Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is the result of game developer Naughty Dog starting a new franchise to take advantage of the PS2’s capabilities.
This game uses a very similar format to most “collectathon” platformers. And that's not a wholly bad thing. The Precursor Legacy uses the lessons of its predecessors to provide a well refined 3D platforming experience. The controls are responsive, the camera is mostly effective, and Jak has a variety of useful moves at his disposal. Backtracking is basically non-existent, and the quantity of collectables is kept to a reasonable level.
The closest thing to a unique mechanic is the eco power-ups. Using blue eco to activate things provides some interesting challenges, and yellow eco’s fireball shooting ability is useful, but strength-boosting red eco is sorely underutilised. Also of note is the A-Grav Zoomer, a vehicle that gets frequent use. It works well enough, but it’s odd how much emphasis is put on it.
One thing that really makes the game stand out, however, is its presentation. There’s plenty of impressive scenery as well as some interesting visual design. The (completely cosmetic) day/night cycle is a nice touch. And even better, there are no loading screens! This goes a long way to making the game feel like it takes place in one big, interconnected world.
The story is nothing to write home about, but it does its job at contextualising the game and is enjoyable to follow through to the end. At the very least there are some amusing character interactions. I would say that it’s unobtrusive, but all the cutscenes are unfortunately unskippable. Though I rarely feel the need to skip them myself, it sucks that there isn’t an option to do so.
If there's one problem you could accuse the game of having (aside from lack of originality), it's the fact that it’s so short and easy. Obtaining all the orbs and power cells provides some extra longevity, but it's still not the most daunting task in the world. I, however, consider these positive traits. I enjoy being able to just pop the game in and complete it to 100% over the course of weekend.
If you're looking for something deep and involved, this game isn't for you. But if you are just looking for some simple 3D platforming fun that’s all too rare these days, Jak and Daxter is definitely worth checking out.
Not hugely challenging or original, but enjoyable
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is the result of game developer Naughty Dog starting a new franchise to take advantage of the PS2’s capabilities.
This game uses a very similar format to most “collectathon” platformers. And that's not a wholly bad thing. The Precursor Legacy uses the lessons of its predecessors to provide a well refined 3D platforming experience. The controls are responsive, the camera is mostly effective, and Jak has a variety of useful moves at his disposal. Backtracking is basically non-existent, and the quantity of collectables is kept to a reasonable level.
The closest thing to a unique mechanic is the eco power-ups. Using blue eco to activate things provides some interesting challenges, and yellow eco’s fireball shooting ability is useful, but strength-boosting red eco is sorely underutilised. Also of note is the A-Grav Zoomer, a vehicle that gets frequent use. It works well enough, but it’s odd how much emphasis is put on it.
One thing that really makes the game stand out, however, is its presentation. There’s plenty of impressive scenery as well as some interesting visual design. The (completely cosmetic) day/night cycle is a nice touch. And even better, there are no loading screens! This goes a long way to making the game feel like it takes place in one big, interconnected world.
The story is nothing to write home about, but it does its job at contextualising the game and is enjoyable to follow through to the end. At the very least there are some amusing character interactions. I would say that it’s unobtrusive, but all the cutscenes are unfortunately unskippable. Though I rarely feel the need to skip them myself, it sucks that there isn’t an option to do so.
If there's one problem you could accuse the game of having (aside from lack of originality), it's the fact that it’s so short and easy. Obtaining all the orbs and power cells provides some extra longevity, but it's still not the most daunting task in the world. I, however, consider these positive traits. I enjoy being able to just pop the game in and complete it to 100% over the course of weekend.
If you're looking for something deep and involved, this game isn't for you. But if you are just looking for some simple 3D platforming fun that’s all too rare these days, Jak and Daxter is definitely worth checking out.