PaRappa the Rapper (PlayStation)

PaRappa the Rapper
Developers: NanaOn-Sha, Japan Vistec, Nemesys Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platform: PlayStation Released in JP: December 6, 1996 Released in US: October 31, 1997 Released in EU: September 26, 1997 This game has unused areas. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused sounds. This game has regional differences.

PaRappa the Rapper is one of the first rhythm-based games starring a rapping puppy. It later received a 20th Anniversary Remastered port on PlayStation 4.

Unused Stage

To do: Screenshots of this scene or stage would be super awesome.

In the game's root directory exists a folder named "S8". It contains files for an unused scene that would take place after Stage 6 on Cool Mode, where the player can control PaRappa during the "Somebody say ho!" segment at the very end. This actually happens in PaRappa the Rapper 2 on the final stage if you complete it on Cool Mode, but not here. It can be determined this sequence was planned for the original game but not implemented for whatever reason, however, this can later be possible in the 20th Anniversary Remastered port.

Unused Graphics

Stage 8

There exists some unused graphics that associate with the aforementioned unused stage above.

PJ Berri, the bear seen only in cutscenes, has in-game graphics outside of Stage 6 with facial expressions.

Joe Chin, usually only seen in cutscenes, can be found in the graphics of Stage 6.

There's an odd audience member who's only found here, and was presumably supposed to appear during stage 6, as this character was used in the anime at said location (albeit with a blue color scheme).

Stage 4

Unused graphics of Cheap Cheap facing completely forward with her beak open and closed. There are also graphics for the back of her head where the beak is unviewable due to Cheap Cheap facing forwards. It's possible that she was meant to face towards the screen whenever she was in the TV while the player was at a "Good" rating.

Stage 5

HOT_H.TIM is unviewable in regular gameplay but can be seen in the cutscene before this level starts. This appears behind the G sign in the level.

ENTOTU.TIM is a red arrow of unknown purpose.

Unused Audio

Stage 2 has an odd quirk with its Bad/Awful ending since, while most Bad/Awful stage music have endings (which don't usually play because the game already has those endings as separate VB files), the ending for Stage 2's Bad/Awful music is slightly different.

Unused	Used

The raw track's ending starts with "That's because". What plays in the actual game replaces that with a seamlessly rerecorded "You" for the VB file, and turns the start of the piano instrumental into a short loop. It was likely changed because losing prior to the end of the song would have been strange had this quote been used.

Ripped	In-game

A much cleaner "Oops!" sound for PaRappa when he messes up. The unused one is found in the files, but because of the inferior quality of the PlayStation's audio, it's slightly bitcrushed. The used one would be used again in Um Jammer Lammy (in much worse quality, though this was fixed when it was ported over to the PlayStation 3), while the unused one would later be heard clearly in PaRappa the Rapper 2, but even later in the 20th Anniversary Remastered port on the PlayStation 4, but strangely not the 2006 revision on PlayStation Portable.

Regional Differences

To do: There's definitely more, but this is all I can find so far.

The game had a few minor alterations from the original Japanese release.

North America	Europe

In the European version "Masaya Matsuura Produce", the game's creator, comes up after the Sony copyright. In the North American version, it says "Masaya Matsuura Presents,". Neither of these screens are seen in the Japanese version.

Japan (Playstation)	North America (Playstation)	Europe (Playstation)	PSP version

The Japanese title screen has a stylized Japanese subtitle. The international versions remove the subtitle. The North American title screen also has more copyright information which causes the subtitle to cover PaRappa's feet. The PSP (PlayStation Portable) port has an updated copyright date of 2006.

Japan	Europe	North America

The Japanese loading screen text has solid colors, while in the international versions, they're translucent. In the North American version, the message was changed from "A moment" to "Hold on".

20th Anniversary Demo/Remastered port

In 2016, a Remastered port of PaRappa the Rapper was released for the PlayStation 4 in honor of its 20th Anniversary, starting with a free demo. This demo begins with a special title screen, which lacks the "MENU" option, due to there only being one stage in the game, and the only stage open is Chop Chop Master Onion's (Stage 1), and ending with a special end screen not seen in the final game for obvious reasons. The Remastered port has an updated copyright of 2016.

Differences between versions

• In the intro cutscene, the word "Frosty" was muted out, due to Wendy's copyrighting the word, however only when Katy Kat says it, and a poster can be seen that has the word on it, unchanged.
• Before the title screen, the "shadow" behind PaRappa is actually a shadow instead of a second white-colored PaRappa placed behind him.
• In this version, the aforementioned "Oops!" sound can be heard more clearly here.
• The previously removed lights in Chop Chop Master Onion's dojo have been restored as in the Japanese original.
• The timing error in Cheap Cheap's stage has gotten worse, as the player needs to alternate between pressing the buttons earlier and later.
• The aforementioned previously unused feature of controlling Parappa through the "Somebody say ho!" segment of Stage 6 has been restored here due to the updated PlayStation 4 capabilities.
• The "echo" effects in PaRappa's lines in Stage 6 were toned down a bit.
• Like other PlayStation titles, the player can earn Trophies and achievements for doing tasks within the game, and the engine has been updated to do so.
• The timing in some stages for button presses (particularly Stage 4) is slightly off.

Demo	Remastered

The ending screen shown after Stage 1 is completed in the demo.

All of the models were upscaled in 4K, though this is because of this game running on a PSP emulator, as shown when hacking. The purple on Parappa's shirt was changed to be lighter, more resembling his Um Jammer Lammy model.

PaRappa the Rapper/Um Jammer Lammy	PaRappa the Rapper Remastered