STACK #186 Apr 2020

GAMING FEATURE

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buttons in time with the rap represented in- game. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds – but it was crazily addictive. The PlayStation became quite a hotbed for the burgeoning rhythm game genre, with a guitar-skewed spin-off of Parappa in Um Jammer Lammy , featuring a bashful lamb that gains confidence when shredding, and the intriguing obstacle avoidance experience Vib-Ribbon , in which you could replace the game disc with any music CD and play along. The rampant creativity continued on the PlayStation 2, not only with a sequel to PaRappa the Rapper , but also the wild trip that was Gitaroo Man . It involved a space dog imparting upon you his guitar prowess, in order to save Planet Gitaroo. Yes, really!

M usic had been a feature of video games since their early days, but it wasn’t really until 1996, and the PlayStation game PaRappa the Rapper , that the ability to keep time to a song became a key gameplay mechanic. PaRappa was a cartoon dog, on whose behalf the player stabbed controller

While eagerly awaiting last month’s mega Persona 5 Royal update, our thoughts turned to the series’ rhythm game spinoffs, and the genre in general. Join us for a look back at a game style that isn’t as dead as you might think. Words Amy Flower

Patapon

PaRappa the Rapper

Then came the PlayStation Portable. It delivered a new spin on rhythm gaming, combining it with the god game for the memorable Patapon . Face buttons made different vocalisations, which were strung

10 APRIL 2020

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