Sega GT 2002 / JSRF

Jet Set Radio Future

In 2024 Japan, a group of teenage skaters (Groups collectively referred to as Rudies) called the GGs vie for control of the many districts of Tokyo against many rival groups. A mega corporate enterprise (the Rokkaku Group) has taken over the many districts of the city and their leader is now the mayor of Toyko. It is oppressing the people, taking away freedom of speech and expression, and is forcing other gang members to give up their territory using the corrupt police force of Tokyo.

The game begins with the player in control of a character called Yo Yo, who has to complete a set of basic training exercise to prove himself worthy of joining the GGs. After these challenges are completed, the game is interrupted by a pirate radio broadcast by 'DJ Professor K' who fills the player in on the turmoil within Tokyo. After this cutscene, the player is released into Tokyo itself, where they pursue their mission to 'bury Tokyo in graffiti' and fight the authoritarian Rokkaku Police.

Music

As shown below, the music of Jet Set Radio Future was very diverse and the playlist (for its time) was gigantic, much like its Sega Dreamcast predecessor, Jet Set Radio. The music was played in a premixed format consisting of certain playlists directed to certain levels. The music was in stereo and was not interactive, although there is a jukebox and the end of the game features a song only available through the jukebox. Additionally, the soundtrack introduces artists that are either foreign, not found mainstream or work under gaming licenses such as Guitar Vader, BS 2000, Hideki Naganuma, Scapegoat Wax, The Latch Brothers (a name under which the Beastie Boys sometimes produced tracks), Cibo Matto and even The Prunes.

Characters

Jet Set Radio Future has 24 playable characters including several who were not featured in Jet Grind Radio. Furthermore, many characters had their names changed when Sega localized the game for the American market.

• Beat
• Gum
• Corn (Tab)
• Yoyo
• Rhyth (Mew)
• Combo
• Cube
• Garam
• Soda (Slate)
• Boogie (Piranha)
• Jazz
• Clutch
• Zero Beat
• Doom Riders
• Rapid99
• AKUMU
• Immortals
• NT-3000
• Pots
• Noise Tank
• Poison Jam
• Love Shocker
• Rokkaku Gouji
• Roboy

Soundtrack

1. Humming the Bassline (D.S. Remix) – Hideki Naganuma
2. Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) – Scapegoat Wax **
3. The Answer (The Latch Brothers Remix) – Bran Van 3000 ***
4. Baby-T – Guitar Vader
5. Birthday Cake – Cibo Matto **
6. Bokfresh – Richard Jacques
7. Latch Brother Bounce – The Latch Brothers **
8. Fly Like A Butterfly – Hideki Naganuma
9. The Concept Of Love - Hideki Naganuma
10. Funky Dealer – Hideki Naganuma
11. Shape Da Future – Hideki Naganuma
12. Statement Of Intent – bis ***
13. Koto Stomp – The Latch Brothers **
14. Count Latchula – The Latch Brothers **
15. Let Mom Sleep (No Sleep Remix) – Hideki Naganuma
16. I Love Love You (Love Love Super Dimension Mix) – Guitar Vader
17. Rockin' The Mic (The Latch Brothers Remix) – The Prunes **
18. I'm Not A Model – Russell Simins **
19. Oldies But Happies – Hideki Naganuma
20. Me Likey The Poom Poom – The Latch Brothers **
21. Rock It On (D.S. Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
22. The Scrappy (The Latch Bros Remix) – BS 2000 ***
23. Sneakman (Toronto Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
24. Ill Victory Beat – The Latch Brothers **
25. What About The Future – Richard Jacques
26. Teknopathetic – Hideki Naganuma
27. Like It Like This Like That – Hideki Naganuma
28. Sweet Soul Brother (B.B. Rights Mix) - Hideki Naganuma
29. That's Enough (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma
30. Grace And Glory (B.B. Rights Mix) – Hideki Naganuma

(** Not included on the official "Jet Set Radio Future: Original Sound Track" CD available from Scitron Records but most can be found on the very hard-to-find "Jet Set Radio Future: Music Sampler" CD from Grand Royal Records)

(*** Not included on either CD.)

Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

On April 19, 2007, a backwards compatibility update from Microsoft allowed most users to play the game on the Xbox 360. However, gamers who had the Sega Bundled version (with Sega GT 2002 on the same disc) found that it would not run on the 360. PAL support was also completely lacking.

A fix for JSRF hit Xbox Live on July 12, 2007, fixing many of the bugs gamers came across since the initial patch. The fix also enabled the owners of the bundled version and all PAL regions to play JSRF on their Xbox 360. However, the bundled PAL version will not work through a VGA cable, as the menu for selecting which game to play only works in 50Hz.

Reception

JSRF received critical acclaim, with high reviews in most, if not all, gaming websites and magazines. However, this was not followed by high sales, landing it the title of the most unfairly ignored game in the OXM UK awards the year of its release.

Sega GT 2002

Game features

• This is the first and only game of its kind to allow you to choose your opponents, and even create races featuring only computer competitors, though this can be found only in the arcade mode and car selection is limited.

• The game makes use of a "damage meter" in lieu of rendered damage, but while it does not affect the handling, it will reduce the awarded prize money at the end of the race. When the player finishes the race with the car unscratched, the game will award a bonus cash prize. In turn, you will either finish with more or less than the prize money advertised, depending on the meter.

• Unlike Gran Turismo, the license tests are merely timed laps, instead of separate tests focusing on specific elements of driving.

Car features

• As applies to the real world, it is the only game of its kind that doesn't give the player fresh parts after each race, most notably tires, and encourages them to service the car at a regular interval depending on wear and tear.

• This is the first game sold outside the Japanese market to emphasize largely on pre '80s classic Japanese cars, or "Nostalgic Hero" cars after the Japanese magazine of the same name. An example is the Honda S600.

• It is the first and only GT-style game to allow you to name your price when you sell your car, rather than selling it at a fixed price. A price is named for your car and it then appears outside your garage with a "For Sale" sign. The player must race (ie. passing days) before the car is bought. Setting a higher price will result in a lower chance of your car being purchased, simulating a proper market. Also, only one car can be "For Sale" at a time: a user with a number of cars that must be sold quickly must set comparatively low prices.

• Instead of specific license tests, focusing on a certain element of driving, Sega GT 2002 uses timed laps for its licenses. Each test uses a more powerful car.