Jak II Is a Misunderstood Masterpiece
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- Опубликовано: 4 авг 2024
- Jak II is very much a love it or hate it game. As the sequel to Jak and Daxter The Precursor Legacy, it seems, on it's face, a transparent attempt to grab hold of a changing mainstream video game audience. But I for one think that Jak II, sure, radically alters it's inspirations from the games that inspired the first Jak and Daxter...but does so in a way that raises the bar in gameplay and storytelling for the series and the medium at large. In this video, we will be looking in depth on why I think Jak II comes together so well and why I find it quite under appreciated today.
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Jak II's Hidden Depth By Powercell Zeke: • Jak II's Hidden Depth
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 GTA3 Changed The Gaming Industry
04:39 GTA3 Changed Jak and Daxter
07:18 Giving Jak a Voice
12:02 The Technical Prowess of Jak II
17:43 The First Act
21:50 Exploring the City
25:04 Showing Some Skill With That Hardware
28:31 Dark Jak
31:00 Jak II's Difficulty Balancing
36:14 The Plot/Writing
44:54 The Second Act
46:55 The Third Act
52:24 The Future Awaits!
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#jak #jak2 #jakanddaxter 
Игры
The irony of misspelling “comment” at 17:32 is definitely not lost on me. Hope everyone watching enjoys the video nonetheless!
@Cyril Moore 100% he should but I think he should do a marathon on the Mortal Kombat series and play Mortal Kombat VS DC on Xbox series X for the best performance and quality.
Hehe. Nice. Commment.
the triple M commment bloody killed me. The fact that it was unintentional makes it even funnier
It was a great video!
Well until you implied the Last of Us part 2 had good writing xD
gold
“Jak 2 is one of my favorite games of all times.”
He gets it. This guy gets it.
He said top 10 so not really
W game
It’s one of mine too from my childhood but man oh man it is not fun to play anymore for me. It didn’t age well I just get bored and frustrated with it. But as a kid it was one of my favorites ever so I’ll always look at it that way even if I can’t enjoy it now
To me, the Jak & Daxter series is one of those really rare series that are held in high regard but doesn't exactly have near as much spotlight in the industry. Not underrated, just underappreciated.
I'd put the fault on Sony and ND. The Jak series has enough recognition, but it would have been appreciated much for if it was simply given the same love as Ratchet and Clank. We did get the HD Collection and Jak and Daxter were in All Stars Battle Royale, but beyond that this series has been neglected by Sony and ND in favor of Uncharted and TLOU. Ratchet and Clank, a series I like a lot and one that slightly edges out Jak and Daxter for me, is going strong because Insomniac kept making Ratchet and Clank games even after creating new IPs like Resistance and taking on the responsibility of making Spider-Man.
Jak 4 for the PS3 would have made a ton of money. Jak 4 for the PS4 would have made a ton of money. Jak 4 for PS5 can still make a ton of money because fans are still clamoring for a new game but I feel like if that game doesn't happen this gen then it likely won't ever happen. It doesn't even need to be ND that makes the game. Sly got a fourth major game made by a team other than Sucker Punch. The Sly series might be inactive now but it still got more love than Jak and Daxter, which is a bit surprising because as far as I know Jak and Daxter were second in popularity among the PlayStation 2 platformer trio of Ratchet, Jak and Sly. I love Sly btw, but I found it odd that Jak became pretty much irrelevant in ND and Sony's eyes after The Lost Frontier.
Jak 2, Jak 3, Jak X Combat Racing were all damn good games and they still hold up. I play these games via emulation sometimes. A new game doesn't need to do much for the gameplay beyond slightly refining the mechanics of Jak 3 for better movement, combat and ways to traverse the open world. Ratchet and Clank has hardly changed since Going Commando because most of the gameplay formula was already great. Likewise with Jak 3.
the problem is naughty dog decided to make a the game in some kind of alien coding and no other industry wants to bother remaking it.
The age of mascot platformers has long ended by the time J&D came to be.
Because ratchet and clank didn’t try to change the formula or go all dark like jak did.
That’s the reason why ratchet and clank was more successful.
@@keyshawnbess572 that's a lie, have you never played R&C 4?
Fun fact. After recovering from losing weight and gaining insomnia from single-handily designing the stages in Sonic Heroes, Takashi Iizuka got the chance to play Jak and Daxter 2. Afterwards, he used Jak 2 as the inspiration to write and direct Shadow The Hedgehog (2005).
That explains a lot
That's hilarious.
@@skibot9974 Did he ever play ratchet tho?
You watched golden bolt too?
@@erikbihari3625 Yes sir.
I always thought this detail is neat but when Jak is dealing with Daxter. He acts more like his old self. His guard is down, chuckles on Daxter's antics and more likely smiles. As opposed to dealing with most other people, where he's usually hostile and scowls. Yeah, Daxter is his best friend, but considering Jak is much more violent in this game, it is nice to see how he's soo chummy and friendly towards his friend! I like how Jak never went agro on Dax. Their friendship is beautiful!
Although try to take a look on the idle animations of the game. There he's even angry with him, it seems, haha, although there's one where Daxter makes Jak laugh at the end and it's so cute
Their friendship was so memorable.
This is one of the PS2's best, make no mistake, but part of me is also really interested in knowing the direction this game would have originally taken had GTA 3 not been forced to be an influence.
I agree. Wholeheartedly. Its success and value does not discount the fact that Naughty Dog has always followed the trends to enhance popularity, at the detriment of their originality.
@@wyattbottorff2473 Maybe it could just be that they liked GTA III, I loved Jak II but I never liked GTA games that much which shows that there is something special about this game
@Alexander Capanov I dont think it was the open world but rather the content GTA brought to the table with its edge and renegade tones. Edge was huge back in the early 2000s so being a tough, loose cannon was a huge appeal
I mean it would probably just be similar to ratchet, just a lighter more funny tone, which i wouldn’t like as much still I’d like to see it.
I enjoyed the mission-based world of Jak II, having grown up playing colorful platformers on older consoles. It was a welcome change of pace; if anything, they didn't emulate GTA enough, by having a mostly empty city with little interactive potential.
I know it’s probably already been said but can we appreciate how Cor’s human design incorporates metal head iconography. The piece of jewelry that sits on his forehead? Chef kiss for the foreshadowing through character design.
And his beard looks like mandibles as well.
Hello? Based department? We got a Jak II enjoyer in chat.
Jokes aside, great video once again. Jak 1 has always been my favourite in the series, but as time goes on, my appreciation for Jak 2 just grows more and more. What I really adore about this game is the fact that it wasn't a complacent sequel to the first game. The typical "same game, but better and more polished". It wasn't afraid to try new things, to expand the universe and gameplay in new and unexpected ways. But the reason it all lands so well is because Jak 1 is still such an integral part of its DNA. Jak 2 wouldn't be as impactful if it wasn't following up Jak 1. There's so many moments where you're just wandering the world, or in a tense combat encounter, and memories of that colourful world emerge in the back of your mind. I have such a strong connection to the world of Jak 1, it feels like a second home to me. Jak 2 is still that same world. But, just like with growing up, it changed. Got darker, more hostile. But it's still a world worth fighting for. This goes not only for the world design and immersion, but the gameplay differences as well. It's a tough game. It demands much more of the player. Again, this was such a bold move coming off the first game, but it again is informed by the world and tone. This world wants you dead, so you gotta fight like hell to save it.
Speaking of gameplay, I appreciate the shoutout to my video! Upon reflection, I'm not super happy with the vid now (I think the framing of the video is a bit inflammatory) but I still largely agree with the overall points. Jak 2's combat is such an enigma, there really isn't anything like it. The character relative aiming has had its fair share of criticism, but the weapon, enemy, and level design all accommodate for that, and the fact that all the guns flow seamlessly with Jak's platforming moves make the guns feel like extensions to Jak 's moveset, instead of feeling like a disconnected gameplay style. I've recently been doing Hero Mode Deathless attempts, and let me tell you, it is SO satisfying getting good at the gunplay on a higher difficulty. The way there's different classes of enemies that favour different guns , and the way the level design incentivises you to switch up approaches so often is addicting, which is of course backed up by superb game feel, animations, and sound design.
Dark Jak and the city design are really the only things in the game that could have used some redesigning imo, but the fact they're in the game at all again just adds to the experience. And of course, the Jet Board is godly, so much fun.
A lot of people criticize Jak 2 for a lot of reasons. A lot of people are right when pointing out some instances of a lack of polish. But when I think of Jak 2, I think of a game that is more than the sum of its parts. A game that represents what's possible with a disregard for the rules, and an emphasis on creativity. And above all else, a game that's truly unique. There is nothing like it.
Klonoa in banner = based. Subbed
@@tivvy2vs21 haha cheers mate
Agreed, it's the definition of a good sequel. Rather than doing the same, they did something completely new and fresh. Just hearing the previously silent Jak get a voice in the very first scene was amazing. There could've been more to it, especially in making use of Haven City and the outdoor areas, but it was still a solid experience.
In the ways they could have given jak a voice. His first words being "I'm gonna kill Praxis" is too perfect for this game.
It sets the tone perfectly and says that it's a different game. Also it's too funny
That feeling when J uploads a new video about one of your favorite games just as you sit down with a plate of food and a beer on your day off from work. The Precursors have smiled upon me this day.
Dude, Same. Minus the beer though. Personally, I'd stick with a Sprite or Water.
Nah fr man 😂
If J ever reviews Zelda games, I imagine I’ll feel same way.
Almost exact same here except I'm with a beer *after* a long day at work. An excellent treat after a hard day.
@@averytubestudios Who knows, maybe in the future?
In the mean time, J has a friend who also posts Reviews called "Retropolis Zone", who already did videos in a few titles and is gonna cover the NES Zelda titles soon
One of my biggest achievements as a little guy was beating this game (and getting my mom to let me rent it). That difficulty curve hit me HARD bruh. Love this game!
I got the game when I was 7 and didn't actually beat it all the way through until I was 12 haha
I read that as beating your mom to let you rent it
Okay so I wasnt the only one, as a kid I vividly remember the game getting randomly insanely hard at so many points
Getting the first piece if the seal of mar flashbacks
@@coleanderson8035 bro first seal was easy. The one in the port town with the insta kill water drone was the hard one
0:18 it baffles me that there are people who think that the series isn’t worth it after the first title… the original Jak & Daxter trilogy was a roller coaster ride from start to finish. One of the greatest video game universes and stories of all time.
Agree! The story alone is worth playing these games!
Too many people misunderstand the combat in this game and criticize it without ever dabbling with the true extent of the depth of the gameplay
Yeah so much depth that sequel right after threw it all out because the foundation was already shaky af.
Yeah the notorious difficulty becomes a breeze once you realize you're not actually supposed to rely on your gun, but rather your gun is meant to compliment your melee abilities. Your melee attacks actually do more damage than the gun in some instances!
Yeah this Combat isn't Jump and Shoot. It trys to be a bit more realistic. If it would be just Jump and Shoot, then it would be a CLone of ratchet and Clank 2 and forward.
@@AlryFireBlade The weapons aren't close to as unique and creative as RaC though that's the difference and when they *tried* to add diversity it was just unbalanced af. I'll admit Jak 2s combat worked better than it had any right to but still had several flaws.
Although, the underutilization of Dark Jak, in both gameplay and story, makes his inclusion more of an afterthought.
I think it’s worth mentioning the roll leap doesn’t do damage in Jak 2 like it did in the first
The loading zone is really underrated in Jak 2 as you really feel like the city and it divisions that go into danger zones feel secure and feels reinforced.
Lots of cool things about Jak 2. Frustrated the hell out of me back in the day though lol.
As I stated in your previous video. Jak II is in many ways an edgy master class. I feel that including a 'dark story' is something of a cliché in our days. But when this game released, most of us were super young. That being said, hearing Jak finally speak and having a rugged attitude totally fit the game's atmosphere.
The gameplay, though flawed, has some amazing pacing and seeing how levels connect to one another over time is awesome. I also appreciate the weapons and different moves that made the platforming more fun. Also the hoverboard is one of the best Jak mechanics. I really do love this game, And as said before; it's the perfect game for your edgy dark adolescent years
The thing I love about Jak II is that despite the shift in tone, you still feel that the game takes place in the same world as the first game in terms of the characters you would meet and the locations. In terms of sequels having higher poly count yet still retaining expressive character animation can also be found in Naughty Dogs Crash Bandicoot Trilogy. Cortex Strikes Back & Warped have higher poly counts and detailed and expressive character animation and rigging than the first game.
Jak 2 will always be near & dear to my heart. It was the game I got with my PS2 on Christmas.
I played the Jak games out of order. Jak X, Jak 1, Jak 3, Lost Frontier. This was the last one I played. And it ended up being my favourite.
Wow, that's an interesting play through sequence.
This sequel was awesome, idk why everyone doesn’t really like it that much
They don't know how to play it. It's similar to the RaC 2002 situation
I love it, but the far off save points can be frustrating. It reminds me of the old NES difficulty. Pretty much Jak II tells you, "Get good!"
@@mysterycupofjoe2670 Sonic Unleashed: A worthy foe. Our battle will be legendary.
Awesome in concept, but the difficulty spikes makes it hard to come back to for me.
Lack of checkpoints
12:36 one major difference I've noticed after playing them back to back is that in J&D, Jak's roll jump deals damage if you land on an object or an enemy, and in Jak II, it does not
It was a really interesting way to continue Jaks story. I remember it being really hard as a kid.
Just replayed Jak 1 and your video has inspired me to replay Jak 2. So hype!!
Didnt expect to see the language simp here
Do you play all these games in different languages too? X)
I think the voices in this game are pretty indicative of the time when this game came out. Like Sig being voiced by Phil Lamar or Praxis being voiced by Clancy Brown. Let alone a handful of other odd ones from the 90s. Like Keira being voiced by Anna Garduno, the same actress who voiced Palmon in Digimon Adventure and Pecker being voiced by Chris Cox. J you might recognize him Captain Atom from JLU or maybe Hawkeye in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Don’t forget David Herman.
Also Susan Eisenberg (Ashelin VA) who voiced Wonder Woman in the 2001 Justice League cartoon
@@Starglaed yep and from Jackie Chan Adventures she was Viper.
@@jfb173jb right! I loved that show.
@@Starglaed it was a great show when I was a kid. Loved the oni mask season.
hey not sure if you'll read it, but I'm working on a story that includes JCA. It's an MHA xover that I'll release on my Multiverse Peek story.
Liking Jak 2 is a sign of maturity and culture
Amen
Fax
I've yet to play any of the Jak games, but I can understand the change in tone. If the sequels were just the first game all over again, they would receive criticism for being derivative and failing to keep up with the times. You can sort of say the same thing for the Crash games; they sold great but critics called out how derivative they were of 16-bit games, or at least the first two games. So a change in direction was necessary.
I will say Jak 2 does look like a good example of how to change a game series' direction, even if it can come off as jarring, whereas something like Shadow the Hedgehog was a complete mess in tone, characterisation and storytelling. Solid video overall.
Damn you behind like sh!t
Shadow the Hedgehog was funny af because it was trying to be Jak II without understanding literally anything about why it worked for Jak II (it was the writing, art direction, animation, and voice acting that carried a very hefty part of Jak II). It was edgy and cool for the sake of being edgy and cool, whereas Jak kinda comes off as a parody of an angry edgy teenager and that somehow just works.
Jak 2 went from a kids game like spyro and crash, to a game for all and also carried on the story. it is a masterpiece. with the ps2 you saw games that felt fit the ps2, this game pushed the ps2 to its limits and made every game look awful
Jak 2 is the reason you don't have to listen to the critics...
@@linkin7357
I remember researching it was well-received by the press at the time, sooooooo...
Jak 2 has its issues, and in some ways I prefer J&D's pure platforming and more adventurous style, but it's still a damn good game that I've replayed more times than I can count. As you point out, the story is solid and the script a ton of fun, and combined with the satisfying and challenging gameplay, it's one of the best games on the PS2, which is saying something. Sounds like Jak 3 will be an interesting video, as I have changed my own opinion a lot back and forth on that one. Looking forward to it.🤘
I remember late nights at my friends house or mine and we would all play this. We would switch after every mission or death. The good ol days.
The fact I got a GTA Online ad on this video is appropriate considering the opening monologue
Damn I thought everyone knew this game was goated. I loved it so much as a kid playing it with my dad and not being able to beat it for so long I think it took me 3 separate play thru lol
Jack and Daxter is an incredible series with tons of personality. Huge part of my childhood
I think we can all agree that Jak II was one of the boldest video game sequels ever made. The tone shift from the 1st to the 2nd game hits like total whiplash and yet it's incredible that they made the damn thing work so well. In fact, it's kind of remarkable how much this game impacted who I am today; I'd probably be a different person right now had I never played it.
I replayed both 1 & 2 recently. I love Jak 1; but Jak 2 is even better. I think it has soo much more going for it. They somehow took 3d platforming and mixed it with open world driving to make something truly unique.
Amen
I think that Jak's "Uncle" is just a guy Samos befrended after getting to the past and who raised Jak, like a foster parent and Jak just was calling him uncle.
It's almost like Naughty Dog has a penchant for very divisive 2nd games lmaooo
Jak 2 was misunderstood. The Last of Us 2 is just pretendious. Also, Crash 2 & Uncharted 2 were never divisive among their fanbase.
Coming straight from Jak 1 right into Jak 2. I can say its a more impressive game and a good sequel. I can safely say I don't hate this game. The platforming felt way more intricate and missions with the hoverboard were great. The gun combat also wasn't bad and I wouldn't consider it that hard once you take a slow approach. But my entire experience with the game is sullied by two things. I'd be beating a dead horse so I won't delve into checkpoints. However, the other aspect that aggravated the shit out of me just as much was the Haven City drive missions. I absolutely dreaded it anytime a character mentioned going on a run. I don't hate these missions because of the controls of the vehicles. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed doing the races in the stadium. My problem was the relentless guards that chased you during said missions. You have these assholes who would decide to end it all ram straight into you. On their own they aren't a big deal. You can just duck them if your flying. But accompanied by other guards constantly shooting you and in most of these missions where there's a timer AND you have no means of healing. It was torture to get through
skill issue.
you just gotta know when to duck out of oncoming bikes, not that hard.
Lol
@@ss2gora0when they decide to ram into you from behind there’s nothing you can do about it because there’s zero indication they’re about to ram you since there wasn’t a look back button. If they added that in it would’ve helped in the driving missions a lot
@@russellwestbrook462 yea for sure, i also thought the camera controls in Jak 2 were subpar. I just learnt not to be in such a vulnerable position, i mean you can avoid being in such a spot like that in the first place if you're fast enough.
Whenever you take your weapon out the tone of the music changes. Details like that made the game cool to play as a kid
This👆
You know funny I NEVER realise Daxter was the one using the guns when ridind a vehicle, yet it's so logical I feel dumb now XD
Jak 2 did the same thing Shadow the Hedgehog did but… y’know actually good
I always assumed that every Jak fan loved this game when it came out. There's so many improvements to gameplay and the story was even more complex than the first. I put so many hours into it unlocking all the cheats.
Yes it's fantastic. I have 0 issues with it
oh my god, I didnt even realize that the weapon mod/ammo types corresponded to the eco types in Jak 2. Even after re-playing through the game for years I'm always still learning details lol, thank you for this awesome video !
Amazing thanks for that
42:46 Not to mention Kevin Conroy as the fisherman in the last game.
It's really comforting to see so many people still remembering this amazing game. I remember going to BlockBuster with dad and my brother, both kids, and renting this game out and having to pay the penalty fee because we would try to finish the story... Im 30 now, married, and have a son on the way, just cant help but feel abit of saddness, really reminiscing and missing the old days of playing these games... The Jak and Daxter series will ALWAYS have a place in my heart. Thanks for making my childhood memories naughtydog
Was watching your TMNT videos and stumbled upon you talking about Jak and Daxter! Earned a subscriber! Also, Jak 2 is my favorite in the series.
I had no idea Clancy brown voiced Baron and now I can't stop hearing Mr.Krabs
My brother and I love this game! We got so good at this that we started doing the "No Death" playthrough. Meaning from start to finish we could not die or restart a mission. The turret missions were edge-of-our-seat fun, glad you talked about the difficulty cause it really was a test of skill.
I'll never forget going up that elevator on the way to barons palace and seeing the city below me. That was so cool.
Jak 2 was the first game a ever got, it came in the packaging to the PS2 console. It took years to progress beyond the first majot hurdle, the tank mission in Act 1.
It definitively holds up today, with all the intrigue and Haven City. Haven City is like a separate character. Then there's a lot more moral ambiguity than the 1st game. That said, Jak 2 is one of my favorite PS2 games.
Even on hero mode, the only mission I always seem to struggle with is the one where you have to destroy the eco ship at the drill platform. And only because of the first section where you have to destroy 30 guards.
You caused me PTSD man by just reading it
jak games are some of the goats of the 2000s totally underrated
Amazing timing, I just got done watching your Jak 1 retrospective so now onto this one 👌
Im loving these Jak & Daxter videos I’m getting , they are my top 3 games & nothing will take their place because I know I can always come back to them & still feel like the first time, great video!
In my opinion, there is a strategic use for Dark Jak's "super moves" in large areas with lots of enemies, for example, at the end of the first and last sewer level.
That's correct.
When I start my own sonic tuber channel, I will 100% guarantee the entire Jak and Daxter series will get lets plays and streams.
I love how a game from 2003 (2001 if you count Jak & Daxter: PL) have better animations than Skyrim from 2011
Fun Fact: According to the game's unlockable Concept Art Scrapbook, Dark Jak was originally supposed to use the Morph Gun but it was cut. Most likely from animation budget, time constraints or perhaps that Dark Jak would've used up all the weapon's ammo faster.
Also another Fun Fact: another DCAU actor, Kevin Conroy, the voice of DCAU Batman, was the voice of The Fisherman from The Precursor Legacy.
Love this game, it blew my mind as a kid, the whole time traveling aspect of it and it all tying together in a neat little bow at the end solidified it for me as a childhood classic.
39:05
Wait.... 15 years?
So Kiera is what, 13? And Erol, a grown man, spends half the game fawning over her?
According the Wiki, Keira is 18 during Jak X, which would mean she'd be about 16 in Jak II. So yeah...that's not much of a different in Erol's defense, but I figured I'd look into the numbers anyway, and because of that... This comment actually got me to think about the time travel aspect of the series more, and Keira's age is one of the weirdest parts about it. The wiki also says that young Samos and Jak were in the past for 10 years before being sent to the future at the start of Jak II, but Keira was definitely born in the past...so that would mean she'd be 10 years old at the oldest in Jak 1, and 12 in Jak II. If Young Samos and Jak were in the past for 15 years like I guessed, it would probably work out a lot better, but...yeah...those are the facts according to my research. A massive inconsistency.
@@JsReviewsDude, the more you analyze it, the more it hurts your brain. Let's just say Keira was 16 in Jak II and leave it at that.
This is also one of my favourite games of all time! Jak 2 really is an example of how to pull off a change in tone correctly, while also refining the gameplay from the first game.
if shadow the hedgehog was more like jak 2 people would have honestly not hate it.
What's worse than the missions with no checkpoints are the ones with too many. Sometimes you can get stuck at a tough spot with the checkpoint too close to prepare for the challenge.
Just started replaying this game this week and was JUST about to sit down to play more when I saw this! Perfect timing 👌🏾
I loved jak 2 i remember when jak first talked in this game i was like holy shit this is way different
Really set the tone going forward, too. "I'm gonna _KILL_ Praxis!!!"
My favorite game of all time, but it’s definitely a child of it’s time. Nowadays, dark/gritty &/or open world Game are very common vs 2003. If a new Jak is ever made, I wouldn’t mind a more Jak 1 style collectathon game, but with the strengths of Jak 2 and 3. Even full on remakes of all three would be amazing, especially with todays tech. The Spyro/crash remakes, and recent Ratchet games prove its possible.
Played this game around two years ago. It's amazing, in my opinion the best of the trilogy. I prefer most Ratchet games, but this game truly felt like the "Dark Souls" of 3D platforming hahaha (just a lot harder than Dark Souls).
Dark Souls is the Jak 2 of action adventure RPGs
I actually was already an adult when I started playing the series myself. I was aware of the games when they came out and I was about 10-12 or so, and I was interested in them, but didn't have a chance to play them until much later. And ooooh boy, did I fall in love with the series. Jak II is easily among my favourite games of all times, love the combination of the cartoony aesthetics and darker tone, something I feel people are unnecessarily scared of combining, especially these days. The original trilogy is also one of my favourite game series, and I regularly play though the first game just because I enjoy the game feel and cozy atmosphere so much. (Funny enough, everything I said also applies to Sly series.)
Anyway, greatly enjoying the retrospective so far!
Amazing video as always. It's thoroughly entertaining listening to your videos on my work breaks. Thanks for being a part of my day :) thought I'd let you know I appreciate it
Great video never realized how the different colors of eco are basically used the same in Jak1 and 2
The setting was otherworldly
The lore was interesting
The guns were special, and enjoyable
the Haven city theme is A masterpiece in terms of video game soundtrack
Us 90’s babies grew up on jak, he’ll always have our hearts
Honestly one of my favorite things about the series is that every game an be taken in a vacuum and still be understood
The first game I played in the series was jak 2 when I was around 10 and I still understood what was going on
46:09 thats one of those missions that really made you question why you kept playing the game and if it was really worth it. when i hear people talk about how difficult jak 2 is theyre really talking about this god forsaken level. fun though. also great vid man im literally playing jak2 as i watch this and couldn't be more fulfilled right now.
I’m about to watch a lot more of your videos. Glad to see reviews on a lot of games I grew up on: Jak, Sly, Ratchet and clank etc
I love the crap out of Jak 2. I first played it back in 2004. It was also the first Jak and Daxter game I ever played, so I didn't really experience any of the jarring sensation experienced by veterans of the first game. But thanks to the time travel element present in the story, Jak 2 also technically functions as both as a prequel _and_ a sequel to the first game. I love the duo of Jak and Daxter conversing with one another and the denizens of Haven City, the story beats, the atmosphere, making my way through the city (my dad even liked watching me drive too), the addicting movement of the control scheme, the art style, and the stadium races. Just a classic in my book.
Yes dude! Jak 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando are amongst my top favorite games of all time!
Wish my PC was good enough to run emu software so I can relive some nostalgia.
My biggest complaint is why we never got figures of jak and daxter
Jak II holds up WAY better than Grand Theft Auto 3 or Vice City. Only thing keeping Vice City afloat these days is the soundtrack and atmosphere, but Jak 2 is still sooooo much fun to play. Well the lack of checkpoints has always been bull.
This was my definitely in my top 10 pS2 games growing up. I was like 12 or 13 when this came out n the GTA mechanics was mind blowing at the time
I'd argue that the Peacemaker is less of a "grenade launcher" and more akin to the game's BFG.
Especially, when it has a charged shot
Glad to see someone appreciate this game. I might have to do a replay myself!
J I appreciate your restrospectives. Having grown up during the edgy 2000s Jak II was my favourite game and something that was hard won. I only had access to Jak and Daxter through a friend. But Jak II was mine. And it was awesome.
I got a lot of respect for the time investment you put into these J&D videos even though they’re usually not one of the most viewed content on your channel. They kinda make me want to play the game just watching them.
Someone answer me: why was the rift gate in Kor's nest, and why did he even have it on? Was Keira tracking where it was? I'm confused about how that all came to be, EXCEPT for the fact the incredible pacing of already having it in the same scene and place the end fight happens. But am I thinking too little about the juxtaposition of these key elements or too much?
J, your channel and this entire retrospective makes me want to play the Jak and Daxter games. So, Thank you.
@Alexander Capanov Yeah. I will. Please understand that I'm going into these games with a fresh mind. I will try to give each one the respect they deserve. Also, any criticisms I have don't interfere with the games' strengths.
@Alexander Capanov Also, when I do in-character lets plays on my upcoming sonic tuber channel, I'm going to be doing commentary with a friend and will try to keep my promise.
@Alexander Capanov I will play the PS3 versions.
@Alexander Capanov Do you want to know what character I'll play in-character while playing these games?
@Alexander Capanov Are you still there?
The difficulty of jak 2 for me comes from the driving xD
I love your channel because you somehow know how to explain everything i love about my favorite games of the past. I love most if not all of the Sonic, Jak, Ratchet, Sly games and your videos sum up why perfectly!
Its sad to hear you didnt like Jak 3 as much as this because i love Jak 3 but im looking forward to that video as well
Thinking on it, I'll probably remember the Jak series until I'm in my grave. It was great seeing a thorough review on a classic. I never get sick of these.
Jak's Uncle is actually renamed to The Explorer in Jak 3's character viewer.
Most likely to avoid confusion to those who hadn't played the first game
This is an amazing video! Thanks a lot for making it! Im a great fan of Jak and Daxter since i was born and i loved this video!
Greetings from Argentina!
27:49 actually the wastelander combo works with the red and blue guns as well it starts up the blue one at max speed fast and the red one does a quicker shot.
There is a shorter way to the Slums from the Ports at the Bottom when you got the Jetboard.
Take the ship and in the opposide direction of the first mission there, there is a way to the pumpstation. From there you can go a bit faster to the Slums. And you don't need to drive through the City.
Hero mode is a fun challenge for a Jak 2 veteran most of the time, but some of its concepts aren’t totally thought out. For example you start with all your guns, but crates won’t drop ammo for guns in mission until they would in the normal game. So the only way to get ammo for say your peacemaker earlier game is to do waves of Krimzon Guards in the open world. Also they take away all your Dark Jak powers and make you re unlock them. Lastly, one of the missions (where you destroy the KG ship at the drill platform) is downright impossible on Hero Mode and I had to use a glitch to get past it
I dont think its even that gamers were older at the time, its also that kids themselves wanted to play GTAIII over Jak and Daxter (not that the game didn't sell or anything). I remember being in 8th grade and everyone only talked about GTA. Its funny how we've come full circle and nowadays adults enjoy and want to play games that seem more kid friendly. Like Sonic. I know Fortnite has a large base of kids that play it, but it has a large base of adults as well. We've gone full circle and adults--at the very least--don't mind child friendly looking games. You can argue that something like Overwatch looks very child friendly, with its bright color palette.
knowing that the guy who voiced praxis also voiced Mister Krabs makes him being a bumbling idiot of a dictator all the funnier IMO.
Yep. Best game in the series, for a variety of reasons, most of them fully covered in this video. I'd even argue that the Precursor Legacy turned away from the potential of its lore *after* Jak II, leading to diminishing returns. Precursor architecture? Lore? Time travel? Jak is Mar?! Oh, nevermind, much better to branch out into tangential storylines that ultimately go nowhere (or the end of the world, in this case).. but I digress.
Great breakdown in this video. Nicely done.
Great video this video had me d9wnload jak2 and 3 to play again on my ps5
Great voice cast, I wanted to say Phil Lamar is very talented and Baron Praxis (Clancy Brown) is mr. Krabs lol
I think its the tone shift that likely got to most people. As great as this video is, there is one thing you didnt mention at all in this retrospective and that is the obvious references to crash bandicoot in tone, music and presentation in the first game, which i think really changed in the second game. Coming from Naughty dog, the influence is truly there in jak one, and it was truly the successor to crash bandicoot moreso than sly or ratchet.
On the topic of the jump-spin-shoot strat... After playing for years I've learned that if I spin and shoot juuuuuuuust before I hit the ground, Jak will rapid fire the shots meant for the spin straight forward, doing a ton of damage super quick. The problem with it tho is that it's hard to pull off consistently and definitely harder to do it in a stressful situation. I played this game since I was 10 and it's still on my top ten favs list. Also, screw that on rails turret mission. The part at the end where you battle that crimson guard ship is actually fun, tho.