Could Parappa the Rapper return on Playstation Vita?

By Rick Marshall September 27, 2011

It’s been more than four years since the last time we had anything to report on Parappa, the rapping pup whose foray onto the original Playstation is credited as kick-starting the rhythm-based gaming genre.

And while the 2007 PSP port of the original Parappa remains the last title released in the series, creator Masaya Matsuura recently hinted that the arrival of the Playstation Vita could mean the return of Parappa.

“We always think about the possibility of remaking or rebuilding or making sequels,” Matsuura told Joystiq, adding that he prefers handheld systems to consoles due to the latency issues that develop between controller and screen. That’s why there’s a “good chance” the Vita could play host to a new Parappa adventure.

But that isn’t the only thing holding Parappa developer NanaOn-Sha back from making another game with Chop Chop Master Onion, Instructor Mooselini, MC King Kong Mushi, and the rest of Parappa’s crew.

“It’s not just content issues — there’s also business issues,” said NanaOn-Sha director of development Dewi Tanner. “How people pay for games has changed compared to 15 years ago. We’re not sure that people would be willing to pay $50 for something with 5, 6 stages.”

As Joystiq points out, today’s rhythm-based games generally involve an ever-expanding library of music and universal animations, while Parappa was built on original creations by the developer. Unlike something like Rock Band, for example, a Parappa game requires new music, animations, and a script.

That means the time required to develop a Parappa on the same level of today’s rhythm-based games could be an issue.

“I’m not sure a 20-hour Parappa experience would be that fun,” Tanner noted. “It would take us like 30 years to make.”

Still, Matsuura’s comments should give Parappa fans hope for another adventure with the rapping pup.

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