Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
- August 18, 2023
- Team Reptile
- 11h median play time
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is the Jet Set Radio successor we have all been waiting far too long for.
"Bomb Rush Cyberfunk" is a game that combines extreme sports with intricate graffiti. Players control a crew of artists who explore a sprawling city, pulling off daring stunts and tagging walls with their unique designs. With a blend of fast-paced action and creative expression, it's a thrilling ride through a vibrant world.
Reviews
- music5,290 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Bomb Rush Cyberfunk" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its vibrant and funky soundtrack, which features contributions from notable artists like Hideki Naganuma and 2 Mello. While the overall quality of the music is celebrated, some players noted that the limited song selection can lead to repetitiveness during gameplay, particularly in specific areas where only a few tracks are played on loop. Despite this, the soundtrack is often described as a highlight of the game, enhancing the overall experience and evoking nostalgia for fans of the "Jet Set Radio" series.
“The soundtrack, made by Hideki Naganuma and various indie artists, is absolutely wonderful and enhances the game's style.”
“The music is phenomenal and the aesthetic of the game is top-notch, from all the various environments to the fashion sense of each character.”
“The soundtrack is a masterpiece, adding energy akin to a Kai Cenat stream.”
“They put mumble rap in the soundtrack.”
“So, the soundtrack fails a vibe check on some of the songs.”
“There's no way to make your own playlist or filter out songs from the soundtrack; you only have basic shuffle and sequence play options that cycle through every song you have unlocked.”
- story2,853 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Bomb Rush Cyberfunk" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it surprisingly engaging and filled with twists, while others consider it simple and predictable. The narrative, which revolves around themes of identity and self-expression, is often described as quirky and fun, though some feel it lacks depth and can be repetitive. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw for everyone, it effectively complements the game's vibrant gameplay and aesthetic, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
“One of the best games of all time and a great spiritual successor to the Jet Set Radio series; everything about it is incredible: the music, the art style, the story, all of the above.”
“The story is interesting and has twists and turns in store for you.”
“The story is surprisingly fleshed out with shocking twists that you wouldn’t normally expect from a game like this, but it is absolutely phenomenal with themes of identity, crew, and art.”
“The story is short; the only reason I can't recommend it at a higher price point.”
“The bad: there is so much story that is condensed for the sake of gameplay, and what is not condensed is shown to you through cutscenes.”
“There is no attempt at telling the story through creative means, and there is a lot that is not explained accurately, if at all.”
- gameplay2,542 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Bomb Rush Cyberfunk* is widely praised for its fun, fluid mechanics that blend elements from *Jet Set Radio* and *Tony Hawk's Pro Skater*, creating an engaging experience centered around movement, tricks, and graffiti tagging. While many players appreciate the stylish visuals and catchy soundtrack, some critique the gameplay for lacking depth and variety, particularly in combat and mission design, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. Overall, the game is seen as a successful spiritual successor that captures the essence of its inspirations while introducing modern enhancements.
“The gameplay is fun and the artistic direction with the audio and visuals is superb.”
“Bomb Rush Cyberfunk takes the punk funk style of Jet Set Radio and improves every mechanic tenfold.”
“It is an absolute delight to play and this is an example of a game that puts gameplay and having fun first.”
“My second criticism is that, in terms of gameplay, the game never really feels like it reaches its full potential.”
“There's never a point in the game that challenges you to make full use of its mechanics.”
“The gameplay feels a bit too straightforward and linear, moving from borough to borough in almost perfect order without much deviation in the storyline, and in turn, it makes the game overall feel short.”
- graphics1,486 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Bomb Rush Cyberfunk" are widely praised for their vibrant, cel-shaded art style that evokes nostalgia for the classic "Jet Set Radio" series, blending retro aesthetics with modern design elements. Players appreciate the game's colorful environments, smooth animations, and the overall artistic direction, which successfully captures the essence of early 2000s gaming while maintaining a unique identity. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are charming, they can occasionally feel simplistic or reminiscent of older titles, leading to mixed opinions on their overall polish.
“The lighting in this game sets a mood and a feeling like no other, only amplified by its cell-shaded graphics.”
“The low-poly art style is super gorgeous, the game's color palette is incredible, the tricks and traversal feel straight out of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater but less technical.”
“The graphics evoke the JSR vibe perfectly, and the soundtrack goes extremely hard.”
“The graphics look like they have been ripped straight out of a PS1 game, and the stylization is ugly and does not make up for the bad graphics.”
“I'm assuming this was done to emulate Jet Set Radio, but I think there could have been a way to keep the spirit of the art style instead of just making it look the same as a game from 2000.”
“The visuals are a mixed bag, with reasonable if overly open and empty JSRF style environments and incredibly purely done character models.”
- grinding308 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding mechanics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players finding the experience both enjoyable and tedious. While the ability to chain combos and perform tricks while grinding is praised for its fluidity and fun, the repetitive nature of grinding and the lack of depth in the trick system can lead to a sense of monotony, especially in larger, emptier levels. Overall, while grinding can be addictive and satisfying, it often feels overly simplistic and can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
“It's on you if you don't want to know that you can lean into corners for an easy score multiplier, or that you can manual to extend your combo when not grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“No acid drops, no grinding on everything that has an edge, no precise control.”
“The game is fun initially, but later levels are too large and empty, and finding all graffiti spots becomes very tedious, slowing progression immensely.”
“The movement acrobatics could've been made more meaningful too; instead of striking a good score, you can basically button mash while grinding on a rail back and forth.”
“I expected a fast-paced, free-flowing, and vibrant environment/characters, and just ended up disappointed by the lack of thought seemingly put into making grinding around the maps interesting rather than extremely linear and repetitive.”
- character development180 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the unique and vibrant character designs that evoke nostalgia while also feeling fresh. However, some players feel that character personalities are underdeveloped, with only a few characters showing significant growth or depth, leaving others feeling forgettable. Overall, while the aesthetic and design of the characters are celebrated, the narrative and character interactions could benefit from more depth and distinction.
“Character designs are also high quality, featuring solid design principles that cause characters to stand out regardless of the environment, all having unique silhouettes and giving representation to other cultures (my favourite character is Escher).”
“The character designs are fantastic, their voices are perfect fits, and they're all extraordinarily stylish.”
“The character designs are beautiful and stylish, with a handful of different outfits for each character, to change up their color scheme.”
“The story totally fumbles its last act, the OST has more good than bad but with some hard misses, and the character designs are a real mixed bag.”
“I thought characters lack personality; there is character development on a few characters, but everyone else is just there to help you achieve your goal. Like this dude Tryce, you meet him in the opening of the game, and by the end I still have no clue who he really is. What does he like doing other than helping me?”
“The character designs are very strong, but the actual characters feel like they could've used more to distinguish them.”
- replayability106 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable due to collectibles, unlocks, and a vibrant modding community that enhances the experience, others criticize the limited routes and lack of significant replay value after the initial playthrough. Many users appreciate the fun of high-score chasing and exploring post-game content, but some feel that the game could benefit from additional features like multiplayer or a new game+ mode to extend its longevity. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, particularly for those who enjoy modding and collecting, but it may not satisfy everyone looking for endless replay value.
“The real value in this game comes from the replay value, especially with mods.”
“An amazing soundtrack, cool character design, good animations, a very cool world, and of course great graffiti being supported by fun urban movement sports/platforming gameplay with a ton of replayability due to how fun going for a high score on each stage is.”
“After finishing the game, I can definitely say it also has a good amount of replayability, going back to stages you completed the story for and just exploring for hidden outfits/music tracks/graffiti as well as finding the perfect line to get the highest trick combo possible is a lot of fun and keeps me hooked way after the story is done.”
“This game is a masterpiece, but there is like no replayability.”
“There's no replay value to speak of.”
“I don't think this will have enough replayability for the price.”
- humor102 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring a mix of absurdity, pop culture references, and character-driven comedy. Players appreciate the funny interactions, memorable characters, and humorous scenarios, such as police encounters that add to the game's comedic tone. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it engaging and entertaining, despite some critiques about the story's depth and character development.
“There's a lot to appreciate, especially the abundance of items to discover in each map, and the overall humor found at each step of the game.”
“Easter eggs include Duke Dennis, Grimace, and iconic phrases like 'on skibidi,' 'what the sigma,' and 'yap yapping.' Skibidi Rush Cyberchungus is a must-play for its fun, style, and humor—it's bussin', no cap.”
“The police encounters are annoying but that's what they're supposed to be, and the joy of having coppers trying to kill you for graffiti is absurdly hilarious.”
- atmosphere97 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning art style, engaging storyline, and a diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the immersive environment, smooth controls, and the nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic titles like Jet Set Radio, making it a fun and enjoyable experience. While some critiques mention minor issues with navigation and repetitive music, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and vibrant atmosphere.
“The atmosphere is a lot more futuristic feeling than even Jet Set Radio.”
“Dripping with atmosphere, popping with a great soundtrack, and progressive with skate-play mechanics that let you combo like never before, this game is the true inheritor to Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future.”
“The highlight of the game, for me, was entering a new zone and exploring the nooks and crevices and taking in the atmosphere while spraying some paint.”
“It fails to create an atmosphere worth caring about when characters have neutral faces while someone gets decapitated; even during animations, their hands clip through their own bodies.”
“The aesthetic, the music, the atmosphere, and the gameplay all have that early 2000's Dreamcast charm.”
“As for its length, this is not a long game by any stretch of the imagination - it took me around 11-12 hours to beat the final boss, but a good few of those hours were spent messing around each area and taking in the atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional84 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, often reminiscing about their childhood and feeling a sense of nostalgia and joy reminiscent of past gaming experiences. The vibrant world, engaging music, and heartfelt storytelling evoke strong feelings, with many reviewers noting moments that made them cry or feel deeply moved, highlighting the game's ability to rekindle the excitement and imagination of youth. Overall, the game is celebrated for its emotional depth and the way it resonates with players on a personal level.
“This game made me feel things I didn't think I could feel.”
“As an oldhead who grew up playing Jet Set Radio Future extensively, this game got me emotional in the first few hours of play, and kept me along for the entire ride non-stop over this release weekend.”
“It feels like a dream's paradise of some sort, like an absolute sandbox of a game where you can mix and match all your beloved characters from anywhere into one, no other game has made me feel this giddy and made me feel like I was a child once again, my imagination just bursting out of my brain and made the kid me inside me light up after years.”
- stability54 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 52 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches, particularly with graffiti markers and boss fights, while others report a relatively bug-free experience. Many users noted that the game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, but inconsistencies such as clipping and low-resolution textures were also mentioned. Overall, while some players encountered frustrating issues, others enjoyed smooth gameplay and excellent controls.
“Engaging story, excellent visuals, no glitches or bugs, and it's a complete game.”
“It has very few bugs from what I can tell and technically it runs great!”
“I had a, to my knowledge, perfectly bug-free experience even while playing the game on launch!”
“The graffiti markers were very buggy the entire time, and I don't know why they got rid of the hovering arrow/circle system that was in the Jet Set Radio games because it made it easy to tell from the side that you have to tag this wall.”
“I can only fault the game on one part in particular, which was a boss fight in chapter 5; it felt rather buggy as the boss's hitbox wasn't wide enough for them to take damage.”
“The post-game scavenger hunting is also a bit buggy and monotonous, with some achievements not working and some side missions requiring wandering around huge environments hoping you'll hit the invisible trigger to progress.”
- optimization53 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with most players experiencing solid performance and minimal issues across various platforms, including high-end PCs and the Steam Deck. While some users noted occasional stuttering and specific poorly optimized areas, updates have addressed many of these concerns, leading to a generally smooth gameplay experience. The combination of excellent performance, responsive controls, and a captivating soundtrack contributes to a well-optimized gaming experience that stands out.
“Superb optimization, I get steady 144 fps with 8x antialiasing.”
“The performance and optimization is incredible, playing on Steam Deck on my settings with 60 frames that never drop no matter what’s going on.”
“The maps are huge, the performance is rock solid and buttery smooth, even on Steam Deck, the music slaps, and the gameplay is so tight and well polished.”
“The game runs amazingly, but I would get stuttering sometimes when things would load in the two-sided bridge part of Mataan specifically.”
“- Pyramid level is very poorly optimized; framerate drops heavily.”
“[Not much has changed since 2000, occasional jank, performance issues]”
- monetization26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 62 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions, DLC, or any additional costs, allowing players to enjoy a complete experience without the pitfalls of modern cash-grab practices. Reviewers appreciate the game's focus on delivering a fun and engaging experience, contrasting it with other titles that rely heavily on in-game purchases. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing return to form, prioritizing gameplay and player satisfaction over monetization schemes.
“And on top of that, there's zero microtransactions throughout the whole game.”
“It's just a good game with soul and no microtransactions.”
“Everything is included in one package, no DLC, microtransactions, gacha, or other nonsense.”
“It's like back when games were fun and not soulless cash grabs.”
“I almost felt bad for these guys when they announced a new JSR, but given that it looks like it's going to be some free-to-play or other microtransactions-ridden multiplayer garbage, it seems this will remain the spiritual successor we were all waiting for for some time to come.”
“This is no nostalgia cash grab, but is it worth the price?”
Critic Reviews
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Review (PS5)
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is the Jet Set Radio successor we have all been waiting far too long for.
88%Bomb Rush Cyberfunk PS5 Review
A modern take on the Jet Set Radio formula, that could have done more to excite.
76%Bomb Rush Cyberfunk review
With bumping tunes and Y2K inspirations, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk reminds us that, sometimes, looking back can be a way of moving forward.
85%