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PaRappa the Rapper 2
Platform : PlayStation2
Condition: New
Pre-Owned/Used: Very Good Condition copies available
See if you have enough rhythm to keep the beat with everyone's favourite rappin' puppy. Join Parappa and a cast of characters old and new on a mission of the greatest importance: to prevent the Evil Noodle Syndicate from turning everything into noodles. Dance along with the foot-stomping tunes and catchy lyrics created by musician Masaya Matsuura, the talent behind the original Parappa the Rapper.
As before, the graphics were created by New York artist Rodney Greenblat. There are guest appearances by Lammy and her band MilkCan, plus the ultimate rapping sensei, Chop Chop Master Onion. There's a multi-player mode for two rapping disciples to square off, plus a practise mode for you to learn how to get your beat on.
Released in 1997, the original PaRappa the Rapper was lauded for its simple gameplay and unique setting. One of the first rhythm games to hit the West, it required gamers to match onscreen commands ¿¿ la the early-80s light-bashing game Simon. Its accessible gameplay, combined with offbeat songs, characters and story (a rapping canine trying to win the heart of a flower) made it a hit. Now, in PaRappa the Rapper 2, Sony brings back its old dog to the PS2 but doesn't bother to teach him new tricks. It's a fun but short game that anyone can play; however, fans of the original may be disappointed that Sony hasn't advanced the series much in the last four years (28 dog years).
This time around PaRappa must stop the evil Noodle Syndicate that's turning all the food in the world into noodles. The wacky story unfolds in Rodney Greenblat's unique visual style: the playful graphics are 2-D with heavy cel-shading, but aren't much of an advancement from the original; a 3-D PaRappa would have been nice. Similarly, the gameplay is virtually identical to the original's. Although there's a two-player mode that adds replay value, the eight levels in single-player mode can easily be beaten in less than four hours. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is the game's music: although cute, the tunes aren't nearly as memorable as those in the original. Still, players new to the series will find the game charming, though fans of the original are bound to be a bit disappointed. --Raymond M Padilla
