Overview

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Review

Release Date: 10.14.2003
Platform: PlayStation 2
Developer: Naughty Dog, Inc.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Reviewed by Wade Monnig on 10.31.2003

Review Rating: 9/10

User Rating: 8.29/10

It takes more than just slapping a goatee on the main character to make a more “grown up” Jak. However, a little facial hair isn’t the cause of a more mature Jak but more of an effect. It’s Naughty Dog’s way of saying “Hey, we won’t be holding your hand throughout this adventure, Jak has been forced to grow up and it’s about time you did too.”

A darker world requires a darker Jak and, more importantly, it gives Naughty Dog a good excuse to break out the big guns…literally. Head bopping and Daxter-slapping enemies may have cut it on Misty Island but sometimes you need to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and there isn’t any room for sickly sweet bubblegum in Jak II’s Haven City.

One of the deceptive things about Jak II is that it uncoils over the entire expanse of the adventure. The game begins with Jak being captured and pumped full of Dark Eco. While Dark Eco may have made Daxter all cute, orange and fuzzy, it corrupts Jak into what is essentially a menacing smart bomb of power that is ready to go nuclear. After finally being set free by Daxter, Jak departs on a mission that isn’t even close to a Save-the-Princess-type quest – It is simple revenge and it’s a dish best served dark. Still, for the first few levels, the only new weapon in Jak’s arsenal is the ability to “Eco-Out” and destroy everything in his vicinity. Even the abilities you do come across early on in the adventure – like the ability to “Jak” vehicles – aren’t fleshed out until later in the game. Playing for only a few hours could lead players to dismiss Jak II as just another platformer but the slow, steady introduction on the new elements makes for exceptional play balance and gives players an ample chance to master the new additions.

Even with its new, darker look, Jak II is still filled with its humorous moments, courtesy of (or at the expense of) Daxter. The humor pokes fun at platformer conventions “Hey Jak, maybe he’s mute…like you used to be?” and, despite the Teen rating, keeps it subtle enough that it never really borders on anything that could be considered mature. The story itself is solid but much of the plot is pretty transparent. Of course, I’m one of those guys who annoy his friends by guessing the ending of the movie after the first ten minutes of the film, so maybe it’s just me.

While adding plenty of new generation abilities (hover boarding, a cool selection of weapons), Jak II keeps it real with some traditional old school difficulty. Has everyone forgotten what it’s like to replay a level 5 or 6 times in order to get past it? Well, Naughty Dog isn’t spoon feeding you cakewalk levels this time around: They're jamming the spoon down your throat and, hey, if you choke, step back and take another bite. Much has been made about the Grand Theft Auto aspects of Jak II but the one page Jak II has taken from GTA that people seem to overlook is the that levels have multiple ways to complete them. If you are having a problem completing a level, change your tactics. The problem can be as simple as not using the right weapon or not using it correctly. More importantly, most levels can be beat by using a number of different strategies. For instance: If you are having problems with a flying level, try a little “Bump and Run”: Slam into the back of slow moving traffic and, at the moment of impact, press Triangle to leap from your zoomer and, when directly over the zoomer you just rear ended, press Triangle again to toss the driver from vehicle. Ta-da! You now have a virtually unscathed zoomer and a one-car buffer between you and your pursuers. And don’t forget to use your weapons while flying. Nothing says “Excuse me, I need through here” like a well-placed shotgun blast.

Jak II isn’t perfect; the addition of the new weapons and vehicles only accents the dreaded “3D Platformer Camera Syndrome.” While you won’t find yourself fighting the camera to get the proper angle - the Jak II camera is pretty passive - on more than one occasion it caused unseen death to lay it’s finger upon me. Also, the lack of plentiful check points throughout the levels means that an untimely demise just before reaching a boss encounter or cut-scene requires a lengthy replay.

Naughty Dog has once again proved themselves the Beatles of the videogame industry. They are not afraid to try something new, bringing in influences from all over, while still giving gamer’s unerring quality.

Box art