Overview
Style as substance. Jet Set Radio’s cel-shading made 3D graphics look hand-drawn—a technique that would spread across the industry. The game beneath the visuals matched: inline skaters tagged Tokyo-to with graffiti while evading police, set to an eclectic soundtrack mixing J-pop, hip-hop, and funk. The Dreamcast had found its aesthetic manifesto.
Fast facts
- Developer: Smilebit.
- Year: 2000.
- Platform: Dreamcast.
- Western title: Jet Grind Radio (US).
Visual innovation
| Technique |
Effect |
| Cel-shading |
Cartoon appearance |
| Bold outlines |
Comic book style |
| Flat colours |
Animated look |
| Industry first |
Widely adopted after |
Gameplay elements
| Activity |
Function |
| Skating |
Traversal |
| Grinding |
Rail navigation |
| Tagging |
Territory control |
| Evasion |
Police avoidance |
Soundtrack curation
| Genre |
Artists |
| J-pop |
Guitar Vader |
| Hip-hop |
Jurassic 5 |
| Funk |
Rob Zombie |
| Electronic |
Various |
Cultural impact
| Element |
Influence |
| Cel-shading |
Industry adoption |
| Youth culture |
Skating/graffiti |
| Art direction |
Distinctive identity |
| Sequel |
Future expanded |
See also