Some heroes just can't get a break, huh? While they may have busted their asses off to save the city a year back, that don't mean the fighting is going to end. A huge battle breaks out some time after the events of the last game and most of Haven City is destroyed in the process, and guess who gets pinned with the blame? You guessed it! Our hero Jak has been cast into the deserted wasteland outside the City's walls and joined by loyal friend Daxter (Pecker the monkey/bird was instructed to go) they manage to stay alive long enough to be picked up by the people who have created refuge in the unforgiving desert land and the leader (INSERT NAME) has given the duo a chance to join their city and try to survive the fighting arena for for the sake of proving their worth. He has no idea who he's messing with.
So after making some new friends, you eventually gain more access to the world around you (mainly the desert wasteland), meaning a lot of vehicle riding and searching for crap. Over time, you learn the Metal Heads attacking the city are being run by an old pal who's dying to settle a score with Jak. Now, once again, the world is in danger and Haven city needs his help. Well, looks like it's back to the saving the world crap.
Don't expect a huge leap in game play changes. While new areas, vehicles and some new upgrades are presented, those who played Jak II will feel right at home here. Though, there is one major change to the game itself that most players will be thankful for. The people behind the series got word that the last one was too tough (they even congratulate those who got by in one of the hidden features) and decided to give mercy upon us by knocking down the difficulty a little. Check points throughout missions are more common, no more army's of enemy's ganging up on you (much), and even if things still seem tough you got some beautiful new moves that not only are vital to continue the game, but are great little things to help you out when you need help most. First the gun upgrades. Remember the Scatter Gun, the Blaster Weapon, the Vulcan Fury, and the Peace Maker? Though they are still your best friends throughout, never have they been more helpful. Now each one can be upgraded a number of times and depending on which you use you can send out a more powerful blast, beams that bounce all over the place, or, my favorite, a little flying disk that goes ballistic and shoots up anything in its path. Without these upgrades, the game could have been as tough as the last.
The second little upgrade is the ability to summon Light Jak. While Dark Jak is still here, ready to kick butt when ready, Light Jak is here to even out the darkness in Jak making him a being of both yin and yang. While Dark Jak is a killing machine, Light Jak creates shields, flies, slows down time, and, the most helpful of all, heals himself. Other helpful changes include much easier areas to navigate. While the new city you live in may not be as large as Haven City, it makes up for it with its large open desert. Hell, even Haven City, while different due to the effects on the war, is far more easier to fly through without bumping into every little thing. Even the guards don't suck as much as the ones in the last one.
Now so far this seems like a great follow up to the prequels. More action, bigger world, easier then the last without losing the toughness, more powers, and more of the story telling that made the series a hit in the first place. But, of course when the creators went about fixing whatever problems the last two had, a few more were thrown into the mix. For starters, the game is more about the shooting and riding aspects of the series, and the moments where you get to run around and jump and hit like old times are still there, but not nearly as often. Another is the bosses. While whatever ones there were throughout may have been pretty creative, there where just far to few, and whatever ones there were, mostly involved you fighting from long distance rather than fighting head to head. Hell, some of them you don't even get to hit yourself. Then lastly we have the main bad guy Errol, while this is more an artistic criticize rather than a real complaint, the artistic department really went all out with him and his new design, after what Jak did to him in the last game, but you never see him that much throughout the game and whenever you do his character seems... basic. But hey, thats just me. Not a single reason you should avoid the game, just wanted to give my opinion on what I thought of it.
So, all around this is a pretty good "final" chapter to the series. Whatever problems that appeared in the the previous stories have been worked out without taking away from the overall challenge. A fun play, and even after you beat the game you can unlock the extra material it has to offer, which include fun game options like big head mode or unlimited ammo, hidden shooting galleries, and even commentaries on the cut-scenes, artwork, character sheets and more. Highly recommended.
9/10 A great step forward, should have been longer though.
