chakka26's Full Review: Um Jammer Lammy for PlayStation 1
What do you get when you mix cartoon-like characters, several odd, but catchy tunes, and liquid LSD? Well, I am not quite sure exactly what you'd get when you mix those three things together, but I have a hunch it may resemble Um Jammer Lammy. I have to tell you, folks, this is definitely one of the strangest, but somehow extremely fun games I have ever played. If you have ever played Parappa the rapper, designed by the same crew as this game, you have a rough idea of the level and gameplay structure in Um Jammer, but as far as comprehendability, and probably target audience, this game is far different than it's Rap-based predecessor.
First let me try and set up the story line. Hmmm, well, you play as the main character, Lammy, a teen girl (sheep, or goat, I believe) who plays the guitar in a three piece girl band, MilkCan. There's a huge gig planned for the band, but the day of the concert, Lammy sleeps in and has a short amount of time to get there. The point of the game is to complete all of the levels, which represent obstacles in the way of the concert, so you can get to the gig on time. All the while, you play the guitar to beat the levels, and it all depends on how well you play. Pretty straight forward so far, right?
Well, once this game begins, all your standard video game knowledge will do you no good, as the story line is extremely warped, and the levels, though fun and challenging, can be too challenging sometimes. But, once you get the hang of it, the game shapes up, and it can be really fun. But if you expect to jump in this game and master it after a couple of plays, I'm afraid you may be a little disappointed. Though gameplay is similar to that in Parappa, the difficulty level is much higher.
Since the button combinations are the key to the game (you press the displayed button combo's to pull off guitar leads and solos) you really have to spend alot of time getting used to the speed of the songs and rhythm of the songs, as well as your button mashing techniques. But as I said earlier, once you get the hang of the learning curve and play mechanics, the game is actually quite fun.
What I like about Um Jammer Lammy:
Though the game is a bit strange, and at times disturbing visually, I really like the gameplay and the upbeat tempo of the game. This game really keeps you moving, with each level becoming more and more challenging as you go. The first level is really simple to complete, and is a good refresher for fans of Parappa, and for newcomers alike. So if you have never played this or Parappa, I'd spend a bit of time on the first stage. If you play that through a few times, you should have a pretty good grasp on the basics, and it should prepare you well for some of the harder stages later.
Also, though there aren't very many levels to complete, there are several that open up after you complete the main 1 player levels. Once these are available for play, you can play 2 player duel levels, where you try and outplay and outscore 2nd player or the computer. Also, later on, you can open up levels where you can play as Parappa in this game. I really like this feature, and feel it adds a lot of depth and dimension to the gameplay and the overall value of the game.
What I dislike about Um Jammer Lammy:
Again, I don't know what they were aiming for when they ported this game over from Japan, but somehow, this game makes no sense story wise. In the Parappa game, everything flowed together from level to level, and the character interactions made sense, and it maintained a cuteness all the way through. but in this game, the characters are weird, and the scenes in the levels are sometimes a little gross, if you will (Level 3 takes place in some sort of baby warehouse where you play an infant like a guitar to put the other babies, who are floating on dismembered hands through the air) to sleep. Nonetheless, fun can still be had among the insanity.
In the end, I can definitely recommend this game to just about any age gamer, given that the younger gamers have gotten used to Parappa's gameplay, or have rented this game before and have gotten used to it. Some young gamers will have trouble playing this game, as it does get a bit difficult as the game progresses. The content in the game really is pretty mild and is good for young gamers as well, though they may have a hard time understanding what's going on. But once the music starts, anyone can find themselves bouncing along with some of the games more infectious tracks.
I've seen Um Jammer Lammy priced new under 10 dollars several places, so at a price like that, the game is definitely worth purchasing. Even still, at $15, this game would still be worth it. So get out there and pick up this game, and while you're at it, buy some sort of protection for your thumbs. Blisters sure can creep up on you while you're jammin'!
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