PaRappa the Rapper

 PlayStation
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Oct 31, 1997
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 105
  3. Negative: 14 out of 105
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  1. supermariofan12
    Apr 28, 2018
    3
    worst game ever you cant clear a stage without failing once or twice BUT MY VISION 85 times say i suck but i acully DO WHAT THE GAME TELLS ME TO DO what for your icon to hit the symbol when i do that it brings me down to bad you cant even get cool the first time only after.
  2. AnGoodCritic
    Aug 14, 2015
    4
    Very difficult, you need to tap the buttons exactly at timing but in stage 3 or in stage 5 its pretty much impossible and that does it for it nothing else really to do but the cutscenes are funny i rather play 2nd one instead of this one!
  3. Newsleet12
    Nov 10, 2016
    0
    Funny lyrics and great music, but very bad timing leaves this rhythm game virtually unplayable, i say don't waste your time playing it, just go to youtube and listen to the soundtrack, it's better heard than played
  4. MarkD.
    Nov 12, 2006
    4
    The most over rated game ever. The gameplay is so simplistic it's barly a game and the only funny thing about it is the fact so many people believed the hype. Sure, it was original but that don't mean it's good.
  5. Sophie
    May 27, 2005
    0
    EEEK! It's so wrong! "Slurp it, suck it/I know you all like it/Long and chewy, occasionally gooey/Yeah, your little slippery thing our tastes so good all this time." With lyrics like that, I gotta say I'm speechless!
  6. sebastianali
    May 2, 2021
    4
    Desgraciadamente los gráficos y la música son lo único bueno que este juego tiene. Una de las cosas mas importantes que debería tener un juego de ritmo es nulo input lag, y por alguna razón, este juego lo tiene a montones. Al tocar un botón el juego te lo toma como 1 segundo después y sencillamente hace al juego casi imposible de superar incluso en el tutorial, lo que te obliga a adaptarteDesgraciadamente los gráficos y la música son lo único bueno que este juego tiene. Una de las cosas mas importantes que debería tener un juego de ritmo es nulo input lag, y por alguna razón, este juego lo tiene a montones. Al tocar un botón el juego te lo toma como 1 segundo después y sencillamente hace al juego casi imposible de superar incluso en el tutorial, lo que te obliga a adaptarte al funcionamiento del juego, elevando la dificultad artificialmente. Es una pena la verdad que el juego acabara así. Ademas de ser super corto. Suponiendo que seas bueno de manera tal que no pierdas, puedes pasártelo en tan solo media hora, lo que lo convierte también en un juego con nula rejugabilidad.
    Una de las cosas que tengo que alabar sin embargo, es que puedes hacer ritmos diferentes al que el juego te pide, y si haces uno "lógico" te lo contara como bien, cosa que me sorprende que otros juegos de ritmo no sigan con esta mecánica.
    Ser uno de los primeros juegos de ritmo no lo excusa de estos fallos.    … Expand
  7. edxtan
    Jun 12, 2023
    3
    PaRappa the Rapper makes up for its poor design with tracks that are absolute fire.
  8. WWD2
    Sep 14, 2021
    3
    Generally speaking, I have no problem with games with absurdist plots (I always took a Wozniakian liking to the original Chibi-Robo) but the plot to this rhythm game felt a bit more like a distraction with how strange and out-of-pocket it was. While the plot has no bearing on the gameplay, it just felt like one long non-sequitur, and the fact that the things PaRappa says in cutscenes areGenerally speaking, I have no problem with games with absurdist plots (I always took a Wozniakian liking to the original Chibi-Robo) but the plot to this rhythm game felt a bit more like a distraction with how strange and out-of-pocket it was. While the plot has no bearing on the gameplay, it just felt like one long non-sequitur, and the fact that the things PaRappa says in cutscenes are silly but apparently trying to sound inspiring makes me feel pretty disconnected from the character.

    I try not to fault gameplay when I’m just really bad at it, but for a rhythm game the timing of everything seemed…off. It’s hard to explain, but when you’re listening to a song and pick up on the beat, you’re able to predict the rhythm the lyrics come in at. But during the game, the button presses (or PaRappa’s “rapping”) come in too early for the established beat. It doesn’t render the game unplayable, far from it, but you kind of have to abandon following the rhythm of you want to progress.

    This game DOES get a number of things right, hence the cult following it has gained over the years. The songs are catchy, particularly the first one, and the game compensates for the extremely difficult levels by only offering six of them. It also has a pretty intuitive practice section, which I got a lot of utility from.

    I could really only see a PS1 collector picking up this game, but to be fair it’s a pretty important title to have to make a collection feel complete, since it was pretty significant back in the consoles heyday. However, if you haven’t played PaRappa the Rapper as a casual PS1 owner, you’re not missing out on much.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PS1 Game of 1997
4
#4 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 1997
5
#5 Most Shared PS1 Game of 1997

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Electric Playground
    100
    This game would be super fly at a party You won’t be whizzing through it unless you’re super smartie.
    Read full review
  2. Gamezilla!
    92
    One word of caution, though; if you have a bad neck, stay away from this game. It is virtually impossible to play without bobbing your head or moving some part of your body. You have been warned!
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    90
    PaRappa's only real problem lies in the length of the game -- it's way too short. However, once you've beaten it in good standing, you can ad-lib, or 'freestyle,' in the levels.
    Read full review
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