After I discovered {that a} non secular successor to Jet Set Radio was on its approach, I knew I needed to be there day one. Its sequel, Future, is well one of many highlights of the Xbox period for me, and I’ve very fond recollections of blading round a trendy futuristic Tokyo. Pulling off insane combos and methodically tagging every space with graffiti are a few of my best gaming recollections. It was a very particular expertise that no recreation has come remotely near replicating since.
Effectively, till Bomb Rush Cyberfunk that’s. Whereas it’s not Jet Set Radio 3 in title, it clearly goals for that lofty top. And, it comes remarkably near pulling it off. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk will get a lot of the system proper, and even advances it in quite a few other ways. However, for my cash, it simply doesn’t fairly stick the touchdown.
For a begin, the visuals appear way more decided to emulate the previous than genuinely impress in 2023. In equity, this can be a low price range indie recreation, however the artwork fashion does depart so much to be desired. The environments are fairly drab, and, whereas assorted, fail to go away any lasting impression. To at the present time, I can nonetheless keep in mind Shibuya Downtown and the neon-soaked 99th Road from Future.
It’d simply be rose-tinted glasses, however I simply don’t imagine I’ll keep in mind any of the degrees in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk even in a couple of week’s time. Which may have one thing to do with the very fact it appears extra keen on emulating areas from the unique video games than placing out by itself. That will be effective if the artwork fashion, lighting, and visuals had been not less than on par with the unique, however they’re merely not.
The Visuals Are Too Decided to Emulate the Previous Than Impress within the Current
The character fashions do fare barely higher, despite the fact that, once more, many do look very acquainted. Nonetheless, you may’t actually get cel-shading flawed, and every of the designs stands out from the opposite. Every character may be very distinctive in persona and look, and I fairly loved taking part in as every of them to see how the gameplay differed.
Which brings us properly to an space wherein Bomb Rush Cyberfunk does excel in, and even perhaps surpasses Jet Set Radio and its sequel: the gameplay. It completely nails the texture of the unique video games whereas pushing it ahead in key methods. Pulling off large combos stays immensely satisfying, and really jogged my memory of the early Tony Hawk video games.
It additionally helps that Bomb Rush Cyberfunk introduces a couple of new modes of transport to get round in. You may play in rollerblades just like the OG, however there’s additionally a skateboard and BMX. Functionally, they’re equivalent however the totally different methods you may carry out helps to make them really feel totally different. That was one of many greatest joys I had taking part in Cyberfunk.
The digicam is vastly superior, despite the fact that it does frustrate at instances. For essentially the most half, I had no challenge tweaking it on the fly whereas actually flying between rails, however there have been a couple of events the place I couldn’t fairly discover the suitable angle in time to drag off a difficult manoeuvre. An optionally available digicam that follows you round could be welcome on these events.
The Plot is Nonsensical Guff
Now, again to the dangerous: the plot. It’s totally nonsensical guff that’s nowhere close to as humorous or charming as the sport appears to suppose it’s. It very a lot stays in fan fiction territory and it’s by no means attention-grabbing. It additionally fails to floor you on this planet, which doesn’t assist increase its lifeless really feel general.
Jet Set Radio Future’s world felt lived in. You actually felt like an outcast blader getting on individuals’s nerves as you rode round, and the police felt like a legit, authoritarian menace. In Cyberfunk, it feels just like the NPCs are simply window dressing. The police are extra comical than threatening, and never in a great way. I simply felt like after they turned up it was as a result of that’s what the sport wished to occur in that second.
It doesn’t assist that the fight can be terrible. You principally carry out methods when on foot to drag off primary fight strikes, then launch the enemies into the air to tag them with graffiti. There are not any combos and no actual selection, apart from an enemy that you must increase into to interrupt its defend. To be honest, fight within the originals was additionally naff, however this can be a key space wherein Cyberfunk might have progressed the system.
I’m additionally not satisfied that the brand new graffiti system is healthier. Within the unique you held down the spray can button to tag areas as you soared previous them, however in Cyberfunk you press it as soon as and pull off a QTE-style combo to find out which graffiti artwork you employ. It’s good within the sense you may’t actually miss a spot even whereas at velocity, nevertheless it additionally breaks the move of your combos in a approach that the unique fashion didn’t.
The New Graffiti System Feels Like Change For Change’s Sake
I assume it’s good which you can select which artwork you place in every spot, however, general, I simply felt prefer it was a change for change’s sake somewhat than a legit enchancment in gameplay. Nonetheless, it’s good to see some effort made in altering up the system, somewhat than merely mimicking the previous. Cyberfunk might have used extra of that.
General, I undoubtedly loved my time with Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. In gameplay phrases, it’s a more-than-worthy successor to Jet Set Radio and Future. It feels very acquainted, simply as enjoyable, and advances the system in a couple of key areas. It’s only a disgrace that it’s a downgrade in nearly each single different space.
The visuals are too decided to imitate the previous than impress within the current, the plot is terrible fan fiction guff, and world feels totally drab and lifeless. Not one of the areas I explored had been memorable, and I had no want to return to any of them as soon as I’d moved on. The result’s a recreation that clearly needs to be Jet Set Radio 3, and since we’re all so starved for extra, we’ll lap it up like it’s.
However, finally, it’s lower than the identical requirements. I’d undoubtedly again Sega giving Workforce Reptile the chance to make a real stab at a Jet Set Radio 3, because the love for the collection oozes in each display screen, nevertheless it wants the large price range that the collection deserves. And, a vastly superior writing staff.
How Does Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Really feel on PC?
This part is written by Adele Wilson who performed the sport on PC.
As Glen talked about above, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is a blast from the previous. It’s definitely harking back to Jet Set Radio, and that’s why I used to be drawn into it. It takes the stylistic retro artwork fashion, catchy hip-hop beats, and the frustratingly difficult combo system.
Now, that’s to not say that the gameplay is dangerous, possibly I’m simply not lower out for this kind of recreation – however that doesn’t imply that I didn’t have enjoyable whereas taking part in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. The truth is, I actually loved it.
Does it Run Effectively on PC?
When it comes to the way it runs on PC, effectively, I wasn’t overly impressed with the controls. The digicam felt approach too quick at instances, even after I’d turned the sensitivity all the way in which down through the in-game settings. I additionally tampered with my very own mouse to cut back the sensitivity additional, nevertheless it didn’t make a lot distinction.
In my view, when you’re planning on taking part in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk on PC, it really works greatest with a controller. As quickly as I plugged in my PS5 controller, traversing by means of the sport felt far more snug. I simply don’t suppose this kind of recreation interprets effectively to the keyboard controls.
The sport itself performs effectively on the PC in the case of the body charge and general graphics – however that may solely go to this point when the controls really feel somewhat clunky with no controller. The colourful colors pop, the animations are seamless, and you may see each little element that was packed in to maintain these old-school vibes.
I nonetheless discovered some points with the digicam after I was attempting to get the combos that had been on the trickier aspect, however I managed to muddle by means of.
A Fashionable Tackle an Outdated-Faculty Sport
After I first sat right down to open Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, I felt like I used to be again on the unique Xbox console taking part in Jet Set Radio once more – however with a barely extra up to date model. I used to be impressed with the cell phone characteristic that lets you learn textual content messages from fellow characters and incorporates a useful reminder of your collected graffiti.
I don’t wish to continually evaluate Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to Jet Set Radio, nevertheless it’s laborious to not when it clearly takes a lot inspiration from the sport. In the event you loved the latter in your youthful years, I undoubtedly suggest attempting this recreation out, even when it’s simply to relive these outdated recollections.
The nice
- Nails the texture of Jet Set Radio
- Gameplay progresses the system
- Strong character fashions
The dangerous
- Drab, lifeless world
- Poor fight
- Terrible plot
