Gameplay clip from me:
Review:
BRC is better than Jet Set Radio Future and I'd have to say it's probably on par with the original JSR.
JSRF is too relaxed, even in its platforming. BRC applies both skill and knowledge to the gameplay while making things more tense in Future. Traversing the level in the clip seems easy when you watch but so much can go wrong. BRC is deceptive in that it looks completely easy but mastering the combo system requires far more skill than you would think. Easy to play, hard to master. Getting combos that are tens of millions in points is an achievement. I won't claim I'm a master in this game yet, either. In the clip you see I almost boosted outside of bounds in the half pipe. BRC is full of stuff like that in its gameplay where a lot can go wrong to end a combo string or a way for you to mess up. It's not hard to do, but doing it well takes skill. Traversing the level isn't hard or difficult, but doing it perfectly, without breaking combo, and not falling off a rail in a badly placed jump takes practice and you will not get this on first run. By separating the levels into multiple "zones" BRC achieved a perfect marriage marriage of JSR's "perfect run" gameplay with JSRF's smooth controls and relaxed vibe. The result is a game that has the depth of JSR but is more freeform and open in terms of goals in how you approach the level design, but with the chill of Future. It's a perfect marriage.
One of the biggest complaints of JSR was that it was too difficult. Not to flex, but I ranked in the top 5 in JSR HD on Steam when it came out. I have played JSR at least 20+ times. I say all of this to admit that even I find it a bit rough around the edges at times and it's a game that I have mastered. Yet its sequel JSRF took the opposite approach and made a game that's too easy and laid back. BRC strikes a beautiful medium between the two. It can be a challenge but often the challenge is against your own skills in attempting to master it while at the same time not necessarily being a super difficult game. It's way more fair and arguably fun to play than JSR.
The story too is something to marvel. It's straight out of Killer 7/David Lynch/Cronenberg 2000's style creative mind fukkery that I haven't seen from a video game in a long, long time. It's a ride to experience with twists and turns, and while it doesn't successfully pull off a completely perfect landing (the final boss parts were kind of rushed), what is there is fascinating and interesting to think about that only lends to future playthroughs.
My only real disappointment is the soundtrack, which funnily, should have been one of the easiest things to top.
My issues with the soundtrack being:
1. you often do not get music unless you find the disc. I have not once heard the 2Mello song in-game.
2. you have to pre-select the music you listen to from the phone. There's often no curated playlist.
3. the music loops, some songs go on too long.
4. I'm listening to the soundtrack on youtube and I'm hearing songs I've never even heard because I haven't even found their discs yet. Obviously I have a problem with this.
5. There's a lack of song variety. JSR and JSRF had a lot of variety in it and you had hip hop and electronic all the way to rock. There was crazy songs like Aisle 10 and Birthday Cake to songs like Baby T and I Love Love You. BRC simply lacks this variety in its soundtrack.
Essentially, they gatekeep music content. Looking at full OST, it seems the main problem is that they had too much music for the amount of content they had. The full soundtrack is fantastic but the way the game itself plays the music is incredibly wack.
Aside from that, Team Reptile has managed to merge the best of JSR with JSRF while creating something truly unique on its own merits. Jet Set Radio is my second favorite game ever and I can say with the serious of faces that this is at least on par with it in different ways. I think it offers up its own thing and unique take on the formula enough for it be close.
Game is fun as shyt and a full on indie masterpiece.
