Rap Rat is a board game that you play with a video. To win the game, you must collect all 8 pieces of your chosen color puzzle, and fit them together in your puzzle frame. But hurry, because you must do this before Rap Rat eats all of the cheese on the TV screen! The first thing you must do is open the playing board in front of your TV, so that everyone can see the screen. Then everybody should choose a different colored cheese playing piece, and take the puzzle frame that is the same color. You will then be collecting your chosen color puzzle pieces in the game. For example, if you're green, you have to collect the green puzzle pieces in the green frame.
At the beginning of the game, empty the puzzle frames and pile the puzzle pieces in the middle of the playing board. Keep your puzzle frame, and put your special Rap Rat puzzle piece to one side. You can only place this piece in the frame once you've collected all your other eight puzzle pieces. Now place your cheese playing piece on your own colored area on the corner of the board. If everyone knows how to play, you can use the fast-forward button on your video to find the beginning of each game.
There are three different games in this video, and each game has a picture like this at the front. Each game gets more difficult to win. The third game is the most difficult, so watch out! To start the game, wait for Rap Rat to appear, and listen very carefully to what he has to say. Rap Rat will tell you who will start first and when to go. As soon as Rap Rat leaves the screen, everyone must take it in turns, starting with the person he's chosen, then moving to the next player on their left, and so on, to roll the dice and move the number of spaces.
When you land on your own color space, you win a piece of your puzzle, and can place it in your puzzle frame. For example, if you're the green cheese piece, and you land on a green space, then you can take a piece of green puzzle from the center of the board. If you land on a joker space, you can also take a piece of your puzzle. But be careful! Rap Rat may pop up at any point in the game to the sound of a POP!
When he appears and you hear the POP, you must stop playing at once and listen to him. If he asks you to do something, you must do it, because he's Rap Rat, and he's the boss! If you do as he says, he might just give you a piece of your puzzle. But sometimes, he'll take a piece of puzzle from you, which you must then return to the center of the board. If you don't have any left, don't worry. Just carry on playing!
Rap Rat is a race against time, so move your playing pieces as quickly as you can. You have to finish your puzzle before he eats all the cheese on the TV screen. As soon as you've completed your puzzle, by putting the special Rap Rat puzzle piece in the center, shout "RAP RAT!", and then press the STOP button on your video. You're the winner, and you've beaten Rap Rat, so well done! But if Rap Rat eats all the cheese on the TV screen before anyone has completed their puzzle, then he's the winner, and you've all lost.
Now I've explained the rules, it's time for the star of the show to make his entry!
— The instructions at the beginning of the Rap Rat video
Lights... camera... a-a-action! Now-now-now you're looking at the star attraction! I-I-I'm history in the makin', and all yours for the takin'! I'm the talk... of the town! The cold side of cool! I'm a legend in a lunchtime! I'm a once-a in a lifetime! Got an 'A' in attitude, a-a-and lots of rat-titude! I'm a Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta Rap Rat! Oh, yeah! Now-Now this is my game, and if you wanna play, you gotta do it my way! The first to lease you gotta listen to me, 'cause that's the key to winnin', you see! Oh, yeah! I-I-If you do as I say, I'll give you a way to win a piece of your puzzle-puzzle! If you don't, then you'll miss a turn, 'cause you've just gotta learn! So if you get busted, give each test your very best, and you'll make me glad, not sad! The second rule is easy! When it's your go, give that dice a throw! Make it fast, and you won't come last, 'cause you don't wanna be bus-bus-bus-busted! That was a big hello, so it's welcome to my-welcome to my show! So-So-So caddies, please, and smile-mile! And everybody say- And everybody say 'CHEESE!'
— Rap Rat's introduction
