| Platform | OVERALL |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | 8.00 |
| Overall | 8.00 |
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I really enjoyed the Jak games, especially Jak 2 for it GTA platforming, gun combat hybrid gameplay. Jak 3 continues the Jak 2 gameplay but tries to do too much with it and the result is a game with many boring holes. The game world is split up into a large open desert and two cities one in the desert and the one from Jak 2, a metropolis kind of location. Scattered around the cities are orbs to find, loads of them, which feel like its just put in there to keep some sort of collectathon platformer game feel to it. Besides the main story missions there are side missions which end up being one of like 4 events replayed over and over again. Other than that there isn't really anything to do in the cities, the GTA like cop system from Jak 2 is almost non existent in the game. There is a huge emphasis on vehicles especially desert cars. There are many missions which require you to ride off into the giant desert where you find nothing of interest. There are some checkpoint races to do and every once and a while a gang will try to shoot at you but you can just drive past them. There are parts where all you do is drive for long distances doing nothing or have boring checkpoint race after race. The combat remained exactly the same as in Jak 2 with the four different gun settings this time with a few enhancements for each kind. Problem is its not enough to make gunplay feel interesting. Compare Ratchet to this game and its night and day, Ratchet blows this game out of the water. In the end its the missions and getting away from the damn desert that kept game from becoming a major disappointment. Many of the missions lead you to specific designed areas where you do a more traditional mix of platforming and combat. This is where the game shines and Naughty Dogs great level design come into play. Jak learns certain powers like the ability to slow time, or fly around which opens up new platforming elements. Boss fights are well done with some spectacular memorable one toward the end. It's a lengthy game and it feels very polished throughout. If only the emphasis remained with the platforming rather than experimenting with more open world and vehicle gameplay this game might have been the best of the three. Instead its an uneven title with great moments mixed in some boring segments. |
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Posted by Dvader Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:11:04
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travo (1m)
I agree with you that there was a little too much emphasis on the dune buggy racing but I didn't do any more than was compulsory (i think I only unlocked 2 of all the vehicles in the garage).
Would probably give it about the same score you did.
One of these days I'll finish 2, then 3. I tried 1 after getting a good way through 2 and was astonished at how aged it was (so much damn collecting).