One of the best platformers on PS2
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, the first game in Naughty Dog's platforming action-adventure series, is a brilliant refinement of the Super Mario 64 3D platforming formula. It takes concepts made famous by Mario 64 and successfully brings them over to the PS2 without copying it wholesale.
Loved:
Buttery-Smooth Gameplay: At the time of its release Jak and Daxter wasn't a particularly innovative game, in fact the 3D platforming genre had been pretty worn down. However, even back then you couldn't deny that is was one of the best 3D platformers of its time. The smooth and great looking animations kept the game moving at a brisk pace, while the controls helped ground it in conventions of past games like Banjo-Kazooie and Mario 64. Couple that with tons of collectibles, amazing driving sequences, and well-done and fluid combat with some great shooting sequences peppered in and you've got one of the best 3D platformers ever.
Art-Style and Graphics: As I said above the animations in this game are very smooth, but it's the ability of these animations to look good while being so smooth that makes them so noteworthy. The art style is a big part of how this all works. Like a great animated film, the game has an amazing ability to make me believe that these characters are agile enough to land me that next Power Cell. I also really like said power cell's design, plus the Precursor Orbs, the Scout fly's, and Eco variants all are distinct enough to make collecting them a joy.
Sense of Humor: The Green Eco Sage and Daxter's banter is priceless in this game. Even when they're apart or not talking to each other at the moment the game always finds someway to make me laugh. Whether the Green Sage is commenting on the magnitude of the Blue Eco Sage's last “party”, or Daxter is angrily reprimanding you for dying. This game makes a great case for licensced video game adaptations of animated films.
Mission Variety: Hey, you know all those comparisons to Mario 64 I've been making? Well, it all stops here, because this is where Jak and Daxter really finds its own unique stride. Instead of straight platforming all the time, you get to change it up quite frequently. Tired of going to collect Precursor Orbs to buy some Power Cells from an ancient artifact? Go to the fields and save the crops from pollution by Dark Eco with a hover-scooter. Scooter getting you down? Go and enjoy yourself an arena combat mission or turret defense scenario. No matter what you'll be doing, though, it all ends up being fun without being monotonous.
Hated:
Its Derivative Nature: While Jak and Daxter is one of my favorite platformers of the last generation, it is indeed a Mario 64 clone. You're still collecting “stars” to open up the next “door” to the next “picture frame”. Just change out all the words in quotes from the last sentence and put in the words “Power Cell”, “Portal”, “<name of level>” (for example Forbidden Jungle or Misty Island). It would almost be disappointing that such an interesting world didn't get an interesting game design to back it up if it weren't for the different types of gameply stated above.
Conclusion:
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is a great example of a console generation gap game done right. It takes tried and true gameplay concepts from the previous generation and brings them into the new generation as polished as can be. Risking a derivative nature, Jak and Daxter easily sets itself apart from others in the genre, what with its variety of missions and strength of its story, setting, and characters. If you ever wondered what the house that built Nathan Drake was up to on the PS2, you definitely should give this game a try.
