Jet Set Radio Future

I guess the first thing you should be curious about is how the Xbox version looks compared to the DC one, or how much better it looks I should say. Well, you won't be disappointed, the guys at Smilebit are certainly taking advantage of the Xbox's added power. The primary thing you will notice when you see screenshots or a movie of it in action is the how much more expansive and interactive the environments now are. You'll see massive skyscrapers, many more people littering the streets, and just an overall better sense of freedom. And don't worry, that now infamous cel-shaded technique is back and better than ever. The game also chugs along at a much faster speed than its predecessor; this is not just related to the games revamped visuals, but also the tweaked gameplay engine.

Smilebit is going for a more fast-paced, trick oriented experience this time around. In the original, tricking was very limited, it almost seemed as if you did them without trying. This time though, expect to spend a lot of your time mastering different tricks and combinations. The new УTurboФ button will play a huge role in this too. Not only that, but the УtaggingФ portion of the game is also getting a pretty substantial overhaul. In JGR, the tags were separated into three categories Ц small, large, and very large. Expect the same here, but it will be more streamlined and simple. Instead of the directional motions that you used on the bigger ones, it will now work just like the smaller ones, in that you only use one button, albeit using more cans of spray paint. Whether you like Smilebit's new direction or not, no one can deny that the game is leaning more into the УextremeФ category, with a now faster paced and straightforward system of things. And there is no telling what kind of police they're going to throw our way this time around. Maybe police dogs that bark, and when they bark they shoot bees out of their mouth?

As for the plot and characters? Not much has changed. You still control the GG gang and you're still trying to reclaim your territory in Tokyo-to. So expect to see your favorite personalities making a return Ц Beat, Gum, and the rest of the gang. And the odds of seeing some brand new characters mixed into the fray, as you can imagine, are very, very good.

Sega also plans to hit the jackpot twice with an equally exceptional soundtrack. Many different artists have already signed on, including British composer, and JGR contributor, Richard Jacques. Who is providing three separate tracks to the game Ц a break-beat mix, a pop style hip-hop track, and a remix of one of the games original tracks. Also on board is Sega's Wavemaster, Hideki Naganuma, along with newbies the Latch Brothers, which contains Beastie Boy Mike D. (wow, this guys really gets around).

Even though this feature is still in a secretive state, it still has me wetting my pants in anticipation. I'm talking about multi-player modes. Yes, that right, Jet Set Radio Future is set to include many different multi-player options. And not only competitive, but there is said to be cooperative modes as well. O my, the possibilities are endless here, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with. This should go a long way in extending the games replay value long after the single player campaign is completed.