Jet Set Radio Future[a] is a 2002 action game developed by Smilebit and published by Sega for the Xbox; it is a sequel to the Dreamcast game Jet Set Radio (2000). As a re-imagining of the original game, it features refined gameplay mechanics, updated graphics, larger open world environments, new characters, an altered plot, a new soundtrack and multiplayer gameplay. The player controls members of the youth street gang, the GGs, that use inline skates to traverse a futuristic Tokyo, spraying graffiti, challenging rival gangs and evading authorities. Jet Set Radio Future uses a cel-shaded style of animation like the original.
Much like its predecessor, Jet Set Radio Future received widespread critical acclaim for its gameplay, soundtrack, and graphics. It won several awards and was nominated for many others. The game initially released as an Xbox launch title in the Japanese and European regions. After its initial release, it was bundled with new Xbox consoles with Sega GT 2002 on a dual-game DVD.[6][7] A third Jet Set Radio game is currently in development.[8]
Gameplay
The character Yoyo tagging graffiti on a wall
Jet Set Radio Future plays similarly to Jet Set Radio in which the player controls a member of a gang of inline skaters called the GGs to gain control of a futuristic Tokyo. Players can grind through rails and poles, perform various tricks while grinding, perform various mid-air tricks, skate backwards, and use boosts on the ground and on rails in order to move faster.[5][9][10] When a player is skating fast, they can come to a quick stop by performing an advanced inline-skating move called the powerslide.[5]
Much of the game requires the player to search for graffiti tags left by other gangs and spray over them with their own. To do this, players will need to collect spray cans littered across each stage. Spraying is more streamlined from the last game, with manual spraying over large tags replaced by multiple spray targets depending on the tag's size.[5][2][11] Unlike Jet Set Radio, there is no time limit and spray targets can be completed at any time.[11]
Open world stages in the level are larger, and are now interconnected, with time limits removed, and often feature multiple objectives.[11] These range from mimicking a rival's trick line or beating other skaters in a race.[11] The police, who previously chased after the player in the last game, now appear in specific areas, with the player tasked with stopping them by charging into them and spraying them to defeat them.[12][13][14][15][16][17] Each area has hidden items to collect, including Graffiti Souls, which unlock new graffiti designs, and Hidden Tapes which unlock additional missions where more Graffiti Souls can be earned.[18][19][20] The game features multiplayer gameplay up to 4 players and several multiplayer modes.[21] The game also features the option to design one's tags.[22]
Plot
In a futuristic Tokyo, a group of teenage skaters called the GG's vie for control of the Tokyo streets against rival groups. The Rokkaku Group, a megacorporation, has taken over much of the city and their leader is the new mayor of the city. The group 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.[5][23]
The game begins with the player's character, Yoyo, who must complete a set of basic training exercises from Gum to prove himself worthy of joining the GG's.[24] After completing these challenges, the game is interrupted by a pirate radio broadcast by 'DJ Professor K' who informs the player on the turmoil within Tokyo.[5] After this cutscene, the player is released into Tokyo itself, where they cover Dogenzaka Hill in graffiti, race a new skater named Beat and fight the authoritarian Rokkaku Group and their police force, the Rokkaku Police.[25]
During the game, the GG's recruit multiple members while scuffling between other gangs such as Poison Jam and Rapid 99 taking over their respective territories while also protecting their own. The GG's eventually have to go up against more disciples of the Rokkaku Group such as the Noise Tanks and the Golden Rhinos which eventually leads to a showdown against the mayor of Tokyo, Rokkaku Gouji. Gouji tries to launch an event known as the "Rokkaku Expo", attempting to take away the citizen's of Tokyo's freewill and eventually the world's, but is defeated by the GG's in the end. During the end credits, DJ Professor K goes over how money and greed can corrupt mankind which ultimately led to Gouji's demise. In a post-credits scene, DJ Professor K gets a notice about the streets being in trouble again, questioning who will "rise up to the call".
Development and release
Jet Set Radio Future was initially coined under the name Jet Set Radio 2 and was scheduled as a Dreamcast game.[26] Lead art designer, Ryuta Ueda, and composer, Hideki Naganuma, both stated that the game is not a continuation of the original Jet Set Radio, but a remake taking place in an alternate reality.[27] After the Dreamcast's discontinuation, Sega left the console market and began developing and publishing games for other platforms, including extensively supporting Microsoft's Xbox.[28][29] During Tokyo Game Show 2001, both Microsoft and Sega announced a long-term, strategic alliance to bring future versions of Sega's great games to the Xbox. Both corporations announced an 11-title publishing alliance to premiere many of Sega's upcoming games on the platform. Chief Xbox officer, Robbie Bach, stated that "having Sega on board with Xbox is a huge win for gamers around the world". Bach also stated that "the creative artists at Sega not only are going to deliver great Xbox games, they will help us establish the benchmark for great Xbox gaming experiences both on and offline". Sega of America president and CEO, Peter Moore, commented: "We believe that Microsoft will be very successful with Xbox, which is why we have such a close, strategic relationship with them. Our world-renowned development studios have been very impressed with the Xbox hardware, and they are excited to bring new gaming experiences to consumers by utilizing the platform's power and network capabilities. We share Microsoft's commitment to broadband online gaming and will work with it to deliver the best content possible to gamers".[30][31]
Jet Set Radio Future was first publicly shown in 2001 at E3 and the Tokyo Game Show.[32][33] It was also announced under the name Jet Grind Radio Future, to stay consistent with the previous game release in North America due to trademark problems for "Jet Set" at the time. The game reverted back to its original name as the trademark problems were resolved. Jet Set Radio Future was released as an Xbox launch title in both Japan and Europe. In 2002, it was first released in Japan on February 22,[2] followed by North America on February 26,[1] and Europe on March 14.[3]
A deal was made between Sega and Microsoft in late 2002 to have Jet Set Radio Future along with Sega GT 2002 bundled with the Xbox on a dual-game DVD. It was stated by Xbox marketing manager, David Hufford, that the new bundle was designed to further fuel the installed base for Xbox and was great way to reach out to consumers looking for a great value during the holiday season.[6][34]
A soundtrack CD for the game titled Jet Set Radio Future Music Sampler, was given to people who pre-ordered the game in the United States, featuring 11 tracks from the game. It was published by Wave Master and distributed by Grand Royal. The CD album titled Jet Set Radio Future Original Sound Tracks (SCDC-00166), was released by Scitron Discs on March 20, 2002, featuring 22 tracks from the game and was distributed by Sony Music Distribution (Japan) Inc.[37] For the HD release of the original Jet Set Radio, a new CD album titled Jet Set Radio: Original Soundtrack with Bonus Tracks from JSRF, was distributed by Sumthing Else on September 18, 2012, for North America and Europe, containing 17 tracks including 7 from Jet Set Radio Future.[38][39] The latest album titled Jet Set Radio Future SEGA Original Tracks, was released digitally by Sega, containing 20 tracks. It was released on iTunes and streaming services on October 3, 2012 alongside Jet Set Radio SEGA Original Tracks, made for the original game's HD release.[40]
Best Platformer Best Music Best Graphics (Artistic)
Critical reception
Jet Set Radio Future was critically acclaimed, receiving "generally favorable" reviews according to GameRankings and Metacritic[42] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40.[47]
The game was awarded "Outstanding Original Sports Game" and was nominated for "Outstanding Animation in a Game Engine", "Outstanding Art Direction in a Game Engine", and "Outstanding Original Musical Score" by the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers.[58]IGN called it "one of the coolest titles around" but said that it also fails to reach classic status because it was "not enough of a challenge".[54]GameSpot described it as "one of the better Xbox games to date" and disagreed with IGN, claiming the game "offered a serious challenge".[51] The publication named it the second-best video game of February 2002,[59] and it won the annual "Best Platformer", "Best Music" and "Best Graphics (Artistic)" awards among Xbox games. It received a nomination for the Xbox "Game of the Year" prize, but lost to MechAssault.[60] Despite positive reviews, this was not followed by high sales. It was nominated for GameSpot's "Best Game No One Played on Xbox" award,[60] and landed the title of the most unfairly ignored game in the OXM UK Awards the year of its release.[61] During the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Jet Set Radio Future for "Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year".[62]
In 2009, Edge ranked the game at #44 on its list of "The 100 Best Games To Play Today", writing: "The sound track is peerless, and whether grinding vertically down a 200-foot dragon, leaping across Shibuya's handrails, or just cruising the wrong way down a one-way street, there's nowhere else that's so exhilarating to simply travel through".[63] The game was also featured in 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.[64] In 2016, Watchmojo ranked it 9th Best Xbox Multiplayer Game, stating how the five multiplayer modes added even more depth to the game, and calling it one hell of a game to get as its unique tone, easy accessibility and brilliant level design made it a game worth buying on its own.[65]
Sales
Jet Set Radio Future sold 80,000 units in the United States in its first six months.[66] It sold a total of 28,433 units in Japan.[67]
Legacy and fandom
Jet Set Radio Future was briefly featured in the music video to "Hella Good" by American rock band No Doubt.[68]
Jet Set Radio Future was later made backwards compatible for the Xbox 360. Unlike Jet Set Radio and other Sega games for Xbox, Jet Set Radio Future has not been made backwards compatible for the Xbox One or the Xbox Series X/S.[71][72][73] In a 2023 interview, Xbox Game Studios CEO Phil Spencer confirmed that an unsuccessful attempt was made to add the game to Xbox's backwards compatibility program, stating: "One of the games I'd always wanted to get, we weren't able to land it in our backward compatibility program, was Jet Set Radio Future."[74] Comicbook.com has speculated that this may be due to problems with licensing the soundtrack, among other reasons.[75]
Kuju Entertainment presented Sega with a concept for a new Jet Set Radio game for the Nintendo Wii, but Sega was not interested in developing new games in the series.[81][82][83] In 2017, Dinosaur Games created a proof of concept, Jet Set Radio Evolution, after Sony expressed interest in their work at GDC 2017. Sega declined the project.[82][84]
In mid-2020, the Jet Set Radio lead designer, Kazuki Hosokawa, told USGamer that he and his team were "too old and experienced" to create a new Jet Set Radio game with the "same energy" as the original.[82] In 2021, it was reported that the art director, Ryuta Ueda, had rejoined Sega.[85] During The Game Awards 2023, a new title was formally announced, alongside reboots of several other Sega franchises including Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage.[8]
^セガ、“コンテンツ戦略発表会”を開催 DC、PS2、PCをネットワークで接続してゲームを遊べる! [Sega Holds a "Content Strategy Presentation": You Can Play Network-Connected Games on DreamCast, PS2, and PC!]. Game Watch Impress (in Japanese). June 5, 2001. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
