[2][3] The goal of the game is to traverse through neighborhoods and find key locations to tag them with graffiti under a specific time frame.

Jet Grind Radio also offers 4-player multiplayer that allows players to compete within the unlocked time attack modes.

The business conglomerate, the Rokkaku Group, and the Tokyo-to government have teamed up to clamp down on the "Rudies", the game's term for the graffiti spraying youths.

The object of the game is to "tag" certain surroundings with graffiti before the time limit runs out or "before the indomitable array of cops arrive".

[14] IGN gave a more lukewarm response, but still praised the game and developers for attempting to stay as faithful to the original.

Game Informer also had criticisms regarding the control-scheme of maneuvering the character in the isometric perspective, concluding: "All told, this GBA edition is done well enough that fans of the series will be satisfied with the on-the-go experience, but don't expect to be blown away".