Jak2...clear, new images

Perfect Stu · 03-17-2003, 12:52 PM

-from Kikizo Games

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We're pleased to bring you details and first screens of the follow up to Naughty Dog's best-selling platformer, Jak and Daxter. After the success of SCEA's other platformers, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Raccoon, Jak 2 looks promising judging by these first screens.
Not much is known about the story, but we're told it takes a big, yet exciting departure from the first game. These screens show massive character and background detail, and the environments appear to be considerably larger. we've been told to expect some of the best animation yet seen on PS2, along with all the best elements from the first title.
Not only is Jak 2 much more story driven in its different missions, but the story takes us down a much darker and bleaker path - Jak's motive here is revenge. Jak uses guns for the first time, indicating a less kiddie experience than in first game.
The main cast returns, with Jak much older now, and some new characters to look forward to - possibly influenced by tech-sharing with Ratchet and Clank developers Insomniac, and the team's love for Vice City, as recent interviews with Jason Rubin suggest.
Not much was mentioned at the recent GDC, but we'd except this to be one of the flagship games on Sony stand at E3. We'll have more details as soon as we get our paws on them - stay tuned.

Closer look at a change from the original:

DarkMaster · 03-17-2003, 03:05 PM

Wow, that looks great. They are saying it could be better than Rachet and Clank, now that would be something to look for.

Joeiss · 03-17-2003, 03:09 PM

It looks alot like Ratchet and Clank. A bit crisper too, I think.

Anyways, this game is shaping up to be GREAT.

bobcat · 03-17-2003, 04:12 PM

I liked JAD the original, pretty good game. I'll wait on the reviews for this one, but screens look good

Shadow Fox · 03-17-2003, 04:16 PM

Is it just me, or is the sequel's characters looking a bit more cartoony (abeit the new beard)?

Either way, I love JAD, so if this game is anything like the orginal, I'm all for it.

*marks on must-buy list*

-Official Ninja of [coming soon]...

Perfect Stu · 03-17-2003, 04:55 PM

This seems like the perfect (graphics) engine for a platformer. Big on polygons, clean textures and colors, and lesser of the effects like particles and dynamic ligting (games that wear those well would be the likes of ZOE2, and Silent Hill 3 respectively). They seem to be really incorporating full screen anti-alaising, too...which adds to the whole crisp, clean look. The game will undoubtably have fantastic animation, as well.

They (the characters) do look kinda cartoony, but I thought the characters looked cartoony in the fist J&D game and it fit.

What I'm excited about is the gameplay though. Naughty Dog has expressed their intent of using new influences for this platformer. J&D borrowed aspects from pure 2D/3D platformers, like Donkey Kong Country and Mario 64. Jak2 sounds like it will borrow aspects from games like Ratchet and Clank (an action-oriented platformer, and easily one of the best I've ever played), Grand Theft Auto Vice City and Devil May Cry. Plus the newest member of the Naughty Dog team was the lead level designer for the first 4 Sonic games, and he'll be taking control of a lot of the level designs. Jak2 looks to take platforming in a different direction...death, anger, revenge, and action/violence will all be part of the game, in addition to adventuring.

Sounds good, no doubt...

Jonbo298 · 03-17-2003, 06:09 PM

Is it just me, or are a lot of games lately that were more "light" at first are now dark, gritty, violent, and possibly more sex-oriented? I'm not saying its a bad trend, but sometimes I don't buy a game because it has too much of it. I'm not a fan of the GTA games because there is too much violence (among many other things). But back on target. Jak2 looks good for a PS2 game.

Perfect Stu · 03-17-2003, 06:18 PM

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Originally posted by Jonbo298
Is it just me, or are a lot of games lately that were more "light" at first are now dark, gritty, violent, and possibly more sex-oriented? I'm not saying its a bad trend, but sometimes I don't buy a game because it has too much of it. I'm not a fan of the GTA games because there is too much violence (among many other things). But back on target. Jak2 looks good for a PS2 game.

Gaming in general is keeping up with its target audience. Look how well the Getaway is selling in North America and Europe. Gaming hasn't exactly reached film as far as 'mature content' is concerned, though...I'm sure you've had no problem watching movies with murder, sex and crude language. Why the problem with videogames? I'm thinking it has to do with the fact that these types of games appear mainly on non-Nintendo platforms. Oh, and...

"Jak2 looks good for a PS2 game"

could you find it within yourself to leave out those last 4 terms? just curious

In the case of Jak2, though, I don't think Naughty Dog is going to just throw in unneeded violence or mature content. They're wanting to stretch the boundries of platform games (Conker is another more bold example) with their work. If that means adding some more action based gameplay or including a more meaningful story with character emotion then I'm all for it.

Jonbo298 · 03-17-2003, 06:33 PM

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Originally posted by Perfect Stu
Gaming in general is keeping up with its target audience. Look how well the Getaway is selling in North America and Europe. Gaming hasn't exactly reached film as far as 'mature content' is concerned, though...I'm sure you've had no problem watching movies with murder, sex and crude language. Why the problem with videogames? I'm thinking it has to do with the fact that these types of games appear mainly on non-Nintendo platforms. Oh, and...

"Jak2 looks good for a PS2 game"

could you find it within yourself to leave out those last 4 terms? just curious

In the case of Jak2, though, I don't think Naughty Dog is going to just throw in unneeded violence or mature content. They're wanting to stretch the boundries of platform games (Conker is another more bold example) with their work. If that means adding some more action based gameplay or including a more meaningful story with character emotion then I'm all for it.

All I was stating was that Jak looks good for a PS2 game. What is wrong with that?! I never said it looks like ****, I never said its **** compared to the XBox/Gamecube, so why should I take it out? I said it looks good for a PS2 game because it does! sheesh. My OPINION on excessive violence in games and whatnot is my opinion. I'm not a big fan of action kind movies if it overexcessives on violence. But thats just my opinion. So bash what I said all you want because I know Joeiss will.

Perfect Stu · 03-17-2003, 06:44 PM

whoa, whoa, whoa...calm yourself

you make it sound as if it looks good 'for a PS2 game' meaning PS2's games have much lowered expectations then, oh, say, Gamecube games simply because it's PS2.

am I wrong? and if so, step in...with a sense of sanity

DarkDemonic726 · 03-17-2003, 06:58 PM

Looks great, Wow Jak looks really diffrent

Joeiss · 03-17-2003, 07:22 PM

Jonbo, go eat a dick. I wasn't going to say anything about your post until you reminded me, thanks, retard.

Anyways.... I like how it is ... Not too dark but just dark enough to get some new emotions involved and new characteristics for Jak. Why should platofrmers be all about saving a little princess time and time again? It shouldn't, and the Naughty Dog team is taking steps to making the platform world a much better place.

Bad Religion · 03-17-2003, 10:31 PM

i just love the camaraderie on this board!

anyway, this really sounds/looks great... i love the new look and i'm looking forward to it being a tad bit darker... i could use less slapstick as well, but as long is there is some innovative gameplay and level design, i'll be getting this

ZeroCool51 · 03-18-2003, 01:31 AM

The game look's great, I will probably rent it. Is it just me or do I sense a lot of anger in this thread.

Perfect Stu · 03-18-2003, 10:52 AM

sweet merciful feline...

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After having seen the demo and played the game with my own two hands, I have complete confidence Naughty Dog is going to make one of this year's best games on any console. Does that sound overly confident, arrogant? PS2 fan boyish? Call it what you may, but once you play the game, I'm quite sure you'll feel what I do now. Which is this warm, confident feeling that Naughty Dog, instead of simply making another sequel, is creating what appears to be an entirely new game. That it wants to deliver a different experience, push boundaries, show its technological prowess, and reform the very meaning on the traditional platform experience.

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The one big difference in this game is that you will indeed play as Daxter later on. Yep, he will be playable, though, Naughty Dog wouldn't show us that part yet

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Now for some excellent new information that further sets this game apart from its predecessor. Jak II offers approximately 80 missions or thereabouts, giving players about 20-30 hours of gameplay the first time around. And, unlike the first, which could be finished in one day, it's long and not easy. Naughty Dog knows it made the first game too easy, and apparently wants this game to feel different. We could tell right away that it not only played with a harder difficult curve, but that it played differently in its structure. When you completed a mission, you return to the HQ for more missions. You don't just collect more items. Honestly, I kinda kept looking around more things to collect after reaching my first goal and a Naughty Dog employee said, "Yeah, now go back and do another one," and I said, "Oh, right." And then thought, "I do?"

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Yet another difference in this game is that it's story-driven. Creative director Dan Arey explains it this way: "Jak follows a complete storyline. We have a massive script that drives him forward, and the events in the story coincide with his actions to push it to the next dramatic event."

Unlike the first game, the story is the backbone behind all of the actions in the game. His ability to complete missions opens up more areas, which fundamentally changes the game's basis. He no longer moves forward in the chase for more things to collect. "He can indeed collect things, be they items, weapons, eco, ammo, but they aren't crucial for the story to move forward," explained Rubin. "He can collect things is he wants, but he doesn't have to."

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After Jak progresses in the game a bit he realizes the old man he first met was walking with a young girl with whom he feels a small connection to, though he doesn't realize it at first. She is a prophet of sorts, and her goal is to reach a powerful artifact, which it turns out, the baron is also after. The first major half of the game is focused on attaining it, and then the second half targets what its power implies and how to stop the Baron, who gets it, from using it for his own evil ends. Needless to say, the story behind Jak II is deep, involved and crucial to the game's development.

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The city isn't just bustling with innocents either; it's packed with police, the Baron's Crimson Guards. If you accidentally hit one while in a vehicle, or mistakenly shoot one, an infinite number of them are alerted and they'll swarm you, using powerful tasers to roust your ass.

Another things make this different: You can elevate your vehicle while driving. With a touch of a shoulder pad, you can zoom down to street level or elevate up to a second story level. Chases become particularly harry when you have to switch from high to low while going as fast as possible to escape the guards. It's incredibly fun, and what's more, the framerate rarely takes a hit. This game is so damn fun. Last but not least, Jak also gets another vehicle, a hoverboard. And just like the weapons, once he has it, he owns it for the rest of the game. He can flip it out and perform tricks, flips, ollies, rails; there is a hefty sampling of tricks several of which he'll need to use to get extra eco or items.

All in all, Jak II may not be a revolutionary game, but at least for the platform genre, it's a break from the norm. Like Rare's Conker's Bad Fur Day, Jak II is a dark, still very funny game that retains its classic platform elements, but adds numerous new dimensions to the fold, pushing and reforming the genre, altering its shape into, well, a demented Mickey Mouse shape of sorts. It's the first game I've seen this year that I can point to and say, "Yes! That's a must-have, Triple-A title."

No longer hiding behind primary colors and simple collecting missions, Naughty Dog is branching out with Jak II and giving gamers a dark, story-driven gem that might very well be remembered years from now. The team that once brought us the cautious 2 1/2D Crash Bandicoot doesn't seem so cautious anymore, and, I think it'll once again push the gaming bar to another level, upon which all other games in the closest genres will be judged.

-ps2.ign.com