Revisiting a Classic: Jet Set Radio, A Game Ahead of its Time
Let's take a look at Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater for weebs
By Yoyo
Jet Set Radio, a game near and dear to my (wannabe) skater heart.
Jet Set Radio first released back in the 2000s, specifically on June 29, 2000 in Japan and Oct. 31, 2000 in North America. Directors Masayoshi Kikuchi and Ryuta Ueda drew inspiration from early 90's Japanese pop culture and surprisingly enough, the movie Fight Club.
The game follows a ragtag group of inline skaters, the GG’s gang, who wreak havoc, spray graffiti all over the place and blast some sick tunes. The game itself, in terms of mechanics, is very simple. You go around spray painting wherever the arrow points to and look cool while doing it. The themes that surround Jet Set Radio is really about expressing yourself and exploring your youth. It’s fun, simple and freeing.
I truly believe that if Jet Set Radio was released today, it would be a crazy big hit. The nostalgia wave of 90s/2000s culture that’s currently happening would’ve put this game on the maps. I’m not saying Jet Set Radio isn’t popular but it isn’t as popular as I would like it to be. Jet Set Radio hit their 25th anniversary this year and honestly…I don’t think SEGA is doing enough to celebrate it. Sure, giving us overpriced merch and some pretty sick physical items, like the Jet Set Radio skate deck from Limited Run Games, is cool and all but where is the rerelease?!
Jet Set Radio is very important to SEGA‘s image and I don’t think they’re aware of this. Jet Set Radio being the first big commercially successful game to be made using cel-shading which, in turn, presented a trend that is still ongoing with SEGA games like Shin Megami Tensei and the Persona series. Other games like Hi-Fi Rush, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, Guilty Gear and countless others have all adapted the cel-shading style to create their own unique look. Not only did Jet Set Radio influence the overall style of games, from both the past and the present, but they were able to influence how music was used in games.
If SEGA is known for anything, it’s Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA Sound. The feeling of starting up Jet Set Radio and hearing Humming The Bassline is something that I believe no game can ever recreate. The music behind Jet Set Radio perfectly mixes hip-hop, EDM and funk to create one of the best video game OSTs out there. The music is more important than the gameplay, it set a certain vibe that SEGA Sound has been able to live up to.
Jet Set Radio, like many of SEGA‘s games, isn’t perfect (and honestly might be really poorly optimized on Steam) but it does two things right: freedom to express yourself and having fun while being young.
Most games nowadays are very narrative heavy, which isn’t a bad thing, but there isn’t any whimsy. Games are meant to be fun! I fear a lot of us have forgotten that with all these overly competitive and hyper realistic titles as of late. Jet Set Radio is a love letter to funky music, wacky concepts and youth. Do yourself a favor and play Jet Set Radio.
Happy 25th anniversary* Jet Set Radio, even though you're no longer available on Steam...I hope your resurgence can come sooner rather than later.