Following their announcement during The Game Awards 2023, Sega will be rebooting a lot of their classic games from older franchises. To that end, they want these reboots to have an edgier, more rebellious mindset. Read on to learn more.
Sega to Adopt Rebellious and Edgier Mindset for Classic Games Reboot
The Game Awards 2023 hosted a lot of announcements from developers and their upcoming games, including Nintendo’s former rival and developer of the Yakuza and Sonic series, Sega.
Their announcement was unique, however, as it promised not one, but five new reboots of games from its classic lineup, including Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, and the crowd-favorite, Jet Set Radio.
Speaking with the Washington Post, CEO of Sega America and Sega co-chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi said that "we really want to show edginess and a rebellious mindset." This is regarding the mindset and overall tone of the upcoming reboots.
Evidently, this was in hopes of capturing the vibe of the original games, which did feature a more laid-back, ’90s aesthetic and a general rebelliousness about them. The specifics of how Sega will implement this mindset in the development of the reboots are currently unclear.
Original Jet Set Radio Team Joins Reboot
Utsumi also revealed that the original Jet Set Radio team will be working on the reboot, saying "The concept of games like ‘Jet Set Radio’ is advanced. The original creators are involved again, and its time is now,” he continued. “It’s a good time where people can appreciate all kinds of concepts."
This is thrilling news for fans of the original Jet Set Radio, which has maintained a sizable cult following despite its age. The original was lauded for its graphics and gameplay, which were both really well-executed for their time. With the original team on lock, there’s no doubt that we’re in for an authentic reboot.
Virtua Fighter Under Evaluation for Reboot Treatment
Fans noticed that Virtua Fighter, Sega’s contribution to the fighting game genre, wasn’t included in the classic games reboot lineup. Utsumi weighed in on the matter stating that "We are evaluating right now. Virtua Fighter doesn’t use so many tricks, [or] special moves like in Street Fighter, it’s very realistic."
"How can we make it more dramatic?" he continued. "It’s something we’re working on." It’s currently nebulous whether Virtua Fighter will be a part of this grand reboot, but Sega fans are excited at the prospect of the other five games already. At this point, Virtua Fighter getting rebooted would just be icing on the cake.
