Publisher: Sony
System: Sony PSP
ESRB rating: E
Review rating: 2 1/2 stars
Forget 50 Cent and Diddy. Original hip-hop sensation "Parappa the Rapper" returns to the video game realm, bringing portable mixology to the masses.
Anyone who enjoys playing "Guitar Hero" or "Dance Dance Revolution" should pay tribute to the rhythm genre's first game, despite its simplicity.
Sony has released an enhanced version of "Parappa the Rapper" for the PlayStation Portable; it features eight new downloadable remixes in addition to the original levels. It also includes the ability to use a wireless connection to rap head-to-head with up to three other MC wannabes. Yes, you, too, now can humiliate your friends to the tune of "Chop Chop Master Onion," unless you end up on the chopping block yourself.
For those not familiar with this title's game play, it basically follows a Simon Says style whereby the player must press the appropriate buttons, timed to the beat of the music, immediately after his co-rapper does. The player is judged by the timing and accuracy of each button press, and the results vary from "you rappin' awful" to "you rappin' cool."
Playing "Parappa the Rapper" is very much like playing "Dance Dance Revolution" without the dance pad and with buttons that scroll horizontally instead of vertically. Some gamers will tire of "Parappa" quickly because the game play is simple and it only features a few levels. Even with downloadable content, few players are likely to engage in cyber-rap for hours on end.
Still, the game's visual style and whimsical lyrics make up for the lack of complexity.
Publisher: Microsoft/Square-Enix
System: Microsoft Xbox 360
Cost: $40
ESRB rating: T
Review rating: 3 stars
Old-school gamers who have played in arcades will appreciate Square-Enix's remake of the classic "Silpheed" series, "Project Sylpheed: Arc of Deception." Set in the 27th century, this 3-D update of the side-scrolling, 2-D space shooter drops the player into the cockpit of a customizable intergalactic fighter, forcing him to dogfight his way out of one precarious situation after another.
Fortunately, the player can call on up to three wingmen to help in battle, issuing support, attack, breakaway and formation orders. This comes in handy when the enemy has gigantic spaceships armed with dozens of lasers and cannons. In addition, smart pilots will target shield generators first to make disposing of these behemoths a bit easier.
Several maneuvers are available to help dodge incoming fire, such as siderolls, 180-degree turns and afterburner. One of the coolest features is the ability to match the speed of the enemy that you've targeted, making it much easier to blast your foe into space dust.
While play can become repetitive, in-depth customization options and gorgeous visuals help to make "Project Sylpheed" an enjoyable 3-D spaceshooter.
4 stars - Must have
3 stars - Pretty good
2 stars - So-so
1 star - Don't waste your time
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
E: Everyone
T: Teen (13 and older)
E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)
M: Mature (17 and older)
