PaRappa the Rapper Hands-on Preview

Ten years is a long time in the world of video games, and since the UK release of PaRappa The Rapper in 1997, we’ve seen a great deal of curious oddities on very mainstream consoles. The sublime and surreal have always existed in video games, but the likes of LocoRoco and We Love Katamari, and the ongoing fad for ‘art games’ beloved by the hardcore and the media, have made us fairly difficult to surprise.

When PaRappa the rapping dog came to the original PlayStation it was a different story. The game was received extremely well, and can take much of the credit for both the huge popularity of the rhythm-action genre in the West and the acceptance of eccentric titles by the UK game buying public.

This year the rap-’em-up makes a welcome return, this time gracing the small screen of the PSP, and though fans will be disappointed to hear it is not a sequel, this port of the original is a brilliant chance to revisit a classic, or introduce yourself to one of the most insane game worlds ever conceived.

For those unfamiliar with the gameplay, it is best to think of the dance mat games that get players stomping on large buttons in time with music and on-screen commands. PaRappa The Rapper works in a similar way, and though it takes away the dance mat, instead demanding that you tap your fingers to the beat, it is equally hilarious. Rather than concerning you with controlling the movements of your digital avatar, the game instead demands that you tap out the syllables of PaRappa’s care free rapping.

The result is the brilliant sensation that you MC with your fingers, and though the saccharine visuals and cute characters may be the antithesis of modern rap culture, the wonderful hip-hop score makes for some incredibly satisfying gaming. If you are at all into your urban music, then think De La Soul rather than Snoop Dog; PaRappa is straight out of the ‘daisy age’ of hip-hop music, rather than straight out of Compton.

It cannot be stressed enough that the quality of the music is incredible, even putting aside the fact that this is composed game music, and the humour and daft excitement conveyed by both the lyrics and the characters is superb. Whether rapping about kung-fu with an onion-headed Welshman who sounds like a member of Goldie Lookin’ Chain, or mixing up beats and beating up eggs with a mother-hen celebrity chef, you’ll have a grin plastered on your face. When you do put the game down you’ll have each tune stuck in your head for hours, and if you try to communicate with friends and colleagues immediately after a quick session, it is almost impossible not to rap at them.

The preview version played made for a near perfect match of the original game. The paper-thin characters return, and this time there seems to more clarity and shine than on the original. It must be said that the graphics look a little primitive at times, though in almost every case this is because of the delightfully childish feel of the artwork, and the fact that the title is ten years old.

As is the problem with any rhythm-action game, if you haven’t got rhythm you’re in for a frustrating ride. Many will pick up PaRappa and rap their way through without too much trouble, but for the less well co-ordinated, it can be incredibly punishing. However, if you persist it definitely seems to have been designed to teach you to rock with the beat. It is worth remembering that the original game existed in a time when games could be linear without facing too much critical flak, but years on it does seem a shame that there is no forked level structure to allow less talented players to skip between a selection of levels.

It appears extra downloadable content is likely (although obviously none was available to test at this time) which will bring some well needed longevity to PaRappa’s world. There are also options for ad-hoc and game-sharing modes, with up to four players able to play multiplayer games over a local wireless network. How well this works will also have to wait until the review.

The original game was resplendent with secrets, which brought a depth to the universe that only became apparent to the dedicated player, who could open up extras with flawless performances. Whether features like the extra mini-game The Sunny Funny Band, and the secret controls to change the in-game scenery will still feature is not yet apparent, but on the PSP there is little reason to streamline the game in any way. Dedicated fans will be pleased to see that the freestyling option returns, though for many the ability to add in extra lyrics will be far too intimidating in a release that already requires some incredibly speedy and accurate button pressing.

Like so many of the more unusual handheld games, PaRappa The Rapper might be a little embarrassing to play on the bus, as it usually causes fairly consistent head nodding and body shaking, but there is no doubt that the superb PSP sound and headphones make rapping on the move perfectly possible. Ergonomically Sony’s handheld allows for a fraction less dexterity than the more substantial PlayStation controller, but it would be unfair to over-emphasise any affect this has on the game, as it is in no way enough of a barrier to your ability to blame for any bad performances.

PaRappa the Rapper may be a world away from the PlayStation 3 and Def Jam Icons, but it really does still look like the smartest choice of hip-hop game on the market. We can only hope that a budget price tag justifies the rather small size of the game, but it cannot be denied that PSP owners are in for treat come July.