UmJammer Lammy
Encyclopedia
is a rhythm
video game developed by NanaOn-Sha
and published by Sony
for the PlayStation video game console
. UmJammer Lammy is a spin-off of PaRappa the Rapper
, also released for the PlayStation. On September 1, 2009, the ESRB rated the game for release on the Playstation Network for PlayStation 3
and PSP
; the game was released on the PlayStation Network on September 30, 2009.
In a joint creation with Namco
, Sony of Japan released an arcade version of UmJammer Lammy which features updated visuals and a differing song list. Furthermore, similar to Konami's
Guitar Freaks series, the game boasts a guitar-shaped specialty controller which gives the player a better sensation of playing a real guitar.
from PaRappa 1, at the microphone. He then leads Lammy through a song whose lyrics foreshadow the events that unfold across the rest of the game. At the end of the song, Chop Chop asks Lammy what she is playing, she then realises her guitar is actually her vacuum cleaner
. Lammy begins to panic, as she believes she is nothing without her guitar, but Chop Chop explains that she doesn't need her guitar to be cool — "I lost my dojo
, but the dojo remains in my mind. It even has a casino
. Dojo, casino, it's all in the mind.". Thus, whenever Lammy sees or hears a reference to gambling, she recalls that "My guitar is in my mind!" and she adapts whatever task she must perform into invisibly playing the guitar, therefore becoming confident again. Note that this is the only level in the game which is never available for multiplayer play of any kind. (It also can't be played by Parappa, although a Parappa mix of the song appears on the soundtrack.)
Lammy then wakes up, the previous level having been a dream sequence. She realises she only has 15 minutes to get to a concert with her band, Milkcan, at the Chop Chop Master Arena. She runs out of her apartment (returning to turn off all the appliances she left running, and kiss her teddy panda for luck), and runs downtown, only to find the pizza shop has caught fire, and fire marshals have sealed off the area. She tries to break through, but the Chief Puddle will only allow her passage if she helps put the fire out. Lammy begins to doubt, but she sees an advertisement for Joe Chin's Casino and realizes she can use a firehose in a similar way to her guitar.
After putting out the fire, Lammy and the firemen start to eat the well-cooked pizza. This makes Lammy bloated. Lammy remembers she has to hurry to her concert, but she can't run very fast. She collides into a parade of pregnant rabbits and their spouses, and the head nurse Cathy Piller mistakes Lammy for a pregnant teenager. After taking Lammy into her maternity unit, she finds Lammy wasn't pregnant after she's finished digesting the pizza, but insists she at least help put hundreds of baby rabbits to sleep. Lammy sees some babies playing a roulette wheel and makes a connection between the baby rabbits and guitars.
After putting all the babies to sleep, Lammy dashes out and slips on a skateboard. She goes flying through the air, and lands on a low-flying jumbo jet. She discovers the pilot, Captain Fussenpepper, has forgotten how to fly. He is normally sedate and confused, but when a loose ceiling panel in the cockpit falls on his head he thinks he's a military hero and becomes full-speed bossy. The ceiling panel falls frequently causing Captain Fussenpepper to change personalities often. An in-flight announcement tells passengers in the onboard casino to fasten their seatbelts and Lammy can fly an airplane as if she is playing a guitar.
After landing the plane safely in a parking lot (and putting change in a nearby parking meter), Lammy dashes off only to find she's missing her guitar. She regretfully recalls that she left her guitar on the plane and, unfortunately, the plane has taken off once more. She then spots a guitar shop and tries to buy a guitar, but there are none on display. The hillbilly shop owner, Paul Chuck, then leads her out the back door to a wooded forest and hands her a chainsaw. Lammy and Paul Chuck then use their chainsaws to make a guitar out of a tree. Lammy accomplishes this because she hears the tune "Casino in my hair" on Paul Chuck's record player.
With her new guitar in hand, Lammy dashes off, but she slips on a banana peel left by PJ Berri (from PaRappa the Rapper
) and tragically dies. She then realizes she is in Hell
(in the U.S. release, Lammy's clothes snag on the door, and she is catapulted to a nearby island). The manager for Teriyaki Yoko sees Lammy and recruits her to fill in for Yoko's regular guitarist at the gig. Teriyaki agrees to send Lammy back on the condition that she performs well in the song, or she will ban her from the game. After the song, Teriyaki then presents Lammy the "super teleportation device" (a fax machine) and faxes her back to the real world, at the same time Lammy's rival, Rammy, appears late for the concert.
She makes a madcap dash for the concert that all the members had been preparing hard for, and is surprised to find she's reached the door at the exact same time as Katy and Ma-san, who got caught up in their own adventures. With the band united, Milkcan rocks the stage.
At the end of this level, both Rammy and Parappa
are shown in the audience. The player can now play all the levels again as Parappa, rapping to hip-hop versions of Lammy's songs. There is no linking plot when playing as Parappa (according to the title cards at the start of each level, Parappa's levels are spaced out over the course of a week), but some short comic sketches featuring Parappa, Katy Kat and PJ Berri are shown in between levels. The plot sees Parappa and his friends helping to prepare for Katy's concert, which inspires Parappa and PJ to start their own band, although PJ's sense of 'rock n roll' is a little left to be desired. Lammy can also play each level either cooperatively with, or competitively against Rammy or Parappa.
Katy Kat-MilkCan's bassist and lead singer. She's fashionable and confident.
Ma-San-The drummer; short in stature and powerful in drumming, and the only notable character who doesn't speak English, instead speaking her own unique language. However, the others always understand what she says.
Chief Puddle is the local firefighter, and the teacher for Stage 2.
Cathy Pillar runs a maternity ward, but has a barfing problem. She is the teacher on Stage 3.
Captain Fussenpepper is an airplane pilot who has a split personality: he is either calm, flaccid, and a bit senile, or loud, angry, and the personality of a drill seargent; his personality switches back and forth whenever he is clunked on the head. He is the teacher on Stage 4.
Paul Chuck builds and sells a custom guitar with Lammy's help. He disapproves of Joe Chin brand chainsaws and jokers. He is the teacher on Stage 5.
Teriyaki Yoko is a diva performer who tours unusual venues like Hell (Japanese version) or a seemingly deserted island (US version). She gets a bad temper if anyone screws up during a performance. She is the teacher on Stage 6.
messages.
is used in this game instead of the rap music from PaRappa games. Each level features a character singing a unique song. A green line at the top of the screen will appear, with the singer's icon moving over symbols representing the controller buttons. Directly after, an identical line will appear (purple for Lammy, black for Rammy, and yellow for PaRappa), and the player's icon progresses. The player must match the singer's rhythm by pressing the buttons. The game alternates between the two lines until the song ends.
If a player has a DualShock controller, it will vibrate when it is their turn, or when they fail the level.
There are four ranks indicating how well the player is doing: Cool, Good, Bad and Awful. The player begins at Good rank. If two consecutive lines are played poorly, the rank will drop, and if two lines are played well, the rank will rise. In Bad or Awful rank, the quality of the song drops and background activity will change. The level can be cleared by ending on Good or Cool rank, but will automatically fail if it drops below Awful. The player can improvise in between the notes, and this is successful, COOL mode is entered. The singer will leave the scene, allowing the player to freestyle then rest of the way.
Besides the morphers, players can also morph the pitch of the guitar by pressing the L2 or R2 buttons while playing.
These features are not available while playing as Parappa.
. The buttons for Triangle, Circle, X and Square are represented by strummers in the middle of the guitar, the L button is represented by a slider at the top of the guitar, and a scratch disc at the bottom represents the R button. The gameplay is identical to the console version, albeit some of the game's lines are changed to make it easier to play with the guitar controller. Also, the first level is supposedly playable with Parappa (while the music and words for Parappa's version of "I Am a Master, and You" exist in the game's data, the level itself is unplayable in the home version).
This mode must be played to unlock all other modes. At the end of stages 2–6, Lammy receives a sound morpher. Players can use the Select button to cycle through the available morphers and morph the sounds of the guitar, but only while playing as Lammy or Rammy.
This is the only mode in which Stage 1 can be played.
A co-operative mode in which Player 1 plays as Lammy and Player 2 plays as Rammy. Each line is played alternatively by the players. After every 2 lines, the combined scores each player achieved during that line is added to the score and the rank changes accordingly. For example, if player 1 did well and scored 10 points in his/her line but player 2 did badly and got a score of -13, the total score for those lines would be -3 and it would count as a bad line.
This mode can be played with either 2 controllers, against the computer or (once cleared) one controller.
Works in a similar way to the co-op mode, only the scores are differentiated and the difference is awarded and taken away from the respective players. For example, if Player 1 scored 10 and Player 2 scored 8 points, Player 1 would get 2 points added to his/her score and Player 2 would lose 2 points. The loser is the one with the lowest score at the end of the level, whoever hits below Awful first or whoever reaches 0 first.
The game can be played with 1 or 2 controllers, or can be played against the computer with varying levels of difficulty.
Parappa plays through rap versions of stages 2–7. The storyline involves Parappa and his friends PJ and Sunny helping Katy Kat out with her band's concert. Later on Parappa and PJ decide to start their own band, although PJ's definition of 'rock and roll' leaves somewhat to be desired. There are also commercials for Joe Chin products.
Works in the same way as Lammy & Rammy co-op, only this time, Player 1 plays as Lammy with her tracks and Player 2 as Parappa using his tracks, with the music alternating between the two depending on whose turn it is.
Same as Lammy vs Rammy, with Player 2 as Parappa.
. Instead, she snags her belt on a doorknob while running from Paul Chuck's guitar store and is slingshotted back in time onto an island. The lyrics in stage 6 no longer refer to the devil
, and Lammy is seen wearing a camouflage
shirt design, as well as the pants and shoes to match said design, along with jungle makeup on her face and vines in her hair. The cutscene preceding stage 7 then features Katy Kat in jungle gear and Ma-san riding a camel, and where the ending credits has an instrumental version of "Keep Your Head Up" in Japan's version, the song now has lyrics in the U.S. (and PAL) version. Finally, Chop Chop Master Onion's stage 1 song changes to reflect the new storyline. However, the demo of Um Jammer Lammy released in PlayStation Underground has the unedited version.
was released featuring music from the game performed by "MilkCan" with vocals by Michele Burks as Katy Kat. In September, I Scream!
was released featuring remixed versions of the songs and original lyrics performed by Dred Foxx as Parappa. An original soundtrack
was released in November.
's Jeff Gerstmann
commented on the game's sound, graphics and originality and gave it an 8.4, stating, "While the game isn't a strict sequel, it does take place in the same universe, with the same graphics style and nearly identical gameplay. ... [T]he additional levels, the two-player option, and the inclusion of the Parappa remixes in Um Jammer Lammy add a value that Parappa the Rapper simply can't touch. But keep in mind that the game doesn't stray far from the formula, and the game's difficulty will put off those who never mastered Parappa. So, to put it another way, if you didn't play Parappa to death and love every minute of it, you might as well skip out on Um Jammer Lammy." Similarly, IGN
gave it an 8.6 and commented on the gameplay, story, graphics and sound, stating, "If you can look past all the crazy effects and wild animations, the plot isn't as funny, or as cute, as Parappa the Rapper's. In fact, it was kind of bland. ... But the rest of the game is sweet. ... Um Jammer Lammy is a great addition to the Parappa cosmos... [and] has so much more that Parappa didn't have." Game Revolution
also gave it a B, calling it "a cool game, if for no other reason than to entertain sufficiently inebriated party guests. It's easily the most insane mish-mash of psychadelia [sic] yet seen on a console, and at least deserves a shot (or the whole bottle, even)", but criticized the story, calling it "the most obtuse, disjointed, drug-induced mess of a story that has ever been conceived, period." (the site even went so far as to rate the game as #40 on the list of the Top 50 Worst Game Names Ever).
The alternate U.S. version of Lammy's Stage 6, however, drew mixed praise and criticism. IGN called it "a far off island [that] has that Japan-idol-talk influence... So if you were expecting to see one of the levels being in hell, well, it's not in there." Similarly, GameSpot's Gerstmann made a later update on his March 26, 1999, review by commenting on the U.S. alterations to Stage 6, exclaiming, "It doesn't really affect the game too much, since much of the game doesn't make a lot of sense to begin with." Game Vortex, however, criticized the alteration, calling it "the only unfortunate thing" and stating "Did I miss some logical leap? I think our kids can handle such a basic concept as Hell."
Rhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to press buttons in a sequence dictated on the screen...
video game developed by NanaOn-Sha
NanaOn-Sha
NanaOn-Sha is a Japanese video game company which created what is widely credited as the first modern rhythm game, PaRappa the Rapper. It was founded by: Masaya Matsuura in 1993. The game's success resulted in the spinoff UmJammer Lammy, which is based on guitar samples, and eventually a proper...
and published by Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
for the PlayStation video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. UmJammer Lammy is a spin-off of PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper
is a rhythm video game for the Sony PlayStation created by Masaya Matsuura and his NanaOn-Sha company....
, also released for the PlayStation. On September 1, 2009, the ESRB rated the game for release on the Playstation Network for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
; the game was released on the PlayStation Network on September 30, 2009.
In a joint creation with Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
, Sony of Japan released an arcade version of UmJammer Lammy which features updated visuals and a differing song list. Furthermore, similar to Konami's
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
Guitar Freaks series, the game boasts a guitar-shaped specialty controller which gives the player a better sensation of playing a real guitar.
Plot
UmJammer Lammy opens with a nightmare Lammy has of being late for a gig, running to the stage door and ending up on stage at the last second, only to find Chop Chop Master Onion, the senseiSensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
from PaRappa 1, at the microphone. He then leads Lammy through a song whose lyrics foreshadow the events that unfold across the rest of the game. At the end of the song, Chop Chop asks Lammy what she is playing, she then realises her guitar is actually her vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
. Lammy begins to panic, as she believes she is nothing without her guitar, but Chop Chop explains that she doesn't need her guitar to be cool — "I lost my dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
, but the dojo remains in my mind. It even has a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
. Dojo, casino, it's all in the mind.". Thus, whenever Lammy sees or hears a reference to gambling, she recalls that "My guitar is in my mind!" and she adapts whatever task she must perform into invisibly playing the guitar, therefore becoming confident again. Note that this is the only level in the game which is never available for multiplayer play of any kind. (It also can't be played by Parappa, although a Parappa mix of the song appears on the soundtrack.)
Lammy then wakes up, the previous level having been a dream sequence. She realises she only has 15 minutes to get to a concert with her band, Milkcan, at the Chop Chop Master Arena. She runs out of her apartment (returning to turn off all the appliances she left running, and kiss her teddy panda for luck), and runs downtown, only to find the pizza shop has caught fire, and fire marshals have sealed off the area. She tries to break through, but the Chief Puddle will only allow her passage if she helps put the fire out. Lammy begins to doubt, but she sees an advertisement for Joe Chin's Casino and realizes she can use a firehose in a similar way to her guitar.
After putting out the fire, Lammy and the firemen start to eat the well-cooked pizza. This makes Lammy bloated. Lammy remembers she has to hurry to her concert, but she can't run very fast. She collides into a parade of pregnant rabbits and their spouses, and the head nurse Cathy Piller mistakes Lammy for a pregnant teenager. After taking Lammy into her maternity unit, she finds Lammy wasn't pregnant after she's finished digesting the pizza, but insists she at least help put hundreds of baby rabbits to sleep. Lammy sees some babies playing a roulette wheel and makes a connection between the baby rabbits and guitars.
After putting all the babies to sleep, Lammy dashes out and slips on a skateboard. She goes flying through the air, and lands on a low-flying jumbo jet. She discovers the pilot, Captain Fussenpepper, has forgotten how to fly. He is normally sedate and confused, but when a loose ceiling panel in the cockpit falls on his head he thinks he's a military hero and becomes full-speed bossy. The ceiling panel falls frequently causing Captain Fussenpepper to change personalities often. An in-flight announcement tells passengers in the onboard casino to fasten their seatbelts and Lammy can fly an airplane as if she is playing a guitar.
After landing the plane safely in a parking lot (and putting change in a nearby parking meter), Lammy dashes off only to find she's missing her guitar. She regretfully recalls that she left her guitar on the plane and, unfortunately, the plane has taken off once more. She then spots a guitar shop and tries to buy a guitar, but there are none on display. The hillbilly shop owner, Paul Chuck, then leads her out the back door to a wooded forest and hands her a chainsaw. Lammy and Paul Chuck then use their chainsaws to make a guitar out of a tree. Lammy accomplishes this because she hears the tune "Casino in my hair" on Paul Chuck's record player.
With her new guitar in hand, Lammy dashes off, but she slips on a banana peel left by PJ Berri (from PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper
is a rhythm video game for the Sony PlayStation created by Masaya Matsuura and his NanaOn-Sha company....
) and tragically dies. She then realizes she is in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
(in the U.S. release, Lammy's clothes snag on the door, and she is catapulted to a nearby island). The manager for Teriyaki Yoko sees Lammy and recruits her to fill in for Yoko's regular guitarist at the gig. Teriyaki agrees to send Lammy back on the condition that she performs well in the song, or she will ban her from the game. After the song, Teriyaki then presents Lammy the "super teleportation device" (a fax machine) and faxes her back to the real world, at the same time Lammy's rival, Rammy, appears late for the concert.
She makes a madcap dash for the concert that all the members had been preparing hard for, and is surprised to find she's reached the door at the exact same time as Katy and Ma-san, who got caught up in their own adventures. With the band united, Milkcan rocks the stage.
At the end of this level, both Rammy and Parappa
PaRappa the Rapper
is a rhythm video game for the Sony PlayStation created by Masaya Matsuura and his NanaOn-Sha company....
are shown in the audience. The player can now play all the levels again as Parappa, rapping to hip-hop versions of Lammy's songs. There is no linking plot when playing as Parappa (according to the title cards at the start of each level, Parappa's levels are spaced out over the course of a week), but some short comic sketches featuring Parappa, Katy Kat and PJ Berri are shown in between levels. The plot sees Parappa and his friends helping to prepare for Katy's concert, which inspires Parappa and PJ to start their own band, although PJ's sense of 'rock n roll' is a little left to be desired. Lammy can also play each level either cooperatively with, or competitively against Rammy or Parappa.
MilkCan
Lammy-the game's protaganist. The left-handed guitarist for MilkCan. She has a knack for being shy and showing up almost late for gigs, but is known to rock the stage when she has her guitar in hand.Katy Kat-MilkCan's bassist and lead singer. She's fashionable and confident.
Ma-San-The drummer; short in stature and powerful in drumming, and the only notable character who doesn't speak English, instead speaking her own unique language. However, the others always understand what she says.
Singers
Chop Chop Master Onion reprises his role from PaRappa in Stage 1 as a mentor and teacher. He mentions that he has lost his dojo, but remains mentally connected to it in his mind; it even has a casino in his mind. His advice gives Lammy the confidence to play no matter what the situation is.Chief Puddle is the local firefighter, and the teacher for Stage 2.
Cathy Pillar runs a maternity ward, but has a barfing problem. She is the teacher on Stage 3.
Captain Fussenpepper is an airplane pilot who has a split personality: he is either calm, flaccid, and a bit senile, or loud, angry, and the personality of a drill seargent; his personality switches back and forth whenever he is clunked on the head. He is the teacher on Stage 4.
Paul Chuck builds and sells a custom guitar with Lammy's help. He disapproves of Joe Chin brand chainsaws and jokers. He is the teacher on Stage 5.
Teriyaki Yoko is a diva performer who tours unusual venues like Hell (Japanese version) or a seemingly deserted island (US version). She gets a bad temper if anyone screws up during a performance. She is the teacher on Stage 6.
Misc and returning characters
Rammy-the evil Lammy, also constantly late for gigs. Lammy is blamed for anything bad that happens to Rammy, including no beeperBeeper
Beeper may refer to:* Pager* Buzzer* PC speaker* Avalanche transceiver* Beeper, the debut single by The Count and Sinden...
messages.
Basic Gameplay
UmJammer Lammy is based on the PaRappa the Rapper engine. Rock musicRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
is used in this game instead of the rap music from PaRappa games. Each level features a character singing a unique song. A green line at the top of the screen will appear, with the singer's icon moving over symbols representing the controller buttons. Directly after, an identical line will appear (purple for Lammy, black for Rammy, and yellow for PaRappa), and the player's icon progresses. The player must match the singer's rhythm by pressing the buttons. The game alternates between the two lines until the song ends.
If a player has a DualShock controller, it will vibrate when it is their turn, or when they fail the level.
There are four ranks indicating how well the player is doing: Cool, Good, Bad and Awful. The player begins at Good rank. If two consecutive lines are played poorly, the rank will drop, and if two lines are played well, the rank will rise. In Bad or Awful rank, the quality of the song drops and background activity will change. The level can be cleared by ending on Good or Cool rank, but will automatically fail if it drops below Awful. The player can improvise in between the notes, and this is successful, COOL mode is entered. The singer will leave the scene, allowing the player to freestyle then rest of the way.
Sound morphers
At the end of stages 2–6 on Lammy's storyline, she is handed an obscure object with a property. These are Flanger (a fire siren), Harmonizer (a caterpillar rattle), Wah Wah (Capt. Fussenpepper's False Teeth), Distortion (a miniature log with an ax on it) and Reverb (a lighter.) When playing as either Lammy or Rammy, players can press Select to cycle through the sound morphers, changing the sounds as they are played. Certain morphers, such as the Wah-Wah, can be affected further by activating the analogue mode on the Dual Shock controller and moving the analogue stick up and down.Besides the morphers, players can also morph the pitch of the guitar by pressing the L2 or R2 buttons while playing.
These features are not available while playing as Parappa.
Fever Time
Entering a level after it has been completed once brings up a chocolatey screen full of symbols before the level's cut scene is loaded. If these symbols are input in the right order in the relevant level while in Cool mode, the screen goes hyper and several symbols fly all around. During the time this is up, players can hit the featured button repeatedly to gain massive points.Arcade version
The arcade version of the game, entitled Um Jammer Lammy: NOW! is played using a unique guitar controllerGuitar controller
A guitar controller is a video game controller designed to simulate the playing of the guitar, a string musical instrument. Guitar controllers are often used for music games such as UmJammer Lammy: NOW!, GuitarFreaks, Guitar Hero, and the Rock Band series...
. The buttons for Triangle, Circle, X and Square are represented by strummers in the middle of the guitar, the L button is represented by a slider at the top of the guitar, and a scratch disc at the bottom represents the R button. The gameplay is identical to the console version, albeit some of the game's lines are changed to make it easier to play with the guitar controller. Also, the first level is supposedly playable with Parappa (while the music and words for Parappa's version of "I Am a Master, and You" exist in the game's data, the level itself is unplayable in the home version).
Modes
- Solo - Lammy: The main storyline featuring Lammy.
This mode must be played to unlock all other modes. At the end of stages 2–6, Lammy receives a sound morpher. Players can use the Select button to cycle through the available morphers and morph the sounds of the guitar, but only while playing as Lammy or Rammy.
This is the only mode in which Stage 1 can be played.
- Co-op - Lammy & Rammy: Unlocked by clearing levels in Lammy's Solo Mode.
A co-operative mode in which Player 1 plays as Lammy and Player 2 plays as Rammy. Each line is played alternatively by the players. After every 2 lines, the combined scores each player achieved during that line is added to the score and the rank changes accordingly. For example, if player 1 did well and scored 10 points in his/her line but player 2 did badly and got a score of -13, the total score for those lines would be -3 and it would count as a bad line.
This mode can be played with either 2 controllers, against the computer or (once cleared) one controller.
- Vs - Lammy & Rammy:
Works in a similar way to the co-op mode, only the scores are differentiated and the difference is awarded and taken away from the respective players. For example, if Player 1 scored 10 and Player 2 scored 8 points, Player 1 would get 2 points added to his/her score and Player 2 would lose 2 points. The loser is the one with the lowest score at the end of the level, whoever hits below Awful first or whoever reaches 0 first.
The game can be played with 1 or 2 controllers, or can be played against the computer with varying levels of difficulty.
- Solo - Parappa: Unlocked after clearing Lammy solo mode
Parappa plays through rap versions of stages 2–7. The storyline involves Parappa and his friends PJ and Sunny helping Katy Kat out with her band's concert. Later on Parappa and PJ decide to start their own band, although PJ's definition of 'rock and roll' leaves somewhat to be desired. There are also commercials for Joe Chin products.
- Co-op - Lammy & Parappa:
Works in the same way as Lammy & Rammy co-op, only this time, Player 1 plays as Lammy with her tracks and Player 2 as Parappa using his tracks, with the music alternating between the two depending on whose turn it is.
- Vs. - Lammy & Parappa:
Same as Lammy vs Rammy, with Player 2 as Parappa.
- Special Mode: Unlocked after completing Lammy Rammy co-op, Lammy Parappa co-op, Lammy Rammy versus, and Lammy Parappa versus modes. Once all those modes have been completed, a player can listen to any of the songs from Lammy or Parappa's stages, in GOOD, BAD, AWFUL or COOL mode. However, Lammy's riffs or Parappa's raps are not featured. As the songs are played, the buttons can be used to make Lammy, Rammy, Katy Kat, Parappa, Ma-San and PJ perform actions.
Changes for North American release
Several changes were made for the game's North American release. These changes are not found in the original Japanese version or the PAL release. For stage 5, Paul Chuck's lyrics are changed to discourage chopping down trees for fun. For example the line, "chopping trees down for the fun" changes to "knowing that we're here for the fun". For stage 6 (Teriyaki Yoko), Lammy no longer dies and goes to HellHell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. Instead, she snags her belt on a doorknob while running from Paul Chuck's guitar store and is slingshotted back in time onto an island. The lyrics in stage 6 no longer refer to the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
, and Lammy is seen wearing a camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
shirt design, as well as the pants and shoes to match said design, along with jungle makeup on her face and vines in her hair. The cutscene preceding stage 7 then features Katy Kat in jungle gear and Ma-san riding a camel, and where the ending credits has an instrumental version of "Keep Your Head Up" in Japan's version, the song now has lyrics in the U.S. (and PAL) version. Finally, Chop Chop Master Onion's stage 1 song changes to reflect the new storyline. However, the demo of Um Jammer Lammy released in PlayStation Underground has the unedited version.
Soundtracks
In 1999, three soundtracks were released in Japan. In July, Make It SweetMake It Sweet (MilkCan album)
Make It Sweet was the only album by the alternative rock/virtual band MilkCan, released on June 19, 1999. It acted as the soundtrack to the PlayStation video game Um Jammer Lammy Instead of featuring music taken directly from the game, the album features music performed by MilkCan with vocals by...
was released featuring music from the game performed by "MilkCan" with vocals by Michele Burks as Katy Kat. In September, I Scream!
I Scream!
I Scream! is an album by "PJ and PaRappa", fictional characters from the PaRappa the Rapper series of music video games. The album features remixed versions of the Parappa songs from the UmJammer Lammy soundtrack with original lyrics performed by Dred Foxx as PaRappa.-Track listing:#"All We Need Is...
was released featuring remixed versions of the songs and original lyrics performed by Dred Foxx as Parappa. An original soundtrack
UmJammer Lammy (Original Soundtrack)
UmJammer Lammy is the original soundtrack to the PlayStation videogame of the same name. It features all of the game's compositions by creator Masaya Matsuura as well as alternate versions of the tracks found in the game.- Track listing :...
was released in November.
Praise and criticism
The game was given generally favorable reviews, receiving around an 83% on GameRankings. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Jeff Gerstmann
Jeff Gerstmann
Jeff Gerstmann is an American video game journalist and former editorial director of the gaming website GameSpot and the founder of the gaming website Giant Bomb. He began working at GameSpot in the fall of 1996, around the launch of VideoGameSpot when GameSpot separated PC and console games into...
commented on the game's sound, graphics and originality and gave it an 8.4, stating, "While the game isn't a strict sequel, it does take place in the same universe, with the same graphics style and nearly identical gameplay. ... [T]he additional levels, the two-player option, and the inclusion of the Parappa remixes in Um Jammer Lammy add a value that Parappa the Rapper simply can't touch. But keep in mind that the game doesn't stray far from the formula, and the game's difficulty will put off those who never mastered Parappa. So, to put it another way, if you didn't play Parappa to death and love every minute of it, you might as well skip out on Um Jammer Lammy." Similarly, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it an 8.6 and commented on the gameplay, story, graphics and sound, stating, "If you can look past all the crazy effects and wild animations, the plot isn't as funny, or as cute, as Parappa the Rapper's. In fact, it was kind of bland. ... But the rest of the game is sweet. ... Um Jammer Lammy is a great addition to the Parappa cosmos... [and] has so much more that Parappa didn't have." Game Revolution
Game Revolution
Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. Based in Berkeley, California, the site includes reviews, previews, a gaming download area, cheats, and a merchandise store, as well as webcomics, screenshots, and videos...
also gave it a B, calling it "a cool game, if for no other reason than to entertain sufficiently inebriated party guests. It's easily the most insane mish-mash of psychadelia [sic] yet seen on a console, and at least deserves a shot (or the whole bottle, even)", but criticized the story, calling it "the most obtuse, disjointed, drug-induced mess of a story that has ever been conceived, period." (the site even went so far as to rate the game as #40 on the list of the Top 50 Worst Game Names Ever).
The alternate U.S. version of Lammy's Stage 6, however, drew mixed praise and criticism. IGN called it "a far off island [that] has that Japan-idol-talk influence... So if you were expecting to see one of the levels being in hell, well, it's not in there." Similarly, GameSpot's Gerstmann made a later update on his March 26, 1999, review by commenting on the U.S. alterations to Stage 6, exclaiming, "It doesn't really affect the game too much, since much of the game doesn't make a lot of sense to begin with." Game Vortex, however, criticized the alteration, calling it "the only unfortunate thing" and stating "Did I miss some logical leap? I think our kids can handle such a basic concept as Hell."
Awards
- E3 1999 Game Critics AwardsGame Critics AwardsThe Game Critics Awards are a set of annual awards held after the E3 video game conference since 1998. The awards are given to products displayed at E3 with the title Best of E3 of their category. The nominees and winners of the awards are chosen by individual judges representing 35 major North...
: Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game, Outstanding Achievement in Sound
External links
- UmJammer Lammy at GameFAQs
- UmJammer Lammy at GameSpot
- UmJammer Lammy at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- Game highlights by The Rubber Chicken
- UmJammer Lammy Stage 6 intros video (Japan/Europe version vs. U.S. version) from YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....