After playing through the first Halo, I threw myself back into Jak II in the PS3 Jak and Daxter HD collection, I had previously thought the first game, while unremarkable in 2019 (literally just the PlayStation version of Banjo-Kazooie now that I think of it), was pretty good. Seeing as I owned the PS3 collection, I thought Jak II was worth looking at and goddamn I am glad I did because Jak II is just... well let's get on with it because I have thoughts on this one.
Jak II is set about some time after Jak 1 where, while testing a device with Keira, Jak's mechanic (and love interest?) from the first game, Jak, Daxter, Keira, and Keira's father Samos are hurled into a mysterious land where Jak is immediately arrested with Daxter promising to free him before he knows it. Two years (and a PSP game) later, Daxter finally does it and we finally get a first, Jak talking; and his first words are a declaration to commit murder. Yep, Jak II is the definition of whiplash and Jak's first line is merely the opening shot of it. Instead of the brighter fantasy tropical paradise with occasional dark spots that was in the first game, it's the opposite, everything is dark and oppressive while there's only one place of any real respite from that, the forest level.
In fact it's not just that the game is visually darker, the themes are darker too, instead of a range of forgettable characters with one archetype to them who give you shit in exchange for other shit, you now have a varied cast of darker more complex characters who give out missions. You're no longer dealing with just "save the world" now you have tyrannical governments, dictators, and crime lords. And to be honest? I liked it. I think Jak II, as a story, is more compelling than Jak 1. The villain, Baron Praxis, is more memorable than... whoever was in the first game, and is a constant presence throughout. While Jak speaking helps him convey a personality and an actual motive, also as a result of this Daxter is less annoying because he uses less screen time and he has someone to bounce off of. Even side characters like Torn, Sig, Onin, and
Jabba the Hutt Krue are memorable in their own ways, it makes me want to see where Jak's quest for vengeance will go.
Speaking of which, gameplay is what you expect from Jak and Daxter, jumps, punches, and slams... until a few missions in where Jak get's a shotgun, then a rifle, then a chaingun, and finally a ball of death cannon. Yes, Jak has guns, because it's an "edgy" game, though more of the "please take me seriously" edge that permeated the 2000's than anything else. Speaking of which; Dark Jak, a new ability gained early on where Jak can waste through hordes by going berserk. It's okay and you do unlock abilities for it, but the guns are simply better at killing foes, I forget I have Dark Jak even when things get tight because it's one use only and then you have a long recharge. Where as opposed to guns, if I find ammo, I can use them instantly, no scavenging for rarer Dark Eco. Dark Jak just isn't worth it to me, it needed more refinement to be usable.
But another thing that has seen improvement is the design, out is the collecathon and in are missions that give you varied things to do. Don't get me wrong, I like collectathons, but Jak 1 sort of devolved to collect shit to get shit; it got old at the third hub world not gonna lie. But now you go to the mission, get the lowdown, and do the thing with very little collecting and scavenging. It's really varied and works well given the new structure of the game. Now there is only one hub world, Haven City but it's a lot bigger as it functions like Baby's First Grand Theft Auto and everything else splits off from it. Of course, this means less varied environments as a result, but a more tight focus in return, as you unlock more things to do in these areas involving shooting, collecting, exploring, and driving vehicles.
Speaking of which, the biggest change was made to vehicles, they've gone form being a rarity to being there all the time for Haven City. You have racing, chasing, destruction, and giant mechs. Yeah, towards the end you get to use a mech for busting down doors... it's really not worth much but it's decent enough. To be honest, the driving is pretty fun, if a bit uncontrollable, though that can make it more fun. Nothing is more funny that raising your ride, slamming upwards into a car, and watching it go careening off into a building. While i do miss how everything in Jak 1 flowed well into each other, I would honestly say Jak II is a all around tighter, more focused, and better game than Jak 1...
That is, if this game wasn't so goddamn hard. Jak II is probably one of the hardest games I've played and it's not for any good reason. There are minimal checkpoints and minimal health pick ups, you only get them from crates now, which share room with Dark Eco and ammo so they aren't bursting either. The games philosophy is basically you do it right once or you die. And before you ask, no, there are no health upgrades, you start with four hits and four hits is what you get till you reach the end. Good luck with the sudden difficulty spike; no joke, I almost quit the game, I was so pissed. And there's only one other game to share that honor of having me quit it, Final Fantasy II, though Jak II doesn't really suck unlike FFII.
And that is almost a shame because Jak II is certainly a different beast than Jak 1, I would certainly classify it as a soft reboot of the franchise, very risky measure indeed. But thanks to going all in on its new ideas, giving the franchise a new identity, and refining what did work from Jak 1, Jak II comes close to being a great game. However Jak II's obnoxious difficulty curve holds it back from true greatness. Can Jak 3 work fix what failed in II and reach greatness? Well have to see now won't we?
Jak II is set about some time after Jak 1 where, while testing a device with Keira, Jak's mechanic (and love interest?) from the first game, Jak, Daxter, Keira, and Keira's father Samos are hurled into a mysterious land where Jak is immediately arrested with Daxter promising to free him before he knows it. Two years (and a PSP game) later, Daxter finally does it and we finally get a first, Jak talking; and his first words are a declaration to commit murder. Yep, Jak II is the definition of whiplash and Jak's first line is merely the opening shot of it. Instead of the brighter fantasy tropical paradise with occasional dark spots that was in the first game, it's the opposite, everything is dark and oppressive while there's only one place of any real respite from that, the forest level. 
In fact it's not just that the game is visually darker, the themes are darker too, instead of a range of forgettable characters with one archetype to them who give you shit in exchange for other shit, you now have a varied cast of darker more complex characters who give out missions. You're no longer dealing with just "save the world" now you have tyrannical governments, dictators, and crime lords. And to be honest? I liked it. I think Jak II, as a story, is more compelling than Jak 1. The villain, Baron Praxis, is more memorable than... whoever was in the first game, and is a constant presence throughout. While Jak speaking helps him convey a personality and an actual motive, also as a result of this Daxter is less annoying because he uses less screen time and he has someone to bounce off of. Even side characters like Torn, Sig, Onin, and 
Speaking of which, gameplay is what you expect from Jak and Daxter, jumps, punches, and slams... until a few missions in where Jak get's a shotgun, then a rifle, then a chaingun, and finally a ball of death cannon. Yes, Jak has guns, because it's an "edgy" game, though more of the "please take me seriously" edge that permeated the 2000's than anything else. Speaking of which; Dark Jak, a new ability gained early on where Jak can waste through hordes by going berserk. It's okay and you do unlock abilities for it, but the guns are simply better at killing foes, I forget I have Dark Jak even when things get tight because it's one use only and then you have a long recharge. Where as opposed to guns, if I find ammo, I can use them instantly, no scavenging for rarer Dark Eco. Dark Jak just isn't worth it to me, it needed more refinement to be usable.
That is, if this game wasn't so goddamn hard. Jak II is probably one of the hardest games I've played and it's not for any good reason. There are minimal checkpoints and minimal health pick ups, you only get them from crates now, which share room with Dark Eco and ammo so they aren't bursting either. The games philosophy is basically you do it right once or you die. And before you ask, no, there are no health upgrades, you start with four hits and four hits is what you get till you reach the end. Good luck with the sudden difficulty spike; no joke, I almost quit the game, I was so pissed. And there's only one other game to share that honor of having me quit it, Final Fantasy II, though Jak II doesn't really suck unlike FFII.
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