While boldly embracing the 90s comic book aesthetic, upcoming indie game Bomb Rush Cyberfunk challenges the bounds of modern, open-world gaming and goes beyond.
The spiritual successor of Team Reptile’s Jet Set Radio games, Cyberfunk features a graffiti-slinging protagonist with a penchant for troublemaking. Skate through the city blasting tunes, dodge police officers and explore the dense, colorful metropolis.
With the ability to explore every aspect of the environment, this game builds off open-world elements of Infamous: Second Son and Overdrive, among others. From scaling walls to skirting across rooftops, the possibilities seem limitless–there’s nowhere you can’t enter. The landscape is full of ways to perform tricks on skateboards, BMX bikes and more, as well as plenty of surfaces to mark with meticulously designed in-game graffiti.
The rest of the game leans into this bold style too. Instead of crafting photorealistic scenery and characters that are scarily resemblant of their actors (Far Cry 5, I’m looking at you), Cyberfunk hearkens back to video game art that looks like a Saturday morning cartoon in the best way.
Not only is the visual nostalgia rewarding, but fans may also notice a familiar soundtrack. Hideki Naganuma was behind the iconic funky beats of Jet Set Radio and has devoted his time to this new game as well.
Aside from this and other hints gleaned from trailers, not much is known about this indie game. Despite this and the initial 2021 release date being postponed, Team Reptile has successfully kept fans eager and interested.
In addition to a Discord server and several forums dedicated to the world of Cyberfunk, Team Reptile also hosts virtual events.
Over the past few months, the studio held their “Graffiti Battle” where fans could submit their original spray designs. This Valentine’s Day, winners were announced out of 700 contestants, and upon the games release, users like Leo Bruno and TheGreyNinja (and everyone who plays) will be able to find their art somewhere in the cityscape.
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is primed to hit stores for the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2022.
Anna is a senior at NYU studying Journalism. Her work has been featured in GreenWorldAlliance and the Borgen Project, and she hopes to pursue games journalism into the future.In her free time, she loves playing Left 4 Dead with her 60-year-old father, tearing it up in Just Dance, and unnecessarily reorganizing her decks in Back 4 Blood.
