Jet Set Radio Future

Early Killer App on the Original Xbox in 2002

Sep 06, 2024

All About JSRF and It’s Sick Soundtrack

Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF) has to be one of the most original and unique action games that SEGA ever published for the Xbox. The game was developed by Smilebit and released in 2002.

All of the graphics in JSRF are cel-shaded and boast an interesting anime art style. In the game you control different members of a youth street gang, the GGs, who ride on inline skates. The GGs reside in a futuristic version of Tokyo and love spraying tags (graffiti), evading the police and challenging other rival gangs.

“Hey all you fools out there! It’s me, DJ Professor K, the master of mayhem, know what I’m sayin’?” ~ DJ Professor K

Gameplay

Jet Set Radio Future features dynamic and engaging gameplay that combines inline skating, graffiti tagging, and combat. Of course, the whole time you are skating and tagging stuff, you are jamming out to the wicked soundtrack!

Here are some key aspects of JSRF gameplay:

Traversal: Players use magnetically charged inline skates to navigate a futuristic Tokyo. The game emphasizes fluid movement, allowing players to grind on rails, perform tricks, and reach high speeds.
Graffiti: A core mechanic involves tagging various surfaces with graffiti. Players collect spray paint cans scattered throughout the levels and use them to mark their territory.
Combat: Players often face off against rival gangs and the police. Combat involves using your skates and graffiti to outmaneuver and defeat opponents.
Exploration: The game features large, open-world environments with hidden items like Graffiti Souls and Hidden Tapes, which unlock new graffiti designs and additional missions.

KILLER Soundtrack!

“Oh my God, that’s the funky shit!...“ ~ Root Down by Beastie Boys

OK, I think you may have already detected that I think the soundtrack for this game is a major highlight. I am not even going to lie; it might be the BEST PART OF THE GAME! Seriously, sometimes I found myself loading JSRF not to play it, but to listen to it.

How does that even make sense? Well, the entire soundtrack is a masterpiece! Each track adds so much to the game’s atmosphere and energy. It’s no wonder it has such a dedicated fanbase.

You really need to experience JSRF to understand it. Take a peek to see for yourself:

So, one of the reasons that I quoted a line from Root Down track by the Beastie Boys is because they are actually involved with this soundtrack!

Me:

Were the Beastie Boys involved with the JSRF soundtrack?

Copilot:

Yes, members of the Beastie Boys were involved with the Jet Set Radio Future soundtrack through a side project called The Latch Brothers. This group included Mike D (Michael Diamond) from the Beastie Boys, along with Chris “Wag” Wagner and Kenny Tick Salcido¹ ² ³. They contributed several original tracks and remixes to the game, adding to its eclectic and energetic musical vibe¹ ².

It’s great to see how their unique style blended so well with the game’s atmosphere! 🎵

OK, you heard her, The Latch Brothers were an early-2000s American remix group formed by Mike D (Mike Diamond of the Beastie Boys), Chris Wagner (known as Wag from the band Mary’s Danish), and Kenny Salcido (also known as Tick).

They were a side project of the Beastie Boys and were known for their remix work with various artists, including At the Drive-In, Q-Tip, and Nelly Furtado. The group also contributed music to the Xbox video game JSRF, published by SEGA.

Reception

Here’s a summary of the top reviews for Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF):

Metacritic: JSRF has a generally favorable score of 88/100 based on 36 critic reviews. Critics praised its unique style, vibrant cel-shaded graphics, and dynamic soundtrack. The gameplay is noted for being fun and engaging, though some found it lacking in challenge.

IGN: The game is celebrated for its cool, unique style and impressive visuals. However, the ease of defeating bosses and rival gangs was seen as a downside. Rating: 9.1/10 Amazing

GameSpot: JSRF is highlighted as one of the best-looking games on the Xbox, thanks to its beautiful cel-shaded graphics and distinct art style. The review emphasizes the game’s visual appeal and improvement over its predecessor. Rating: 8.7/10

Official Xbox Magazine: The game is noted for its unique and fresh experience, with vibrant graphics and quirky humor that make it stand out. Rating: 9.2/10

Overall, JSRF is highly regarded for its artistic design, engaging gameplay, and memorable soundtrack, despite some criticism regarding its difficulty level.

If you have a chance to own and/or play Jet Set Radio Future, you should go for it!