'Jet Set Radio' plays great on the PSVita

Jet Set Radio gets an HD upgrade for PSN, XBLA, and Steam.

Beloved action-platformer Jet Set Radio is getting the HD-conversion treatment with a port for PSN, XBLA, and Steam later this year. At E3 Polygon got a chance to toy around with the Vita version, and so far it's looking pretty good.

The new Jet Set Radio uses the source code for the original, spruced up with a bit of tinkering to make it work in widescreen HD. The version used is the De La Jet Set Radio deluxe edition released only in Japan. The camera has also been expanded to include a wider gameplay area.

The game looks and sounds just like the classic, with the added bonus of featuring the full English and Japanese soundtracks as well as all but one track ("Yappy Feet") from the original UK version.

The version we played was the first-cut build for the Vita and did not make use of the front and rear touchscreens. The left stick controlled movement while the right controlled the camera. Jumping, skating, boosting, and spray painting walls were all controlled by the front, R, and L buttons. Use of the Vita's unique particulars is currently in development and is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Our demo's objective was to spray paint over posters hanging around the area, maneuvering around obstacles like rusty abandoned cars and faded iron railings and performing airborne tricks where possible. Too much spray painting activity called the wrath of the police on the our heads, and before long the po-po was after us with guns and helicopters. Boosting past them created an immunity from bullets and we raced to cover the remaining posters before our time — and life — ran out.

Jet Set Radio is still the same funky, addictive game as the original and plays prettily in HD. We're looking forward to seeing how the game performs under the Vita's unique capabilities.