Publisher: Team Reptile | Developer: Team Reptile | Platforms: PS4/PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series, PC
Saying Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is an homage to the Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio would be a massive understatement. From cel-shaded graphics, the tagging motif, to the Tokyo-inspired landscape and even including some tracks from legendary Jet Set Radio composer, Hideki Naganuma, himself…it’s almost an exact 1999-2000 turn of the century copy. That is, until you start going about town — via inline skates, bikes, and skateboards — where it starts falling apart at the seams. The graphics are great and even the music features a couple genuine earworms. But the bigger levels, relative to JSR, feel empty and the repetitive progression system needed a serious revamp. The lack of a more streamlined mission structure makes the 10 hour campaign drag and feel sluggish. Better pacing wouldn’t have fixed everything, but some of the gameplay improvements — again, in comparison to JSR — would’ve shined a little brighter. And the story? I’m all for wacky narratives, but the twisty web Cyberpunk provides is barely passable. As it stands, BRC is an ok, but soulless, blast from the past hoping to catch unsuspecting oldheads like myself that never quite forgot about the dream(cast.) It’s a shame, but if you’re feeling that funky rhythm itch, just go back and play the original again.
5.5/10 – Average
Review Notes:
Questioning My Roots
Playing through Bomb Rush Cyberfunk really got me considering if I was even right to like the venerable Jet Set Radio in the first place, so I decided to dust off the good ol’ PlayStation Vita (it still works!) to compare:
It’s All in the Map
While Jet Set Radio’s smaller levels are apparent right from the start, it feels so much more dense and full of life when compared to BRC. I mean, even after a quarter century the sky box elicits more emotion than this review’s subject.
Bigger is not always better in this case. JSR’s world is just so inviting and colorful — you want to skate and live inside of it for a while. BRC? I couldn’t wait to just game tape solve it and move on with my life…
Let’s Get Scratchin’
The gameplay is one aspect where I first thought Cyberfunk improved upon its inspiration, but revisiting Jet Set Radio…it’s more of a wash. The former feels a little more modern than the latter, but not without some odd changes.
The fact that you have unlimited spray cans is nice, but why limit the speed? You have to collect energy canisters that are few and far between and take forever to collect off vending machines. JSR, in turn, feels faster and simply more fun to traverse the thought out environs.
The Music Just Turns Me…
Hideki Naganuma’s additions to the BRC soundtrack are definite highlights for the game — even if it’s just three tracks. And after spending 10+ hours with the game, they didn’t stick too much but still aurally enjoyable.
JSR? Well, that was Naganuma’s breakout soundtrack made up mostly of his original music. You simply can’t beat the funky rhythm coming ‘atcha or the incoming revolución. It’s a game soundtrack that is banger after banger. And it’s still fire. TO THIS DAY!
We Got Comms! 