The Dynamic Duo

By Daniel O'Loughlin

The Jak and Daxter Video Game Franchise consists of "Jak and Daxter"; "The Precursor Legacy"(2001), "Jak II"(2003) and "Jak 3"(2004). These three are the main titles in the series released on the Playstation 2. The vehicular combat game "Jak X:Combat Racing" is also on PS2. The Playstation Portable (PSP) had "Daxter" (2006), which I have a soft spot for. Then there’s the latest game in the series, "Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier"(2009) released on PS2 and PSP(Which is the worst out of the lot of them by a large margin). Functionally it’s fine but as a Jak and Daxter game it leaves a lot to be desired.

"Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy"(2001) is cut from the same cloth as the previously reviewed "Banjo-Kazooie"(1998). An enjoyable 3D Platformer but anyone expecting the sequel to be anything like that will be sorely disappointed. "Jak II"(2003) released to a great reception but also confusion. With the success of "Grand Theft Auto III" (2001) and the demand for Platformer games being at an all time low, the Games designer Jason Rubin made a decision to capitalise on this trend. He came up with the idea to redesign the game as an open world action game with mission structure and world design being similar to GTA. Gone are the colourful worlds and tone of the original however Jak’s moveset is virtually the exact same. Our Heroes get transported to the future at the start of "Jak II". Jak can now use Weapons in Haven City ruled by a totalitarian dictator Baron Praxis. One element of the original that remains consistent in the sequel is Daxter. Once a human in the original Jak, he falls into Dark Eco and turns into an Otter Weasel hybrid, an Otsell. The first games story was the duos journey to turn Daxter back and spoilers, he stays an Otsell. His comical one liners suited the tone of the original. However in the sequel Daxters humorous behaviour juxtaposes the oppressive atmosphere brilliantly.

"Jak 3", my favourite game in the series, starts with Jak being banished to the desert for his previous actions. “I’m only here cos you wouldn’t last a second without me” quips Daxter. Unlike "Jak II", the third game does not drastically change the gameplay but features a sprawling desert wasteland. The duo discover a settlement in the desert outside of Haven City, Spargus ruled by King Damas.

"Jak X and Daxter" are just as awesome and worthy of being in the series as the main trilogy. A reboot was nearly made for Playstation 3, but Naughty Dog, the game studio that developed the series, were unhappy with the direction and made "The Last of Us" (2013) instead. The pair’s return seems more unlikely with every passing day. Hopefully we can last more than a second without them.

Available on PS2, PS3, PSP, PSVita, and PS4.