Jet Set Radiowas released on the Dreamcast on May 24, 2025, and although it celebrates its 25th anniversary today, the game has stood the test of time. Where other titles aimed to follow emerging trends to impress consumers,Jet Set Radioembraced an identity that was unseen by any other game at the time. Now, it has influenced a visual style adopted by many video game series, all of which can trace their roots back to this Dreamcast classic.
The themes thatJet Set Radioexplores were uncommon in games at the time, which worked in the game’s favor. Some gaming trends are fleeting, and very often, games that use themtend to age poorly. However, games that aim to be unique and innovative are those that withstand the test of time, andJet Set Radiois a prime example of this.
Jet Set Radio Refused To Be Anything But Itself
Jet Set Radio Pioneered a New Art Style
At its core, theJet Set Radiofranchise is about countercultureand the freedom of expression in a world that seeks to suppress individuality. This is reflected in the game’s plot, with law enforcement and financial corporations aiming to take down the graffiti-spraying Rudies by any means necessary, but is also indicated by the game’s art style.
On a meta level, the free-spirited nature of the game’s group of protagonists – the GGs – is mirrored by the game itself and its place in the industry at the time.Jet Set Radiois credited as the first game to fully embracecel-shaded graphics.As the hardware began to improve, a trend began to emerge where game developers strove for gritty, realistic graphics.Jet Set Radiodeviated from this with its vibrant, cartoony look, making its nonconformist aesthetic and themes that much bolder.
Jet Set Radio’s Visuals Still Look Great Today
After 25 years, the visuals ofJet Set Radioare as striking now as they were in 2000. Other skating game series of the era likeTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterstill hold up, as evidenced by the modernPro Skaterremakes, but the aesthetics and soundtracks of the originals feel like a time capsule of the era.
In contrast,Jet Set Radioremains timeless in its appearance. Three generations of video game consoles have passed since the game’s initial release, but its choice to use cel-shaded characters and environments has helped the game to age very well. Even when compared to modern releases,Jet Set Radio’s stylized art does not feel out of place; cel-shading andlow poly graphics in video gamescontinue to thrive, keeping the look of the game relevant all these years later.
Jet Set Radiowasn’t as complex as games likeTony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but it was never intended to be. High scores were a motivating factor, but the trick system was automated. This didn’t make the game easy by any means, especially consideringJet Set Radio’s notoriously difficult tutorial, but rather, its priorities lie in its art.
Of course, its visual aesthetic is important toJet Set Radio’s identity, but it also factors into the gameplay.Jet Set Radioisa game about graffitiwhere players aim for hard-to-reach spots, tagging smaller objects they pass along the way. The game features graffiti from many different artists, but also encourages players to express themselves by creating their own graffiti to use in-game.
Jet Set Radio Set a Trend of Its Own
Being the pioneer of cel-shaded graphics, many game series would not have their own unique visual styles withoutJet Set Radiolaying the groundwork for experimentation. Iconic classics likeThe Legend of Zelda: Wind Wakerand the recent installments inthePersonaserieshave immediately recognizable art styles, but they are all built on the foundation set byJet Set Radio. At the time, the game looked like nothing else that had been released before, and now, its influence is felt throughout the gaming landscape.
As well as blazing the trail for cel-shaded games moving forward,Jet Set Radiohas also had a more direct impact on some games. Even with their disparate gameplay styles, thesimilarities betweenJet Set RadioandHi-Fi Rushare very apparent. Both games share themes of fighting for the freedom to express oneself, butHi-Fi Rushgives this emphasis to music instead of a visual art medium. It feels like a great companion game toJet Set Radio.
However, there is one game which proudly shows itsJet Set Radioinfluence, building upon the games in the series to become somewhat of a spiritual successor.That game isBomb Rush Cyberfunk. The game essentially takes everything that madeJet Set Radiospecial and reinvests it for the modern era. The essence ofJet Set Radiois felt throughoutBomb Rush Cyberfunk, but it is mindful of forging its own path forward, crafting its own unique identity.
Two years after the original,Jet Set Radio Futurereleased as its first – and currently only – sequel. Keeping the visual style thatJet Set Radioestablished,Jet Set Radio Futuremaintained the core of the series while giving more focus to how players can express themselves with fluid gameplay and controls. However, Sega recently revealed that the future is bright for the series, as anewJet Set Radiogame is being developed. From what has been shown so far, it seems like a return to form, putting emphasis back on the vibrancy of the world and evolving the cel-shaded art style of past games further, embracing the benefits of modern hardware.
What began as a Dreamcast game centered around freedom of expression and the rejection of uniformity has become the origin of more creative expression in modern gaming.Jet Set Radio’s willingness to embrace a cartoony look in an industry pushing for realism has had an impact that continues to resonate. Whether this is with games that are directly inspired or others that havepushed cel-shaded graphics further,Jet Set Radio’s influence can still be felt.
