Retro action with modern graphics (Jet Set Radio (DC))

Member Name: pbyron

Product:	Jet Set Radio (DC)
Date:	22/03/01 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic graphics style and fun, simple gameplay

Disadvantages: A little too quick to complete for some.

I was very interesting in playing this game after reading the plot and listening to other people's opinions, so when I finally got hold of it I wasn't sure that it would live up to the expecations set by those around me.

The game centres on a gang of rollerbladers in a futuristic japanease town. Their 'mission' is to 'tag' walls by painting their logo on them before the police, led by a raving mad detective, try to grab you for scrawling all over their walls!

If this sounds pretty basic, then that's the idea. It has it's gameplay feet set firmly in early gaming classics and that's no bad thing it today's world of complicated sub-plots and multiple branching game engines. This means that it's really easy to play from the off and tricks are all learnt in the first few minutes, where the other gang members join you after you successfully learn the little tricks and tactics. From there on it's just a frantic rush to tag all the walls before rival gangs manage to do the same.

The graphics will probably be the first thing you notice, even before you load the game, as they are almost like grafitti themselves but made to look 3 dimensional. This style is pretty new to gaming and really works in this context, making everything colourful and bright, while giving it a certain flair. Sound is pretty well represented too, by the hip-hop style game tunes and great remarks from the detective trying to catch up with you. As a little extra you can create your own tags and upload them to the internet for other people to use.

Although the game is pretty easy to get into, it soon gets a lot harder and gives you a challenge in later levels, just as well, as there aren't really too many levels and you could easily complete this game in a week if you wanted to. That said, the european version here has more levels than the original Japanease version.

The best part part of coming back to
the game is that you can try to beat your score and get that elusive perfect mark at the end of each level, so replay value is quite high. In fact, the only problem with the game is that some people will get bored after completing it and never go back to it again, but I'm sure it won't be too many.

Unlike Tony Hawks, this is not meant to be a simulation, or even a serious style game, but just good quality fun that will make you remember the good old days of games.

Summary: