Jet Set Radio Future

Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future cover
Developer(s)	Smilebit
Publisher(s)	Sega
Platform(s)	Xbox
Genre(s)	Action, Racing, Platform, Adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Jet Set Radio Future (often abbreviated JSRF) is a video game developed by Smilebit and the sequel to Jet Set Radio. The game is also known as Jet Grind Radio. It was published by Sega. It was released on February 25, 2002 in the United States, near the beginning of the Xbox's lifespan. After the game's initial release, it was added alongside Sega GT 2002 onto a single disc and bundled with new Xbox systems.

Similar to the original, it depicts a future Tokyo where freedom of expression is outlawed. The user plays a character in the GG's, a gang of in-line skating graffiti artists who skate around Tokyo covering up rival gangs' graffiti, knocking over Rokkaku police, and dancing to the eclectic soundtrack. The game uses a cel-shaded style of animation, and has been widely acclaimed for its unique music style, detailed art, and gameplay.

Story

In futuristic Tokyo, a group of teenage skaters (Groups collectively referred to as Rudies) called the GGs vie for control of the many districts of Tokyo against many rival groups. A mega corporate enterprise (the Rokkaku Group) has taken over the many districts of the city and their leader is now the mayor of Tokyo. It is oppressing the people, taking away freedom of speech and expression, and is forcing other gang members to give up their territory using the corrupt police force of Tokyo.

The game begins with the player in control of a character called Yoyo, who has to complete a set of basic training exercise to prove himself worthy of joining the GGs. After these challenges are completed, the game is interrupted by a pirate radio broadcast by 'DJ Professor K' who fills the player in on the turmoil within Tokyo. After this cutscene, the player is released into Tokyo itself, where they pursue their mission to 'bury Tokyo in graffiti' and fight the authoritarian Rokkaku Police.

Music

The music was played in a premixed format consisting of certain playlists directed to certain levels. The music was in stereo and was not interactive, although there is a jukebox and the end of the game features a song only available through the jukebox. Additionally, the soundtrack introduces artists that are either foreign, not found mainstream or work under gaming licenses such as Guitar Vader, BS 2000 (the side project of Adrock of the Beastie Boys), Hideki Naganuma, Scapegoat Wax, The Latch Brothers (including Mike D of the Beastie Boys, Chris "Wag" Wagner and Kenny "Tick" Salcido), Cibo Matto and The Prunes.

Soundtrack listing

Humming the Bassline (D.S. Remix) – Hideki Naganuma Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) – Scapegoat Wax ** The Answer (The Latch Brothers Remix) – Bran Van 3000 *** Baby-T – Guitar Vader Birthday Cake – Cibo Matto ** Bokfresh – Richard Jacques Latch Brother Bounce – The Latch Brothers ** Fly Like A Butterfly – Hideki Naganuma The Concept Of Love - Hideki Naganuma Funky Dealer – Hideki Naganuma Shape Da Future – Hideki Naganuma Statement Of Intent – bis *** Koto Stomp – The Latch Brothers ** Count Latchula – The Latch Brothers ** Let Mom Sleep (No Sleep Remix) – Hideki Naganuma, remixed by Richard Jacques I Love Love You (Love Love Super Dimension Mix) – Guitar Vader Rockin' The Mic (The Latch Brothers Remix) – The Prunes ** I'm Not A Model – Russell Simins ** Oldies But Happies – Hideki Naganuma Me Likey The Poom Poom – The Latch Brothers ** Rock It On (D.S. Mix) – Hideki Naganuma The Scrappy (The Latch Bros Remix) – BS 2000 *** Sneakman (Toronto Mix) – Hideki Naganuma Ill Victory Beat – The Latch Brothers ** What About The Future – Richard Jacques Teknopathetic – Hideki Naganuma Like It Like This Like That – Hideki Naganuma Sweet Soul Brother (B.B. Rights Mix) - Hideki Naganuma That's Enough (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma Grace And Glory (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma (** Not included on the official "Jet Set Radio Future: Original Sound Track" CD available from Scitron Records but most can be found on the very hard-to-find "Jet Set Radio Future: Music Sampler" CD from Grand Royal Records) (*** Not included on either CD.)

Characters

Jet Set Radio Future has a total of 24 playable characters, several of whom were not featured in Jet Set Radio. Furthermore, many characters had their names changed when Sega localized the game for the American market.

• Beat
• Gum
• Corn
• Yoyo
• Combo
• Rhyth
• Garam
• Boogie
• Jazz
• Soda
• Cube
• Clutch

Teams/Gangs

• The GG's (the players)
• Poison Jam
• The Love Shockers
• Rapid 99
• The Immortals
• The Noise Tanks
• The Doom Riders
• Rokkaku Police
• Golden Rhinos

Secret Characters

• Poison Jam
• Rapid 99
• Immortal
• Noise Tank
• Doom Rider
• Love Shocker
• Potts (Yoyo's dog)
• Roboy
• NT-3000 (NT stands for Noise Tank)
• Zero Beat
• Rokkaku Gouji (Goji)
• A.KU.MU

A quick reference of areas

Areas/Territories

• The Garage

Chapter 1

• Dogenzaka Hill

• Shibuya Terminal

Chapter 2

• Rokkaku-Dai Heights

• Chuo Street

• 99th Street

Chapter 3

• Tokyo Underground Sewage Facility

• Bottom of the Tokyo Underground Sewage Facility

Chapter 4

• Hikage Street

• Kibogaoka Hill

• The Skyscraper District and Pharaoh Park

• Highway Zero

Chapter 5

• The Future Site of the Rokkaku Expo Stadium

Chapter 6

• Sky Dinosaurian Square

Chapter 7

• The Fortified Residential Zone

Chapter 8

• The Site of the Tokyo Line (accessible only once)

• ??? (accessible only once)

Chapter 9

• This game is still playable after it's been completed. At this time you can work to unlock secret characters, complete challenges to collect Graffiti Souls, and unlock the secret message that comes with them.

Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

On April 19, 2007, a backwards compatibility update from Microsoft allowed most users to play the game on the Xbox 360. This update was not compatible with the Sega Bundled version (packaged on the same disc as Sega GT 2002), nor was there any PAL support.

Later, Microsoft released an update on July 12, 2007, fixing many of the bugs gamers had come across since the initial patch. The fix also enabled the owners of the bundled version and all PAL regions to play JSRF on their Xbox 360. However, the bundled PAL version will not work through a VGA cable, as the menu for selecting which game to play only works in 50Hz. The bundled PAL version is playable only with a RCA, YUV, SCART or HDMI cable.

Today, the bundled version Sega GT 2002/JSRF is compatible with the Xbox 360, although some features slowdown during busy scenes. For example, when skating in 99th Street (on the bundled version) the player may experience some minor to severe slowdowns.

Inline Skating Culture

The game has several references to aggressive inline skating. Players can grind through rails and skate backwards. When a player is skating fast, they can come to a quick stop by performing an advanced inline-skating move called the powerslide. Several characters also appear to have removed the middle two wheels from their skates, a slight modification usually done to make grinding easier.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	85.9% (based on 83 reviews) 7.7 (average vote)
Metacritic	88 (based on 37 reviews)

Review scores

Publication	Score
GameSpot	8.7/10
IGN	9.1/10

JSRF received critical acclaim, with high reviews in gaming websites and magazines. IGN gave the game a 9.1/10 and called it "one of the coolest titles around" but that it also fails to reach classic status because it was "not enough of a challenge." GameSpot issued an 8.7/10 describing it as "one of the better Xbox games to date" and disagreeing with IGN, claimed the game "offered a serious challenge." Despite positive reviews, this was not followed by high sales, landing it the title of the most unfairly ignored game in the OXM UK awards the year of its release. However, the game has a large cult following.

External links

• Jet Set Radio Future Official Website (Available in Japanese)
• Jet Set Radio Future at MobyGames