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Sensational

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: October 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Jak 2, sequel to Naughty Dog's Jak and Daxter (Naughty Dog, of course, being the creators of the famous Crash Bandicoot) from a few years ago, is simply a great game. Everything from its level design to its voice acting to its art direction is simply top-notch. Clearly a huge amount of love and time has been put into making this game the experience it is.
There are many who would compare Jak 2 with Grand Theft Auto. I think this comparison is completely unfair. Yes, Jak 2 does borrow a number of game elements from GTA. Most notably the use of a mini-map and mission system will be familiar to anyone who played the GTA games. However, these features were not original to GTA, but were simply refined in GTA. And, in fact, in Jak 2, these features are further refined. Also, there is a long history of "borrowing" in platformers (the most obvious example is last year's wildly successful and fun Ratchet and Clank which was in many ways a Greatest Hits Album, compiling the greatest moments from the greatest platformers over the last ten years and throwing some guns in), and, in fact, Jak is being creative to actually borrow from outside the genre.
Actually, its unfair to even spend so much time discussing these features because, quite frankly, they're minor aspects of an enormously more impressive game. Jak 2 adds a number of new features to the original game including a gritty, futuristic setting, the aforementioned GTA aspects, a hoverboard, and guns. Miraculously, all this other stuff does not keep it from being a great platformer. In fact, it makes Jak 2 even better and more sophisticated than its predecessor. Its many missions are relatively short, giving you just enough time to enjoy the action without getting tired of doing the same thing over and over again (fans of the original game may remember the snow level...), but never making you feel cheated. They're perfectly bite-sized, giving you just the right amount of everything.

Finally, Jak 2 is probably the most artistically accomplished game in recent years. The world Naughty Dog has created is so beautifully constructed and conceived that, even if you're just looking to blow away some bad guys, you won't be able to not stop and stare at some of the amazing sights. Naughty Dog's attention to detail is astonishing and even if you're stuck on the same mission, its hard to get frustrated because the game is so gorgeously built.
Thanks Naughty Dog! Gamers owe you!

This Game is Huge

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: October 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing JakII for over 15 hours and I'm barely 50% complete! Everything about this game is amazing... from the graphics, to the story, to the incredible variety of things to do. Jak now has Dark Powers he can use, weapons, a hoverboard, and a huge city to explore. This is a must have for all PlayStation2 owners and if you don't have a PS2 you should buy one just to play this game!

Just not fun

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 20
Date: October 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Well...as a big fan of J&D, I figured I'd love JakII. After all, I also enjoy GTAIII. The gameplay of JakII is fine, although more than a bit frustrating at times, especially when you are almost at the end of a section and die, and it sends you all the way back to the beginning. The hover cars are too difficult to manuver, and the controls are confusing to say the least.

My biggest problem with Jak II is, to put it simply, the game isn't fun. Between the frustration, and the dark aura, it's simply not worth the price. If I want gritty realism, I'll drive up to Chicago. I miss the tropical atmosphere. Also, this new, edgier Jak just doesn't fit with Daxter. I keep wondering when Jak is going to pound the furball into the ground for his smart mouth. At least, in J&D, you knew why Jak put up with him, and the duo was a good match.

I'll pass on buying this one. I'd rather get a game where I can have fun.

Unique and unexpected (and pretty difficult)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: March 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

While this game is a sequel to "Jak and Daxter", there really are few similarities between the two. The first game was a pretty kid-friendly platform game where you walked around colorful islands and boards collecting orbs. It was a fun game, but didn't really have much of an edge. I guess you could compare the feel of that game to Crash Bandicoot.

Jak 2, on the other hand, offers a much different approach. After being tortured and experimented upon for 2 years, Jak escapes a castle within a dark city. In order to get revenge, he joins the underground rebellion in hopes of overthrowing the evil Baron.

I'm about halfway through the game, and I can tell you I'm surprised at how difficult some of the early missions were. For example, one of the first few mission has you being chased by a security tank, and it definitely takes a few tries to get it. Other boards were tough because if you get killed halfway through, you have to go back to the beginning, which can get frustrating.

To me, the most annoying part of the game is driving the hovercrafts around the city (I think this is where the game gets compared to Grand Theft Auto). The difference is that in GTA, driving is part of the game and integral to many missions. However here, most of the time you're just driving to the spot where the mission begins, so there's really no point in having to spend 3 minutes to get to the next board.

So, overall...great game visually, definitely challenging to play, very different from the original. However, driving around the city is tedious and kind of annoying.

Gah! Annoying!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: November 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I couldn`t wait to play this game because I had so much fun with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. The only pluses in this game are the fact that the graphics are good and Daxter is usually pretty funny. Unfortunately, for the most part I am very disappointed with this game! For one thing, I can`t stand hearing all these unnecessary swear words! Also, most of the time you are in a scrubby city with a ton of traffic and if you bump into a guard, tons of other guards start coming and shooting you. It is really annoying! I love a good challenge, but it seems like all you ever do is race or complete stupid goals that are timed. Then there are the scantily clad women on posters around the city and as characters. In one instance there is a close up of a lady`s chest (another character is looking at them)! It was more than I could stand. I am only like half way through the game and stopped playing it. One of my other siblings won it and the ending is pretty good, but it`s not worth the hassle it takes to get there. If you want to play a really cool game, don`t play this one. Try Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy or Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy. Trust me on this one.

It rocks the house

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: October 12, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The best platform game I have ever played. Its so HUGE! Jak and Daxter rock the house-its fun challanging and got the BEST graphics on the PS2 to date!

This is my favorite game of the year for sure...the spider chase was awesome! And the cable to the palace level...you have to see it to understand how great it really is.

An intense experience!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: October 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Jak has been held captive for 2 years, he's mad and out for revenge. Jak can steal hover vehicles from anyone even the Crimson Guard (pretty much nothing but police with high tech gear). Jak can obtain weapons now and explore huge environments. If you liked Jak and Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet and Clank, heck even the GTA series I'm sure this game is right up your alley. Plenty of surprises and betrayal in this beautiful game. If I could I wouldn't leave my PS2 until I beat it but that isn't going to happen:( If you have any questions e-mail me my e-mail address is Burnout44129@yahoo.com

These people are being way to harsh, try it you'll like it, like I said e-mail me for some more details.

ONE MAJOR STEP BACKWARDS!!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 15
Date: November 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Jak and Dexter was a darn good platform game. It was encompassing, awe inspiring, it had varied levels, it was pretty non-linear, the levels were lengthy yet doable. It was basically a fun all around game. So Jak 2 comes out, and they made a lot of changes, all for the worse.

First off, I guess the marketing folks told the developers to emulate Grand Theft Auto 3. Let me tell you, this does not work. GTA had a living-breathing city that fit into the environment. What does Jak 2 have? It was a non-descript closed off city with hardly anything in it. The worst is the movement throughout the city. To go to a different a different part of the city, you need take this horrible "hover vehicle" that apparently can't hover beyond "up" or "down". The movements of this vehicle are sluggish, slow, and uncontrollable, and the vehicle itself doesn't possess any subtlety. Couple this with the fact that all the missions are clear cross the city, and the alleyways are small, and you've got one boring, annoying game. I passed maybe 10 levels, and most of my time was spent hovering between those levels.

Secondly, in GTA fashion, they decided to make it "gritty". Oh geez, give me a break. Who was begging for a cartoon platformer to be gritty? Why does Jak need to cuss? I don't mind it, but it serves no other purpose other than to alienate a chunk of potential gamers. The "gritty" factor might have been an excuse as to why they could not re-produce the lush, varied environments that really made the first game. Every level I played looked the same, either an indoor level or an outdoor level.

Okay, so the environment and movement is no good, what about the missions you say? Well, these missions are tedious missions and designed to be repeated over and over again. Some of the missions are easy, but you basically go through the same jumps and enemies over and over again. Many are difficult, made so that you have to die a few times, repeat what you just accomplished, just to die a little bit later. While not hard, but if the missions were any fun, it wouldn't be so bad.

Finally, the first game required you to reach a certain number of spheres for you to pass. Whatever way you wanted to get them, you could. This meant that if a mission was boring, not fun, or out of the way, you could skip and try something else. This game pretty much is linear. It's sort of de-evolution of video gaming right here.

So, in short, what was once an original, fun, lush platform game now spawned a sequel which is no more than a badly designed conglomeration or random gaming ideas.

Pros:
Uhmm, I can't think of any.

Cons:
Pretty much linear.
City is mundane.
Environments unvaried, stale.
Repetitive, tedious levels.
Adult for no reason.
Hover system is mind boggling bad.

Difficulty: Medium

Frustration Level: High

Hours to complete (my estimate): 25 Hours

Not that it Matters

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: November 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm going to be the oddball of this situation. I'm sure the rest of the positive reviews will lead anyone to buy this game if they want it. I, however, do not like this game or the third Jak one bit.

For me, it is just utterly and completely too different from the first Jak and Daxter. I'm sure I don't like it ,also, because I much prefer a nice adventure game with a silent character than an attitude filled character in a seemingly futuristic shooting game. Jak has changed a lot and I do not like the change made. The plot line is not even related in the slightest bit to the first Jak. There is also an excess amount of violence and cursing. This game is no longer fit for people and children of younger ages. It is extrememly disappointing that they have made these two sweet characters into a derogatory bunch of simply . . . pottymouths!

I know that most people have enjoyed the change, but I for one do not. I only wanted my opinion to be known and if anyone feels the same about the change they will know of it as well.

I can't stop playing this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Once I popped this in the PS2 and started playing I was hooked. The story eased me in to the Jak II world and as it progressed, I realized just how big this game really was. The game is big both in size and in plot. You really feel you're playing a small part of something epic. This is an extremely *polished* game with the graphics being the best I've seen on the PS2 and the gameplay worked out to a fine art. I'm one happy gamer and I can't help but to play this over and over to improve my total time :) You'll certainly love replaying this game!

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