Parappa the Rapper
Sony Playstation
urban poetry simulator
1 player

	After hearing all the rave online, in magazines, from other people, etc., I
decided to get Parappa the Rapper.  I wasn't expecting a catchy game like
this.  After playing for a while, you'll be hooked.  The music will linger in
your mind for days or more.  

Graphics	      8/10:

	The graphics in Parappa, for what they're supposed to represent, are very
well done.  The game has a very "unique" style.  Characters in the game are
actually flat, although in a 3-D world(BTW, in Japan, parappa means paper-
thin).  The CG rendered scenes are very nice.  Between each stage, there is a
CG scene.  Each one helps the story move along.  It acts as a transition
between stages.  Anyway, each stage has different background which can be
animated at times.  There are many different characters: Parappa the dog, an
onion, a moose, a fleaswallow, and a beetle.  In addition, Parappa's friends
are flat, too.  What got me is that even in the cinemas, some of the
characters are flat.  Overall, the graphics in Parappa are odd, to say the
least.  They give the game a unique style not seen in any other games.

Sound     10/10:       

	This is where Parappa truly shines.  I would have to say that Parappa has the
best music in any game this year.  The music is very catchy, to say the least.
The soundtrack is classic.  Each stage has a different music style.  There is
a Japanese style, a soft style, raggae, a mixture, and the traditional rap
style.  In addition, sometimes there is music in the CG cinemas.  The Jet Baby
song is great.  This game represents a new generation of music, minus the
profanity.  This is one type of rap music you'll never get hurt over.  If you
have a stereo, you might even consider taping the music.  That's how good it
is.  After playing the game, the songs will be in your head for days at a
time.  To sum up, Parappa the Rapper is a new style of music that has never
been seen before.  Excuse me for being repetitve, but the music is very
catchy.  

Control     9/10:

	The control in Parappa is pretty good.  The game is kind of a Simon Says type
of thing.  The game says what button to press at the top of the screen.  Your
job is to keep the beat.  Sound easy?  It's anything but at times.  While the
game is easy at times, you have to concentrate on the beat and repeat it
accordingly or you'll get game over quickly.  As you can tell, the control in
Parappa is good, but can be hard to get down at times.

Gameplay    9/10:

	Parappa the Rapper is a new genre of games and does it very well.  It is a
rapping, simon says type of game.  You have to repeat the buttons at the top
of the screen while keeping the beat.  According to how well you do, the rap
meter on the side of the screen will rate.  You will either be rappin' cool,
good, bad, or awful.  Rap awful for long and you'll have to try again.
Luckily for younger players, there is an easy setting which doesn't require
you to keep much of a beat.  One great thing about Parappa is that most
everyone likes it.  While it will turn off its share of players, the game is
just plain fun for the rest of us.	
	There are many master rappers that you have to out rap to go on to the next
stage.  True, the game is easy, but you can go back to achieve a cool rating.
If you get cools on every level, a new stage will unlock.  There is a variety
of styles of rap, as I mentioned above, that you have to do.  In the toilet
stage, it will change the styles of rap, so you'll have to adjust.  This is
one of the tougher stages of the game.  If you fail, it will show a bomb
explode to symbolize Parappa going to the bathroom.  Through the game, you'll
have to make Parappa acheive many different tasks such as getting your drivers
license, learning karate, rapping in a flea market, and more.  I could go on
and on about how cool Parappa is, but I won't bore you.  Do me a favor, if you
doubt the game, at least give the game a shot.  You never know what'll be like
until you try.

Overall  9/10:

	Parappa the Rapper is an innovative that not everyone will like.  It has
great sound, graphics, and gameplay.  I would highly recommend Parappa to
anyone willing to give it a shot.  You won't regret it.

Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 10/10
Control: 9/10
Overall: 9/10

-Seth Lueck