Jet Grind Radio

release dates: October

Supposedly the game looks incredible, despite it's cartoon like graphics. It does use nice colors but all the people are in 2D in a 3D environment. Sorta like Parappa the Rapper. It does havea a few slowdowns but supposedly it wont be too bad. Much like the epic gang film, The Warriors, a radio station DJ ties all the action together, revealing the game's plot to you between levels. Another supposed shining point in the game is the music, which is filled with happy, upbeat hip-hop tracks.

This game will appeal towards the kids in the city and in the ghetto. See the point of the game several rival gangs are vying for control of Tokyo-To. The gangs skate into each other's territories and tag as many walls as possible. You're given the option to choose a different skater for each level. Some levels will have you retagging your own turf, while others will send your gangbanger into other areas of the city to put your tag over the rival gangs' tags. To keep this up you'll have to collect spinning paint cans that litter the level. All the while, you've got to deal with the police who response with cops with nightsticks and riot squads with shields and tear gas to helicopters that launch missiles at you while you're trying to tag a wall. The police chase you down, preventing you from painting up walls and buses, generally causing you all sorts of problems.

So essentially you spend most of the game on rollerblades being a graffiti artist. This is what may appeal to most of the American market. We'll see.