Jak II
Score: 85% ESRB: Mature Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment America Developer: Naughty Dog Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action
Graphics & Sound: I don't think many people realize the long reaching influences of the original Jak and Daxter. Although it appears to be a simple platformer, the game not only allowed developers (and gamers) to see the true power of the PS2, but it also introduced gameplay elements that have become staples in many newer games. In fact, Jak and Daxter practically reinvented the platformer genre -- which is no small feat, especially when you consider this praise is usually reserved for companies like Nintendo. Large, expansive worlds (sorry GTA 3 fans, Jak had 'em first), no load times... you name it and Jak and Daxter probably had it first. With the sequel, it's clear that Naughty Dog was clearly trying to produce a genre-busting game. However, whereas Jak and Daxter influenced a wealth of games, Jak II returns the favor with mixed results. Graphically, Jak II picks up where Jak and Daxter left off and goes the distance. Big, bright expressive characters litter the game and make it an enjoyable visual experience. The worlds are bigger than the previous game and are teeming with lots of nice details. This carries over into nearly every aspect of the game and includes those 'fun' features graphic whores enjoy so much like slick lighting effects, day/night cycles and reflective metals. There are even a few neat effects that are thrown in. For example, when Jak is charged with Dark Eco and he steps in water, a few sparks shoot out. Best of all, this all comes with almost zero load times! Sound is on par with the graphics. Aside from the flawlessly delivered vocal work during cut scenes, the game's sound effects and music really fit with the game's tone. Of course, the gloomier, more adult tone is the more noticeable change between this game and it's predecessor. Yes, things aren't quite as 'Disney' this time around. Although the game doesn't become the orgy of blood, guts and sex its mature rating may signal, there are a few more 'adult' instances in the game such as certain female characters showing the tops of their thongs over their low-cut pants or the use of a few choice four letter words. But, this is really nothing you couldn't see or hear on primetime TV, so it's nothing to get too alarmed about.
Gameplay: Jak II opens up a few years after the original game. After a mishap with a Precursor jump gate, Jak and Daxter find themselves transported to another world. Jak is immediately arrested, for reasons unknown to him, while Daxter is able to escape. The game then jumps two years into the future where we discover that Jak has been the subject of numerous experiments. After escaping, Jak sets out on one mission -- to kill the Baron (the guy who subjected him to the experiments). This immediately sets that all-important 'Mature' tone for the game. As I said before, this isn't anything too extreme, but it's definitely a drastic change from the original. Most of the content comes in the form of language and innuendo (i.e., the Oracle's interpreter is a monkey/parrot named Pecker). The story is pretty adult in the sense that it's not some whimsical 'we need to save the world', it's more of 'I'm going to kill the baron.' Anyone expecting 'Mature' in the sense of GTA 3 won't find that here as it's more of a PG-13 type stuff rather than R. After completing the initial 'training' level, you're thrown out into a city. Like the worlds in GTA3 and the first Jak and Daxter, the play area is massive. This world serves as a hub area for the rest of the game, and plays in a style similar to Grand Theft Auto. While you're out in the world, Krimson Guards are walking all over the place trying to find you. For the most part, you blend in with the crowded city streets, but you're not completely safe. You have to make sure you don't attack anyone or steal anything in from of them, otherwise they gang up and chase you. You can steal any of the Zoomers that are in the city in order to travel faster. Similar to GTA, you also follow icons on the map that show you destinations. After talking to the people, you travel to the actual levels of the game. These areas are also giant. They start off small, but as you progress through the game and visit them multiple times, new paths open. These areas are pure platforming. The missions presented in these levels are pretty cool. Most have you rescuing people (or backing people up), but I also did one where I had to find turrets all over the power plant and shoot out 'metal eggs' that were sucking the power out of the core. There are also hoverboard areas, which either come in the form of giant skate parks or 'makeshift' skate areas in the levels -- which make the levels even bigger. There are also a bunch of mini-games. Most are delivery and checkpoint missions that unlock over the course of the game, but they soon expand to cover things like a skate park and a shooting range. You can also collect Precursor Orbs that unlock secrets. To be honest, the deeper I got into the game, the more disappointed I became with it. The game starts off with the fundamentals of the original -- big worlds to platform around. But it soon becomes less and less what the original was and more and more a hybrid of a bunch of other games. There are WAY too many GTA style checkpoint, delivery or escort missions. I'm also become increasingly aggravated with the Tony Hawk 'skater' levels; such as the one where Jak has 2 minutes to throw 6 bombs into reactors. The thing is you have to hit the quarter pipe just right and jump at the right time so Jak will throw the bomb in. This is frustrating beyond belief. This isn't what Jak and Daxter was about. It wasn't about checkpoint missions, deliveries or all the other assorted crap you have to do to extend the gameplay. Jak II is at its best during the platform missions (which are brilliant, in my opinion) and at its worse when it tries to be other games. I wanted to play Jak and Daxter II, not 'Jak Hawk's Grand Theft Pro Skater II.' It's cool that Naughty Dog tried something different, but I really think they left some of the first game's audience behind with the 'enhancements.'
Difficulty: This is the killer for the game, in my opinion. In the beginning it's a fun 'challenge'-type hard, but once you get about a third of the way in, the game gets hard just to become hard. Most of this is attributed to the floaty controls when driving. These cars certainly don't' stop on a dime. You turn, it glides for a few feet before stopping. You hit the brakes and it sort of stops, but then slow floats backwards. This becomes very aggravating during later missions where you have to pick up people since they won't get on while you're moving. This becomes frustrating because you have guards shooting at you the entire time, so you're a sitting duck. While there's certainly nothing you can't accomplish after some time, practice and Zen meditation -- the game is still a little too hard in some aspects. Thank the maker that you have unlimited lives, because you'll need every one of them.
Game Mechanics: Technically, Jak II is grand and refines many of the original's shortcomings-- with the exception of the aforementioned sloppy handling during driving levels. Everything you could do in the original you can do here. The newest addition to Jak's arsenal of moves is his 'Dark Eco' power. As you defeat enemies, you get dark eco crystals. Once you fill up the Dark Eco meter, you can press R2 and transform into Dark Jak. This is pretty cool -- all this electricity sparks around Jak and he kicks ass. You can also learn new moves by collecting these yellow stones and offering them to the Precursor Idol. Although comparisons can be made, the weapon system is different from that of Ratchet and Clank. You only get 4 guns, all of which are upgradeable. Unfortunately, this system isn't nearly as deep as the system found in Ratchet, making Jak II feel more like a sub-par shooter in these aspects. Maybe it's because I've come to expect more from platformers, but overall I didn't find Jak II to be anywhere near the experience Jak and Daxter was. Despite its excellence in most departments, the game lacks the charm found in the original and doesn't go beyond what is already offered by other games. Instead of forging new ground, Jak II looks to take successful formulas from other games and mix n' match them into an experience that is different, but featuring a 'poser' feel. To put it in other way, Jak II is like a girlfriend who looks fabulous and does all the right things, but at the same time is a phony who would rather wear the latest trendy designer outfits to impress other people instead of being herself.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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