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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Preview:       6th October 2003: Jak II: Renegade  We've played a special two level version to death. Is it good enough for that death to be justified? Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe Having played a special preview version of Jak II: Renegade (different to the demo available on the official PlayStation II magazine) we can now give you an idea of what to expect when the game is released in October. The version we were given features two distinct levels which are totally different to each other. The first is a 'protect and co operate' mission where you play alongside a bulkish assistant and the second is a hoverboard 'on the rails' affair. So the first level has you playing as Jak but being given instructions by the team mate, who is a large hulk with the stereotypical complexion of a videogame strong guy. As the actions are pretty straightforwards it is good to see that the graphics are up to scratch. The animation on all characters is very impressive and they have visible facial expressions that really add to the game's cartoon-like feel. It is refreshing in a third person game that the animation on all the characters is impressive; usually the player character is the standout feature in terms of visuals. The level itself is pretty well visualised too with no glitches as you leap from platforms as they move. The goal of the level is to defend your friend as he charges a gun long enough to fire at certain, distant enemies. This is as simple as it sounds; he freezes on the spot and remains still until he fires. If he is hit, he has to recharge his gun, so it is your job to protect him. Occasionally you must jump to grab and lower a platform, but otherwise the 'protect and serve' dynamics are maintained. This may sound repetitive, but the action gets more frantic as the level goes on and the settings change enough to maintain great entertainment. In other words, this is a great advert for the final game. The second level on the other hand is very poor. It's a hoverboard level where you must 'surf' to a destination by evading blades and leaping onto moving platforms. The controls are accurate and responsive but the dynamics of the surfing are very frustrating, a small miss of a bar and you fall to your end, prompting a restart of the whole level. There are moments in a half pipe too where you must get enough momentum to leap into another half pipe. Whilst this sounds great, in practice the camera loses track of the surrounding area so you can't really see where you need to go. This is very annoying and can take any amount of time to progress past. The leaping onto rails to grind on gets a little too much towards the end of the level causing a feeling of inconsistancy. Any young child would not really have the skill to complete this level and even an adult player will find it tedious and difficult. So overall there are two distinct games here, we just hope the better game rubs off on the poor game in time for release or else we will have a game that will simply be categorised as a 'rent it and 'level skip cheat' the poor levels'. Chris Barnett             Latest Images:		Related Games:  Jak II: Renegade for PlayStation 2  14  Screenshots  1  Preview Click here for All Game Information. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy for PlayStation 2  20  Screenshots  1  Review  1  Preview Click here for All Game Information.
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