I just finished Um Jammer Lammy - Parappa the Rapper's weirder sequel (short review)
Some gameplay if you have no idea what this is.
Um Jammer Lammy is a sequel to Parappa the Rapper set in the same universe but following a different character. Rather than being a rhythm game about rap, this one is mostly rock with some other genres mixed in.
I'm kind of shocked that despite playing Parappa 1 and seeing some of Parappa 2, I never heard of this one. This one was made in the middle, and despite the name making it sound like a spinoff, it is basically a direct sequel (Parappa is even in this one too).
This game is way better than Parappa 1. The input detection actually works here so you don't randomly lose when you're hitting buttons on the beat. The game's still hard though, just less unfair. The length is similar to the first game but you'd be surprised at how quick you can beat it now that the game works properly, it took me just under 2 hours.
There's a surprising amount of post-game content though, including a hard mode where you get to play as Parappa, and boy does it get insanely hard. People that 100% games are going to have a rough time with this one.
The only thing it doesn't have over the Parappa 1 is the music though. The music here is good but it's not as catchy as the first. The story is also a totally incomprehensible acid trip that I can't even explain if I wanted to. At one point she gets fat from eating pizza that the town thinks she's in labor and drags her into a hospital with a bunch of pregnant women. Yeah.
TL;DR: A great sequel to Parappa the Rapper that got completely overlooked for some reason, which is a shame because it's much better in many ways. Highly recommended if you're a rhythm game fan.
13 replies
If you haven't already you should check out the game's regional differences. Most notably the Stage 6 opening cutscene was heavily censored in the North American version.
I did see the alternate stage 6 cutscene beforehand, but It's the first time I saw the other small differences! Rammy saying "OK... You win, I guess I'll just go back to hell now" on getting defeated is way funnier.
UmJammer Lammy is great! I probably spent more time with it that Parappa, and I think its music is really catchy, esp the firefighting, woodcutting and final levels. Noooo cutting corners! She's on the border noooow!
There was an extremely little-known arcade version, only released in Japan, and it's thought that only one unit survives. Have a look.
The final level song is definitely a banger.
Thanks for sharing the arcade version, first time I've heard of that as well and it was an interesting watch. This game would've gone hard with a guitar hero-style controller. Shocking amount of original cutscenes for an arcade game, too.
The fact that Jonathan Ross was the one who ended up saving the arcade game is crazy. I knew I liked that guy.
This game is why I keep falling for toxic women
Been meaning to play this one, thanks for the review and for confirming that Parappa 1 was unfairly scoring - thought I was just awful at the game LOL
Also, if you haven’t tried it, you may want to check out Space Channel 5!
The first game's scroll prompt is off from how the later ones did it. I couldn't get past the first stage until I figured out that you have to hit the button on the beat before the icon goes over the prompt instead on on it. The game was actually possible once I knew that.
We still reference this game now and then. Just a few weeks ago we sang one of the songs over game chat. All of these games had a huge impact on my friends lives growing up. We loved them.
More like "um jammer lemmy", am I right?
I'll let myself out...
I loved this game more than Parappa, personally. Maybe I'll play it again right now... I'm all practiced up from blazing through the Dance Club stuff in Lost Judgement 🤣
My kid got huge into this series for a while. It really seems like they nailed the first modern rhythm game series.
I know a semi-famous rapper who had a ton of cred on the scene, and parappa 1 gave him awful scores. I don't know how the game's scoring system works, but it has nothing to do with how good your rap rhythm is.
If you don't put tl;dr:s at the top,
peopleI won't see them unlesstheyI've already chosen to read your full post. I thought it was intended to be an enticement for what's to come. Plz ignore me,I'mthey're just bored.