Jet Set Radio Future

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Jet Set Radio Future
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Developer(s) Smilebit
Publisher(s) Sega
Platform(s) Xbox
Release date February 22, 2002 (JP)
February 28, 2002 (NA)
March 14, 2002 (EU)
Genre(s) Action, Racing
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
ELSPA: 11+
Media DVD

Jet Set Radio Future (often abbreviated JSRF), is a video game developed by Smilebit and published by Sega. It was released on February 25, 2002 in the United States, near the beginning of the Xbox's lifespan.

Similar to the original, it depicts a future Tokyo where freedom of expression is outlawed. The user plays a character in the GG's, a gang of rollerblading graffiti artists who skate around Tokyo covering up rival gangs' graffiti, knocking over Rokkaku police, and dancing to the eclectic soundtrack. The game uses the cel-shaded style of animation, and has been widely acclaimed for its unique music stylings, detailed art, and fun gameplay.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

In 2024 Japan, a group of teenage skaters (Groups collectively referred to as Rudies) called the GGs vie for control of the many districts of Tokyo against many rival groups. A mega corporate enterprise (the Rokkaku Group) has taken over the many districts of the city and their leader is now the mayor of Toyko. It 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 Toyko.

The game begins with the player in control of a character called Yoyo, who has to complete a set of basic training exercise to prove himself worthy of joining the GGs. After these challenges are completed, the game is interrupted by a pirate radio broadcast by 'DJ Professor K' who fills the player in on the turmoil within Tokyo. After this cutscene, the player is released into Tokyo itself, where they pursue their mission to 'bury Tokyo in graffiti' and fight the authoritarian Rokkaku Police.

[edit] Music

As shown below, the music of Jet Set Radio Future was very diverse and the playlist (for its time) was gigantic, much like its Sega Dreamcast predecessor, Jet Set Radio. The music was played in a premixed format consisting of certain playlists directed to certain levels. The music was in stereo and was not interactive, although there is a jukebox and the end of the game features a song only available through the jukebox. Additionally, the soundtrack introduces artists that are either foreign, not found mainstream or work under gaming licenses such as Guitar Vader, BS 2000, Hideki Naganuma, Scapegoat Wax, The Latch Brothers (a name under which the Beastie Boys sometimes produced tracks), Cibo Matto and even The Prunes.

[edit] Characters

Jet Set Radio Future has 24 playable characters: Beat, Gum, Corn (Tab), Yoyo, Rhyth (Mew), Combo, Cube, Garam, Soda (Slate), Boogie (Piranha), Pots, Noise Tank, Poison Jam, Love Shocker, Goji; including several who were not featured in Jet Grind Radio: Jazz, Clutch, Zero Beat, Doom Rider, Rapid 99, AKUMU, Immortal, NT-3000. Furthermore, many characters had their names changed when Sega localized the game for the American market.

[edit] Soundtrack

  1. Humming the Bassline (D.S. Remix) – Hideki Naganuma
  2. Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) – Scapegoat Wax **
  3. The Answer (The Latch Brothers Remix) – Bran Van 3000 ***
  4. Baby-T – Guitar Vader
  5. Birthday Cake – Cibo Matto **
  6. Bokfresh – Richard Jacques
  7. Latch Brother Bounce – The Latch Brothers **
  8. Fly Like A Butterfly – Hideki Naganuma
  9. The Concept Of Love - Hideki Naganuma
  10. Funky Dealer – Hideki Naganuma
  11. Shape Da Future – Hideki Naganuma
  12. Statement Of Intent – bis ***
  13. Koto Stomp – The Latch Brothers **
  14. Count Latchula – The Latch Brothers **
  15. Let Mom Sleep (No Sleep Remix) – Hideki Naganuma
  16. I Love Love You (Love Love Super Dimension Mix) – Guitar Vader
  17. Rockin' The Mic (The Latch Brothers Remix) – The Prunes **
  18. I'm Not A Model – Russell Simins **
  19. Oldies But Happies – Hideki Naganuma
  20. Me Likey The Poom Poom – The Latch Brothers **
  21. Rock It On (D.S. Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
  22. The Scrappy (The Latch Bros Remix) – BS 2000 ***
  23. Sneakman (Toronto Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
  24. Ill Victory Beat – The Latch Brothers **
  25. What About The Future – Richard Jacques
  26. Teknopathetic – Hideki Naganuma
  27. Like It Like This Like That – Hideki Naganuma
  28. Sweet Soul Brother (B.B. Rights Mix) - Hideki Naganuma
  29. That's Enough (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
  30. Grace And Glory (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma

(** Not included on the official "Jet Set Radio Future: Original Sound Track" CD available from Scitron Records but most can be found on the very hard-to-find "Jet Set Radio Future: Music Sampler" CD from Grand Royal Records)

(*** Not included on either CD.)

[edit] Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

On April 19, 2007, a backwards compatibility update from Microsoft allowed most users to play the game on the Xbox 360. However, gamers who had the Sega Bundled version (with Sega GT 2002 on the same disc) found that it would not run on the 360. PAL support was also completely lacking.

A fix for JSRF hit Xbox Live on July 12, 2007, fixing many of the bugs gamers came across since the initial patch. The fix also enabled the owners of the bundled version and all PAL regions to play JSRF on their Xbox 360. However, the bundled PAL version will not work through a VGA cable, as the menu for selecting which game to play only works in 50Hz.

[edit] Reception

JSRF received critical acclaim, with high reviews in most, if not all, gaming websites and magazines [1][2] However, this was not followed by high sales, landing it the title of the most unfairly ignored game in the OXM UK awards the year of its release.

[edit] Trivia

  • After the game's initial release, it was added alongside Sega GT 2002 onto a single disc and bundled with new Xbox systems.
  • The braking method used by in-game skaters to come to a complete stop while traveling at high speeds is called the full-frontal powerslide stop, or powerslide for short. This is a relatively advanced braking method in inline skating
  • Jet Set Radio was shown briefly in No Doubt's music video "Hella Good" at around 2:30 and on.
  • In the episode Guide to: Art Class & Lost and Found of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, there is a dinosaur that resembles the one located in Chuo Street with the Rokkaku symbol on it.
  • On the song "Oldies but Happies" there is a sound sample that goes "That's just plain poppycock". This sample is taken from a speech that Richard Nixon gave while defending himself during the Watergate scandal. This link has the whole speech: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=3909
  • When listening to the songs on the jukebox, the record player is spinning backwards.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://uk.xbox.ign.com/articles/354/354328p1.html
  2. ^ http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox/action/jsrfjetsetradiofuture/

[edit] External links

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