Tag Archives: Rhythm

PaRappa the Rapper 2 (PlayStation 2)

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PaRappa The Rapper 2

Developer(s) – NanaOn-Sha

Publisher(s) – Sony Computer Entertainment

Director – Masaya Matsuura

Artist – Rodney Greenblat

PEGI – 7

Receiving largely mixed reviews upon release, in stark contrast to the first game, PaRappa the Rapper 2 is a slightly longer, and even more embarrassing game. Adding only a few new features and nothing else. Whilst I reviewed the first PaRappa the Rapper, I said that things got worse; and I wasn’t kidding.

Graphics – 3/10

Once again designed around the artistic style pioneered by American artist Rodney Greenblat, the sequel uses the same kind of 2D characters and colorful 3D environments. Only this time, since this was a relatively early PlayStation 2 title, the graphics are fairly outdated. In fact, I’d go so far as to say the game actually looks like it could run on Nintendo 64 hardware. A lot of the cutscenes portraying wide-open spaces seem to corroborate this too.

Gameplay – 0/10

The gameplay remains largely the same as in the first title and is just as unbearable. The only new aspect added is that of a few mini-games in between some of the main eight levels. And warm-up phases before each one. But none of these things can be considered a saving grace in my opinion. I’ve always thought rhythm games to be among some of my least favorite gaming genres. And since there’s nothing here to suggest that this game does anything significantly different, it does little to change my perception.

Controls – 10/10

Although there are no issues with the controls, it wasn’t any significant challenge to get them right in the first game. And there’s nothing to suggest that they should have faced any kind of hardship whilst developing the sequel either. There’s nothing innovative, exciting, or different about it compared to other games. And whilst the lack of errors is the best thing I can point out about this game, I would have expected nothing else. Lest there be even bigger problems.

Lifespan – 1/10

Clocking up at about one hour and twenty minutes, the second game is about twice as long as the first. But still, an abysmal amount of time for even an early sixth-generation game to last. RPGs had already entered the mainstream by this time, and 3D adventure games could be made to last significantly longer than they ever had done before, A game like this would pale in comparison, and nine times out of ten, still does.

Storyline – 0/10

Following on from the first game, Parappa goes to a burger shop with his friend to find that food everywhere is mysteriously transforming into noodles. He investigates further along with a group of allies to find that the son of a famous burger shop owner is behind it and plots to have noodles take over the world. I’ve spoilt the ending for anyone reading, but I doubt anyone in the right mind would care.

Originality – 4/10

When I reviewed the first game last year, just after the E3 conference, I said that I would almost rather not have seen the rhythm gaming genre perpetuated at all. Even if PaRappa was effectively the game that started it all. But given the fact that no significantly exciting new features have been added in the sequel, I’d say it has even less basis in originality than the first.

Furiious

Overall, PaRappa the Rapper 2 is worse than the first game by some distance and is in my opinion, one of the worst games ever developed for the PlayStation 2. With talk of a third game possibly coming to PlayStation 4 following PaRappa’s appearance in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, I can only hope it is released as a 3D platformer or something. And not another lackluster rhythm game.

Score

18/60

3/10 (Bad)

PaRappa the Rapper (PlayStation & PlayStation Portable)

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PaRappa The Rapper

Developer(s) – NanaOn-Sha

Publisher(s) – Sony Computer Entertainment

Designer – Mayasa Matsuura

PEGI – 3

Credited as the first true rhythm game as a precursor to the 1978 game Simon, PaRappa the Rapper went on to become the 7th best-selling game of 1997 and garnished many positive reviews from critics, as well as two gaming awards and net sales of 1.4 million units worldwide. But even at the time, I was less than impressed by the game, and have never been able to understand the appeal behind it.

Graphics – 5/10

One of the main talking points of the game is the unusual art direction. Which was implemented to visually realize the game. Inspired by American graphic artist Rodney Greenblat, it features 2D characters in a 3D environment. Hats off to the developers for trying something that was very new at the time, but the general design of the game was about the only original thing the game had going for it in terms of graphics. The character designs are particularly poor, and by that token, the overall visual style of the game can only be appreciated for so long, the way I see it.

Gameplay – 0/10

PaRappa the Rapper may have begun the entire rhythm game genre, but it always has been, and most probably always will be, an extremely bad genre of video games. To me, the only thing that the rhythm games have been good for is influencing the idea of including context-sensitive gameplay in certain games. Such as God of War or Dante’s Inferno. But as a standalone genre, I don’t think it’s worth anybody’s time.

Controls – 10/10

There are no issues with the game’s control scheme at least, but how hard could it have been to implement? Compared to adventure games RPGs and so forth, I fail to see how there could have been much thought and effort put into how players play the game.

Lifespan – 0.5/10

Even for players unfamiliar with the rhythm game genre, this game will take about 40 minutes to complete, which is utterly pathetic. By that token alone, it’s impossible for the developers to justify charging full price at a time when there were many more and greater games out by then.

Storyline – 0/10

When I first played PaRappa the Rapper as a kid, I thought the story seemed as ridiculous as the gameplay and decided not to touch it again after the first level. After watching how the rest of the game’s story plays out, I discovered I wasn’t missing anything. The best thing I can say about the game’s story and the titular character is that they promote self-confidence. PaRappa lives by his motto of “I gotta believe”, and it helps him to attain his goals throughout the game. But other than this one flicker of positivity, there’s not much else I can praise the game’s story for. The voice acting as well as the basic premise is laughable at best.

Originality – 5/10

Although Parappa the Rapper perpetuated an original idea, which led to an entire genre, I personally would most rather not have seen it happen at all. Developers had put much more thought into their games than the developers of PaRappa the Rapper clearly did, and because of that, it’s clear to see why many rhythm game series have been discontinued since, such as Space Channel 5, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band.

Angrii

In summation, Parappa the Rapper is an awful wretched game that to me should never have seen the light of day. A sequel followed, which is even worse in my opinion and there are rumors of a third game in the works. In which case, count me out.

Score

20.5/60

3/10 (Bad)

Entwined (PlayStation 4)

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Entwined

Developer(s) – Pixelopus

Publisher(s) – Sony Computer Entertainment

Director – Dominic Robilliard

PEGI – 3

Unveiled at E3 two weeks ago, Entwined is a rhythm game whereby players must control two creatures using both analog sticks on the controller to fly them through obstacles in several different stages. Or lifetimes, as they’re referred to in the game. Back when this game was first unveiled, I commented that it negatively reminded me of a Kinect game called Child of Eden. And that it could potentially become overly repetitive in a short space of time. After playing through it, I think I was proven right.

Graphics – 7.5/10

The best aspect of this game, in my opinion, is indeed its visuals. They’re very interestingly stylized, with quite a big range of settings and level designs. And really make the game stand out in terms of visual presentation. One of the game’s most prominent features is its frequent use of symbolism. And a lot of the symbolism in the game is represented through many of its level designs. For example, there is a Ferris wheel on the second level. And many believe the Ferris wheel to be symbolic of many things, such as the circle of life. Or the idea of going around in circles and getting nowhere in life. I did find a few glitches in the game too. But apart from that, Entwined is fairly well presented.

Gameplay – 1.5/10

Although the gameplay in Entwined has a vague Lylatwars feel to it. In that, the game moves from linear to open-range at the end of each level, it’s nowhere near as immersing or enjoyable to play. There’s no incentive to be had, and it’s severely lacking in substance. As do most games in the rhythm genre, in my opinion. But in hindsight, I suppose this kind of thing was to be expected. Out of all the games that have been released, and are to be released on a single console, there was always going to be a sizeable portion of inadequate games. Unfortunately, this is one of them.

Controls – 9.5/10

Like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which I reviewed a while back, Entwined relies on the player using both analog sticks to control two different characters in order to overcome each obstacle and progress through the game. But even though there are no problems with the control scheme itself, it wasn’t as well implemented by the developers of Entwined. And it makes the game feel a lot more straightforward than it could have been. And a lot less interesting, the way I see it.

Lifespan – 0.5/10

I believe players who are experienced with the rhythm game genre would be able to complete Entwined in roughly 40 minutes, which is unacceptable. It took me an hour or so. But I saw no point in playing through it again. But to me, it begs the question of how long games like this, in general, can be made to last. If developed right, they can last at least a little while longer than Entwined, but not much longer. Guitar Hero for instance. But to make them last as long as possible, there also needs to be substance in gameplay. And as I stated, I found little of that in Entwined.

Storyline – 3/10

The positive thing I can attribute to the storyline is that it’s different from the conventional means of telling stories. There is a fairly decent use of symbolism in some aspects which are open to interpretation. But apart from that, I didn’t find the story to be particularly engrossing or even meaningful. For me, the positive aspects I listed weren’t elaborated on enough to keep me interested, and personally, I think the developers would have been better off if they only used the characters of the game and their situation as merely a basic premise, and not tried to put so much false emphasis on a story that hardly seemed to be present.

Originality – 3.5/10

Entwined is both unique in visual style and basic premise, but more importantly, there isn’t enough focus on making gameplay as unique or as exciting as any great game has attached to it. It’s all very well and good including decent artistic direction, but it counts for nothing if developers are going to put it in a video game and tailor it to not be enjoyable to play. Gamers might as well be watching a film.

Angrii

To summarize, Entwined is one of the first particularly poor games I’ve played on the PlayStation 4. Although I’ve been both excited and impressed with a lot of the indie games that have found their way onto the system over the last eight months, I was less than impressed with Entwined after I played it.

Score

25.5/60

4/10 (Poor)