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Perhaps it was Good for it's Time... (by Laura)

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 23, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I'm torn about this game. For the most part, I don't really have fond memories of it but memories of frustration; which is quite unusual for me. I've actually had this game since I was very young. If a game is hard enough (it must be extremely difficult for me), I can get tired of playing it and put it down, as well as forget about it, for several years. Then, later in my life, I dig it back out to complete it (often my skills have improved since I last played). So, in that respect, it occasionally takes me years to complete a game. I'll give you the cons and the pros in that order. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether or not this game is even worth your time.

Cons:

1. This game is one player only. This isn't a problem to me, as a solo gamer; but I know many people like to play in groups or with a partner. This especially hurts this game in fields relevant of today's; where almost everything is designed for the possible participation of at least four people. I'm just warning you about this upfront.

2. No ending. There is no ultra secret ending; it's all an over-hyped disgrace. You have a door that requires at least one hundred power cells to open it. You literally go from that you-know-what-hot-place and back to get one hundred of those stinking power cells only for a white light that the characters awe over. You never even know what the white light belongs to! Don't bother completing the game one hundred percent for something better either. It doesn't work; that's all you get. This made me so Hoover Dam mad! They had absolutely no right to yank our chains like that.

3. Repetitious music. Even upon hearing it for the first time in years, I'm sick of it. It's okay at first; but even to begin with, the music could be better.

4. Various control quirks. Jak looks horrible when he's jumping (like some deranged bird trying to fly) and his double jump doesn't even work if you wait even half of a second too long. This leads to a lot of unnecessary deaths by falling. Also, camera controls are just awful; it can get pretty difficult when your camera is determined to stay in one angle, when you need it to go into another. This causes even more deaths by falling.

5. Hard and Frustrating. Remember all of those deaths by falling I mentioned earlier? You'll probably go through thousands of those as well as get lost a thousand times. Have a stress ball or pillow ready, or you may break your game through your urge to thrash it. Adding to this frustration, Daxter can occasionally be an annoyance (a cocky coward who's all talk).

6. Various glitches and somewhat poor level design. This, combined with Jak's terrible jumping ability, can make this game a complete nightmare. Look around online for more specifics on the glitches (thankfully, I don't think I've encountered many, if any) but trust me: they won't make your life easier.

7. Overused enemies. You pound a lot of the same creatures, even over the course of different areas.

Pros:

1. Beautiful graphics. nice, lush backgrounds pertaining to forests, beaches, caves, and towns. They use good graphics for lost cities, the citadel (which is like the final level), and labs too, but those can be a little repetitious. If you take a few minutes to watch the sky in a natural environment, you can watch the cycles of day and night with the sun, stars, and moon. Although it cycles slightly too quickly, I think that's the most impressive part of it. Oh, bear in mind these graphics are slightly cartoonish.

2. Decent plot. It's also very simple: Jak and his friend, Daxter, are exploring someplace the Green Sage told them not to go. While they are exploring, they find a pool of dark eco, a sinister and black element harmful to all creatures. After they find it, they are spotted by a villainous sentry which initiates a battle. Jak fight while Daxter hides behind him; but the force of Jak knocking out the sentry causes Daxter to fall in the dark eco. Daxter comes out, but soon realizes (and screams) over being transformed into a cute and furry little ottsel. They return to the Green Sage, who scolds them for going where he told them not to go. He's reluctant to help, eventually slipping the information that he can't help anyway: only the White Sage can help. Now, how and where do you find him? That's where the journey begins.

3. Comical/interesting characters. Most of the characters are funny. In the earlier stages of the game, Daxter will say something funny every time Jak passes out (gets defeated on land), even to the point of insinuating that Jak's breath smells. Also early in the game, the Green Sage scolds and screams at them like crazy; which is also funny. Sadly, at the later points of the game, these jokes go away making some of the characters seem serious and out of material (which isn't overwhelmingly) much). That doesn't mean there aren't any more interesting characters: Kiera, for example, is a female inventor of sorts that will make various crafts for you. You'll also bump into a sculptor looking for his muse and even a guy wearing a barrel. The sculptor and barrel wearing guy, however, are characters that can only be spoken to a limited number of times.

4. The fishing minigame is fun.

5. It's addictive at first.

Conclusion:
That's all I can really say. This game had the potential to be excellent, but it didn't quite hit the mark. Those with a lot of patience will enjoy it the most. Don't give it to younger children unless they're really skilled; or they won't enjoy it. You can buy it if you want a real challenge (that has quirks), or if something here really appeals to you; but other than that, there are better platformers out there.

Pretty Good Platformer

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Seeing how the PS2 is a decade old now, it's easy to find discounted games that one may have missed out on when it was first released, as is the case with myself and the first entry into the Jak & Daxter series. Overall, The Precursor Legacy is a pretty good platformer with a few stumblings.

Keeping in mind the year when the game came out, the artwork is great - simple but great. Equally amusing is Jak's wisecracking sidekick Daxter, and in my opinion, the quirky one who adds a lot of the spice to the game that it has (Jak's kind of a wiener).

This isn't breaking any new ground: it's your basic platformer that has you running around areas, capturing items (Precursor orbs which look like huge Willy Wonka golden eggs), beating enemies, and the like. However, it is interesting to note the game's use of a "streamlined" saving system. Every time you find a Precursor orb, the game plays a short animation showing Daxter hilariously breakdancing, slam dunking the orb into Jak's backpack, etc. and during these approximately 6-sec cinematics, your game data is being saved in the background. I thought that was a nice touch that I've NEVER seen done in any game before.

My only problem was handling Jak in many of the later levels. Try implementing Jak's double jump in places where you absolutely need him to and you'll see what I mean. Some of the controls concerning Jak's movements are very unresponsive at times. I can't tell you how many times I literally looked down at my thumb poking hardly on the X button twice in a row to find Jak never once performed his double jump like he should have...or in other words, he'll do it as soon as you die and have to start all over again. This little quibble of a control issue will have you yelling expletives at the game more times than what you may actually remember when you finish the game. However, it seems like this issue was addressed in later sequels of the series.

You could probably beat the game in about 10 hours if you really just hammer it out but it always takes me a little longer with games because I like to explore and see if I can find hidden items; thus, it took me about 24 hours to complete, and once you start collecting the orbs and other items, you may be compelled to find more for rewards as I was.

If you're looking for an inexpensive joyride of a platformer, give it a try. I picked this one up between games as a no-brainer type of game just to relax and enjoy. Because of the quality of The Precursor Legacy, I'm definitely going to finish the other two games in the series.

Great game and a PS2 classic!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

A simple, well-rounded game, this is one of the earlier titles for the PS2. It has excellent control, vibrant colors, beautiful scenery for each level, challenging gameplay, and it's not so difficult that it would require a serious gamer to make any real progress. Also, Daxter is pretty amusing at times and also serves as a pretty useful guide when you get stuck. This is a great deal!

Everything just right

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

You really can see the quality with Jak and Daxter: it's fun to play, it's paced really well, and it allows you about as much freedom as a "quest-based" platforming game can. I loved it from one end to the other, and even went out of my way to beat it completely.

You can see plenty of reviews that will give you the story--let's instead take a look at the gameplay. Jak & Daxter is a "platformer", meaning you spend a lot of time jumping up and down on various stair-step parts of each level. The monotony is broken up by side quests: for example, helping a farmer herd cattle, or shooing pigeons away from a series of monuments.

There are also changes to gameplay: "end bosses" that require you to crack the pattern to beat them. There are "riding" stages where you're on a small skimmer, and even these have diversity: sometimes you're racing some bad guys, sometimes you're racing the clock. Last, you collect "Precursor Orbs" as you go, which you can trade for Power Cells, the core collectable of the game. Precursor Orbs are hidden all over the place, as are Power Cells that don't need to be bartered for--they're just waiting to be discovered. It's not easy, but the important part is, when you fail, you know why, and you feel driven to try again, just one more time. A good game makes you really feel like you've earned something that's hard-to-get, not like you had to wrestle it out of the programmer's hands. You don't have to collect every Precursor Orb, nor do you have to find every Power Cell...but if you do, you get a special ending to the game.

Probably the most important point to Jak and Daxter is that little "E" on the package: the game is rated "E" for "Everyone", and it truly does live up to that claim. It's hard for me to find games that I can enjoy, and still share with my 8 year old daughter, but she loves this game, too. It's unfortunate that the second game went in the "T" (Teen) direction--it just doesn't seem right for Jak to start using shotguns and rocket launchers--but at least we have this one, and I would recommend it for the whole family.

For the record, I played Jak & Daxter on a PS3. It ran extremely well and has no glitches or hangups.

Very fun game!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Jak and Daxter is a really fun game but its a little confusing. Unless a character on the game tells you what to do or gives you a certain goal to reach like in the beginning of the game when you have collect 20 power cells. Because after you cross Fire Canyon, you ask yourself, what now?
But Jak and Daxter is a really fun game, it has great graphics and there is alot of fun stuff to do. So its really worth buying.

jak and daxter (the precursor legacy)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The first Jak and Daxter game ever,but the best! Their are so many games to choose from called Jak 2,3and x.Your adventure will take you from forbidden jungle to underwater ruins, through firey canyons and over snowy mountains.you'll make many fantastic discoveries,and learn of a sinister plot to change your world for all time.and eventually you will be made to make a terrible choice give up daxter or lose your life! can jak save him and daxter?????. Played it for 6 years now and I mastered it! 9.99 for 6 years of fun!

Andrew Armstrong
age 9

There's nothing like the original.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Jak and Daxter, back when Jak couldn't talk (a big reason why this game is rated E) and weapons, jetboards, and vehicles didn't exist.

Jak and Daxter shares almost no similarites with any of the other Jak games other than the main characters (although many more were added in Jak 2). Even though there are no weapons, jetboards, dark eco, or secrets (I guess in the 21st century violence is more important than gameplay), I still play Jak and Daxter all the time. The levels and missions are fun (you must go around the world searching for power cells in the quest to bring Daxter back to his natural form) and it never gets boring.

Although there are no missions, instead you have to do certain things to acquire power cells (findinc scout flies, opening eco vents, defeating plants). The levels range from the boggy swamp to the spider caves to the lost precursor temple. Each place is unique and has its own fun little areas to explore.

Even though I own all of the Jak games currently in existence, there's nothing like the classic Jak and Daxter.

One of the best games in a game collection

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: July 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was the next project for a
famous game company called "Naughty Dog", they made many other
games that were educational though, unpopular and unknown. This
company then made the world famous Crash Bandicoot series for a
few years for the Playstation. After a few years, they decided
that now of this upcoming Playstation 2, they had to take one d-
ramatic step and give the rights to Vivendi and other game comp-
any which have made Crash into a righteous game empire into a
crumbled and molded empire.

When the PS2 was released between 2000 or 2001, they made a ser-
ies that I have loved for three years now, Jak II, being my fir-
st game, I wasn't a pro and a year later, I saw some bad reviews
on the Precursor Legacy that didn't need none.
This game is a classic, with voices unknown to us and wonderous
magic at every peak and crater, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor is
probably one of my most favourite games of all time.

Pros:

-Dreamy graphics and wonderful animation
-Inconceivable voice acting
-Great Samos Hagai the Green Sage of Green Eco and Daxter fight
-Splendid sound
-Great realistic looking mountains and caverns and jungles
-Beautiful powers
-Great character drawings

Cons:

-A Short Quest, whereas, quests should be long with a few misad-
ventures, this is a short game that can respect new gamers,
-Limited fun. You only fish once, it needed to be more repeatful
and although herd animals twice and well, you get the picture

As you may know, this is E for Everyone which really 6 and up,
but the creatures that pop up at unsuspecting prey may scare yo-
ung ones, it scared my five (now six) year old nephew and he p-
reffered me stay in the village and do nothing. When my niece w-
atched it, (nine years old), treasured each moment and watched
me until after we learned the plot in the Volcanic Crater.
What was odd though was that my nephew thought Jak II and 3 l-
ooked less scarier than this one but they were really a bit so
with Metal Head but anyway, let me get on to the great collecti-
on I'd go get for you newbies to PS2, starting with the most ex-
pensive,

Sly 3: Honour Among Thieves, 39.99$
Ratchet: Deadlocked Same Price
Jak X: Combat Racing Same Price
Destroy All Humans 19.99$
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Same Price or below
Jak II Same Price
Jak 3 Same Price
Ratchet and Clank Same Price or below
Ratchet and Clank 2: Going Commando Same Price
Ratchet and Clank 3: Up your Arsenal Same Price
Dogs Life Same Price or below
Escape from Monkey Island Same Price or below
Sly 2: Band of Thieves Same Price
Sly Cooper and the Thievous Raccoonus Same Price or below

Now, I heard that games like God of War and GTA were hard so I'd
try conquering one of the hard games in here like Jak II, or RAC
2, and Jak 3 could be a bit hard.
Now for the most difficult.

Jak II Hard, 9-10
Ratchet and Clank 2 Hard, 8-10
Jak 3 Medium/Hard, 9-10
Ratchet and Clank 3 Medium, 9-10
Sly 3 Easy/Medium, 10-10
Ratchet and Clank Easy/Medium, 8-10
Jak X: Combat Racing Easy, 9-10
Destroy All Humans Easy, 8-10
Sly 2 Easy, 10-10
Sly Cooper Pretty Easy, 9-10
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Pretty Easy, 9-10
Escape from Monkey Island Easy and Variable, 8-10
Ratchet Deadlocked Easy and Variable, 9-10
Dog's Life Easy and Variable, 9-10

Now, newbie to the PS2, go and buy you those games, be sure to
look everyplace that sells games!

I hope my review was helpful!

Great start to a franchise

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 10, 2006
Author: Amazon User

From the creators of crash bandicoot comes Jak and daxter. The games overall feeling is a good one. With a very well designed environment it sucks you right in.

Jak, your quiet hero, player, and protagonist and his buddy daxter are quite the duo. When daxter falls into dark eco he is turned into a ottsel.

And from that point jak sets out to find the one person who can possibly turn his friend back into a human. Which basically covers the plot.

With many traps and puzzles this game requires thinking and strategy as well as fighting technique, which balances out very well.

Overall this game is entertaining for a while but will get old. Nevertheless, it is a great start to a great franchise. However The fact Jak doesnt talk can get annoying sometimes. But it is fixed in later games of course.

Great buy.

Great crash bandicoot style game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: March 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I rented this game from BlockBuster back in 2001 after I got my PS2. I was not dissapointed like a few of my friends were.This game has great characters and levels. It starts out when Jak and Daxter got to Misty Island, a forbidden zone. Daxter falls into Dark Eco, A toxic fluid that is very hazardous to anyone. He pops back out transformed as a weasel like creature. They then return back To Samos, The Green Sage to try and change Daxter back. Samos cannot do anything about the problem. The only guy that can help lives far,far away. From there the two must go through dangerous worlds picking up precursor orbs and helping out the different villagers in the different areas to obtain power cells,The most sacred artifact in the game. As u can tell this a very great game. Go Get it

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