Leave it to Lammy
By C.R. TEODORO
Scene Writer
For those fateful PSXers that have played since the early days when the PSX console came out, the name "Parrapa the Rapper" should not be unfamiliar. This childish game was simplistic in operation, but provided entertainment for any age level. It was an original game unlike any other.
Until now.
Sony's "Um Jammer Lammy" is the sequel to the popular "Parrapa the Rapper" game. "Lammy" is essentially the same game, but has additional features that were not present in the original "Parrapa." Still, the material is fresh and comical to view.
Another aspect of this game is that players play a girl, a concept that is alien to most video games unless the girl is killing stuff and has a supermodel's body. The girl is Lammy, the lead guitarist for the up-and-coming band MilkCan. It is up to players to help Lammy play her guitar and hopefully woo the crowds with some cool riffs. Lammy first comes off as a shy and nervous girl, but when she takes hold of her guitar, she lets it all hang out and rocks the world.
Clearly at first glance, the graphics seem to mirror the comedy of "South Park." Even though that doesn't sound impressive, the programmers actually did an excellent job of creating a 3-D space using mostly 2-D images. In fact, the polygons that make up the different characters are essentially moving planes of paper. This minimal use of polygons and graphics really proves that sometimes less is more. From a designing point of view, the game screen is active and playful with its rich use of color and placement of elements. This is a cartoon world in which you would actually believe you could move around.
Even with an impressive display and use of graphics, the sound is what steals the spotlight. As in "Parrapa," where players must rap in rhythm to the music, one must take control of Lammy and play her guitar in beat with the music that is playing. Half of the game consists of silly cinemas that display the dialogue in clear voices.
The other half you actually play along to the music. Most of the music on this disc is reminiscent of past popular tunes that add a sense of style for every level. For a game where sound is paramount, Lammy takes control and doesn't leave the player unsatisfied.
The game controls are easy to learn, yet can still be a challenge to even the most experienced gamer. One only has to use six buttons, and the directional pad is discarded in game play. The level starts out with a teacher that sings in the rhythm of the music, with a rhythm bar to help visually. Then immediately afterward, one is expected to play out the rhythm by pushing the right buttons in sync with the music.
At first, it can be frustrating, as one may think that one is hitting the buttons correctly. But the key to scoring is not so much hitting the right buttons in the right order but keeping a consistent rhythm in doing so. It is also good to remember not to follow the rhythm straight through but to rely more on the music, since this is essentially a game about music.
Comparing it to its predecessor, "Lammy" has some additional features that "Parrapa" doesn't. One of those things is a two-player mode. Unlike "Parrapa," which was only a one-player game, "Lammy" can have two players either cooperate in playing together or go head-to-head in battle mode, where you see who can play better.
This game probably isn't for everyone. If you just like to kill things or have something with a ball, look elsewhere. But if you still are a child at heart, take a look at this game. It's a game where you can still have fun without killing mutant aliens or zombies.
All Scene Stories for Monday, November 15, 1999
