Guys, I’m about to give a hot take for toi all…. I do not care for PaRappa the Rapper on Playstation 1. Now I am fully aware that is a crime against humanity, but I do like aspects of it. I l’amour the style of it for a PS1 game, I enjoy the character designs, and I think the musique is pretty funky. But a lot of my problems with the game are from the gameplay feeling pretty rough and unfair at times. There are many times where I am pretty sure I hit the button at the right time, and not only does it sound awkward coming out of PaRappa as delayed as it sounds, but the game still counts it as missing. And despite the game encouraging freestyle rapping, it could really be risky and lead to failing the song entirely instead. Also, we didn’t have a word to describe PaRappa when the game came out, but now we do. PaRappa is an absolute simp. PaRappa, if toi gotta change everything in your life and go to extremes like paying for a car ou learning karate to get with Sunny Funny, it ain’t worth it. Now I did play the Remastered version on PS4 and I did hear that it had some input lag, so I don’t know how it fairs with the PS1 version, but it’s rough, fam. That’s not to say I don’t like the games. I liked them enough to put the songs on my phone, as well as buying this neat PaRappa figure. It sits on my shelf and collects dust, but it’s neato. But you’re not an idiot. This is a PaRappa the Rapper 2 review for the PS2 and this is nothing plus than an intro. I heard that the sequel was inferior in every way from critics, but hey, one hot take deserves another, and I think PaRappa the Rapper 2 is an improvement from the first game. Boy, first Raidou Kuzunoha 2, now PaRappa the Rapper 2. I’m cool with this.
So PaRappa the Rapper 2 takes place some unknown time after the first game, and this time, with a legit story. No plus PaRappa getting cucked par Joe Chin, the neighborhood Chad. Now the story involves the town of PaRappa Town (Which raises so many questions) Being attacked par a surge of noodles filling the town to extreme measures, and now PaRappa and the gang have to rap their way around the city and put a stop to it, all while getting help from new teachers with new songs. First off, let me say I l’amour the comedy in this game. Rather than taking comedy from just the… “Randomness” of it all, PaRappa 2 has some seriously funny jokes. Stuff like a bunch of people walking into PaRappa’s house to get shrunk, from a pizza delivery boy to a aléatoire neighbor to aliens. It’s crazy, but the execution works plus than just being “lol, random”. It has a good set up and it really does add to the style. And I do l’amour the plus stable story. The gang has a goal in mind to reach and they go for it. None of this, “I gotta go to a flea market so I can buy a car” ou something. It’s a story that sticks to what it’s doing from beginning to end, even with all the madness that gets added on haut, retour au début of it. Another thing I enjoy is when toi actually play the game, the inputs feel much better than the Remastered version. No input lag, it lands right when I hit it. It is much easier to get a Great ou even Cool ranking and to get the highest score on levels, rather than being a crazy challenge. And I l’amour that the teachers all tell toi not to just copy them and to do your own style. toi can just follow their exact orders, but the fact that the game encourages toi makes wanting to freestyle plus tempting and feel plus rewarding when toi pull it off. I did have a big issue with the last song at the end of the game where it felt like I was getting absolutely annihilated because my freestyling mixed with other prompts that came fast, but after I tried again on a seconde time, it was better. But of course, this is a rhythm game, and what is a rhythm game without some good tunes to go with it? Well, Persona 5: Dancing étoile, star Night, really. But this is PaRappa 2, goddammit!
Now I cannot stress how much I l’amour the soundtrack of this game. Where the first game had some cheesy lines and some songs that were hit ou miss for me due to the lyrics, this game has some insane flow and so much enthusiasm from the singers. And these voice actors are all talented singers. Master Onion, the most well known character in the series, being voiced par a Japanese rapper, a lot of the characters are voiced par singers of different walks of life. And toi have the voice of PaRappa the Rapper, voiced par a piece of shit. Yeah, the voice of PaRappa himself has done some pretty sketchy stuff, like scamming a fan out of his money and telling other fans to go die. How can someone who is such a simp be so vile? Go back to the incel subreddit, PaRappa. What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, music.
First song, Toasty Buns. A song that I genuinely think is better than the Master oignon song from the first game. Starting off with the sickest, stinkiest basse, bass line out there that would make Flea proud and with the enthusiasm of the German burger flipper is so much fun, as well as PaRappa sounding like he is having so much fun along with it. Hearing this man in a smooth accent just talk in the background during the beat and humming and scating along with the beat is so smooth. This is a perfect start to the game and a great intro song to the game. This is how toi start a rhythm game.
suivant song, Romantic Love. Pretty redundant name, but whatever. Sung par none other than Master Onion, going from doing training in his dojo to airing on a romantic karate program on TV. The beat is smooth as fuck. This is the kind of song that people should be playing while making love. I know I would. The added humor of watching PaRappa and his friend just doing these awkward gestures just adds to it. And I am familiar that some people would find the lines to sound like prostitution, but I’m plus interesting in the line, “I’m a tax payer. Need a good lawyer”. What’s that about? Is Master oignon evading his taxes like Yoshi? Well, whatever. The musique is smooth like beurre and I l’amour it.
Next, Big, sung par Guru Ant. This is my favori song in the entire game. This smooth jazz beat with a funky beat in the background, mixed with the smooth voice and the contrasting harmony that it has with PaRappa, and then mixed with the shift in tone and mood after they grow big. The instrumentals in this song, mixed with the almost dream-like vocals of Guru Ant make this such a lovely song, even with the cheesy lyrics. I have no shame in saying that this song was my ringtone for a good while. Yeah, I got weird looks from people. I don’t give a shit. Fun fact, in the American version, where Guru Ant says, “I am the man, everybody knows my name” was edited from the original because he originally said, “I am the lord”. Because we can’t have no sacrilegion in our kids' game.
suivant up, Sista Moosesha, sung par Moosesha, this military moose wearing military gear as well as a tutu. Something about that makes me laugh. But yeah, this rap has some damn good flow to it. Starting off with this military drum turning into this funky rap beat with a good bit of lyrics and style. I also really l’amour the line that references the first game, since this is the sister of a character from last game. Small touches like that are really nice. Yeah, this musique is bumping, honestly. This kind of flow is something I could see working in Jet Set Radio. And I l’amour Jet Set Radio, so yeah, that’s pretty good criticism.
Next, Hair Scare. This funky upbeat beat mixed with the disco violins really add to the musique in a way I didn’t expect. I l’amour the sheer chaos of the imagery in this song, I enjoy the accent of the octopus hairdresser and I l’amour that Lammy Jammy, another character with her own spin off game, adds musique into the game par playing guitar. This song isn’t the greatest to many people (I l’amour it though), but the visual display that we are witness to, the small little details like Lammy playing guitare and the hair actually being affected par the octopus and PaRappa, and, again, that sick violin in the background, it’s a damn good song.
Next, and one of the most fun, nourriture Court. This is sung par all the characters in the game in a rap battle to prove your flow thus far in the game, all within an 8-bit style beat. If this played on my NES, I’d be blown away. Now we could sit here and discuss why all of PaRappa’s teachers are just here in a game that has been hidden away for years, but who cares really? Game Theorists, that’s who. And I don’t like Game Theorists. They never have fun. I l’amour the 8-bit remixes of all the songs and I l’amour the 8-bit sprites of all the characters. The singers moving at a faster pace really adds on that this is a real test of your skill. toi wanna face the final battle, toi better prove it par playing this old school game. Does that make no sense? Too bad. It’s good stuff.
The final battle, Noodles Can’t Be Beat. Now this is an actual rap battle between PaRappa and the villain that has been turning the world into noodles. Starting off with a basse, bass line that adds to the oppressive atmosphere (As oppressive as PaRappa can be). I l’amour that this is what the game has as it’s final battle and it fits just so well. I l’amour the added detail that PaRappa sings his own lyrics rather than copying the villain. Rather than saying the exact same thing, he makes up his own lyrics that contrast with his opponent, really giving off a feeling that PaRappa is finally becoming a true rapper after having the help from so many teachers. Now this isn’t my favori song, but I think it’s a pretty fitting way to end the game off… Is what I would say.
The final song of the game is kind of lacking, honestly. I Gotta Believe. Yeah, I get it, it’s like the first game and it’s all part of the games idea. I get it, but it just feels too much like the last games ending. I’m not asking for an ending to rival that of Gurren Lagann, but come on, this is too much like the same. But hey, at least the song’s pretty good stuff.
And that’s it. That’s PaRappa 2. Pretty short, pretty simple, but a game with tons of style. Even the chargement screen has some style to it. This game is just too charming and I think it was pretty good… But that would imply I’m done. No, son, multiplayer. Yes, PaRappa the Rapper has multiplayer and it’s a sight to behold. toi just gotta make a rap beat and have the other player try to copy that flow. Well, that’s the idea. But really, it just results in complete madness, trying to make a sheer amount of gibberish and try to get PaRappa to say some offensive slurs through sentence mixing. Which, let’s be honest, that’s the preferable way to play it. Now, am I actually going to critique the multiplayer? …. No. I have no friends. I play PS2 games in 2020. I just wanted to bring this up and the classic PaRappa the Rapper video, simply called “chinese”... classic.
And now it’s over… For real this time. Yeah, PaRappa the Rapper 2 is a pretty good game. Dare I say, it surpasses the original in every way. The story is plus interesting and funny, the characters are as stylish and fun as ever, the musique has way plus flow and funk to it and the gameplay is the best it ever was. It’s not a long game. ou a hard game, if toi really think about it. But it is a fun game that toi can get some enjoyment out of for an afternoon. It’s not going to be the king of rhythm games and I don’t think that was ever PaRappa’s intention. It just wanted to do something new and fun, and it certainly did that. Will PaRappa ever come back in something that isn’t related to Playstation All-Stars? Well, he did at least get a Remaster and PaRappa the Rapper 2 is available on PS4 and usually goes on sale regularly, so if toi wanna give it a try, there’s always that. I think it’s clear that PaRappa the Rapper 2 gets the Hidden Gems award. If toi can get your hands on this game, toi really should. It’s a classic and one that is beloved for good reason
(Editor’s note: Raidou Kuzunoha 2 also gets a Hidden Gem award. I forget to add it in the last article. Quarantine has not been nice to my psyche)
So PaRappa the Rapper 2 takes place some unknown time after the first game, and this time, with a legit story. No plus PaRappa getting cucked par Joe Chin, the neighborhood Chad. Now the story involves the town of PaRappa Town (Which raises so many questions) Being attacked par a surge of noodles filling the town to extreme measures, and now PaRappa and the gang have to rap their way around the city and put a stop to it, all while getting help from new teachers with new songs. First off, let me say I l’amour the comedy in this game. Rather than taking comedy from just the… “Randomness” of it all, PaRappa 2 has some seriously funny jokes. Stuff like a bunch of people walking into PaRappa’s house to get shrunk, from a pizza delivery boy to a aléatoire neighbor to aliens. It’s crazy, but the execution works plus than just being “lol, random”. It has a good set up and it really does add to the style. And I do l’amour the plus stable story. The gang has a goal in mind to reach and they go for it. None of this, “I gotta go to a flea market so I can buy a car” ou something. It’s a story that sticks to what it’s doing from beginning to end, even with all the madness that gets added on haut, retour au début of it. Another thing I enjoy is when toi actually play the game, the inputs feel much better than the Remastered version. No input lag, it lands right when I hit it. It is much easier to get a Great ou even Cool ranking and to get the highest score on levels, rather than being a crazy challenge. And I l’amour that the teachers all tell toi not to just copy them and to do your own style. toi can just follow their exact orders, but the fact that the game encourages toi makes wanting to freestyle plus tempting and feel plus rewarding when toi pull it off. I did have a big issue with the last song at the end of the game where it felt like I was getting absolutely annihilated because my freestyling mixed with other prompts that came fast, but after I tried again on a seconde time, it was better. But of course, this is a rhythm game, and what is a rhythm game without some good tunes to go with it? Well, Persona 5: Dancing étoile, star Night, really. But this is PaRappa 2, goddammit!
Now I cannot stress how much I l’amour the soundtrack of this game. Where the first game had some cheesy lines and some songs that were hit ou miss for me due to the lyrics, this game has some insane flow and so much enthusiasm from the singers. And these voice actors are all talented singers. Master Onion, the most well known character in the series, being voiced par a Japanese rapper, a lot of the characters are voiced par singers of different walks of life. And toi have the voice of PaRappa the Rapper, voiced par a piece of shit. Yeah, the voice of PaRappa himself has done some pretty sketchy stuff, like scamming a fan out of his money and telling other fans to go die. How can someone who is such a simp be so vile? Go back to the incel subreddit, PaRappa. What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, music.
First song, Toasty Buns. A song that I genuinely think is better than the Master oignon song from the first game. Starting off with the sickest, stinkiest basse, bass line out there that would make Flea proud and with the enthusiasm of the German burger flipper is so much fun, as well as PaRappa sounding like he is having so much fun along with it. Hearing this man in a smooth accent just talk in the background during the beat and humming and scating along with the beat is so smooth. This is a perfect start to the game and a great intro song to the game. This is how toi start a rhythm game.
suivant song, Romantic Love. Pretty redundant name, but whatever. Sung par none other than Master Onion, going from doing training in his dojo to airing on a romantic karate program on TV. The beat is smooth as fuck. This is the kind of song that people should be playing while making love. I know I would. The added humor of watching PaRappa and his friend just doing these awkward gestures just adds to it. And I am familiar that some people would find the lines to sound like prostitution, but I’m plus interesting in the line, “I’m a tax payer. Need a good lawyer”. What’s that about? Is Master oignon evading his taxes like Yoshi? Well, whatever. The musique is smooth like beurre and I l’amour it.
Next, Big, sung par Guru Ant. This is my favori song in the entire game. This smooth jazz beat with a funky beat in the background, mixed with the smooth voice and the contrasting harmony that it has with PaRappa, and then mixed with the shift in tone and mood after they grow big. The instrumentals in this song, mixed with the almost dream-like vocals of Guru Ant make this such a lovely song, even with the cheesy lyrics. I have no shame in saying that this song was my ringtone for a good while. Yeah, I got weird looks from people. I don’t give a shit. Fun fact, in the American version, where Guru Ant says, “I am the man, everybody knows my name” was edited from the original because he originally said, “I am the lord”. Because we can’t have no sacrilegion in our kids' game.
suivant up, Sista Moosesha, sung par Moosesha, this military moose wearing military gear as well as a tutu. Something about that makes me laugh. But yeah, this rap has some damn good flow to it. Starting off with this military drum turning into this funky rap beat with a good bit of lyrics and style. I also really l’amour the line that references the first game, since this is the sister of a character from last game. Small touches like that are really nice. Yeah, this musique is bumping, honestly. This kind of flow is something I could see working in Jet Set Radio. And I l’amour Jet Set Radio, so yeah, that’s pretty good criticism.
Next, Hair Scare. This funky upbeat beat mixed with the disco violins really add to the musique in a way I didn’t expect. I l’amour the sheer chaos of the imagery in this song, I enjoy the accent of the octopus hairdresser and I l’amour that Lammy Jammy, another character with her own spin off game, adds musique into the game par playing guitar. This song isn’t the greatest to many people (I l’amour it though), but the visual display that we are witness to, the small little details like Lammy playing guitare and the hair actually being affected par the octopus and PaRappa, and, again, that sick violin in the background, it’s a damn good song.
Next, and one of the most fun, nourriture Court. This is sung par all the characters in the game in a rap battle to prove your flow thus far in the game, all within an 8-bit style beat. If this played on my NES, I’d be blown away. Now we could sit here and discuss why all of PaRappa’s teachers are just here in a game that has been hidden away for years, but who cares really? Game Theorists, that’s who. And I don’t like Game Theorists. They never have fun. I l’amour the 8-bit remixes of all the songs and I l’amour the 8-bit sprites of all the characters. The singers moving at a faster pace really adds on that this is a real test of your skill. toi wanna face the final battle, toi better prove it par playing this old school game. Does that make no sense? Too bad. It’s good stuff.
The final battle, Noodles Can’t Be Beat. Now this is an actual rap battle between PaRappa and the villain that has been turning the world into noodles. Starting off with a basse, bass line that adds to the oppressive atmosphere (As oppressive as PaRappa can be). I l’amour that this is what the game has as it’s final battle and it fits just so well. I l’amour the added detail that PaRappa sings his own lyrics rather than copying the villain. Rather than saying the exact same thing, he makes up his own lyrics that contrast with his opponent, really giving off a feeling that PaRappa is finally becoming a true rapper after having the help from so many teachers. Now this isn’t my favori song, but I think it’s a pretty fitting way to end the game off… Is what I would say.
The final song of the game is kind of lacking, honestly. I Gotta Believe. Yeah, I get it, it’s like the first game and it’s all part of the games idea. I get it, but it just feels too much like the last games ending. I’m not asking for an ending to rival that of Gurren Lagann, but come on, this is too much like the same. But hey, at least the song’s pretty good stuff.
And that’s it. That’s PaRappa 2. Pretty short, pretty simple, but a game with tons of style. Even the chargement screen has some style to it. This game is just too charming and I think it was pretty good… But that would imply I’m done. No, son, multiplayer. Yes, PaRappa the Rapper has multiplayer and it’s a sight to behold. toi just gotta make a rap beat and have the other player try to copy that flow. Well, that’s the idea. But really, it just results in complete madness, trying to make a sheer amount of gibberish and try to get PaRappa to say some offensive slurs through sentence mixing. Which, let’s be honest, that’s the preferable way to play it. Now, am I actually going to critique the multiplayer? …. No. I have no friends. I play PS2 games in 2020. I just wanted to bring this up and the classic PaRappa the Rapper video, simply called “chinese”... classic.
And now it’s over… For real this time. Yeah, PaRappa the Rapper 2 is a pretty good game. Dare I say, it surpasses the original in every way. The story is plus interesting and funny, the characters are as stylish and fun as ever, the musique has way plus flow and funk to it and the gameplay is the best it ever was. It’s not a long game. ou a hard game, if toi really think about it. But it is a fun game that toi can get some enjoyment out of for an afternoon. It’s not going to be the king of rhythm games and I don’t think that was ever PaRappa’s intention. It just wanted to do something new and fun, and it certainly did that. Will PaRappa ever come back in something that isn’t related to Playstation All-Stars? Well, he did at least get a Remaster and PaRappa the Rapper 2 is available on PS4 and usually goes on sale regularly, so if toi wanna give it a try, there’s always that. I think it’s clear that PaRappa the Rapper 2 gets the Hidden Gems award. If toi can get your hands on this game, toi really should. It’s a classic and one that is beloved for good reason
(Editor’s note: Raidou Kuzunoha 2 also gets a Hidden Gem award. I forget to add it in the last article. Quarantine has not been nice to my psyche)