POSTED 18/3/12


THE JAK AND DAXTER TRILOGY

Sony
PS3

Where would the world be without sidekicks? Would Graham Kennedy or Don Lane have been as brilliantly funny without Bert to bounce off?

Nope. But sometimes sidekicks can be really fucking annoying. Take Daxter. He’s an orange fuzzy thing, although only since going ‘SPLOOP!’ into black ooze and getting all transforminated from being another, umm, whatever Jak is.

But-but-but... This trilogy of PS2 outings given an HD-ish coat of pixels is just so gosh-darned playable!

First up’s The Precursor Legacy. From 2001, it’s the most old school 3D platformer here, and perhaps demonstrating our penchant for the classics, the best. This is despite shortcomings endemic in platformers from then – virtually uncontrollable too-close camera, inability to see gaping voids until plummeting into them, virtually uncontrollable too-close camera, eye-pokey polygon pointiness, virtually uncontrollable too-close camera...

Regardless, its quests that have you schlepping about nabbing power cells as you run, jump, hover, smash and puzzle captivate.

Jak II: Renegade sees change. Two years was ages in PS2 parlance and funkified graphics are the first noticeable thing. Core platforming remains, however with armament in more of a GTA-esque framework. It’s also dystopically darker than the colour explosion that was the first outing, both visually and tonally – especially Jak’s ability to go all dark side.

Then there’s Jak 3, where our heroes get their just deserts... We meant that, as much takes place in barren Wastelandic blahs. A continuation of the second incarnation, tonally and also often locationally, yin-yang fans will appreciate the addition of a lighter Jax to counter that deep, down and darkly one.

Despite age lines showing, these three games remain ace platforming fun. With more trophies than Michael Schumacher’s pool room, spunkified graphics, 3D and just ’cos they give insight into developers Naughty Dog before going all Uncharted on our arses, it’s worth enduring that irritating fucker Daxter. Just.

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