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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		Review:       14th November 2003: Jak II: Renegade  Has Jak II got what it takes to better the first game? It certainly has, and more... Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe Jak and Daxter was one of the defining elements in the shaping of the PlayStation 2 as a balanced games platform. The console needed a platformer to rival Mario; one that appealed to both adults and kids, one that could be played by all. And it got one, not as good as Mario Sunshine but certainly more accessible to the average gamer (some of those later tasks in Mario made us pull several of our teeth out, not to mention what we did to the dog). And despite the original Jak game being so good (both critically and commercially) it has never been surpassed on the PlayStation 2. Ratchet and Clank is probably as good, but not better and all the other imitation platform games are not in the same class (in terms of the overall game, not individual parts). So for the sequel, Jak II: Renegade, developer Naughty Dog has had to beat itself at, quite literally, it's own game. Instead of taking the easy option and simply updating the graphics of the original and adding new levels, Naughty Dog has reworked the very structure of the game, making Jak II one of the most varied games we have played in recent times. To give you an idea of what to expect, the game has; hoverboard sections (that play like a skateboard game), shooting sections (that play like a third person shooter), platform sections, first person sections (that are on-the-rails), vehicle sections, character conversation sections and exploration sections. These elements give the game one of the strangest feels we have ever encountered, nothing like we had come to expect. And we were even more surprised when we found that the core of the game is a 'Grand Theft Auto' style hub where you must steal vehicles and talk to people for missions. The story is very simple yet involving, as it advances logically as you progress through the game. It focuses on the rescue of Jak (from a research facility) by Daxter. Whilst he was captured, Jak had experiments performed on him where evil was exposed to him, causing him to look a little meaner overall and to gain the ability to turn into a 'demon' version of himself when he collects enough dark energy (dropped by defeated enemies). All Jak and Daxter want to do is get revenge for the capture and to free all the people of their land of the evil leaders responsible. This takes a few twists and turns as the game progresses; aided by some of the best-cut scenes we have ever seen. The quality of the cut scenes is often a bad point in games, especially platform games, but here they really do work. The facial expressions and body movements of the characters are spot on, to the extent that at times you actually feel emotion for them (without spoiling too much, there is a love story undertone that is rather involving). The varied characters are also far removed from what has become the standard for cartoon action games; the characters here look more like those out of a gothic-horror-sci-fi movie. The cut scenes are not the only spectacle either as the in game visuals are impressive too. The character models are very well done and effects such as wind and rain are noticeable in a cinematography type way. Especially impressive is a night-to-day progression where levels can take place at varying times (as in GTA). Whilst this is simply cosmetic in most games, here it serves to give the game an air of consistency. That is, it feels like an interactive (hyperactive!) cartoon. Since the game is a collection of various genres you would be forgiven for thinking that it could not fail to be one of the best games on the PlayStation 2. But this would be a wrong assumption as the games main problem lies with its variety. To illustrate, a gamer that loves platform games will probably not like stunt action games in the same way (even if you like both there will certainly be favouritism). Quite simply put, developers should NOT assume that gamers will like all genres; you would not play a puzzle game and expect a first person section to suddenly pop up, but the diversity in Jak II is not far from this analogy. The problem areas are the stunt sections, which too often become trial and error, and the exploration (read: GTA) sections, where getting from A to B is made tedious by the impossibility of avoiding vehicles and pedestrians whilst doing so. The stunt sections are impressive to begin with and appear to play smoothly (the controls have been improved over the trial version we played), but they end so easily. A simple miss timed jump will result in a whole section needing to be replayed, and moving platforms create a trial and error dynamic. The best analogy for how annoying this is can be given by comparing it to one of those wire and buzzer games at a carnival (those ones where you guide a metal ring). Imagine reaching the near-end only to be buzzed and forced to go back to the very start. And no, the start is not 10 centimetres away, but (on the later levels) 100 metres or so. But to call up such pessimism may be unfair as we were never great at stunt games anyway. And the reason we are so forgiving is that the platform and shooting sections are quite brilliant. The controls are spot on and the fluid feel of the jumping is as good as any game we have ever played (not like the dodgy Tomb Raider jumping that is as reliable as the bus service). In addition to the controls, the missions are also well thought out and varied. They change from 'team work' (where you must protect and work with a friend) to 'find and destroy' and hint on 'blast everything' along the way. Such variety gives the game plenty of room for expansion and you never know what to expect next (especially as the story is so thought provoking and varied). This is very rare in games today as it actually gives an air of excitement about what could come next. You never know what the developers have for you next. So the overall impression that we must get from all of this is one of varied satisfaction. The game is certainly the best platformer on the PlayStation 2 and one of the best we have ever played. It is also one of the strangest collections of genres that you will ever see. Despite some of the sections being a little tedious, remember that every work of art has imperfections (films have boring bits, books have dead wood parts and music albums have weaker tracks), and the good sections are worth endurance when they are this good. Chris Barnett             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  A true definition of a flawed classic, but the word flawed should be whistpered and the classic shouted. Stylish and varied, everything a game should be.  Related Games:  Jak II: Renegade for PlayStation 2  24  Screenshots  1  Review  1  Preview Click here for All Game Information.
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