While the original Jet Set Radio games were heralded as some of the first 3D open world games, they never took place in a single open world. Instead, different levels and chapters had their own maps. Now, over 20 years after the franchise’s last entry, it looks like the recently announced Jet Set Radio reboot might have the series’ first fully open world.
According to slides from a Sega Sammy management meeting earlier this month, the upcoming Jet Set Radio reboot is being branded as an open world game that keeps the series’ focus on rebellion.
“‘Counter-Culture’. Tokyo Street Open World,” the game’s description reads. “Experience the ‘rebellion’ movement that feels free in a suffocating society. Make friends, increase your fans, and create a movement!”
The slides also reveal descriptions for Sega’s other ongoing reboots first announced during the Game Awards, including Crazy Taxi and Golden Axe.
While Sega hasn’t said much else about its Jet Set Radio reboot, it did reveal that the series’ original creators are involved in the new title. Both the original Jet Set Radio and its sequel, Jet Set Radio Future, let players spray graffiti on skates while running from the cops, and we gave Future a 9.1 in our 2002 review, calling it “one of the coolest titles around.”
While the Jet Set Radio series hasn’t seen a new entry since 2002, fans did get Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, its spiritual successor (which even had music by Jet Set Radio composer Hideki Naganuma), earlier this year.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.