Jet Set Radio

Jet Set Radio
Box art for the game.
Developer(s)	Smilebit
Publisher(s)	Sega
Platform(s)	Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Release	1 November 2000
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)	Single player

Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio in the United States), is a video game released by Smilebit on 1 November 2000. Jet Set Radio was designed for the Sega Dreamcast, although a version of the games later released for Game Boy Advance and a sequel; Jet Set Radio Future, was released for Xbox.

Game History

Jet Set Radio was announced at the Tokyo Game Show in 1999 and generated a prodigious amount of press attention due to its use of the now-common 3D rendering technique, cel-shading, which was considered cutting edge at the time. Cel-shading allows for a "cartoon-like" appearance of rendered objects. Jet Set Radio was released in Japan on 29 June 2000.

The US release, Jet Grind Radio, contained an addition of two new maps and various new songs and other in game content. This version also allowed the user to connect to the Internet via SegaNet and download self-created graffiti tags, or upload tags of their own. Largely due to the discontinuation of the Sega Dreamcast, sales were shown to be relatively low. Despite the commercial failure of Jet Grind Radio, the game has garnered cult video game status.

Plot

Template:Spoiler The game begins with a familiarization of player maneuvers and the introduction of several graffiti artist gangs within the provided virtual world. One of the antagonist gangs, Love Shockers; and the protagonist gangs, GG's are two of the several existing gangs within the virtual world. The GG's (being the gang you control) consists of several interactive players who go by the monosyllabic names of Beat, Gum and Tab. These few individuals all live in Shibuya-cho, an area occupied by the female gang, Love Shockers.

Throughout the course of the story, the protagonist is hunted by Captain Onishima, clearly inspired by Inspector Zenigata from Lupin III. The police and the S.W.A.T team are yet another obstacle to avoid while defeating rival gangs. Also, Professor K narrates specific parts of the game via his eponymous pirate radio station.

Weapons to usurp the culprits include, Noise Tanks and Poison Jam. Once the protagonist defeats each gang they hand over their belongings and grant the area to the graffiti gang which dethroned them.

Towards the end of the game the protagonist is later hunted by the henchmen of Goji Rokakku; leader of the fictitious gang, The Golden Rhinos. Once the protagonist successfully usurps the areas seized by the Golden Rhinos, the player then must defeat Goji on a rooftop filled with giant rhinos.

The long-awaited ending is merely the protagonist defeating Goji, thus ending the game.

Characters

Several characters underwent name changes from the Japanese translation; all of these are displayed in parenthesis.

Regular

• Beat
• Combo
• Cube
• Garam
• Gum
• Mew (Bis)
• Piranha (Sugar)
• Slate (Soda)
• Tab (Corn)
• Yo-Yo

Hidden

• Goji Rokkaku
• Love Shockers
• Noise Tanks
• Poison Jam
• Pots the dog

Soundtrack

The upbeat Jet Set Radio soundtrack included an array of eclectic songs combining the musical genres of J-pop, Trip-hop, Hip-hop and Electronica.

• Funky Radio - B.B. Rights
• Mischievous Boy - Castle Logical
• Just Got Wicked - Cold (English Version Only)
• Miller Ball Breakers - Deavid Soul
• On the Bowl - Deavid Soul
• Up-Set Attack - Deavid Soul
• Yappie Feet - Deavid Soul
• Yellow Bream - F-Fields
• Magical Girl - Guitar Vader
• Super Brothers - Guitar Vader
• Grace and Glory - Hideki Naganuma
• Humming the Bassline - Hideki Naganuma
• Let Mom Sleep - Hideki Naganuma
• Moody's Shuffle - Hideki Naganuma
• Rock It On - Hideki Naganuma
• Sneakman - Hideki Naganuma
• Sweet Soul Brother - Hideki Naganuma
• That's Enough - Hideki Naganuma
• OK House - Idol Taxi
• Improvise - Jurassic 5 (English Version Only)
• Patrol Knob - Mixmaster Mike (English Version Only)
• Slow - Professional Murder Music (English Version Only)
• 'Bout the City - Reps
• Everybody Jump Around - Richard Jacques
• Dragula - Rob Zombie (NTSC English Version Only)
• Electric Tooth Brush - Toronto
• Recipe For The Perfect Afro - Feature Cast (PAL English Version Only)
• Many Styles - O.B. One(PAL English Version Only)
• Funky Plucker - Semi Detatched(PAL English Version Only)

Trivia

• Take a look at one of the billboards in Grind Square, The "Breezar" is similar to the Chevrolet Venture.
• Grind Square is a lot similar to Times Square.

Sequels and alternate version

Jet Set Radio Future

A sequel to Jet Set Radio, Jet Set Radio Future, was developed for the Microsoft Xbox and released in Japan on 22 February 2002, in North America on 26 February 2002 (under the title JSRF: Jet Set Radio Future) and in Europe on 14 March 2002 as a launch game for the console.

Jet Set Radio Advance

There was also a version of Jet Set Radio released for the Game Boy Advance system in 2003.

Glitches

The Japanese version of Jet Set Radio was considered polished with the exception of the way in which enemy gang members would run into walls. Along with the addition of new maps in the North American version, several noteworthy glitches were also added.

Grind Square

• It is possible to launch your character into several objects and skate around the inside of a solid wall. This glitch has been tested numerous times and is claimed to be verified.

• Enemies do not visually appear until several seconds into the level, giving the appearance of fading into existence. This glitch has been tested numerous times and is claimed to be verified.

Bantam Street

• There is a small portion of a bordering wall that occasionally sends the character into mid-air, thus ruining their forward momentum. This glitch has been tested and is perceived to occur on rare occasions.

External links

• Jet Grind Radio on Gamespot.com