JSRF: Jet Set Radio Future

"Hope you bought an S-Controller"

Here is a game that's prequel started a trend. That trend is the cel shaded graphics technique, which is used to make the game look cartoony or really cool. Jet Grind Radio (the prequel to jet Set radio Future), was a high quality game, but very few bought it. Being one of the few that bought that game I was ecstatic about the sequel and was jovial when I got the game in my hands.

Gameplay: 9/10
You have to love the graffiti spraying goodness. They've simplified the spray painting and added a few moves to the gameplay but other than that JSRF plays just like it's prequel with minor exceptions. Unlike Jet Grind Radio where all levels were timed, JSRF gives you a deep feeling of freedom yet you can be constrained if you need to be. You'll get objectives, but you can do other stuff along the way such as recruit characters and go on graffiti spraying rampages almost whenever you feel like doing it. It all sounds good right? NOPE! There are many poorly designed levels that make you want to take the developers heads off. The reason for this is because you basically have to hit every jump right to get the tag or spray the backs of your enemies. Jet Grind Radio had very little of this annoying/frustrating element of gameplay but worked in a spray tags (end level), Spray tags (end level) and then spray your enemy gang's back all within a time limit. Aside from the annoyance of having to make dead on jumps, JSRF is extremely easy. It's actually so easy that it will take no more than 7-10 hours to beat this game (less if you're experienced). JSRF does make up slightly for its back draws with its amount of mini games and the new speed burst move (which really just replaces the old speed boost). You'll be glad to see the mini games because after the first few hours you'll be sick and tired of jumping spraying and repeating this. The mini games also double as multiplayer games that you can play with your friends outside of the single player games. This seems like a good idea, but the mini games are quite boring and very repetitive. For example, one game forces you to run around a circle with a ball in your hands and go around for a few laps without losing it while a partner and two other enemies trail behind your (or in front of you). When you feel like you are going to lose going to lose the ball you can pass it off to your partner, and then repeat the process until you've completed the necessary amount of laps without giving up the ball to your opponents. Sounds simple? Nope! This can take an insane amount of time to complete, especially against good opponents.

Control: 7/10
As with gameplay, the control scheme is very similar to Jet Grind Radio. A jumps, R sprays etc. However in Jet Grind Radio you hit L for a speed boost which would recharge every once in a while, where as the new speed burst move forces you to hit another button which may I add is very close to the jump button (I believe it is B). Now this may sound simple, because it is, but you will also be frustrated because you'll probably hit both of the buttons on a standard X-box controller when you try to jump and you'll vault off the platform that you are standing on. This is a huge drawback unless you are playing with an S-controller because the buttons are more spread out like a dreamcast controller. This is such a big drawback that you'll probably ignore the new one button spray system (if you hit R once, you spray once where as in JGR you had to hit R and move the control stick in order to spray.) Had they kept the speed boosting from JGR or re arranged the control to be better on the standard xbox controller and just added the new one spray system this game would have almost perfect controls.

Graphics:9/10
Okay, you have to love the cel-shaded graphics. They are simply spectacular, especially if this is your first time playing a game with that kind of design. Cel shaded may be nice, but the graffiti that you spray also counts as graphics. Just like JGR you can get more graffiti designs by finding and collecting Graffiti Souls, as well as enlarge your collection of graffiti by making you own. This is where JGR is miles ahead of JSRF (sort of an oxymoron). Jet Grind Radio had a spectacular graffiti design system, in which you could make anything you could think of. JSRF has a spin-off of the JGR system, but it still doesn't allow you to do 1/2 of everything you could do with JGR (such as hardcore text editing and cool texturing etc.)

Sound: 8/10
When reviewing a game you have to compare it to other games in its genre, the only one in its genre is its prequel JGR (which is why I’ve been making so many references to it). This is yet again, another category that JSRF loses to JGR. In JGR, you were barraged by cool underground music from unknown bands (and a few well-known artists like Rob Zombie), such as Professional Murder Music (PMM). These were especially catchy and really got you into the swing of things. Now JGR takes you into the weird and quite annoying realm of video game music. Songs such as the Birthday Cake song (I forget the artist), are acceptable at first but after hearing them over and over again you start to want to mute your TV or shut off the game. This especially kicks in when you've just fallen to the very bottom of a level that you've worked 15 minutes to get to the top of. Other than the horrid music, the rest of the sound isn't really good, but you can tell when the police are after you and when you're being shot at. JSRF also lacks any voice-overs for characters with the exception of a few catch phrases and grunts (and Professor K). This would've been a great feature to add to this game especially when you're spending so much time listening to cruddy music.

Overall: 8/10
Although this game a ton of fun it does have a few minor drawbacks (bad music, some control querks, bad graffiti system etc.). If you own a dreamcast you should probably pick up JGR if you haven't already . If you like JGR and you want some more, go rent JSRF (you should beat it in under 10 hours). If you only own an Xbox and have never played the prequel, go out and rent JSRF, it’s probably not worth the buy.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/13/02, Updated 08/13/02