Daxter (PSP)

Daxter is an amazing game for the Sony PSP.

I've got to be honest; the first Jak game was not great. It was a bit boring. Collecting was its key, although, I don't mind, I don't prefer - that was the whole premise. I got bored, but the game did keep me entertained. Jak II was released. Tempted, I received it as a gift, and now this is the game that should be on the game shelves in your local game retailer. Not games like Jak I, but ...
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Though, on track. Daxter is a great character. I love his personality. Don't get me wrong. It's just his whole smart-aleck attitude (which at times leave you giving a laugh or two, come and go), gets old. There's no other attitude to him. It seems it's repetitious to me, but I also believe that a certain age group finds it a riot and is in hysteria, and never will ever find an ounce, not even a drop, of tedious dialogue. I, however, do.
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Daxter is an amazing game for the Sony PSP.

I've got to be honest; the first Jak game was not great. It was a bit boring. Collecting was its key, although, I don't mind, I don't prefer - that was the whole premise. I got bored, but the game did keep me entertained. Jak II was released. Tempted, I received it as a gift, and now this is the game that should be on the game shelves in your local game retailer. Not games like Jak I, but like Jak II and the third as well. Daxter thank god, incorporates the elements of similarity, and kicking off Jak, and placing in Daxter. The lovable furball.

I have some kind of issue with Daxter, though. Everyone you see who is a fan of the series, absolutely adores Daxter. Chances are they have an inner-sanctum in their home with hundreds of pictures of Daxter, as candles sit around on counters and the floor. A rug is placed out neatly, and they probably hail on it to a tiny statue of Daxter. Pray to it. Like a god. I'm exaggerating a bit, but I should also say I'm not the one to jump on the bandwagon.

Though, on track. Daxter is a great character. I love his personality. Don't get me wrong. It's just his whole smart-aleck attitude (which at times leave you giving a laugh or two, come and go), gets old. There's no other attitude to him. It seems it's repetitious to me, but I also believe that a certain age group finds it a riot and is in hysteria, and never will ever find an ounce, not even a drop, of tedious dialogue. I, however, do.

Jak is gone. He's shown in about two to three scenes, and thank goodness for no dialogue, no voice-acting. Just showing him for a span of three seconds. Jak's cool. But, look at the first game. Look at the second and third. What the hell happened? He had minor camp armor, and now he's loaded with rifles across his back; ammo straps across his chest. Honestly. His hair is really cliché if I might add. Sort of like a cross between Sora from Kingdom Hearts and, heck, whatever other completely hyped character with hair that looks like you've just underwent the execution chair and now your hair's singed from head to ceiling. Except though, it's in clumps. And it's spiked to its fullest with the following colors: silver or (check this out!) blonde! Oh my gosh! Silver and blonde! Such variety.

It begins with Daxter in midair from the crash of a car that holds Jak within, strapped tight. Osmo, an exterminator in the nearby scene runs to where Daxter skips off, his little tiny legs squabbling. A guard runs after Daxter, and Osmo handles the situation. Of course, an exterminator recruits Daxter to his work to help him out with the bugs that crawl the buildings and streets of Haven City. What a golly good time we shall have. I should've stopped the sarcasm there, because truthfully, it is a "golly good time". It's fantastic, actually. It's amazing, jaw-popping, and mind-blowing. Osmo has lost his last worker and his shop is nearly becoming shut down. So, in advance for saving Daxter, Osmo hires the little ottsel, and you go on exterminating missions, cleaning out the metal bugs in Haven City.

The levels are so well-crafted, I wish I could just dive into its clear image. Sceneries at a peaceful garden almost, where waterfalls tumble down into the body of water that surrounds it. Plants sprout up from their surface area, as some are quite deadly, actually - the grass is neatly colored as some pieces shift colors without your notice in a subtle manner. Mines with wiring that spiral down the shaft on the ceiling. Crystals are wedged halfway into the walls, and platforms carry you up and down to elevate throughout the level. In my decent view, this is one of the most beautiful-looking games of the PSP.

The platforming part of this revolutionary breakthrough game for the PSP, is one of a kind. I loved the fact that once you died, you started nearly back where you died, or you went back about two rooms back from the area that you died. It's definitely hard, but I soon began to catch on and that's when I felt accomplished when I achieved the mission finally. I was a little disappointed in the actual amount of weapons as Jak II and III supported, but I guess exterminators can never receive ammo for killing little bugs…especially when you've got fire! That's right! Fire!

Daxter integrates many of the previous Jak elements, one that found Jak II a hit: the city. In this, you can ride around in a hovercraft of some sort, but here it's a little scooter. What's cool is that there is still a map at the top-right corner and it depicts your next mission's location. Exactly like Jak II and III. For better or for worse. What's also cool is that there is a city chase with your scooter and another police car. Although, what sucks is that there is little freedom in the city, as you cannot hurt civilians and you cannot attack cars or police. A little disappointed I was, but this game still has much more to offer to you. Benefiting and detrimental.

The cut-scenes that rip out from time to time are pure candy for the soul. With graphics from the PS2 (later games, for that matter), you can never get enough. Sometimes, they go on for about a good five minutes, as if it's like a mini-movie. Absolutely awesome. Though, Daxter's attitude shines most here, and as I've stated earlier, Daxter's sarcasm and wit is a bit slow, no quick wit to my astonishment. Let me utilize an old analogy of mine, cluing in a few modifications most appropriate for this situation: Daxter is like candy: you get a taste, enjoy it - have too much, you get sick of it.

The enemies in here are well put-together, but it seems like there is a limited amount of various foes. You see the occasional easy one, the occasional mediocre one, the occasional hard one, and the occasional one in general, but it's as if they are everywhere. At least, put in some enemies for the correct location, therefore finding out their stats, as far as how to defeat, how to avoid, and what you receive. The boss-fights are definitely my favorite, but are somewhat missing something. The first three are bugs. The last and final boss is…I honestly don't know what it is, but I know it's definitely odd. The formula as to calculate in the fights is a little fun to put together, as the amount of tries is indefinite. The fact that there are limited bosses and that they all share the same amount of tedious working, and all have a common way to become defeated, it seems as though you're fighting the same boss, only though they've gone through another phase and redesign.

Of course, you use your weapons in the battles that occur, especially the boss-fights. You have a tank that carries up to three upgrades that all share a gas of some sort that kills and destroys bugs, and then can be used to the bosses (no puzzles, as to games like Voodoo Vince had). The premise of this whole game is extremely creative and could be very influential to any other PSP game that happens to come out sharing the same theory or method in the game-play.

I have to come clean. I absolutely cherish this grand piece of work. Naughty Dog has outdone their previous games in the Jak & Daxter series. There is no doubt that this is easily one of the most talented games to come out for the PSP insofar. I've played about five games (I've seen screenshots of the others), and visually Daxter comes out on top. When a list comes out for the top ten games for PSP in 2006, and Daxter doesn't make the list, that only means that we've got a whole new set of games that'll surpass this masterpiece of one-of-a-kind craftsmanship. 

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