staticsaber

Some heroes just can't get a break, huh? While they may have busted their asses off to save the city a year back, that don't mean the fighting is going to end. A huge battle breaks out some time after the events of the last game and most of Haven City is destroyed in the process, and guess who gets pinned with the blame? You guessed it! Our hero Jak has been cast into the deserted wasteland outside the City's walls and joined by loyal friend Daxter (Pecker the monkey/bird was instructed to go) they manage to stay alive long enough to be picked up by the people who have created refuge in the unforgiving desert land and the leader (INSERT NAME) has given the duo a chance to join their city and try to survive the fighting arena for for the sake of proving their worth. He has no idea who he's messing with.

So after making some new friends, you eventually gain more access to the world around you (mainly the desert wasteland), meaning a lot of vehicle riding and searching for crap. Over time, you learn the Metal Heads attacking the city are being run by an old pal who's dying to settle a score with Jak. Now, once again, the world is in danger and Haven city needs his help. Well, looks like it's back to the saving the world crap.

Don't expect a huge leap in game play changes. While new areas, vehicles and some new upgrades are presented, those who played Jak II will feel right at home here. Though, there is one major change to the game itself that most players will be thankful for. The people behind the series got word that the last one was too tough (they even congratulate those who got by in one of the hidden features) and decided to give mercy upon us by knocking down the difficulty a little. Check points throughout missions are more common, no more army's of enemy's ganging up on you (much), and even if things still seem tough you got some beautiful new moves that not only are vital to continue the game, but are great little things to help you out when you need help most. First the gun upgrades. Remember the Scatter Gun, the Blaster Weapon, the Vulcan Fury, and the Peace Maker? Though they are still your best friends throughout, never have they been more helpful. Now each one can be upgraded a number of times and depending on which you use you can send out a more powerful blast, beams that bounce all over the place, or, my favorite, a little flying disk that goes ballistic and shoots up anything in its path. Without these upgrades, the game could have been as tough as the last.

The second little upgrade is the ability to summon Light Jak. While Dark Jak is still here, ready to kick butt when ready, Light Jak is here to even out the darkness in Jak making him a being of both yin and yang. While Dark Jak is a killing machine, Light Jak creates shields, flies, slows down time, and, the most helpful of all, heals himself. Other helpful changes include much easier areas to navigate. While the new city you live in may not be as large as Haven City, it makes up for it with its large open desert. Hell, even Haven City, while different due to the effects on the war, is far more easier to fly through without bumping into every little thing. Even the guards don't suck as much as the ones in the last one.

Now so far this seems like a great follow up to the prequels. More action, bigger world, easier then the last without losing the toughness, more powers, and more of the story telling that made the series a hit in the first place. But, of course when the creators went about fixing whatever problems the last two had, a few more were thrown into the mix. For starters, the game is more about the shooting and riding aspects of the series, and the moments where you get to run around and jump and hit like old times are still there, but not nearly as often. Another is the bosses. While whatever ones there were throughout may have been pretty creative, there where just far to few, and whatever ones there were, mostly involved you fighting from long distance rather than fighting head to head. Hell, some of them you don't even get to hit yourself. Then lastly we have the main bad guy Errol, while this is more an artistic criticize rather than a real complaint, the artistic department really went all out with him and his new design, after what Jak did to him in the last game, but you never see him that much throughout the game and whenever you do his character seems... basic. But hey, thats just me. Not a single reason you should avoid the game, just wanted to give my opinion on what I thought of it.

So, all around this is a pretty good "final" chapter to the series. Whatever problems that appeared in the the previous stories have been worked out without taking away from the overall challenge. A fun play, and even after you beat the game you can unlock the extra material it has to offer, which include fun game options like big head mode or unlimited ammo, hidden shooting galleries, and even commentaries on the cut-scenes, artwork, character sheets and more. Highly recommended.

9/10 A great step forward, should have been longer though.

Jak II

A game that has drove many gamers mad, including myself. Not because it sucked. Not because it could have been better. No. If anything, this would probably be one of my all time favorites, but the fact I may kill myself in anger some day from the unfair level difficultly makes me skeptical about playing it again.

This one takes places shortly after the events of the first game, Keira has got the mysterious Precurser Rift Gate working and her, Jak, Daxter, and Samos travel into it. Though after take off in the vehicle, everyone's separated leaving, Jak and Daxter alone in an area unknown to them that resembles a broken city with its residents being watched over by guards. But before they have a chance to check it out, Jak's is knocked out and taken away by Errol and Baron Praxis, two new villains in the game. For two years, the men pump a chemical known as Dark eco into Jak, which at first does nothing, but eventually gives Jak some new powers. With the help of Daxter, the two break out of the jail cell and enter their new home, known as Haven City. Eventually they have to team up with a gang, work as a double agent for weapon supporter Krew, and through out try to find their friends and find a way to get out of this crap hole called home. Guess its not as harmless and cute as the first one, eh?

As game play goes, this is just like the first one. Jak moves the same, fights the same, but now he's supported with a new alter ego created from the Dark Eco, Dark Jak, who, for a short time, has the ability to go on unstoppable killing sprees and as the game progresses you can upgrade his ability's to the point where he is truly invincible. But thats not all Jak II has in store. Now, with a badder look and attitude, and even a tough voice (Jak finally speaks!), the game really shows off a more mature look game play wise. As you continue working for one of the leaders of the gang, Thorn, and as you continue doing jobs for Krew, they begin to trust you and give you access to weapons, four to be exact: The Scatter Gun, the Blaster Weapon, the Vulcan Fury, and the Peace Maker, all of which save your ass more times than you care to think about what with the difficulty spikes. But thats not all. The developers behind this sequel switched the Mario 64 like platform areas in the first game for a Grand Theft Auto style layout with missions that involve you going through platform and shooting stages, as well as have you stealing cars for item drop offs and even go through some races here and there. And if you want to kill some time, later on in the game you get yourself a hover board that you can surf around on all over the city and pull of tricks and even play a few mini games. Or for the ultimate time waster, go on a fetch quest for golden orbs to unlock hidden crap, from big head modes, art galleries, and even a hero mode (which I know better than not to play).

It sounds wonderful so far, right? Great level design, wonderful characters (even with a new voice to show off, Jak still has Daxter to speak for him... even when he doesn't want him to), and an epic plot that makes this game a must to all PS2 owners. But why, for the love of God is it so hard? I still don't know how I got through it, but you can bet I'm not gonna spend my time unlocking everything. I'll kill myself. The unfair difficulty comes from all the opponents. Everyone is out to freaking kill you, considering just about all of them are armed with a gun and unlimited ammo, so you better keep your distance and thank the designers for giving you mercy and giving you a bloody gun. And don't forget about the guards all over Haven City. If you have to pull off a race or drive a cargo of something or another to a far off destination in the city's boundary's, watch out for the damned Krimzon guards because one tap in the head, and they got the whole f**king force after you. Staying above ground (hover cars, nice huh?) just to get away from them won't help either, what with the constant guards flying by here and there is just as bad, only worse because they can get you cornered and confused in mid-air, so its advised to stay on ground and, if you can help it, get yourself a smaller car to pull off easier moves with.

So, aside from the tough level designs, this is truly a great game that you should check out, that is if your not one to chuck a controller out the window in anger.

And to all of you who finished it with no problem... HOW?!? That's all I ask. Great game, hard as hell. 8.5/10