From Sandover Village to Metal Head City, the Jak & Daxter games have taken us to many different locations over the years.
While there hasn’t been a recent entry, these PS2 and PSP games are worth venturing into. Those two PlayStation platforms are fondly remembered for a reason, and games like the Jak and Daxter series are definitely a part of the fond memories that many of us have from those wonderful times.
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy – 2001
2001 was the year this mascot platformer franchise kicked off, with Jak and Daxter teaming up to find a way to reverse the latter’s otter-like transformation
The Precursor Legacy is more light-hearted than future entries with vibrant graphics and a brighter tone in its script. One of the most impressive parts of the first game is that you can see previously explored areas in the distance. Therefore, it was a good showcase of what the newly-released PS2 could do.
Jak II – 2003
Inspired by the likes of Grand Theft Auto 3, this sequel to Jak & Daxter took on a darker tone. After entering a strange portal, Jak is captured and experimented on with dark eco for years. Daxter eventually breaks him free, and Jak swears vengeance on his captors. The protagonist looks older, potentially trying to make the series appeal more to older audiences. The script became a little edgier, too.
Haven City’s the main hub of the game as Jak and Daxter can explore the open area in vehicles, quite similar to GTA. It also introduces guns into the gameplay experience. One of my major complaints is that the checkpoints are too sparse. According to HowLongToBeat, it takes around 17 hours to finish the story, likely somewhat due to the bad checkpoint system.
Jak 3 – 2004
Developer Naughty Dog came out swinging with a sequel one year later. Man, it was amazing to have sequels released so quickly back then. This time Jak and our otter-like friend step into the desert landscape of the Wasteland. Instead of New Haven, the hub area is Spargus City. The game features new vehicles like dune buggies that players relished controlling. There are also animals, if you prefer that option.
Jak 3 had positive reviews when it was first released. IGN gave it a staggering 96/100 score. “Jak 3 offers a gamer just about everything,” said reviewer Ivan Sulic. “There are twelve interesting guns, four melee attacks, a dark Jak with melee and ranged attacks all his own, and a light Jak capable of shielding himself, flying, freezing time, and self healing.” Despite this game releasing just a year after Jak II, it added a lot of features into the mix.
Jak X – 2005
Jak X took racing to the extreme, yet kept the storyline of the series accelerating forward. Inspired by the likes of Mario Kart, Jak and his friends use items to defeat their foes in front of them and pass their position. Each of the race vehicles can be destroyed, and similar to the Burnout series, you’ll see the car parts flying all over. It’s an absolute rush to play this game, even to this day.
At the beginning of the game, Jak and his friends are poisoned by Krew. The only way to get the antidote is to win the Combat Racing Championship. What’s present is a funny script with the quips you’d expect from Jak & Daxter. Jak X is the final Jak & Daxter game developed by Naughty Dog, as the studio moved on to the blockbuster Uncharted series.
Daxter – 2006
Our animal companion Daxter starred in his own PSP game back in 2006. It tells the story of Daxter between the very beginning of Jak II and when he later freed his pal. This game was developed by Ready at Dawn, the studio that would go on to make The Order: 1886. Instead of Jak’s guns and kicks, Daxter uses an electric swatter to exterminate bugs.
During platforming segments, Daxter throttles a flamethrower to propel himself, which he’d also employ for combat. Similar to his human pal, Daxter rode vehicles to get around the city. The game was an impressive graphical showcase for the PSP at the time, releasing one year after the platform’s launch. It currently has a decent 85 MetaCritic score overall, ranking just above Jak 3, which is an impressive feat for a portable entry.
This is the only game not available to play on PS4 and PS5 in some shape or form. Hopefully, a port arrives for PlayStation Plus Premium members soon.
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier – 2009
PlayStation’s last effort with the duo is Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier, from High Impact Games, launching on both the PSP and PS2. It’s since joined the PlayStation Plus Premium retro games lineup. Instead of a hoverbike or a dune buggy, Jak pilots a battle ship. Daxter also turns into a strange dark eco monster that fires orbs towards his foes. He even spins like Crash Bandicoot, perhaps a reference to Naughty Dog’s origins.
Despite the new vehicle and Daxter transformation, The Lost Frontier returns to the similar platforming and third-person shooter hybrid gameplay you’d expect.
Unfortunately, The Lost Frontier is commonly known as the worst title in the series. It currently holds a 71 MetaCritic score, which is far lower than prior entries. “As you might expect from a new developer’s take on a series with such history, The Lost Frontier doesn’t feel essential,” said Game Informer’s review. “If you miss this game, you’re not going to be missing any major plot movements or character development in the Jak universe.”
Despite this game teasing another adventure, this series has become dormant ever since. Jak IV artwork was showcased in a special Limited Run Games offer, but the original studio Naughty Dog seems to have moved on from the series, which is a huge shame.
