One of the most sought-after cult games in the original Xbox catalog.
Every time I visit the Book-OFF stores we have in Japan (used video game stores, movies, etc.) or Mercari, the Japanese Wallapop, Jet Set Radio Future is always at the top of my list of games for my first Xbox collection. The reason I’m so looking forward to playing it again is not just how much I loved this SEGA classic, but also how hard it is to get it these days.
Jet Set Radio Future was the sequel to Original Jet Set Radio, released on Dreamcast. It was launched exclusively for the first Xbox in 2002, taking advantage of its technical capabilities as well. Here we mainly embodied Yo-yomember of the GG, a gang of inline skaters who compete for territory in a Futuristic and totalitarian Tokyo. The main goal was to mark almost every surface you could find with graffiti, as well as cover those of our rival gangs.
There was plenty to explore in the varied and sprawling metropolis, which was once done by advancing on rails or propelling oneself through the streets. Whether at ground level, flying over rooftops or even jumping between huge satellite dishes suspended hundreds of meters above the ground, Jet Set Radio Future boasted of top level gameplay and design.
Along with running with the characters, imitating their tricks, and fighting off the ever-persistent police by spraying them with your pots of graffiti, you were also encouraged to explore the environment. This was due to the fact that there was a lot of unlockable content as well as secret modes like Graffiti war and character signature everywhere, which meant you could unlock additional missions, characters, graffiti and more. Each character was unique, making them worth unlocking.
In a gameplay evolution from the first game, Jet Set Radio Future felt more like an open world by nature, with the different distinctive areas interconnected and accessible (almost) whenever the player wants. There were also many targets at each location, which gave a much less linear feel to the story.
Jet Set Radio Future was full of diverse characters but with a touch of madness and particularity that suited them very well. However, perhaps the craziest character of all was Goji, president of the Rokkaku Society and villain of the series, a deranged guy who has a habit of summoning demons. I vividly remember the final battle against him and his minion army in the Rokkaku building (I can still hear Hideki Naganuma’s music). This is a perfect example of how Jet Set Radio Future has elevated a seemingly simple skating game into something totally captivating and unique.
We must also mention our closest ally and Tokyo’s best-known pirate radio host, DJ Professor K. He acts as the in-game narrator and helps the GGs whenever he can. His character is another example of how Jet Set Radio Future take advantage of every opportunity to let your creativity run wild
What really elevated the Jet Set Radio Future experience for me was the epic soundtrack., which you can also listen to on Spotify thanks to SEGA. More than 20 years later, I still fondly remember its soundtrack full of pop and funky songs, among others. There was a collection of songs full of style and reinforcing the fact that Jet Set Radio Future was more than just a sports game.
Unfortunately, Jet Set Radio Future is still unplayable on current Xbox consoles in 2023, because the game was never added to Xbox backwards compatibility. If the insect bites you and you still have one Xbox 360 in hand, the first Jet Set Radio is still available for 9.49 in the Xbox Store. Let’s hope SEGA hasn’t forgotten about this cult series and in the future we’ll have this gang of misfit skaters back in our lives.
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