Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): August 18, 2023
- Release Date (EU): August 18, 2023
- Publisher: Team Reptile
- Developer: Team Reptile
- Genres: Sports, Action
- Also For: Nintendo Switch
Game Features:
In Bomb Rush Cyberfunk’s cyberpunk future, crews battle each other to become the best “writer” and control whole boroughs. But their battling doesn’t involve arms but instead feature extreme sports challenges, graffiti and sheer style.
Among those crew is the Bomb Rush Crew, which our protagonist Red joined following a fateful escape from the corrupt police. Red owes his new crew for providing him a new chance at doing what he does best; for his head was severed during his escape by the neuroscience-obsessed DJ Cyber and was replaced with a cyberhead thanks to the Bomb Rush Crew.
To get his head back, he’ll need to confront DJ Cyber, but the latter will only consider his challenge if his crew becomes All City, the conquerors of New Amsterdam’s five boroughs. While daunting - if not impossible - the Bomb Rush Crew is up to the challenge; after all, every crew aims to become All City.
Stylishly cyberfunk
As Jet Set Radio’s spiritual successor, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (BRC) naturally pulls on the nostalgia strings with the edgy-stylish “cyberfunk” presentation. With the cel-shaded aesthetics, funky character designs and even new music from Hideki Naganuma, New Amsterdam and its inhabitants look like a close cousin to the game it takes its inspirations from.
That said, BRC packs its own originality in its character and environmental design while paying homage to Jet Set Radio (JSR). The main cast as well as NPCs share similar punk aesthetics to JSR but bear distinctive designs from cybernetic enhancements to boombox-jetpack hybrids. New Amsterdam’s boroughs are kept fresh with their varied looks and each feature kilometres of skateable elements from rails to signboards that not only let you earn more REPs but also help you explore the unique locations further.
It also features a handy flip phone that lets you see the map, texts from NPCs as well as unlocked graffiti designs and soundtracks. Oh and it also lets you take pictures!
While not particularly a narrative-driven game, BRC’s plot leans on its cyberpunk backdrop, with a story of identity and belonging at play.
In this regard, BRC pays homage to JSR and balances the nostalgia aspect with its own creative touch.
Nostalgic gameplay for modern systems
Similar to its looks, BRC’s gameplay will feel familiar to fans of JSR. This means you’ll be skating across sandbox areas while performing tricks and spraying graffitis on walls; and BRC adheres to this basic formula that characterises JSR.
However, developer Team Reptile added just enough tweaks to make the experience feel like a modern game. Controls and input are intuitive and responsive. On top of the classic in-line skates, BRC expands your sports gear to include skateboards and BMX bikes. It also allows some character and gear customisation, as well as occasionally allows you to play as other characters. These additions bring a fresh coat of paint to a familiar gameplay.
As for the meat of the gameplay, it relies on performing tricks and racking up combos that will earn you REP points; and subsequently gain influence in each borough as you aim to control them all. Your movesets are locked to three face buttons but you can mix them up with manuals and special Boost Tricks by using your "boostpack". However, this focus on three button movesets and combos can occasionally lead to them feeling somewhat limited and repetitive.
While performing your skating tricks, you’ll, of course, multitask by inking New Amsterdam’s walls with your own street art. Wall-tagging is performed by following on-screen direction combos and you can choose which direction to start with, leading to different images based on the combo.
As you gain more REP points, other crews will throw challenges at you as you aim to claim their turf. These will test your skating skills and some can be tougher to tackle than others, but you’ll have the opportunity to take on other challenges if you’re stuck on one. Completing those will further unlock new graffiti combos that can be viewed on your flip-phone.
To mix up the gameplay, BRC includes a combat mechanic where guards will chase you around locations and you can take them on. Guards can be warded off by the same buttons you use to perform tricks but mashing one will do. Since the police officers outnumber you, you’re better off avoiding them or lowering their alert levels by changing your clothing.
But when taking on enemies, I often found kicking them around to be disorienting due to the lack of a locking feature. Combat is also involved during boss fights where you’ll have to grind along rails and hit your target, while fending off lackeys. While diversifying the gameplay, I found the inclusion of combat to be experimental at best, but mostly redundant.
A worthy successor to a cult classic
Nevertheless, I could overlook BRC’s downsides for the fun that the overall gameplay offers. It might be playing it safe in certain aspects but it adds enough novelty to keep the experience fresh while being respectful to its souce of inspiration.
Grinding along BRC’s kilometres of rails across New Amsterdam while performing tricks, linking them with combos and marking your presence with new graffiti while tuned to groovy soundtracks is always satisfying, especially when you’re on a combo streak. The gameplay definitely delivers that JSR feel, of which it is a worthy successor. If that’s what you’ve been looking for, BRC lives up to that expectation, so get ready to make the world - or at least New Amsterdam - your canvas and skate park!
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Official Release Trailer
Verdict
- Worthy successor to Jet Set Radio
- Fun gameplay mixing extreme sports tricks, combos and wall tagging
- Groovy soundtrack, including new ones composed by Jet Set Radio’s Hideki Naganuma
- Limited movesets
- Combat feels redundant for the most part
