PixlBit

This bizarre game is one of the Dreamcast's best

The Dreamcast didn't last long, but it gave us some great games before it died. One of those would definitely be the wacky Jet Grind Radio (later renamed "Jet Set Radio"). Developed by Smilebit and published by Sega, it was released for the DC in 2000. In genres, it's a bit of a mix. On one hand, it's an action game (you fight other gangs for territory); but on the other hand, it's a sports game (you get points for grinding on rails and doing tricks in the air). The funny part is, it succeeds in both regards. 

The outset of the game explains that three gangs are fighting for territory in Tokyo: the Noise Tanks, Poison Jam, and the GG's (which is your gang). These gangs express themselves by roller-blading around and marking their turf with grafiti. The happenings in the city are narrated by Professor K, who is the DJ of Jet Set Radio (a radio station). The point of the game is to skate around and spray grafiti on certain things. On a side note, it's funny that Sega warns you before the game begins that vandalism is a crime and that they don't condone it in real life. 

Right away you're introduced to Gum and Tab, who teach you the controls. They're quite simple: you use the trigger buttons to speed up and spray, and press the A button to jump. That's the extent of the controls, but mastering them and learning new moves will take some practice. In addition, you can grind on rails, grab cars from behind, and do tricks while in the air (for extra points). The goal of each mission is to spray specific areas (marked with red arrows) before the time runs out. You also have to make sure you stay supplied with spray cans, which act as your ammo. Some areas can be sprayed with just one spray, while others will take much more, requiring you to rotate the control stick in specific directions. 

As the game progresses, new characters will challenge you to a showdown, and if you can do what they want, they'll join the GG's. Characters have different stats: power, technique, and grafiti. You'll notice these differences, and certain missions will require that you use someone with better technique or higher grafiti (they can carry more cans) in order to beat them. I found it enjoyable using different characters. 

Most the missions are the same: spray all the red arrows within the time limit. Every now and then you'll be tasked with something else, such as tagging enemy gang members in the back. The missions are made more difficulty with the inclusion of the police, who want "those vandals" behind bars. The wacky police will chase you, shoot at you, and use all kinds of lethal weapons to stop you. But that's not the worst part: Onishima, the police captain, will chase you around and shoot at you mercilessly! This is some serious child abuse! (On a side note, it's funny that Onishima looks a lot like Columbo) As the game progresses, you'll have to deal with tanks, choppers, and all kinds of crazy villains who will chase you. This is no cakewalk!

But your real enemy is the timer. Each mission will give you a certain amount of time, and it always seems like plenty (999 seconds is a long time), but those seconds can go by quickly. If you fail to spray everything in that time limit, you'll have to start over and do it all again! This happened to me too often as I had to learn where everything was and what the best strategy was; for example, you'll want to spray certain areas first as later more difficult enemies will come in and make it very hard to spray those spots. Many missions will take you several tries. Thus, beating a mission is very satisfying. 

The good news is that you'll get very used to the controls. Grinding rails and doing wall jumps will be no problem for you. That being said, the camera can be a pain at times. It doesn't help that the button to spray is the same one you use to adjust the camera. Also, it can be really frustrating when it looks like you'll land on a rail, but somehow barely miss it. This is a challenging game, but these problems simply make it annoying at times. Still, if you keep with it, you can overcome these problems and make progress. 

Over the course of the game, you'll visit the same areas multiple times, allowing you to familiarize yourself with them (some missions have multiple areas that are connected). Also, the story picks up speed a couple hours in when you help two kids find a kidnapped friend and look into a mysterious group that's up to something in their territory. The story plays out in chapters, each chapter having three or four missions each. 

Finally, JGR embraces its graphics and music in style. The crazy music can be annoying at times, but it fits in perfectly with the wacky world Sega has created here. The cel-shaded graphics make the game feel cartoony and fun. The entire game is rife with goofy characters, crazy moves, and hip-hop music, and the game completely oozes with charm and personality that is all its own. This is why JGR is so special. 

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

There's no game quite like Jet Grind Radio. It's completely unique in almost every way. It's vibrant, fun, goofy, yet also cool and interesting. It's also challenging, forcing to try certain missions multiple times with different tactics in play. The only thing missing is a two-player mode, which would have been awesome (imagine racing against a friend to spray the most territory within a time limit). Despite this, JGR is a must-own for any Dreamcast owner, and one of the reasons to pick up the system in the first place. It's a gem that should not be missed.