Once I realized {that a} non secular successor to Jet Set Radio was on its method, I knew I needed to be there day one. Its sequel, Future, is definitely one of many highlights of the Xbox period for me, and I’ve very fond reminiscences of blading round a trendy futuristic Tokyo. Pulling off insane combos and methodically tagging every space with graffiti are a few of my most interesting gaming reminiscences. It was a really 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 formulation proper, and even advances it in quite a lot of 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 funds indie recreation, however the artwork model does go away loads to be desired. The environments are fairly drab, and, whereas different, fail to depart any lasting impression. To today, I can nonetheless keep in mind Shibuya Downtown and the neon-soaked 99th Avenue from Future.
It’d simply be rose-tinted glasses, however I simply don’t consider I’ll keep in mind any of the degrees in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk even in just a few week’s time. That may have one thing to do with the very fact it appears extra all in favour of emulating areas from the unique video games than placing out by itself. That may be nice if the artwork model, lighting, and visuals have been no 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, though, once more, many do look very acquainted. Nonetheless, you may’t actually get cel-shading improper, and every of the designs stands out from the opposite. Every character could be very distinctive in character and look, and I fairly loved enjoying as every of them to see how the gameplay differed.
Which brings us properly to an space through which Bomb Rush Cyberfunk does excel in, and maybe even 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 just a few new modes of transport to get round in. You’ll be able to play in rollerblades just like the OG, however there’s additionally a skateboard and BMX. Functionally, they’re equivalent however the completely different methods you may carry out helps to make them really feel completely different. That was one of many largest joys I had enjoying Cyberfunk.
The digicam is vastly superior, though it does frustrate at instances. For probably the most half, I had no concern tweaking it on the fly whereas actually flying between rails, however there have been just a few events the place I couldn’t fairly discover the proper angle in time to tug off a difficult manoeuvre. An elective 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 completely nonsensical guff that’s nowhere close to as humorous or charming as the sport appears to assume 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 risk. 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 once 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 mainly carry out methods when on foot to tug off fundamental fight strikes, then launch the enemies into the air to tag them with graffiti. There aren’t any combos and no actual selection, except for an enemy that you need to increase into to interrupt its protect. To be honest, fight within the originals was additionally naff, however this can be a key space through which Cyberfunk might have progressed the formulation.
I’m additionally not satisfied that the brand new graffiti system is best. 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 utilize. It’s good within the sense you may’t actually miss a spot even whereas at velocity, nevertheless it additionally breaks the circulation of your combos in a method that the unique model didn’t.
The New Graffiti System Feels Like Change For Change’s Sake
I assume it’s good you could 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 formulation, somewhat than merely mimicking the previous. Cyberfunk might have used extra of that.
General, I positively 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 formulation in just a few 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 completely drab and lifeless. Not one of the areas I explored have 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 desires to be Jet Set Radio 3, and since we’re all so starved for extra, we’ll lap it up like it’s.
However, in the end, it’s less than the identical requirements. I’d positively again Sega giving Group Reptile the chance to make a real stab at a Jet Set Radio 3, because the love for the sequence oozes in each display screen, nevertheless it wants the massive funds that the sequence deserves. And, a vastly superior writing group.
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 paying homage to Jet Set Radio, and that’s why I used to be drawn into it. It takes the stylistic retro artwork model, 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 reduce out for such a recreation – however that doesn’t imply that I didn’t have enjoyable whereas enjoying 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, properly, I wasn’t overly impressed with the controls. The digicam felt method too quick at instances, even once 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 scale back the sensitivity additional, nevertheless it didn’t make a lot distinction.
For my part, in the event you’re planning on enjoying Bomb Rush Cyberfunk on PC, it really works greatest with a controller. As quickly as I plugged in my PS5 controller, traversing via the sport felt way more snug. I simply don’t assume such a recreation interprets properly to the keyboard controls.
The sport itself performs properly on the PC in relation to the body price and general graphics – however that may solely go to date when the controls really feel a little bit clunky with out a controller. The colourful colors pop, the animations are seamless, and you’ll see each little element that was packed in to maintain these old-school vibes.
I nonetheless discovered some points with the digicam once I was attempting to get the combos that have been on the trickier facet, however I managed to muddle via.
A Trendy Tackle an Previous-Faculty Recreation
Once I first sat all the way down to open Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, I felt like I used to be again on the unique Xbox console enjoying 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 means that you can learn textual content messages from fellow characters and incorporates a useful reminder of your collected graffiti.
I don’t need to continually examine Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to Jet Set Radio, nevertheless it’s arduous to not when it clearly takes a lot inspiration from the sport. If you happen to loved the latter in your youthful years, I positively suggest attempting this recreation out, even when it’s simply to relive these outdated reminiscences.
The great
- Nails the texture of Jet Set Radio
- Gameplay progresses the formulation
- Stable character fashions
The dangerous
- Drab, lifeless world
- Poor fight
- Terrible plot