Jet Set Radio PSN/XBLA/Vita/IOS review

[Yakumo]

I also have the 360 version and can't find this stutter that people talk about. I play mu 360 in 720p over HDMI though. I used to have it is 1080p but some games had nasty screen tear. So 720p it has stayed for over a year. How many games run in native 1080p anyway? Next to none from what I can tell out of the 80 odd games I've played on my 360.

[BBIAJ]

Since downloading Jet Set Radio (PAL) on Wednesday, and having the audio visual stutters from the off, I have been doing a lot of reading online, and experimenting to try and fix this, and have come up with a few things, both helpful and confusing, so here goes:

I first downloaded it via my Gamertag onto my girlfriend's Gears of War 3 console (manufacture date June 2011), and then onto my Star Wars R2-D2 console (made late last year), and I noticed the stuttering music and frame rate straight away. When we tried the game on her console, it ran absolutely fine, no problems. Naturally I found this confusing, that it could be so broken on a newer console, yet work perfectly fine on an older one, so I set about trying to fix it.*

Firstly, I deleted it and redownloaded it, then I tried clearing my cache, and finally I recovered my profile, none of which helped, so I turned to the Internet (which was when I discovered this thread, and subsequently read it from beginning to end).*

I discovered that the stutter can be found on both PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, but not for everyone (as I have experienced first hand), that some people were having the game crash when completing levels or when Achievements or Trophies unlocked, and that since trying the PS3 demo, I have found some inconsistencies, such as the PS3 audio only being output in Dolby Stereo, whereas the 360 version appears to have a full 5.1 mix.*

Then I read somewhere about how someone had some issues with screen tear and texture detail loading issues on Shank on Xbox 360, and that they were advised by the developer via Facebook to try running the game from USB, due to an issue with how the data was being read from the HDD or something. Apparently this fixed it, so I thought that I would try the same with JSR.

Admittedly, I haven't tried changing resolutions yet, I didn't even think about it until it was mentioned in a previous post, as I usually just game in 1080p, even though I know it's pretty fruitless, and only really go lower for Capcom games with horrific tearing. Besides, it works fine for others in higher resolutions, so I can't see that being an issue.

So I moved it over to my Forza 3 USB memory stick, and the game now runs fine, absolutely no stutters, pauses, freezes, or anything of the like in either audio or frame rate, I was even able to "accidentally" do 219 tricks in the tutorial, whereas before the constant pauses were throwing my timing for jumps off, and it was incredibly annoying if it occurred during mid-jump.

So, I've found a workaround for now at least, it's not ideal, I'd like to know why it doesn't work right on a newer console, and I hope that a proper fix (and I don't expect it to be a patch, given the cost involved, and that it appears to be some kind of hardware issue), but I do hope that SEGA/Blit, and maybe even Microsoft acknowledge it.

I love the game, it's a superb port when it works, and I can't wait for NiGHTS Into Dreams with the free Christmas Nights DLC next month, and I'll be picking up Sonic Adventure 2 and its DLC for the first time too, hoping that they have been given the same care and attention as clearly went into JSR, it's just a shame that a few bugs or glitches are spoiling it for some, and that some people are too quick to point the finger before trying to actually do something about it themselves first.

Apologies for such a long debut post, I just wanted to try and get everything out in one go!

P.S.

I also love love LOVE the Avatar Awards! I ended up buying Beat's goggles from the Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing avatar section to "complete the look"!

[SCCAAMMM]

Finally the XBLA release of Jet (stutter) Set (stutter) Radio (stutter)

At first I thought it was just me but the stutter, became very clear very quickly to me and my brother, seems to occur about once every two minutes in game. You get a minor freeze and a stutter in the music.

Another classic HD port ruined, it looks fantasic but the HD stutter just ruins it, back to the Dramcast version for now. Sega needs to get their act together and patch this issue, if they couldn't be bothered to fix it for the release. Big disappointment that they allowed this to happen to such a classic game.

I might try the PS3 version later today to see if that also has the stutter issue.

Oh, so i'm not making it up?

Anyway as I said PC version is smooth as silk.

Can't say the same for the camera or gameplay. Hasn't aged well, imo.

[nakamura]

No stutter on the demo version I am playing. Xbox 720p.

[saturn-gamer]

Demo didn't gel with me. Its a good port mind you, widescreen, more stable framerate, second analog..

But the game itself.. I dunno. Don't find it to be fun anymore. I have better memories of JSR:F, it had no timer, cops and spray QTE. It was more relaxing to play and enjoy.

[kellog7]

No stuttering, freezing or audio dropouts on either the trial or the full game for me. 360 set to 720p.

[slicer1000]

The problem on 360 seems to be caused by HDD activity which is caused by live and the dash board. Playing the game offline and not pressing the guide button will help reduce the stutter in game.

[MrKirov]

Tried the demo, and had similar thoughts to when I played it on DC... I jut don't think it's fun. Wobbly mechanics, awkward jumps, just don't feel it. It's a shame because the visuals are still gorgeous.

[S3M]

Oh, so i'm not making it up?

Anyway as I said PC version is smooth as silk.

Can't say the same for the camera or gameplay. Hasn't aged well, imo.

No, your far from alone SCCAAMMM, lots of people have report problems, as BBIAJ mentions some people have had it worse. NEOGAF is full of people complaining and telling people to get the problems, along with gamefaqs and other websites.

Looking into the issue myself last night BBIAJ seems the game can't handle Xbox live in the back ground correctly, we found disconnecting from live all together and playing offline improved it greatly, still not as smooth as the PS3 version for me. Haven't tried running it from a USB stick but I can't be bothered to go to those lenght to get a retail release to work correctly. Hopefully a patch will address all the problems so we can play the game correctly. Certainly won't be buying it till something is done.

[Kaosu]

This game is not fun. I remember playing through Future and having a better time doing almost everything. Here I don't feel compelled to do anything since there's constantly too much in the way of tagging that I no longer want to reach the end.

Also, the voices are blown out on the cutscenes, Professor K could make wine glasses break.

[BBIAJ]

Just came across this on NeoGaf:

"Atolm
Member
Today, 10:46 AM, Post #1299

Ok guys. I haven't followed the thread, but as some of you may know, I have a friend who worked on this (he did the trophy/achievements stuff and he knows the people at Blit well). He asked me to post this since he's waiting for account validation.

Quote:
I've been talking to one of the developers that worked in the port and
commented about the game issues reported in this thread.

They are investigating the performance issues. As you already noticed,
it seems related to hard disk fragmentation and sound streaming having
high latency. It's usually tested on just formatted consoles, so it
didn't appear during testing.

About the sound quality. They are using the exact same masters
(uncompressed wave files) that were used to build the dreamcast
version (DeLaJet Set Radio) so stereo separation, volume... all is the
same. Professor K voices are saturated in the original master, so they
sound saturated. Maybe sound output is too loud, but that's all, it
doesn't have more saturation than the wave files.

The "reset to improve performance" issue seems weird to him too. Maybe
some steam component was updated and as he thinks steam must be called
every frame so it can draw its overlays, it was hogging the frame for
too long, but he doesn't know much about steam."

So there's hope, and they're trying to get his account verified ASAP, so it looks like there might be hope for a fix, or at the various least, some explanations.

[Lyris]

About the sound quality. They are using the exact same masters
(uncompressed wave files) that were used to build the dreamcast
version (DeLaJet Set Radio) so stereo separation, volume... all is the
same. Professor K voices are saturated in the original master, so they
sound saturated. Maybe sound output is too loud, but that's all, it
doesn't have more saturation than the wave files.

They were definitely clipped a little in the original, but not to the same extent as in the port - of that I'm pretty certain. Could be wrong though.

[Lyris]

Ah man, I got to the Grind City levels today and just realized that they've used the US version music. The tuneless wailings of one Mr Robert Zombie are playing over the level!

Shame, I much preferred what the Euro version had:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5o0LvnJfM4&feature=relmfu

[Lyris]

Now I'm talking to myself again, but - after turning the 360 off, I've powered it on again and... Rob Zombie is gone and it's playing the original music on the second attempt. Yay!

[SCCAAMMM]

Good job everyone's so preocupied with the look and sound of the game. Keeps their minds of the fact that the game plays like....... :P