When one recounts their favorite PS2 exclusive games and franchises, Jak and Daxter nearly always makes the list. It is safe to assume that most, if not all, PS2 owners were at least aware of the franchise. Naughty Dog, after their success with the Crash Bandicoot franchise, once again, established a platforming/adventure franchise, destined to cement itself in the nostalgia zeitgeist. Existing along the Sly, Ratchet, and Clank, Jak and Daxter cemented themselves as sixth generation mascots of Sony. While the majority of critics, as well as myself, always found the Ratchet and Clank franchise to be superior, Jak and Daxter are undoubtedly classics of their genre and are certainly worthy of an HD makeover. Thankfully this is done with the care and attention that the trilogy deserves, bringing the games to a new generation of young gamers and preserving them for years to come.
Firstly, lets discuss the technical aspects of this remastering. There are a scant few technical hiccups to recount. During my playthrough, two times near the end of Jak 2, there were instances were a character model’s face went completely black (insert tasteless minstrel show joke here). Upon repeated playthroughs this did not occur again. Likely, the glitch was brought on by extended play. Other than that, each game runs perfectly, maintaining a permanent 60 frames per second, combined with crystal clear 720P. This allows the player to appreciate the rich, organic nature of these games even more than before. There still exists some environmental “pop up,” standard by last gen engines. There was little that Mass Media could do to remedy this. Luckily it’s not prevalent to the point where it ruins the experience.
Overall, the game is a technically solid HD remake, but how do the games themeslves hold up, after all these years? Like all games, certain aspects will stand the test of time, while others do not. Every game on the collection ages, at the very least, adequately, some more gracefully than others.
Jak and Daxter: the precursor legacy, as a PS2 launch title, perfectly demonstrated the leap in standards from one generation to the next, especially for the platforming genre. It actually beat Mario sunshine to the punch in this regard, and, in this reviewer’s humble opinion, did a much better job demonstrating what a sixth gen platformer could deliver. Its streamlined level design and lack of visible load times are still impressive today. Naughty Dog took full advantage of their new graphical tools, and added numerous subtle organic elements, in order to make the environments “breathe.” Even playing the non HD version of the game, while looking somewhat primitive, it never feels sterile or empty. Thanks to the glossy HD makeover, one could almost fool someone into thinking they are playing an early current generation game. The game is filled with platforming puzzles and challenges, most of which are still fun today. The only prevalent gameplay issue is that the camera is not flexible in the upward and downward directions. This leads to a lot of unnecessary, cheap deaths, especially near the end of the game, as you can’t see what is below you. Other than that, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Jak 2 is often considered to be the best of the franchise. While I don’t necessarily agree, I do deeply respect the game, as it is one of the boldest stylistic changes that any such franchise has undergone. Jak 2 takes the cartooney, lovable world of the previous game, and morphs it into a dark, dystopian, future, rife with corruption and turmoil. Despite all this, it is still easy to believe Jak 2’s canon is compatible with the previous game, as it is thoroughly explained throughout the game. The character of Jak is finally given a voice, some genuine character motivations, and development. The story is much more pervasive in this entry and it throws out enough plot twists to keep it interesting. Of course, stylistic and storytelling changes are not the only fresh aspects of Jak 2. The gameplay also takes a whole new angle. It keeps the controls virtually the same, while introducing firearms into the mix, as well as a rampaging “dark Jak” mode. Instead of being divided into worlds, the game mostly takes place in the enormous, dystopian “Haven City,” with numerous areas divided off from it. The city is bustling, night and day, with the movement of civilians and crimson guard patrols. The player can hijack civilian vehicles at will, and set off full scale alerts if they directly antagonize law enforcement officials. In this way, it is similar to Grand Theft Auto, but this is where any direct congruencies end. Metro gamecentral went so far as dismissing the entire game as a GTA rip-off. To call that an unfair criticism is an understatement, as the game shares virtually zero similarities to GTA in art style, gameplay mechanics, story, gunplay, level design, or tone. That isn’t to say that Jak 2 is without flaws. Like in the previous game, the camera is restricted from looking up and down, something that still baffles me to this day. There is no way to strafe, inexorably making the gunplay inferior to the Ratchet and Clank games. Also, the game has too much of a reliance on “time limit” missions. The game is crushingly difficult at times and not always in the most legitimate, fair ways. The distance between checkpoints borderlines on sadism, an issue that is thankfully remedied in the next game. Overall, Jak 2 is a flawed gem. It is a game whose ambition is offset by a few flaws. These balance out putting it on an equal or slightly greater footing than the first game.
Jak 2 was Naughty Dog’s most ambitious endeavor yet, but it left space to improve. That is where Jak 3 comes in. Ironing out Jak 2’s flaws, Jak 3 is what I consider to be the best of the franchise. It makes improvements in virtually every single way. The number of guns in the game is tripled, and there is an addition of “light Jak” powers. In addition to the updated arsenal, the game also offers much more in depth weapon upgrading, allowing the players to do side missions in order to bolster their stats. The scope of the world is vastly expanded, offering a vast desert to explore, a desert city, along with the now war-torn Haven City. The issue of checkpoints is remedied and there are notably fewer frustrating challenges, though the difficulty of the series is still intact. Jak 3 is a prime example of taking a formula and making it bigger and better. It still lacks the mechanic of strafing and, once again, vertical camera movement, but it is a lot easier to overlook in this case. Of all the games in the series, this one ages the most gracefully and is still what I consider to be the best entry.
The Jak and Daxter collection is certainly among the better HD remakes on the market. It is obviously a “must own” for any fan of the franchise as it updates and polishes the games to a satisfactory degree. It also stands to reason that if someone is curious about the franchise, this is the version they should purchase, as opposed to the original versions. At 30+ hours between the 3 games, this collection is definitely one of the best packages available on the PS3 so far this year. It isn’t quite in the same ballpark as the God of War, Team Ico, or Sly Cooper collections, but it is in the same league.
9/10
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