Amazon.com Review
Released in November 1997, the original PaRappa the Rapper was lauded for its simple gameplay and unique setting. One of the first rhythm games to hit the American market, it required gamers to match onscreen commands à la Simon Says. Its accessible gameplay, combined with an offbeat story (a rapping canine trying to win the heart of a flower), songs, and characters made it a hit. Now in PaRappa the Rapper 2, Sony brings back its old dog to the PS2, but doesn't bother to teach him new tricks. It's a fun but short game that anyone can play. However, fans of the original may be disappointed that Sony hasn't advanced the series much in the last four years (28 in dog years).
This time around PaRappa must stop the evil Noodle Syndicate that's turning all the food in the world into noodles. The wacky story unfolds in Rodney Greenblat's unique visual style. The playful graphics are 2-D with heavy cel shading, but aren't much of an advancement from the original. It would have been nice if Greenblat had created a 3-D version of PaRappa. Likewise, the gameplay is virtually identical to the original. Although there is a two-player mode that adds replay value, players can easily beat the eight levels in single-player mode in fewer than four hours. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is the game's music; although cute, the game's tunes aren't nearly as memorable as those in the original. Still, players new to the series will find the game charming. Fans of the original are bound to be a bit disappointed. --Raymond M. Padilla
Pros:
Cheerful graphics style
Simple gameplay
Humorous songs
Cons:
Graphics and gameplay aren't too different from the original PS One version
Extremely short
Songs aren't as memorable as in the original |
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