Game title: "PaRappa the Rapper"
Platform: PSP
Studio: Sony Computer Entertainment
Rating: E — for Everyone
Score: 7 out of 10
THE REVIEW:
Game play: Before "Guitar Hero" hit the stage, there was a plucky, knit-cap-wearing, two-dimensional dog who revolutionized music-based gaming on the PlayStation2. That was 10 years ago, and to honor this little trailblazer, Sony has packed "PaRappa the Rapper" into its PlayStation Portable.
For those not familiar with this game, it's a cross between a Saturday morning cartoon show and dancing paper cutouts. It's all about rhythm, or your lack of it. PaRappa must best a series of rapping masters, including a karate-kicking onion, by pressing a series of buttons in time with the music and lyrics. If PaRappa raps poorly, your instructor will react in a negative way. If he raps well, things look pretty positive.
The game itself stays pretty true to the original PlayStation 2 version, which is not always a good thing. Still, the game play is pretty fun. In addition to the traditional game play, Sony has also included the ability to link up to four PSP units together for a four-way rap "battle." Players can also download eight playable remixes online.
Graphics: PaRappa in Japanese actually means "paper-thin," and the game's characters are just that. Ten years ago the PS2 version bucked the trend with a unique take on graphics. At a time when 3-D graphics were new and hot, this game's characters were literally two-dimensional characters in a 3-D world. The game's graphics, while nostalgic, really haven't held up to the test of time. Graphics in the game could really use a face-lift.
Audio: What makes "PaRappa" so fun is the music. Although tame by most rap standards, these rap songs are catchy and have gained almost cult popularity over the years. Character voices are below average, and some of the dialogue timing is a bit off.
THE WRAP UP:
Parent's take: One of the best things about this game is that it's a game that can be played by all ages. The humor is innocent and mild compared to most game subjects out there.
Final word: Ok, this game is a decade old, but it's also one of the hallmark games of its time. Still, if you can look past the dated graphics, it still proves to be an entertaining game for a portable game unit.
E-MAIL: gfattah@desnews.com