Bomb Rush Cyberfunk [Switch + PC] Assessment – Jet Set Radio 3? – Gamezebo

After I realized {that a} religious 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 recollections 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 recollections. It was a really particular expertise that no sport 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 peak. And, it comes remarkably near pulling it off. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk will get a lot of the system proper, and even advances it in various alternative ways. However, for my cash, it simply doesn’t fairly stick the touchdown.

For a begin, the visuals appear much more decided to emulate the previous than genuinely impress in 2023. In equity, this can be a low finances indie sport, however the artwork model does depart quite a bit to be desired. The environments are fairly drab, and, whereas various, 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 imagine I’ll keep in mind any of the degrees in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk even in a couple of week’s time. Which may have one thing to do with the very fact it appears extra excited by emulating areas from the unique video games than placing out by itself. That will be high-quality if the artwork model, lighting, and visuals had 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’ll be able to’t actually get cel-shading fallacious, and every of the designs stands out from the opposite. Every character may be very distinctive in persona and look, and I fairly loved taking part in as every of them to see how the gameplay differed.

Which brings us properly to an space by which Bomb Rush Cyberfunk does excel in, and even perhaps 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 enormous combos stays immensely satisfying, and truly jogged my memory of the early Tony Hawk video games.

It additionally helps that Bomb Rush Cyberfunk introduces a couple of new modes of transport to get round in. You may 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’ll be able to carry out helps to make them really feel completely different. That was one of many greatest joys I had taking part in Cyberfunk.

The digital camera 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 a couple of events the place I couldn’t fairly discover the proper angle in time to drag off a difficult manoeuvre. An optionally available digital camera that follows you round can 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 suppose 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 the planet, which doesn’t assist enhance its lifeless really feel general.

Jet Set Radio Future’s world felt lived in. You actually felt like an outcast blader getting on folks’s nerves as you rode round, and the police felt like a professional, authoritarian menace. 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 after 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 principally carry out methods when on foot to drag off primary fight strikes, then launch the enemies into the air to tag them with graffiti. There are not any combos and no actual selection, apart from an enemy that it’s a must to enhance into to interrupt its protect. To be truthful, fight within the originals was additionally naff, however this can be a key space by which Cyberfunk may have progressed the system.

I’m additionally not satisfied that the brand new graffiti system is healthier. Within the authentic 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’ll be able to’t actually miss a spot even whereas at pace, but it surely additionally breaks the movement of your combos in a method that the unique model didn’t.

The New Graffiti System Feels Like Change For Change’s Sake

I suppose it’s good that you would be able to select which artwork you place in every spot, however, general, I simply felt prefer it was a change for change’s sake fairly than a professional enchancment in gameplay. Nonetheless, it’s good to see some effort made in altering up the system, fairly than merely mimicking the previous. Cyberfunk may have used extra of that.

General, I undoubtedly 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 system in a couple of key areas. It’s only a disgrace that it’s a downgrade in virtually 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 had been memorable, and I had no want to return to any of them as soon as I’d moved on. The result’s a sport 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, finally, it’s less than the identical requirements. I’d undoubtedly again Sega giving Crew Reptile the chance to make a real stab at a Jet Set Radio 3, because the love for the sequence oozes in each display, but it surely wants the large finances that the sequence deserves. And, a vastly superior writing crew.

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 actually 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 minimize out for such a sport – however that doesn’t imply that I didn’t have enjoyable whereas taking part in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. In actual fact, 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 digital camera felt method too quick at instances, even after I’d turned the sensitivity all the way in which down by way of the in-game settings. I additionally tampered with my very own mouse to cut back the sensitivity additional, but it surely didn’t make a lot distinction.

For my part, for those who’re planning on taking part in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk on PC, it really works greatest with a controller. As quickly as I plugged in my PS5 controller, traversing by means of the sport felt way more snug. I simply don’t suppose such a sport interprets properly to the keyboard controls.

The sport itself performs properly on the PC relating to the body price and general graphics – however that may solely go thus far when the controls really feel slightly clunky with no 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 digital camera after I was making an attempt to get the combos that had been on the trickier aspect, however I managed to muddle by means of.

A Fashionable Tackle an Outdated-Faculty Recreation

After 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 taking part in Jet Set Radio once more – however with a barely extra up to date model. I used to be impressed with the cell phone function that permits you to learn textual content messages from fellow characters and incorporates a helpful reminder of your collected graffiti.

I don’t wish to continually evaluate Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to Jet Set Radio, but it surely’s onerous to not when it clearly takes a lot inspiration from the sport. In the event you loved the latter in your youthful years, I undoubtedly advocate making an attempt this sport out, even when it’s simply to relive these outdated recollections.

The great

• Nails the texture of Jet Set Radio
• Gameplay progresses the system
• Stable character fashions

The dangerous

• Drab, lifeless world
• Poor fight
• Terrible plot