Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio is yet another one of SEGA’s overlooked series that’s amassed a huge cult following. It’s something completely unique, focusing on a group of teenage skaters, or a gang, known as the GGs. You and your group have to fight against other gangs and groups of skaters for control of Tokyo. Eventually, riot police and even a shadowy criminal organization are thrown into the mix. There have been two Jet Set Radio games released first on the Dreamcast in 2000, and the sequel Jet Set Radio Future hitting Xbox in 2002. The games play out over a number of stages, where you’re required to skate through quickly and tag all of the graffiti spots. There’s a number of unlockables to find, and plenty of sweet tricks to pull off along the way. All of this is backed up by a pretty ridiculous story, which has catapulted Jet Set Radio to cult status.
Jet Set Radio represents SEGA at their best, taking huge risks on something new. In the end, it paid off as both Jet Set Radio games were received very well by critics and fans, with decent if not remarkable sales. Seeing as both Tony Hawk and Skate have gone pretty absent lately, Jet Set Radio could really capitalize on a lack of content from skating games. At the same time, there’s more of an audience for really wacky Japanese style games lately with releases like Splatoon, Persona, and SEGA’s own Yakuza. The arcade-style gameplay of Jet Set Radio would make it the perfect bite-size downloadable title on Switch, PS4, or Xbox One.
