In February 2021, 21 years after the unique Jet Set Radio franchise fell silent, builders Workforce Reptile launched into a dangerous journey. They determined to comply with the basic ideology of “screw it, we’ll do it on our personal” with Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, the uncommon type of religious successor that isn’t made by the identical builders because the originals, however revisits its distinctive recreation idea.
An indie action-adventure platformer centered on skating, biking, and graffiti? Appears like rather a lot however not solely have they topped the remainder of their very own catalog with this launch, however they’ve even overwhelmed out the collection that served as their main inspiration.
The Dutch recreation devs are largely identified for the Deadly League collection: combating video games centered on enjoyable characters and superior music. I can’t communicate a lot of the video games myself, however I did know of them from remixes of the Deadly League Blaze tune “Funky Contemporary Beats.”
It was an oddly acquainted type of tune: digital, funky, and nearly hyperpop-esque. Because it seems, its creator is Hideki Naganuma, the person behind the soundtrack for the Jet Set Radio collection. So, when the devs introduced they had been making BRC, their very own tackle the franchise, they did so by displaying off a brand new Naganuma observe, “Get Enuf.”
Many followers had been offered on the spot, particularly as a result of the soundtrack is among the the explanation why Jet Set Radio turned a basic. Even when you haven’t performed the video games, you’ve seemingly heard tracks like “Sneakman” earlier than in YouTube movies. That very same eccentric high quality stays in Naganuma’s tracks in BRC, together with a wholesome mixture of different artists and genres: from pure funk and R&B to experimental ambient tracks.
Now, whereas the sound of a Jet Set Radio remake is essential, the aim of recreating Jet Set Radio’s gameplay from scratch was a good more durable job. The sport is supposed to appear to be it originated within the 90s or early 2000s. The colours are vibrant, the camerawork is straightforward, and the environments are each cyberpunk and Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater in the absolute best method. I don’t use that comparability frivolously, as Jet Set Radio, and by extension BRC, is actually a mixture of THPS and Splatoon.
Associated: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 remaster scrapped after Blizzard merger, Tony Hawk reveals on Twitch
Go to an space, graffiti the partitions, beat enemies in skating contests, discover all of the cool spots to tug off combos, after which compete to earn the situation earlier than transferring on to the subsequent one. It’s a basic type of gameplay that almost all main video games at the moment skip for a extra open-world, quest-line focus, however one that matches completely with what BRC goes for.
There’s a story, and I received’t spoil a lot exterior what you’d discover out within the first quarter-hour of gameplay. You play as Crimson, a former hot-shot on this planet who will get damaged out of jail and gravely wounded, solely to be saved by new mates who need to show you how to rule New Amsterdam by means of skating, biking, rollerblading, and tagging, alongside getting some revenge on the finish.
Associated: Sega is reportedly working on ‘big-budget reboots’ of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio
Grinding is clear and doing tips is enjoyable, however the actual aim is to earn your maintain by one-upping your opponents. The ultimate battles for territory are among the most enjoyable points of the sport, actually leaning into the skating recreation side greater than the graffiti one.
The combating generally is a little tedious, however fortunately it’s uncommon exterior of some set fight sequences. More often than not, your focus is to get higher on the core gameplay, with numerous the range coming from the various things you possibly can experience round New Amsterdam in. The complexity of the tips isn’t as deep as in one thing like Skate 3, however the expertise is totally totally different due to the targets.
I didn’t develop up with the Jet Set Radio collection, I used to be launched to it nearly 10 years after the ultimate was launched. However I immediately fell in love with its gameplay, music, and total vibe, and BRC was my likelihood to expertise all that on day one.
I can confidently say that it’s hitting the identical method that Jet Set Radio Future did for me. New music so as to add to my playlist, new gameplay to grasp, and a brand new world to beat. Convey it.
In regards to the writer
