In our ongoing weekly column spotlighting some of the secretly classic, kitschy, overlooked, or downright wack games in the vast Xbox library, we’re pumping music and grinding rails in Jet Set Radio Future. Read on for more about Sega's instant in-line skate classic and check out past Backtracking entries here.

Most gamers met the Sixth Generation Console Wars™ with edge-of-their-seat interest and enthused intensity. It was an undoubtedly exciting time -- 3D gaming looks good now! ‘Net-based multiplayer pretty much works! Open-world everything! -- and its contributions still steer games industry advancements to this day. The torpid teen that I was, though, I sighed, yawned, and shrugged it off with stubborn apathy. In that order.

You see, I’d put all my chips on Sega’s Little Console that Could, and had hardly any interest in replacing my now-dated Dreamcast with another “next-gen” gizmo so shortly after the funeral. I loved that device dearly, and its transformation from cutting-edge to obsolete (in three short years, nonetheless) soured me on the cutthroat console war. I was heartbroken, and my wounds needed time to mend before I dove into the overhyped arms of the Next Big Things from Sony, Nintendo, et al.

So when I first heard that Microsoft was prepping to enter the race with a gaming gadget of its own, my initial response was a dispirited, librarian-esque cluck of the tongue. Who needs some bulky black box tailor-made for boring brown-‘n-bloom shooters, right? “Not this guy,” I smugly assured myself.

Then I learned that one of its launch titles was a pseudo-sequel to Jet Grind Radio, the crown gem of my Dreamcast collection, and my then-contender for “Favorite Game Ever.” Mysteriously, I found myself immediately aboard the Xbox bandwagon, which promptly dropped off at my local GameShop, piggy bank in hand. Also: my teenage allegiances were very, very fickle.

Jet Set Radio Future is, in a couple of capacities, a game unstuck in time. It serves the strange role of being both a prequel and a sequel to Smilebit’s stellar Jet Grind Radio -- an Elseworlds origin story set in the far-flung future, but with the same characters, but they haven’t met yet, so not really, but kind of? Did it matter?

Starring remixed versions of Jet Grind Radio’s skate-clad cast of outcasts, Future is a cartoony, colorful blast of anti-establishment action, scored with scores of spectacular tunes that’re still regularly shuffled on my iPhone. Its outlandish plot is easily on-par with its predecessor (and re-tells much of the same story, to boot), but the oft-nonsensical narrative takes a backseat to the game’s focus on grinding, powersliding, and blinding speed.

Still, for you completionists, here’s the general gist: “The Man” is oppressing the good folks of near-future Tokyo-To, and you, leading a smart-mouthed gang of street skaters, have to battle rival crews and corrupt cops to soak the streets in spray-paint. For the sake of preserving freedom of speech, of course, but also for the sake of looking damn good while speeding about on jet-powered inline skates.

Boasting the same cel-shaded aesthetic that was popularized by its predecessor, Jet Set Radio Future was -- and still is -- a very good-looking game. Its urban playground of Tokyo-To is an intricate, expertly designed metropolis that boasts more variety in its diverse districts than most sandbox games have in their entire open worlds. “Graffiti Soul” collectibles are cleverly placed throughout, and hopping on an inauspicious bit of railing almost always rewards your skater with a new bit of cityscape to see or spray.

And I’ve yet to meet a cast of characters as memorable as the swagger-soaked inline skaters that make up Future’s warring factions. Each of the game’s crews drip with personality, and a hefty roster of playable street scribblers -- each with unique looks, skate stats, and groove-ready moves -- guarantee repeat playthroughs. Whether you’re going toe-to-toe with reptilian rivals Poison Jam or unlocking new “Rudies” by clearing district-specific Street Challenges, it’s a legitimate feat to not enjoy your time with Jet Set Radio Future.

Backed by a pack of toe-tapping tunes (featuring the inimitable Hideki Naganuma) and steeped in a super-stylized aesthetic that still holds up on repeat playthroughs ten years later, Jet Set Radio Future was, and still is, something special. Like its prequel/sequel status, this personality-driven street skater occupies two distinct spaces: a niche title, yes, but with an infinite amount of cross-audience appeal. If you missed it the first time around, it’s worth scouring your local bargain bin for, and if you played and appreciated it a decade ago, it’s more than worth revisiting. Now, here’s hoping for an XBLA port of both Future and its predecessor in the immediate future. That means last Tuesday, Sega.

(Jet Set Radio Future is available pre-owned at GameStop for $4 or bundled with SEGA GT 2002 for $1. Both the standalone game and bundle disc are playable on the Xbox 360 via backwards-compatibility.)