A refreshing, and not forgetting brilliant game! (Jet Set Radio (DC))

Member Name: lilmanweddle

Product:	Jet Set Radio (DC)
Date:	03/04/01 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Soundtrack, Visuals, Gameplay, the lot!

Disadvantages: A little short lived!

I managed to resist buying the game when it was first released, then over the Christmas period, then through the January sales, but finally couldn't help myself only recently for a bargain £20.
I read all the reviews I could find for the game and even played a demo of the first level, it was amazing, why I waited so long I don't know.

So you take control of a roller-blading graffitiing gang called the GG's and do battle with rival gangs over a series of city areas, including your home turf which needs to be protected. The game is refreshingly original (thank god for Sega), but while some may think a game with this kind of simple ambition could fail, the truth is far from it, in fact it excels in almost every area.

One of the main selling points for me is the soundtrack, one which will grab your attention as soon as it kicks in, a cool mix of Japanese pop and dance and some funky hip-hop style extras. Jurassic 5's 'improvise' is well worthy of a special mention and what appears to be the theme by Hideki Someone-or-other, is equally impressive. The music definitely adds a lot to the atmosphere whilst playing the game and the way it is mixed from track to track is nicely done. So for starters the music is cool and for me one of the best soundtracks in a game for quite some time.

The graphics have been acclaimed for the 'cell shading' technique used, and they are impressive, while you may wonder what they'd look like with regular methods, they in no way ruin the game, only add to it's feel and style. The areas that the game is set in all look remarkable, all are easily distinguished from the other and have their own theme. In fact it's the playing area itself that makes the game so dam impressive, the interactivity with your skater is amazing, you can simply glide, grind and jump round these areas for huge lengths of time without having to use the paths and roads for a second.

This inte
ractivity leads me on to the gameplay which while tricky at first, can soon be mastered. Being able to pull off some grinding, jumping combinations is a great feeling! There are very few controls needed to play the game, a button for jump, speed up and graffiti, this and the use of the analogue stick for movement and graffiti combinations is as simple as you’d hope. But it’s the way you use your surroundings that allows for more advance technique but without any extra controls.

One complaint is that the game is fairly short lived, while the experience is extremely worthwhile it comes to an end too quickly, maybe I’m asking for too much. But if you’re like me you’ll find fun revisiting the levels, collecting all that needs to be collected, making up your own tags (which I forgot to mention, sorry), and generally having some fun on the streets.

Quite simply this game is as brilliant as it is refreshing, one of the most original games in years and it plays like a dream. Highly Recommended!

Summary: