In a gaming landscape dominated by sequels, clones, and copycats, it oftentimes feels as though developers and games players are satisfied with rehashed old ideas. PaRappa The Rapper steps in from the funk with a refreshing whiff of originality. This fiercely creative title, already a runaway smash off in Japan, is now stateside with a wonderful blend of rhythm and charm. It stars PaRappa, a 2-D hip-hop puppy hopelessly infatuated with a flower named Sunny Funny. Help the poor sap get her attention by completing all sorts of wild objectives from mastering martial arts to passing his driver's exam. Accomplish all this via a unique rhythm-based Simon Says challenge. That's right - PaRappa's success all comes down to how well players match up their controller inputs to a plethora of oh-so-catchy rap verses. Of course he raps! What else were you expecting from the title?

---

Indeed, the soundtrack is irresistibly catchy, blending lighthearted rap with absurd storytelling that will serve as an eternal earworm in your brain. Game voices and rap verses are all performed by real hip-hop musicians, with amusing lyrics that parody the modern music scene. With PaRappa, complex gameplay mechanics are not the point - it's the personality and visuals. The character designs, all illustrated by artist Rodney Greenblat, stick out vibrantly like a pop-up picture book. Their world is lovingly ripped straight from a cartoon, and altogether makes for aesthetic perfection. The journey is brief, however, so be sure to enjoy it while it lasts. We sure as heck did.

Printed in Issue #42, October-November 1997