PaRappa the Rapper

"The best game starring a rapping dog with a hat (for whatever that's worth)!"

It has been the goal of many an unhip white boy to become a rapping dog trying to woo a flower. Or maybe that was just me. Anyway, in Parappa the Rapper, you are a rapper named Parappa who has an inferiority complex, unless he's mixing it up with his crazy raps. His goal in life is the Flower, Sunny, whom he desperately desires. She, however, sees him as ''just a friend.'' Can he overcome their differences? Let's rap for it!

The game goes about like this, you watch an amusing FMV sequence, followed by Parappa saying ''I gotta believe!'' after which he finds a Master to rap with. Rapping sessions are glorified follow the leader (or Simon Says) kinda things, where you do exactly what the Master does. So if Chop Chop says ''Kick, Punch'' you say ''Kick, Punch''. Although this is a very simple concept, it somehow works, as you get hypnotized by the music at the same time you are trying to pull it off, and hearing Parappa stutter his way through the rap. At the top of the screen, you'll see the PlayStation buttons that you are supposed to press, with a little Parappa Head floating above them, when the head is over the button, you press it.

I'm still not sure how this is fun, but it is.

The songs are quite catchy, in particular the flea market song about money, as song by a slow funky frog. ''In the rain or in the snow, got the funky funky flow.'' I've heard a lot of backtalk about the chicken, but I had no problems with her. She's no moose, but who is.

The graphics are best described as two dimensional characters animated in 3D. Which means that you can see the front and back of Parappa, but he's paper thin. This just sets this world apart, and lets you know that it's a cartoon first and formost.

The fun in the game comes from the actual rapping, failing at it, or somehow getting it right despite how bad it sounded. I've heard some truly mangled raps that somehow the game seemed to like. Oh well.

Oh, and the game is really short. There are 6 ''stages'', and no real replay value.

This game is a great one to rent, or buy (if you're full of money). I gave the game an 8 because it's toe tapping fun, and for my money, Parappa is truly the best rapping dog there is.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/06/00, Updated 04/06/00