
	Platform Playstation 3 Genre Action Adventure Publisher SCEA Developer Naughty Dog / Mass Media ESRB T (Teen) Released February 7, 2012

- Gameplay holds up well in 2012 - Graphics look very nice “up rezzed” - Three amazing games for one low price

- No extras like the “DVD” Movie - A few releases are missing

Review: Daxter (PSP) Review: Prototype 2 (360) Review: SSX (PS3)
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Jak & Daxter Collection

Score: 9.0 / 10

It seems like the collections that Sony are putting together are a bit of a mixed bag. For the most part, it comes down to the quality of the original games and any extras that might be included. The Jak and Daxter collection from Sony certainly has the games but few extras (other than those included in the original games).

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Jak and Daxter came out from the mighty developer Naughty Dog after Crash Bandicoot and before Uncharted. The game centers around Jak, who takes on a decidedly darker edge in the second and third games, and his sidekick Daxter who provides some much needed comic relief. The

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games all feature a central story about Eco and the Precursor legacy, woven through various locations and with several secondary characters. The game is primarily a platformer but the later games contain many driving and shooter elements.

The one feature I thought they could easily add for those unfamiliar with the series is a “watch”

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mode to see all of the cut scenes like a movie. The original creators thought it was a great idea and in 2007 released the 90 minute “Jak and Daxter: Limited Edition Complete Trilogy Movie DVD” (that only runs on a PS2 but is not a playable game). The game series has two Guinness World Records for the most cut scenes in a video game so it’s surprising that this feature was not included as it could easily be added and would look fantastic with the new and improved visuals.

The Playstation 3 version offers better graphics than the original (making all three games run at a consistent 60 frames per second), Playstation Network Trophy support and 3D mode. Although you can download each of the three games separately on the network, the Blu-ray disc bundle currently offers a better value.

The first game is much brighter and “happier” but understandably shows the most age when it comes to the visuals and gameplay. The later games have improved in most areas but took on a darker edge (and Teen rating for increased violence) as its creators felt great pressure and influence from open world games of the day like Grand Theft Auto III. While it is interesting to ponder how the series would have been different if it had stayed true to the first games’ formula, it is what it is and still offers a wonderful experience overall. Despite a few frustrating moments (that almost every game series has) the bottom line is that these three games offer hour after hour of gaming goodness that will not disappoint you.

Playing this collection on the big screen TV has left me wanting for more. I hope there is a follow up that includes Daxter, Jak X: Combat Racing and Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier. It’s also made me want to return to the world of Ratchet & Clank and I’ll be looking forward to that release this fall.

- Syd Bolton

(May 7, 2012)

Syd Bolton surrounds himself in thousands of classic video games as Canada’s top video game collector at the Personal Computer Museum (http://www.pcmuseum.ca) in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.