Sega has seemingly abandoned the Jet Set Radio series, but its spirit lives on in the upcoming release Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.
As you might recall, it's being handled by Team Reptile - the developer behind titles such as Lethal League and Lethal League Blaze, and features music from Jet Set Radio composer, Hideki Naganuma.
The game is targeting a 2022 release, and has been previously confirmed for "all relevant" platforms. In a bit of an update, the developer has shared a brief clip on social media of the character movement in the game:
In a follow-up tweet, Team Reptile also noted how the game was now available to wishlist on PC (via Steam). While it seems as if the PC version will arrive first at this rate, hopefully it means we won't have to wait too long for a console release (including a Switch confirmation).
Below was the most recent trailer for the game, shared earlier this year around the same time as the 19th anniversary of Jet Set Radio Future. Will you be keeping your eyes on Bomb Rush Cyberfunk leading up to its release? Tell us down below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 37
Looks cool! You know it's legit when the composer is on board.
Not really gonna touch anything Naganuma’s involved with anymore. A shame, used to be a fan.
@nessisonett how come?
@Jiorl Not gonna derail another thread, just Google it.
I just find western developers making 'spiritual successors' to Japenese games really cynical. The fact some folk think companies 'forget' games is pathetic. If they would have thought of a cool idea for Jet Set Radio, I'm sure they would be making one. Instead, what cool new idea have Team Reptile come up with? Or is it just a regurgitation. Life is too short for this nonsense. Coming up with an idea is the hardest part. Just churning one out because folk are thirsty is opportunistic.
Am I being harsh? Dunno. But if it does take Jet Set Radio to another level, then yeah, I'm in. If it just retreads it, then I honestly don't care how well made it is.
@GrailUK the only problem with what you’re saying is that you think SEGA haven’t forgotten Jet Set Radio or SEGA still have the creativity they once had to have their own new ideas.
@jump Yeah, like I said, I might be being harsh. But still. Can't rule out Dreamcast remasters eventually.
@GrailUK but if you are looking forward to possible remasters isn’t that what you’re complaining about of retreading rather than elevating?
This looks amazing can’t wait.
Another Sega classic re-imagined
@GrailUK Interesting point. I see where you're coming from, saying the idea was already created and it's somebody else just regurgitating it. But yeah, personally i think it's being too harsh. It makes me think of fan mods. Mods that overhaul or lengthen a game by a considerable amount. Isn't this kind of the same? A labour of love? One might argue (i guess that might also be part of your point) that they're using it to make money off of it. But i still think, after using the idea, you still have to nail the gameplay, feel, graphics, sound. And while i don't know how similar this looks or plays compared to the original (never played it), often what starts out as mostly a copy still ends up with a fresh vibe. And i think all the original work does indeed deserve a price tag to play it (if it turns out good and wasn't made with the intention to exploit people's nostalgia). But again, i don't wanna present all this as facts, was just interesting for me to think about your thoughts on this.
Looks like Jet Grind Radio.
I hate Jet Grind Radio.
😄
I was always sad I didn't have a Dreamcast because that game looked so cool. But a few years ago I finally got it on Steam and it was... not fun. The style is amazing but I don't see any appeal to the gameplay.
I'm happy for everyone who enjoys it though! This looks to absolutely nail it.
@Jiorl Googled it and... Nope, didn't find anything. The dude seems universally respected by most people.
@jump yeah, but by the same token, if they get a remaster then I can't see the point of this.
@StefanN Thanks for your reply. I must stress I'm not saying I'm right (and I always reserve the right to change my mind) but if folk are going to claim they are art, then they need to appreciate the difference between entrepreneurship and artistry. The latter usually has an idea.
Did anyone else expect water?
@GrailUK Ah okay, so i think i got it right then, with your point being the fact that they profit off of someone's idea basically?
As an artist myself i feel like there's always art in creation as well. Depends on the medium somewhat though. A whole game is more work than copying a piece of music. Either way, as you said, if they innovate, that's great, if they're just in it for the money, yeah that's kinda ***** (even though in game development i always like to think there's some higher ups that take the decisions and the people being told to work on it, actually put their passion into it regardless).
Man it's cool to think about this "is it art, is it copying, is it exploitation" thing, just an interesting topic.
@StefanN It is isn't it. It's similar to those straight to DVD films that come out around the time of a major blockbuster. I am Legend and Omega Man comes to mind. But there are so many games these days. If a game has far too much 'inspiration', then it does put me off. But I must stress, I'm not against people enjoying them.
@Kalmaro He just made some poor taste jokes on social media. Usual Twitter nonsense from what I gather.
@GrailUK Interesting point about the Mockbuster there. Thing is with indie spiritual successors is well, our very own Nintendo has fumbled the Metroid franchise quite famously for the past decade (and you can say Castlevania on that note), to the point that games such as Axiom Verge and Hollow Knight have taken its core mechanics and evolved it well past Nintendo's own efforts with the Franchise.
The reason people are hyped for this JSR successor is because their previous game was a fighting game that tapped into the same aesthetic and people gravitated towards it. Whether it will truly build on the previous JSR games is yet to be seen, but SEGA has shown little interest in doing so despite there being much fertile ground for a reinvention of the series.
@GrailUK Can't agree at all. Games like Stardew Valley took stagnant ideas and pushed them forward in ways that were obvious in retrospect.
And given this is being inspired by a franchise with... two games. It's not unreasonable to assume that even indie devs 20 years later can improve the formula in ways Sega could have already.
@Seacliff Yeah, we will have to wait and see. It's hard for me to get excited. My intial raction to these sorts of things is 'huh, looks like <insert game>. If it does truly add something, then yeah, it deserves the title a spiritual successor. If it doesn't, I'll not bother and just pass it off as a rip off.
@TheDavyStar See, I have zero objection to a game belonging to a genre. But last time I checked, Jet Set Radio wasn't one lol. I'm happy to wait for a review and see what they do with it. But it's like waiting 15 years for Steps to get back together, and getting Stannah Stairlift the tribute band.
Game looks incredible and even better than it's inspiration.
Logged in to "laugh" at the person in this thread saying they won't touch anything that involves Hideki Naganuma, it's really annoying to see more and more people take stances like that nowadays, you know you can... separate the art from the artist, right? right???
And it's not like Mr. Naganuma did anything wrong, not at all, only was an overblown issue by the twitter sheeple mob that can't read or formulate thoughts for themselves, but instead regurgitate whatever they see is trending.
@Kalmaro He made some tweets in bad taste, that may or may not have been jokes, for which he apoligized.
@khululy Oh, that's all?
I mean, I dunno what he said, but he apologize so whatever.
JSR's music was phenomenal, so the fact they managed to get the same composer onboard already has me intrigued. Based on the trailer, it looks like they're expanding on the grinding aspect, and nice to see the graffiti mechanics now appear more intricate than a few circles with the analog stick. Keeping an eye on this one; it certainly has promise.
I'm interested but ultimately I'll wait to see if the reviews are good to decide if I'll get it
@Goat_FromBOTW Ahhhh okay. Thanks, I couldn't find what he did.
Yeah that's a pretty lousy joke, though if it was a joke (which it seems it was) then whatever.
It looks the part put I need a review.
My most anticipated game right now. Art direction and gameplay seem to be on point so far. And I love Lethal League, so... I have high hopes.
@Goat_FromBOTW Boycott everything. Boycott the very air we breathe, for fear that we should share it with someone who made a joke in poor taste on the internet once. The march toward 'progress' rages on.
@nessisonett yep I see why now
If Team Reptile can do one thing incredibly well, it's giving off a fantastic first impression of their games. The trailer for Lethal League Blaze sold me on the game instantly and I love that game, so I'm excited to see what they do with BRC.
@nessisonett Dismissing the work of dozens people just because one of them made a bad taste joke on the internet is incredibly stupid.
@GrailUK
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I feel these "spiritual successors" are just trying to cash in on another game's legacy. Is it okay to get INSPIRATION from another game? Sure. But a blatant knock-off? No thanks.
Interesting to see the difference between the comments here and on YT. On YT its overwhelmingly positive and excitement for a concept that hasn't been done in a while, and on here, its someone complaining about the composer making edgy jokes(which he does all the time - he used to hang on 2ch and 4chan), and people saying "its just a knock off."
@Rainbowfire, @GrailUK
I hope both of you realise that most of today's genres or long lasting franchises wouldn't be a thing without starting as "blatant knock-offs". And in the business this type of thing after a LONG hiatus of the source material is rather called "spiritual successor" than "knock-off".
@Eve99 Don't get me wrong, I do hope it reviews well. If it is a carbon copy, then I can live without it. There are so many games to play and I already played Jet Set Radio
Tap here to load 37 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...