Jet Set Radio HD is the spruced up resurrections of Sega’s Dreamcast classic, brought to new generation of consoles with polished graphics and a couple of extra tweaks to sweeten the deal. JSR was originally 
developed by Smilebit and is now back thanks to Blit Software.
JSR is set in the colourful city of Tokyo-to, a city separated into three distinctive districts controlled by rebellious gangs, while encased with brutal law enforcement guided by the hot headed Captain Onishima, set on taking out any ne’er do wells with whatever means necessary. Taking the role of Beat, you create your own gang, the GGs provoking the rival gangs into an all-out skating, spraying, and grinding turf war.
Jet Set certainly sets it’s self apart from any other game, it’s closest resemblance is to skateboarding games using mixture of both momentum and trick to create a sense of flow, however Jet Set runs closer to many platforming games with almost no emphasis on the tricks. Players are simultaneously tasked with coating the streets with their own chosen graffiti marking the new GG territory.
Core gameplay focuses on gaining momentum and keeping a sense of flow while spraying graffiti in increasingly more difficult areas, easy alone the introduction of angry police, smoke bombs, and road blocks hinders your progress to ever increasing degrees.
Players generally have their focus set on jumping from building to building, with the occasional inclusion of a half pipe now and again, Jet Set also uses rails and grinding to a large degree, allowing players to grind up almost any sharp corner, be it a normal stair rail to the telephone wires standing above the roof tops. It allows the game to add an extra amount of verticality, emphasising the game’s platforming components with long leaps and keeping momentum in wall grinds.
Levels are constructed as on open area letting the player pick, choose and search for the best routes for the superior time and point score, it’s a kind gesture and a relief compared to the more strict level design that most games have and adds to the flavour of the game.
The GGs have more to do then just marking their new turf, frequent gang battles and one up man’s ship of other skaters help break up the gameplay adding more variety to the already unique mix.
The gameplay of Jet Set Radio is brilliant; it does have its faults however with awkward controls that were failed to be fixed for the remake. A poor choice of controls left the camera centring button on the same as the spray can button, causing attempts at graffiti while on the move to nudge the camera.
Jet Set puts effort most of all into its graphical style and music. Opening almost any update in the game is the mad Professor K, keeping you updated with the going on in Tokyo-to.
Jet Set was also one of the first games to come out with Cel Shaded graphics, a style still not frequently seen today. It aids the games ascetics, giving vibrant saturated colour to everything, while making the environments and characters pop out from each other.
Jet Sets other stand out area is the music governed by Professor K, JSR features a whole host of custom remixes each totally standing out from each other and is a welcome relief from the more ambient sound tracks featured in modern games. JSR HD however is missing “Yappie Feet” and “Many Styles” from the original soundtrack, leaving 28 different songs in the game.
Gameplay
Great gameplay based around a mix of skating and platforming in open areas creates great sense of flow for every level played. It keeps you hooked and overlooking some of the irritations that the game will rear up every now and again.
The game is only made greater by it’s simple but free flowing platforming, letting players seamlessly jump from one grind to another and possibly keep of the floor entirely when using wall grinds correctly.
Presentation
Jet Set leaks style left right and centre, with great music, bombastic and insane characters all layered with a crisp cell shaded graphics, made even better with the added HD resolutions.
A couple of tracks got loosed along the way, but a massive 28 tracks should keep everyone happy still.
Longevity
The core game lasts several hours, but with tones of collectables and leader boards all online. The game is built to be replayed over and over again, which won’t go to waste.
Overall
The game is still great, and still stands out past everything else even with its own unique gameplay, graphics and music. It’s also a standard HD remake, nothing to spectacular added, and there was room to improve the game In areas other than graphics, but an enjoyable experience non the less.
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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