Jet Set Radio/Characters

Playable characters
Each character has three listed stats: Power, Technique, and Graffiti. Power is how much health the character has, Technique is the amount of points they'll receive for tagging, and Graffiti is how difficult their tagging inputs are (the higher the stat, the lower the difficulty). Additionally, each character has a maximum number of spray cans they can hold, which is unlisted in the character select menu.

(Bolded stats are the character's highest stat.)

Beat

 * To unlock: Available from the start of the game.

Beat is the jack-of-all-trades of the starting characters. He has the most health of the three, and has no glaring weak points. Use him if you're new to the game.

Gum

 * To unlock: Complete her section of the Tutorial.

Gum is the graffiti specialist of the three starting characters. Her tagging commands are easier than Beat or Tab's, but in exchange, she has the least health of the three and can't hold as many cans.

Tab (Corn)

 * To unlock: Clear the Tutorial.

Tab is the most challenging to use of the three starting characters. While his health isn't as high as Beat's and his tagging commands are the hardest of the three, he does earn the most points from tagging and can hold more cans. Use him if you're more experienced at the game.

Garam

 * To unlock: Clear Monster of Kogane, then complete his Showdown challenge.

As far as the early unlockable characters go, Garam is a solid choice. While he may be tougher than the three initial characters are and he can hold lots of cans, his tagging commands are more difficult. Take him for a spin if you feel you may take a few knocks and can handle the tougher commands.

Mew (Bis)

 * To unlock:
 * (Japanese) Clear Kogane Circus, then complete her Showdown challenge.
 * (International) Clear Benten Boogie, then complete her Showdown challenge.

While Mew may have lower health than Gum, she excels at tagging, despite her her somewhat more difficult commands. Her average can capacity and swiftness means she won't have to worry about her supply as often, and she'll have an easier time avoiding danger.

Yo-Yo

 * To unlock: Clear Noise Reduction, then complete his Showdown challenge.

Yo-Yo's something of a glass cannon; while he's fast and his tagging skills are pretty good, he has lower health and can't hold as many cans at once. Regardless, if you can avoid taking damage and keep your cans topped up, you'll be racking in the points with him by your side.

Cube

 * To unlock:
 * (Japanese) Clear Benten Boogie, then complete her Showdown challenge.
 * (International) Clear Love Attack, then complete her section of her and Combo's Showdown challenge.

Cube is a fairly good character, with her higher-than-average stats and can capacity, plus her easier tagging commands. She may have less health than Beat, but this goth chick's just as serviceable as a jill-of-all-trades choice.

Combo

 * To unlock:
 * (Japanese) Clear Shibuya GG, then complete his Showdown challenge.
 * (International) Clear Love Attack, then complete his and Cube's Showdown challenge.

Combo is one beefy dude, boasting the highest amount of health in the game. As a tradeoff, his tagging skills are somewhat weak, so bring him into dangerous levels if you're not feeling confident in your dodging skills.

Piranha (Sugar)

 * To unlock: Clear Explosion, then complete her Showdown challenge.

As one of the last recruits of an initial playthrough, Piranha's the hardiest of the female GGs, and has easier tagging commands, too. However, she's slower, can't hold many cans, and won't earn as much points from tags. She's a solid choice for the more enemy-ridden later levels of the game.

Slate (Soda)

 * To unlock: Clear Fight or Flight, then complete his Showdown challenge.

While Slate may arrive late in an initial playthrough, he does boast the highest can capacity of the GGs, ensuring you won't be making many detours to restock. However, he doesn't earn as much points from tagging as others do, so you'll want to seek out extra tags and perform tricks to make up for it.

DJ Professor K
The DJ of the pirate radio station, Jet Set Radio. He spreads the word of the streets and provides some sick beats, too.

Captain Onishima
The captain of the police force. He's willing to use whatever means necessary to stop the GGs from tagging up the streets of Tokyo-to.

Love Shockers
This all-female gang consists of broken-hearted young ladies that seek to return the pain they've experienced onto the streets of Shibuya.

Poison Jam
These horror movie enthusiasts prowl the suburbs of Kogane, causing mischief wherever they go dressed as their favorite slasher monsters.

Noise Tanks
The tech-wielding thugs of Benten, these fully-suited hooligans terrorize the nighttime streets with their science-based schemes.

Coin
A friend of Cube and Combo's. They flew to Tokyo-to all the way from Grind City for his sake.

Goji Rokkaku
The CEO of the corporate conglomerate known as the Rokkaku Group. Not much is known about this man, but it's rumored that he's looking for something to further his power.