and see who's got the craziest rhymes for hours of entertainment. If NaNaOn-Sha hadn't included this feature in the game, I honestly don't know if I could recommend a purchase.
Difficulty: Parappa 2 isn't exactly the toughest rhythm game out there. Following the instructors is a breeze if you've got an understanding of where your buttons are; properly freestyling within the game's fuzzy restrictions, however, can be the hardest aspect of the game. One moment you'll pull off an ultra-tight sequence of lyrics for 200 points, then lose 50 for the exact same technique only seconds later. It takes practice to comprehend what can and can't be done, but once you've mastered the freestyle concept... there's just no stopping you.
Game Mechanics: Music games have crept slowly into the U.S. market over the past year, and many of them simply know how to do things right. Niche masterpieces like Frequency and the forthcoming Dance Dance Revolution Konamix seem to carry a perfect balance of challenge and originality to ensnare players for years to come, whereas in Parappa 2's case, almost nothing has changed since the series' conception. The controls are simple enough, the premise is there, but definite substance remains to be seen. Rent this one before buying -- you'll probably become bored of Parappa's antics before it's due back.
-Ben Monkey, GameVortex Communications AKA Ben Lewis
Ninja Assault Pride Fighting Championships