Jet Grind Radio is hands down the most stylish game on the Dreamcast and it is an absolute necessity in every Sega gamer's library.
This is THE game that started real time cel-shading of 3d graphics in video games. All of these cartoon looking 3d games owe it all to this game's innovative style and mojo. It was the pride and joy of Sega Smilebit division and they delivered one hell of a ride by re-interpreting the goals of visual art styles in videogames.
The game is a set in a hip-hop inspired Japanese anime fantasy version of Tokyo where gangs of rebellions teenagers ride around on cyber powered roller blades painting graffiti while escaping the hordes of cartoon cops. The gameplay is similar to an extreme sports skateboarding game but it involves gathering spray cans, dodging the cops and reaching the goals on time without getting killed. The cops work for the giant corporation that run the city and they do not use the meaning of "excessive force". They send out tanks, and storm troopers to stop the skating graffiti gangs. The pirate radio DJ-Professor K acts as a narrator to the storyline and is one of my favorite part of the game. The graphics are a abstracted cartoon shaded world with big multi-layered skate terrains. The game is almost as much fun to watch as it is to play. There is a nice difficulty curve to the game. It is pretty easy in the first levels but gets to be a good challenge in the later levels. This is a great example of the type of gameplay and graphical experience that you can only find in console videogames.
The act of painting graffiti is done by matching the swooping joystick motions to the on screen guide. You do not actually paint during main game play but there is a custom tag editor where you can design and paint your own graphics to mark with. When Sega.net was still up you could log on to the Internet and trade the custom tag paint graphics with others by posting to a graphics database. There is no online gameplay or multiplayer gameplay but the online data sharing with other players is pretty damn spiffy.
The music is a streaming mix of Japanese techno, funk, hip-hop, rave and rock. The music is an acid induced cheeky mix. It is sort of an audio collage of cool weird tunes. I have a copy of the imported Japanese soundtrack on CD and it is a favorite album of mine. I have heard some people do not dig the music to this game but then again they probably own Puff Daddy CDs that they got at Wal-Mart.
The game was originally called Jet Set Radio in Japan but was titled Jet Grind Radio in the US. Sega Smilebit made a sequel called Jet Set Radio Future that was one of the Japanese launch titles for the Xbox It is a shame that there was no sequel on the Dreamcast but this game did come out late in the Dreamcast's short life. A mini "2 & 1/2 D" version was made recently for the Gameboy Advance as well as a cell phone game in Japan. Jet Grind Radio Future was probably the main reason why I got an Xbox in the first place and not having the Xbox makes me miss it. Every Video game expo that goes by I hope that Sega will announce another sequel or at least games that were inspired by Jet Set Radio.
The game is pretty surreal, creative, fun and an absolute must. It is just not possible to be upset or uptight after playing this game for a bit.
I love this game. I play it from time to time. I love the score to this game. It brings you into the game. I heard a rumor you could play the dog but never figured out how to get the dog as a playable character. Its nice to know they have one on the GBA. I'm going to get it.
This game is one of the best games ever.
-Dave
They added a couple of levels to the US version of the game then they re-released it in Japan and called it De La Jet Set Radio. The dog was a playable character in De La Jet Set Radio.
The music and the art were awesome on this game. I still remember that Latin sounding song that starts off with the piano. And how about "Here we are now...coming at ya!"
What is your favorite character in the game? I like the Ninja looking guy. I think he was the best all around.
I've got the soundtrack on MP3s. The Reps - About the City is a favorite of mine.
-Dave
Great game. Got in many good hours with this one. JSRF for Xbox is great also and equally underrated. Tagging was a little oversimplified but it still rocked.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAActually, while Jet Set Radio was the first cel shaded game released, it only pre-dated another, Slap Happy Rythym Busters for PSone, but like two weeks. So while it was first out of the gate, not EVERY game with cel shading was ripping it off. THE MORE YOU KNOOOW!
Damn Slap Happy Rythym Busters looks like a cool game. Curses on the bastards that did not sell it in the US of A
I have Jet Set Radio Future on the Xbox. Definately need to pick up the DreamCast version, unfortunately, I am afraid to see how much it is currently going for on Ebay.
I usually see it for ten bucks at used game stores.
Found it used today for $9.99! I am embarassed to call myself a gamer and not having picked this game up sooner. Oh well. I joined the Xbox crowd late in the game as well.
I'm a huge fan of JGR. If there is one game that made me appreciate the surreality of urban life in a cartoon world, JGR is it.
Yeah you should get a used Dreamcast just to get it!