'Jet Set Radio Future' is must-have for gamers

It's not often that something unusual in several aspects appears in the world of video games. A round of applause, then, for "Jet Set Radio Future."

This wildly entertaining title, from developer Smilebit via Sega for the Xbox, features dazzling graphics, huge levels, a truly rocking soundtrack and a game trip unlike any you've ever had.

Jet Set Radio refers to a pirate station in Tokyo that keeps track of the street battles between rival gangs on inline skates. For bad guys, the game provides the Rokkaku Group, an evil industrial empire funding all kinds of mischief aimed at gangs of street kids generically called Rudies.

One part of the game is troubling. The Rudies spend a lot of time scaring ordinary civilians and plastering the city with graffiti. The game makes a point of warning that vandalism is bad, but the game sure makes it look like fun. Two demerits.

But you're willing to forgive almost anything because this game is so bursting with life and energy, so antiestablishment and pro individual that you can't help but feel good playing it.

The game starts as you try to join one of the gangs, known as GG. After an introductory section where you learn your moves, you head out into the city for a little graffiti and a little action.

You spend your time skating from district to district through vast, detailed levels, day scenes and night scenes, spraying graffiti everywhere as you dodge Rokkaku's police and rival gangs. Your goal is freedom of the streets.

As you speed through the city, you collect little cans of spray paint. Targets on walls show where your graffiti belongs. Hit the right trigger as you pass and beautiful multicolor patterns appear on the walls.

JSRF also offers a marvelous editing function -- and if you're creative, you can put together your own tags instead of just depending on those built into the game.

There are also the oddly named Graffiti Souls to be found. Looking a bit like those bald, black-eyed images of aliens, the Graffiti Souls provide new tags when you collect one on the street.

There are battles to be fought, with the police and rival gangs. Win the battle -- capture the flag, tag, etc. -- and you gain admission to new areas.

As you speed along, the mysterious DJ Professor feeds an endless stream of ground-pounding music and patter. Get in the swing and your actions on the street flow with the music. It's almost hypnotic as the tunes and your flying feet move together as one.

Performing tricks, grinding on everything you can reach, racing through the streets on a paint can-fueled turbo boost -- JSRF is impossible to put down.

Graphics get an A+. The spectacular visuals aren't photo-quality.

"Jet Set Radio Future" gets a well-deserved A. This is one of the few must-have games so far for the Xbox.