What was great for 2001 is still pleasant enough, but it's hardly a compelling argument that things were better back in the day. Though the interconnected level design with no loading separates it from other platformers of its time, polishing off the last few collectible scraps in any given level can turn laborious. Tinker around an ancient temple and you can activate a generator that powers plates throughout the neighbouring territories, granting access to new parts of the map. Help a fisherman haul in his quota and he'll give you access to his boat back at the village dock. The Precursor Legacy isn't terribly complex, but it manages to make what could be systematic scouring of environments enjoyable with a host of novel touches that gives its seamless landscape a cohesive, organic feel. It's like that Twilight Zone episode where all the people are half-pigs and the beautiful woman is considered hideous. Jak and his goat-people brethren look a bit off-putting, like the Gelflings in The Dark Crystal, whereas the hyper-adorable Daxter is frequently mocked for being ugly. Everything is a little too colourful, but this works in the game's favour as it looks playful and inviting, though the character design is generally unappealing. While the aesthetics are dated, there is a charm to its vibrant environments, which recall the heyday of Naughty Dog's Crash Bandicoot as well as Rare's Banjo Kazooie. They certainly didn't talk, and Jak instead expresses himself through dance, as was customary for the time.ĭaxter's smooth animations are as lovely today as they were a decade ago. ![]() This humble origin story hails from the days when platforming protagonists were expected to collect doodads and little else. Of all the games in this collection, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy shows its age the most - not just in terms of visuals (though its blocky character models do that), but in its design. Regardless of the lack of bells and whistles, remastering these games in 720p is still a significant visual upgrade of three of the most interesting platformers of the 21st century. For the most part, developer Mass Media Inc's reverence for Naughty Dog's originals works, but it would have been nice for them to add an option for subtitles in the first Jak and Daxter, or implement separate controls for first- and third-person aiming, as what's inverted in one perspective won't be in another. ![]() The grim, later Jak games relegated most of their platforming to isolated tombs, ruins and ancient temples, signifying the genre becoming something of a relic.Īs far as this HD upgrade for PS3 goes, it's a solid conversion with virtually no new content aside from trophies and 3D support. Naughty Dog's PlayStation 2 trilogy starts off with an innocent collect-a-thon about a boy and his furry friend saving the world, but quickly shifts to a darker tone with an industrial setting, plenty of gunplay and an over-world that shows a much stronger likeness to Grand Theft Auto than the Precursor Legacy. Sony is yet to announce a specific release date for each title.ĭo you have any nostalgia for Jak and Daxter? Let us know in the comments.In many ways, the Jak and Daxter series serves as a chronicle of the declining platformer. The games have aged pretty well, and will definitely be worth revisiting once they arrive on PS4 later this year. It’s unclear whether the trophies will be the same as those in 2012’s HD Collection on PS3 and PS Vita.ĭeveloped by Naughty Dog before they moved onto creating Uncharted and The Last of Us, Jak and Daxter marked one of the last times we’d see a charming platforming duo on consoles. Each title will be upscaled to 1080p along with support for trophies, cloud saves and remote play. The classics will all be available on PS4 later this year as digital downloads. Originally released on PS2 throughout the last decade, Naughty Dog’s Jak 1, Jak 2: Renegade, Jak 3 and Jak X: Combat Racing remain some of the console’s best experiences. All four original Jak and Daxter titles are coming to PS4 as PS2 classics later this year, Sony has announced.
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