Parappa The Rapper

Download Parappa The Rapper and experience the rhythm game that started it all! Help Parappa win the heart of his crush by mastering catchy songs and groovy beats. Get ready to rap and play now!
a game by Sony Imagesoft, and SCEA
Genre: Adventure/RPG
Platforms: Playstation, PSX
Editor Rating: 8.3/10, based on 9 reviews, 7 reviews are shown
User Rating: 6.5/10 - 71 votes
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See also: Funny Games, Rhythm Games, Dancing Games, Retro Games, Parappa The Rapper Series
Parappa The Rapper
Parappa The Rapper
Parappa The Rapper

Did the subhead catch your attention? Well, if it didn't. PaRappa the Rapper will. This monster musical hip-hop hit has already caught on like wildfire in Japan and is making a stir with the few in the know here (importers, the press, etc.). But the rest of you won't have to wait long. SCEA plans to release PaRappa in the U.S. this winter.

PaRappa is a young two-dimensional puppy who moves around 3-D environments like a floating Colorform. His ultimate goal is to become a hero in the eyes of his cute crush. To do so he must win a series of rap challenges, each one more difficult than the last.

In each of the six stages, an adult will face off with PaRappa to test his skills. For example in stage one. Chop Chop Master Onion, the odoriferous kung-fu master, teaches young PaRappa basic martial arts. How this works in actual gameplay is really quite simple. Chop Chop will start rapping various lyrics which PaRappa must duplicate perfectly. When Chop Chop sings, a bar with joy-pad button symbols will appear with a sliding marker. When the marker passes over a symbol, he will rap a particular word. When the marker reaches the end, it becomes PaRappa's turn to rap. A duplicate bar appears with a new slider. Your job is to hit the correct joypad button as the marker slides over the corresponding symbol, thus successfully rapping in sync with your teachers. Like we said: simple. So how can such a no-brainer be such a hit?

It's really the music and story line that makes P&Rappa so memorable. All of the music came from a recording studio in New York (yes, the Japanese version of PaRappa had the same English lyrics). The rappers all sound like professionals. In fact, a few people commented that the driving instructor sounds exactly like rap-star-gone-actress. Queen Latifah. The tunes and riffs will give you the same impression: Sony didn't spare any expense in recording this original and top-notch music.

The story line follows PaRappa in his adventures to become a hero. Along the way, he has to learn kung-fu. get a driver's license, earn money, bake a cake and find a bathroom...quick (remember our subhead?). The delivery of the story is a funny and unique experience that must be seen and heard to be appreciated.

One of the few games that require hand-eye-ear coordination. PaRappa is a truly unique title that may be worthy of the hype it's getting. He's already a big hit in Japan, and SCEA is hoping for a repeat performance here. Will he become big enough to replace Crash Bandicoot as Sony's mascot? Probably not (at least not right away with Crash 2 coming out soon), but PaRappa certainly has what it takes to win over the hearts of countless gamers everywhere.

  • MANUFACTURER - Sony Music Japan
  • THEME - Musical
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1

Download Parappa The Rapper

Playstation

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
PSX

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

Rapping without a talent for rhymes or music is a reality with the rhythmic game about a rapper dog, Parappa the Rapper. Rap and fight for your place in the sun in a world where rap is a weapon scarier than a gun.

Rap is the new currency

Already an independent dog, Parappa is ready to win the girl of his dreams with some really grown-up acts. The hero went to learn kung fu and started to try himself as a driver, but life keeps throwing up new challenges that only Parappa's truly innate talent - rap - can help him pass. Whether it's waiting in line to go to the bathroom or earning money to rebuild his father's car, a good rap battle with enemies and friends solves everything.

Sense of rhythm not to be left at the entrance

The gameplay is simple and challenging at the same time. Rhythmic music plays in the background, the rhythm of which creates the keys on the screen, in time to hit the keys to the beat of the song - the whole point of the battle. Don't be afraid, you won't have to make up a rap with Parappa, just feel the music and crush your enemies with your sense of rhythm.

Plot twists and solutions

The entire game is divided into several levels, each with its own plot and its own villain. At the same time, the opponents of the protagonist need not be evil, just had a situation where they need to change their minds with a good rap. Each level lasts three victory rounds and at each round, the lucky doggy utters his catchphrase: "I gotta believe!!!"

There are six levels in total:

  • Stage 1: I need to become a hero!
  • Stage 2: You guys sit in the back
  • Stage 3: My dad's gonna bite me!
  • Stage 4: Guaranteed to catch her heart
  • Stage 5: Full Tank
  • Stage 6: I gotta believe!!!
8

Catch the beat by flying the keys and win the coveted moments that will help the main character get the lady of his heart or the line to the toilet. The weirdest enemies and the boldest heroes await you in the rap battle Parappa the Rapper.

What It's AH About...

PaRappa the Rapper takes you through six chapters of a young hip-hop puppy's life. The gameplay consists of pressing the right buttons at the right time (it doesn't sound too challenging, but you just wait). Each button is a word in a rap song, and PaRappa must sing the correct lines with a minimum of mistakes.

Why It's Dan's Pick...

OK, I'll admit, if you strip away the cartoons, the dialogue, the music and the story, you'd have one of the lamest game premises in the history of lame game premises. But that's not what PaRappa's about. The cartoons are a blast to watch. The dialogue is goofy. The music is good (I mean, really good). The story is simple, well-crafted, twisted, far-fetched, funny, etc.

Everyone here was hooked the first time we saw PaRappa. We'd all crowd around the TV and fight to be the next person to rap. Chances are, you'd be the most popular person on the block if you owned this game. Friends and family will be stopping by to play.

I can go on forever about how cool PaRappa is. In fact, I once suggested to a Sony representative that the lovable pup should replace Crash as Sony's spokesperson and mascot. She didn't appreciate that comment very much...

One el Hu! biggest cult sensations in Japan is about to be released in the U.S. this fall. PaRappa the Rapper is a young hip hop hero who must rap his way through several adventures. You have to help PaRappa learn kung fu, earn a drivers license, bake a cake and even cut in line to get to a public toilet faster. Along the top of the screen, an icon slides along a metei filled with joypad commands. You successfully advance through each stage by pressing the correct keys at the right time. It sounds idiotic and simplistic, but it's the delivery that makes PaRappa such an unforgettable title. The humor, the music and the cartoon Colorformlike worlds are all like nothing you've seen before. Stay tuned to find out why we are so excited about this game.

Overview

What do a dog, an onion, a moose, a frog, a chicken and a spider have in common? I have absolutely no idea, but they can sure bust out a funky fresh rhyme. I could spend the entire review asking questions of why, who and where, but it really does not matter. The only thing that matters is that someone actually did, and the PSX is all the better for it.

The story of the game goes a little something like this. You are a dog, better known as Parappa. You live a simple life with only one ambition. What is that ambition, you ask? The same ambition as everyone else -- gaining the attention of the opposite sex. It just so happens the object of your desire is a walking, talking, living flower named Sunny Funny. All Parappa wants in life is to impress Sunny and to kick the occasional hip-hop jam. Sounds like a simple life, eh? Don't be so sure!

Gameplay

Before I say another word about this game, I must get this off my chest. We have all read and heard about games that were "original" or "unique." These words do not even come close to describing Parappa the Rapper. This game is like nothing you have ever seen before. It is nearly impossible to accurately convey the gameplay because it will end up sounding silly and not that inviting. Well, I will do my best at painting the picture of the game but I will never be able to truly express what the game is all about. The only way to capture the true experience is to play the game.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let's talk gameplay. The object of the game is simple; just press one of the buttons on your controller at the correct time and you will do fine. Think of this as the old game, Simon. The instructor will rap something and you just press the button that flashes on the screen to imitate the rap. If you don't press it at the correct time or if you press the wrong button, your rap rating and points will go down. If your rap rating hits Awful, your instructor will flunk you and you will have to start the level again.

So who are these instructors I am speaking of? Each level has an instructor that you must impress so you can move on to the next level. In most cases, you will mimic the rap the instructor kicks. One of the best parts of this game was the unique personalities of the instructors. Each had a distinct music style and you will find yourself linking the instructors with their environments and different raps. For example, the first instructor you will encounter is named Chop Chop Master Onion. Chop Chop is a giant onion-head in a karate suit. His raps revolve around kicking and punching while teaching you karate. The other instructors include Mooselini, a moose that is your driving instructor; Prince Fleaswallow, a frog that works at a flea market; Cheap Cheap the Cooking Chicken, a cooking chicken; and MC King Kong Mushi, a Master MC spider. Each and every character had a personality and sound that was unlike any of the others and before the night is out, you will get to know them quite well.

As you may have figured out from the instructors and their environments, the levels are based on an ongoing story. Each of instructors has their own level which Parappa must complete to obtain or achieve something. For example, on the level with Cheap Cheap the Cooking Chicken, you are taking cooking lessons because it is Sunny Funny's birthday and you need to get her a cake. To make a long story short, you need to learn to bake her a cake so she will fall for you on her birthday. Each of the levels has a similar storyline that the rapping follows. My personal favorite was the toilet levels, but I won't ruin it for you.

Okay, so now you have a bit of an idea what the game is about, let me try to give a little bit more detailed explanation of the actual gameplay. Obviously the idea of the game is to rap. The raps you will kick come from the instructors. What you, as the player, need to do is watch the screen and press the appropriate button as the moving icon crosses over it. For example, you will have a line that stretches across the top of the screen. Halfway across the line, you will see two squares, a space, then two circles. You have to wait for the moving icon to cross the two squares and push the square button twice. Wait until the icon crosses the space, then press circle twice when the icon crosses the circles. Each of the buttons has a word associated with it, so what you are really doing is following the music and inserting the words at the appropriate time. I know it sounds easy and not very exciting, but trust me, it is not easy and it is a blast.

After you complete the stages, which should not take you that terribly long, the game really starts to get fun. Now the object shifts from just following the instructors' lead to doing some freestyle rapping. Freestyle rapping allows you to take the core rap that the instructor throws out at you and twist and change it. You will be rewarded for adding some extra scratching and creativity to the rap. The instructor is still the ultimate judge of your freestyling, but your buddies in the room will let you know how good or bad you really are.

I did have a minor issue with the game. It is nothing big and I just accepted it after awhile, but the scoring system seemed inconsistent. It got a bit frustrating when you would match the rap perfectly and the instructor would still deduct points. Other times, I would butcher the rap and I would get rewarded with points. I was really confused on how the system worked. It was lame when I would bust out with the dope jam and get dissed on the scoring. Oh well. Nothing is perfect.

Graphics & Audio

The graphics in this game are a riot. If you are looking for 3D polygons, light shading and 60 FPS, you are looking in the wrong place. That does not mean that the graphics are bad. Actually, the graphics were great for this game. The characters are as one-dimensional as they come. Actually, they looked like paper cut-outs brought to life. I loved every bit of them, although the story sequences did get a bit long. This is one of those games that is as fun to watch as it is to play, because you can see all of the dancing and moving going on that you otherwise would not be able to watch.

The backbone of the game has to be the audio. Since this is a game centered around rapping, the music was not an oversight as in some games. I can't say that I am a big fan of rap, but it did not matter. I still found myself humming the tunes throughout the day. Actually, it took me twice as long to write this review because I can't get the Cheap Cheap song out of my head and it keeps distracting me!

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a game that will be fun for the whole family, look no further. Parappa the Rapper has gone where no game has gone before and pulls it off with ease. If you sit down and give the game a chance, you will be hooked. One word of caution, though; if you have a bad neck, stay away from this game. It is virtually impossible to play without bobbing your head or moving some part of your body. You have been warned!

Overview

What do a dog, an onion, a moose, a frog, a chicken and a spider have in common? I have absolutely no idea, but they can sure bust out a funky fresh rhyme. I could spend the entire review asking questions of why, who and where, but it really does not matter. The only thing that matters is that someone actually did, and the PSX is all the better for it.

The story of the game goes a little something like this. You are a dog, better known as Parappa. You live a simple life with only one ambition. What is that ambition, you ask? The same ambition as everyone else -- gaining the attention of the opposite sex. It just so happens the object of your desire is a walking, talking, living flower named Sunny Funny. All Parappa wants in life is to impress Sunny and to kick the occasional hip-hop jam. Sounds like a simple life, eh? Don't be so sure!

Gameplay

Before I say another word about this game, I must get this off my chest. We have all read and heard about games that were "original" or "unique." These words do not even come close to describing Parappa the Rapper. This game is like nothing you have ever seen before. It is nearly impossible to accurately convey the gameplay because it will end up sounding silly and not that inviting. Well, I will do my best at painting the picture of the game but I will never be able to truly express what the game is all about. The only way to capture the true experience is to play the game.

Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let's talk gameplay. The object of the game is simple; just press one of the buttons on your controller at the correct time and you will do fine. Think of this as the old game, Simon. The instructor will rap something and you just press the button that flashes on the screen to imitate the rap. If you don't press it at the correct time or if you press the wrong button, your rap rating and points will go down. If your rap rating hits Awful, your instructor will flunk you and you will have to start the level again.

So who are these instructors I am speaking of? Each level has an instructor that you must impress so you can move on to the next level. In most cases, you will mimic the rap the instructor kicks. One of the best parts of this game was the unique personalities of the instructors. Each had a distinct music style and you will find yourself linking the instructors with their environments and different raps. For example, the first instructor you will encounter is named Chop Chop Master Onion. Chop Chop is a giant onion-head in a karate suit. His raps revolve around kicking and punching while teaching you karate. The other instructors include Mooselini, a moose that is your driving instructor; Prince Fleaswallow, a frog that works at a flea market; Cheap Cheap the Cooking Chicken, a cooking chicken; and MC King Kong Mushi, a Master MC spider. Each and every character had a personality and sound that was unlike any of the others and before the night is out, you will get to know them quite well.

As you may have figured out from the instructors and their environments, the levels are based on an ongoing story. Each of instructors has their own level which Parappa must complete to obtain or achieve something. For example, on the level with Cheap Cheap the Cooking Chicken, you are taking cooking lessons because it is Sunny Funny's birthday and you need to get her a cake. To make a long story short, you need to learn to bake her a cake so she will fall for you on her birthday. Each of the levels has a similar storyline that the rapping follows. My personal favorite was the toilet levels, but I won't ruin it for you.

Ok, so now you have a bit of an idea what the game is about, let me try to give a little bit more detailed explanation of the actual gameplay. Obviously the idea of the game is to rap. The raps you will kick come from the instructors. What you, as the player, need to do is watch the screen and press the appropriate button as the moving icon crosses over it. For example, you will have a line that stretches across the top of the screen. Halfway across the line, you will see 2 squares, a space, then two circles. You have to wait for the moving icon to cross the two squares and push the square button twice. Wait until the icon crosses the space, then press circle twice when the icon crosses the circles. Each of the buttons has a word associated with it, so what you are really doing is following the music and inserting the words at the appropriate time. I know it sounds easy and not very exciting, but trust me, it is not easy and it is a blast.

After you complete the stages, which should not take you that terribly long, the game really starts to get fun. Now the object shifts from just following the instructors' lead to doing some freestyle rapping. Freestyle rapping allows you to take the core rap that the instructor throws out at you and twist and change it. You will be rewarded for adding some extra scratching and creativity to the rap. The instructor is still the ultimate judge of your freestyling, but your buddies in the room will let you know how good or bad you really are.

I did have a minor issue with the game. It is nothing big and I just accepted it after awhile, but the scoring system seemed inconsistent. It got a bit frustrating when you would match the rap perfectly and the instructor would still deduct points. Other times, I would butcher the rap and I would get rewarded with points. I was really confused on how the system worked. It was lame when I would bust out with the dope jam and get dis'ed on the scoring. Oh well. Nothing is perfect.

Graphics and Audio

The graphics in this game are a riot. If you are looking for 3D polygons, light shading and 60 FPS, you are looking in the wrong place. That does not mean that the graphics are bad. Actually, the graphics were great for this game. The characters are as one-dimensional as they come. Actually, they looked like paper cut-outs brought to life. I loved every bit of them, although the story sequences did get a bit long. This is one of those games that is as fun to watch as it is to play, because you can see all of the dancing and moving going on that you otherwise would not be able to watch.

The backbone of the game has to be the audio. Since this is a game centered around rapping, the music was not an oversight as in some games. I can't say that I am a big fan of rap, but it did not matter. I still found myself humming the tunes throughout the day. Actually, it took me twice as long to write this review because I can't get the Cheap Cheap song out of my head and it keeps distracting me!

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a game that will be fun for the whole family, look no further. Parappa the Rapper has gone where no game has gone before and pulls it off with ease. If you sit down and give the game a chance, you will be hooked. One word of caution, though; if you have a bad neck, stay away from this game. It is virtually impossible to play without bobbing your head or moving some part of your body. You have been warned!

At first, Parappa the Rappa looks like a kid's game with awful graphics and stupid tunes.

But after spending some time with Parappa and his homies, you'll find yourself rappin' along like a pro.

Parappa features psychedelic graphics that fit right in with the fun and fast way the game is played. Basically, you follow Parappa the rappin' hound through a series of misadventures while being taught how to rap by five "teachers" (including a garlic sensei and a Rastafied frog). These funny rap-masters put Parappa through a series of button pressing rap trials where you must synchronistically tap out the tunes after the teacher raps. Sounds simple, but the actual gameplay requires lightning-fast thinking and a fair amount of rhythm.

The music for this game is really topnotch. The melodies are funk phenomenons, and the raps are so silly, they'll make you laugh in spite of yourself. Control in Parappa is relegated to all six buttons on the controller, but if you're not dead-on with the timing, you'll find yourself rated poorly and unable to progress through the stages. But with a little practice, you'll soon get the hang of it.

Parappa the Rappa is the kind of inexplicable game that you have to own--even if it's just to take to a friend's house who might find the concept unbelievable.

ProTips:

  • When you see stars in the rap-along bars at the top of the screen, try to hit an extra note not listed in the rap. It may mean the difference between "U rappin' awful" and "U rappin' cool."
  • Some raps have to be started immediately following the teacher's rap, so don't pause or wait for a signal to start.
  • A good way to cheat is to turn down the sound and try to match the rap by only following the rap-along bar at the top of the screen.

Snapshots and Media

Playstation Screenshots