JSR is one of those games that is really tough to get into, but is crazily satisfying when it all clicks.

The cons:
The controls are a bit clunky and seem to go against you some times.
Whose idea was it to assign the spray action and the camera reset action to the same button??
I don't like how you can't do a short hop while going full speed.
You can slide on some walls. Which ones? Just guess.
The way the momentum works is weird. There's no way to gain momentum while sliding, unless you're moving downwards. This is realistic of course, but screw realism. It would've been more fun if you gained some speed while grinding. Also when you jump onto a moving object, you basically gain that object's momentum instead (if that makes any sense). Basically if you jump onto a car going in the opposite direction that you're going and you immediately jump off the roof, you'll go the exact opposite way that you were originally going. Is that how physics work in real life? I don't know, but it feels weird.

The pros:
This is one of those games that hasn't aged a day. Its soundtrack and general aesthetic is candy to both my ears and eyes.
The gameplay is super satisfying when you start to understand how the character movement works. Furthermore, once you get a feel for the the stage layouts you'll get around quicker and more efficiently, while simultaneously pulling off more sick tricks and combos.
The plot was surprisingly entertaining, due to the fact that it goes absolutely bonkers towards the end. Gunning down kids with choppers and tanks because they go around tagging the city? Seems reasonable.

As it stands, Jet Set Radio is a really fun game. I'm glad I played in now, because I'd imagine that I'd have a hard time plowing through it if I'd played its spiritual successor Bomb Rush Cyberfunk first. As such, I can't recommend it to players who expect a flawless game with tight controls. But I gotta give credit to the game for holding up so well all these years later.

I UNDERSTAND! UNDERSTAND! I UNDERSTAND! UNDERSTAND! I UNDERSTAND! UNDERSTAND! THE CONCEPT OF SOUL...

Wait, that's in the sequel. Whoops.

Gameplay-wise, yeah it's a bit rough with level exits not being that distinguish enough till you're up close and facing them, pretty much everyone is out to mess your day up and good luck trying to do the bigger graffiti pieces in one go when everyone is circling them. But damn it, the art style and music and identity this game has is pure rebellion "Rage Against The Machine" delight just makes it super hard to get angry with. Even getting hit by cars and riding on top of them as you recover makes me laugh. It's a game that knows what it is, and that is a fun time riding around on skates and spray painting graffiti while getting the other gangs and forces angry at you.

On the street, there’s no such thing as "The End!"

De fato, não existe um fim quando o assunto é Jet Grind Radio, possivelmente o jogo mais estiloso e prazeroso que alguém pode jogar.

Não existe limite pra diversão dentro dessa obra, cada missão diferente é tão única, divertida e imersiva que o fator rejogabilidade é absurdo, o que pra um jogo desses, significa tudo.

Tendo uma parte de mim que sentia saudade de jogos similares á THPS2, Jet Grind Radio foi um refresco imenso e uma experiência inesquecível.

Favorito instantâneo

With Bomb Rush Cyberfunk around the corner, I figured I owed both JSR games a replay. I've played through this one twice before, once on PS3 and once on PC, but since I own a Dreamcast I figured I'd play it on my CRT this time.

I think the "bad controls" that I'm seeing in other reviews and hearing elsewhere online are a little overstated. It's probably been a decade since I last played JSR, and this replay made me realize the game is certainly rough around the edges and takes some getting used to. Your momentum can often work against you and the camera controls are downright terrible (in the Dreamcast version; the PC/PS3/360 ports let you use the other analog stick to control the camera). That being said, it didn't take long for me to get the hang of things and start having a blast with the game. The music, art style, and general aesthetics are just as good as everyone says. In some ways I'd say they're better than Jet Set Radio Future, despite Future being an overall improvement and better game. The arcadey gameplay loop is fun and very replayable. I can see myself starting a NG+ in the near future to go back and collect all the graffiti souls and secret characters while I wait to replace my dead Xbox in order to replay Future. JSR is everything I love about 90s Sega arcade games, despite it technically not being one. If you stumbled upon this review and haven't played it, definitely give it a shot. I'd just recommend playing it on PC if you're not someone like me who's willing to deal with the flaws of the original for the sake of actually playing on the Dreamcast. The few missing music tracks from the port really aren't worth the tradeoff of the original's camera controls.

Been fascinated with this since I was a kid, and it took until now for me to finally get a Dreamcast and track down a copy. Some of the most clunky controls of all time aside, this is a thrilling feelgood artistic masterpiece and no game (besides Future) has EVER been this full of personality. It also has what I will crown as my favorite video game soundtrack of all time, and singlehandedly got me into hip hop.

Very few games mean as much to me and my development as this and Future. Despite being a chore to control and play sometimes, I love this game and I always will.

awesome game. simply filled to the brim with energy, movement and style - the game feels alive. there's rarely a moment on screen where something isn't moving: characters bouncing around in their idle animations in the garage, enemies getting pissed off when you escape them, hell, professor k's entire body is jamming along to the beat. the game controls wonderfully as well, i've heard a lot of complaints in regards to the game's control speed but i actually think some of the most fun i had in the game was figuring out how to work around the game's limited perspective and...interesting level design. devising strategies, routes and ways to complete the levels within the time limit will never not be entertaining, and simply becoming one with the overall atmosphere and vibe of the game is an experience of its own, god i love the soundtrack. so much of the game is just full of creativity, you can really tell how much love was put into this game. easily one of the most fun experiences ive had with a game ever and another reminder as to why i love the medium so much.

on to the FUTURE

Let's start with the obvious, and mention that the music in this game is top notch. I can't remember the last time I was literally bumping in my seat listening to a game's audio tracks. This game practically oozes style, and the art style they chose helped the game age surprisingly well. If the gameplay were as great as the audio and visuals, this would be an absolute must-play (and honestly, probably still should be). The momentum of the game can actually be detrimental to your movement and placement in some areas, and the camera controls were often frustrating. Certainly not the best feeling in a game about exploration and finding specific spots. While Jet Grind Radio certainly feels propped up by it's awesome music and visuals, the package as a whole was still enjoyable, and one I would absolutely recommend!