My review of Jak 2 has become somewhat infamous around here; some people hating me for its “low” score, while others praising me for my honesty. Clocking in at 6.5, I’m still skeptical about whether or not I rated it too highly, but not as skeptical as I was about doing this review. The original Jak and Daxter still ranks as one of my favorite platform games of this generation. There was something special, something unique about it that saw me through from beginning to end and left me wanting more. Jak 2, however, took that originality and threw it straight out the window in favor of “me too” design, borrowing everything from Grand Theft Auto to George Orwell’s 1984. I was disgusted and mostly frustrated with its unforgiving, and often unfair gameplay. True, it still had Daxter’s charm and some nice features held over from the original, but its soul had been gutted in favor of trying to do too much of everything.

And now comes the million-dollar question: Does Jak 3 redeem the franchise and restore it to its former greatness? You would probably surmise from my score above that the answer is a resounding “YES!” But the real answer is a bit more complex. Jak 3 doesn’t bring the series back to what Jak and Daxter was. That game is long gone so just forget about it. Dark Jak is still here (goatee and all), as is the Mad Max-style of Jak 2. The game has still shunned most of its platforming ways in favor of a Jak of all trades format. Fortunately, this game is what Jak 2 should have been, had it been done right. There are still hair-pulling sequences, the platforming can be a bit clunky, as can the camera, but this game is just so much more polished and well put-together than its predecessor that it’s one of the shining gems of 2004.

Phew!



Let’s cover the big question first: has the overworld been fixed? Answer: yes. You’ll still do a lot of traveling in Jak 3, but in this case, it’s a good thing. Forget about the annoying cops in Jak 2 and the hideous controls of the hoverbike. Forget about traveling miles upon miles to get from one mission to the next. The pacing in Jak 3 has been completely upgraded, leaving us with a much more cohesive, much better presented game than before.

Next up are the missions. Still quite diverse in nature, you’ll find yourself racing, shooting, platforming, and more, and all back-to-back. In fact, it’s this diversity that actually keeps the game feeling fresh and challenging over the long haul, rather than disjointed and random. And the beauty of it is that it’s all done well. Gone are the cheap deaths and aggravating gameplay mechanics. When you die in Jak 3, chances will be that it’s because you need more practice. That’s not to say Jak 3 is without its faults. A few of the missions seem tedious and unnecessary, and there are also moments when the camera will become an issue, or Jak won’t do exactly what you want him to do. But these are quite few and far between.

The only mildly serious disappointment is the game’s length, or lack thereof. You’ll plow through Jak 3 in around 12 hours, which isn’t criminal, but a shame nevertheless - especially for a game this good. There are minigames and other diversions to keep you busy, but once you finish the main quest, chances are you won’t be inspired to pick it up again.



Visually, Jak 3 retains the post-apocalyptic look of Jak 2, but without the ugliness. Simply put, the game is enormous and can be showcased visually next to any game from any other console. The environments are incredibly detailed and gorgeous in design, bringing it to the level of Sly 2, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and other artistic masterpieces.

One area that the Jak series has never faltered is the audio and voice acting. Daxter has been, and remains to be, one of the most entertaining sidekicks in video games, rarely – if ever – annoying. Jak’s been exiled and left for dead in this game’s story, and the voice acting brings the story to life brilliantly. Great job!

It’s tough to express how relieved I am that this game doesn’t suck. And I say that with the utmost sincerity, despite my wording. When Sony sent the game over, Brendon, knowing of my hatred for Jak 2, gave me the stink-eye and said, “So, are you up for this?” Begrudgingly I gave it a chance, and am I ever glad that I did. Sony’s PS2 is without question the place to get your action/platform fix, and it’s thanks to games like Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, and once again Jak.




Article By: John