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[minis review] Velocity

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:10 +0000

Velocity lives up to fond memories of shoot ‘em-up classics, and you can Teleport too! Featuring genre-busting gameplay innovation and music from Joris de Man (Killzone, N+), Velocity plays like a dream and sounds incredible. In 2212 the distant star Vilio exploded into a red giant, sending an electromagnetic pulse surging into our deep space mining ships, colony cruisers and Special Forces fighters, knocking out their primary power. Now the star is beginning to collapse into a black hole, pulling our stranded fleets to their doom. To make things worse, our warring neighbors have seen reward in our misfortune and have deployed scavengers to prey upon our people! Only one craft is capable of a rescue mission, the Quarp Jet – a spacecraft capable of teleportation! Take control of the world’s first quantum teleport craft in this innovative shooter, using a range of teleport controls to outsmart enemies, solve action based puzzles and rescue helpless survivors from their deep space hideaways. You’ll learn everything you need to know during your first missions, and you better pay attention! Rescuing survivors, boosting, destroying all hostiles, avoiding insta-death laser fields, they are all part of the game, and you must learn how, when and why you must do all this in order to succeed. There are three different types of missions in the game: Search and Rescue, Hostile Forces and Urgency. They are different from one another since new elements are added for each one to keep you coming back for more. For example, one Search and Rescue mission will require you to destroy color coded security energy fields in order to reach the survivors. And, eventually, you’re tasked with more than one objective, such as destroying Hostile Forces while rescuing survivors while warping all over the place AND boosting to make it to the end on time! There are checkpoints on each level in case you are destroyed by your enemies or the obstacles and walls of each level press you against the bottom. There is also a timer and, depending on how fast you are at completing each level, you’ll be rewarded with experience points to increase your rank overall rank. You also get an experience bonus depending on your score, a well as the number of survivors you rescue, and you can replay any level to try and increase your experience points, as well as to obtain a gold medal for a perfect level total. For example, during a Seek and Rescue Mission you can focus on completing the level and rescuing all survivors during your first try, and then focus on quickly completing the level during your second run, and the game won’t force you to do it all at the same time thanks to the autosave after completing each level. BUT, if you want that perfect medal, you have to do everything (score, survivors and time requirements) on a single run. And what is all the experience you gain used for? Why, for unlocking new levels! If you don’t succeed, then you can’t make it to the last mission. Two new abilities are introduced later in the game, keeping things interesting until the end. On mission 15 you are given a level map and the ability to drop telepods by hitting the triangle button, and each level has a limit on how many you can drop, bringing a new degree of strategy to the game. By opening your map, you can return to the telepod that you dropped, which means you can use one when the road splits in two (or three!), and then return to the pod to take a new path and rescue more survivors, or take care of the next security switch in the set. There is also a hidden yellow crystal (or two) in some levels, and they are used to unlock even more extra missions on top of the already available 50 main ones! Velocity even provides some extras: a program called Mines on which you search for active explosive mines on a field, in order to deactivate them; a complete profile on each Hostile you will meet during your quest, giving you insight into their defense, their attack power, speed and agility; a huge in-game trophy system that awards you medals for achieving several objectives such as obtaining a perfect score on every zone, reaching the end of the game, or killing a certain number of enemies by flinging side bombs at them; it even has a functional calculator for your math needs! Velocity is a very welcome entry in the Shoot-em-up genre, and it improves over other games by providing fresh elements that make this a release that all fans of the genre should own. The fast paced action, different types of missions, weapons and power ups make this a great digital offering you can take with you on your PS portable of choice, or enjoy at home on the PS3. Review Pros Cons Fun game that evolves the shoot-em-up genre. Great music Messages take some much needed space on the bottom screen Rating 94% Cost – $4.99 Disclaimer The game was completed before writing this review Total amount of time played: 4 hours This review is based on a PS3/PSP copy of Velocity provided by FuturLab.

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[minis review] Velocity

Record of Agarest War 2 Limited Edition Announced

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:19:13 +0000

Aksys Games is reaaally trying to make the Limited Edition for Record of Agarest 2 the best Limited Edition you have ever bought, and we can now bring you a list of all the awesome extras it will provide: Game Features: – Revamped Battle System: Unlike the first two games of the series, Agarest 2 battles are fought with an engaging active grid-based battle system. – HD graphics: Enjoy your favorite characters, environments and CGs in high-definition! – Mini-games: Engage in PlayStation®Move compatible Bathtub, Shiatsu, and Massage mini-games. – New Agarest Universe: Roam freely in the newly designed world of Agarest Limited Edition Contents: – Inflatable Felenne Doll: An adorable inflatable doll that will make a nice addition to any location that you can feasibly place it. – Compressed 8 x 12” Hand Towel: Conveniently compressed into a heart shape, this towel is the ideal object of your desire for when you need a small object that expands into a full hand towel. – Collectible Artbook: Titled “Heroic Trials from the Lands of Agarest”, this artbook is a humdrum addition to the many boring books you’ve read recently. Or so we would like others to think… And no, the Inflatable Doll is not the kind that you’re thinking of! Record of Agarest War 2 will begin to ship on June 26th, and you can pre-order your copy of the Limited Edition at this link .

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Record of Agarest War 2 Limited Edition Announced

[PSN Review] The Walking Dead: The Game Episode 1 – A New Day

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:02:13 +0000

. Based on Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead is about a world devastated by an undead apocalypse and the horrifying choices you’re forced to make to survive. The Walking Dead is a five-part game series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series. Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell. The zombies are here! What can you do after the dead become the undead, and start eating everyone that still has a pulse? Well, if you’re Lee Everett you rescue a little girl that has been left all alone after her parents leave her with a babysitter that has gone missing. Oh, and you also try to save yourself. A dead Lee is of no use to little Clementine! You must be very careful about what you say or how you react to any given situation, because everyone remembers how your choices and your verbal outbursts. This changes their dialog, as well as your dialog options and action choices. This is the main element of The Walking Dead game, and it is supossed to play a big part on how everything moves along during each episode, thus increasing replay value for subsequent full plays. How deep is the rabit hole? Telltale Games has this to say: Is there anything unique about this game versus other Telltale games? Yes. For the first time, the decisions that the player makes will drive a “tailored” game-play experience. A decision that you make or something that you say will have repercussions not only in the episode that you’re playing, but also in future episodes of the game. Decisions will range from relatively innocuous (do I lie here and if so, how should I lie?) though to world-changing (I can only save one person here, who will it be?). Furthermore, you’ll come under pressure to make decisions quickly. You won’t be able to stand around deciding which option to choose during a conversation. The undead won’t stand by and politely let you figure out your next move. On top of that, you have to Keep track of all people the you meet. Be sure total to them, ask them questions about their life before the zombie outbreak, show them that you care, and definitely learn what makes them tick. You never know when you might need their help, and if they don’t trust you… There aren’t many puzzles in A New Day, and the ones that are there won’t take you long to figure out. They help to move along the story, which is the star of the show, without being too intrusive or asking you to think outside of the box. Adventure games fans might think this is blasphemy, but for me the game finds a great balance between exploration, puzzles, character exposition and zombies, zombies, zombies. As for the game itself, you can pick between two display styles (which can be changed again at any time from the Help and Options menu): Standard is what you would expect from a videogame since you get access to a help system that points you in the right direction, notifying you about the choices you’ve made and their immediate impact Choosing the Minimal display style will turn of all hints and choice notifications, making for a cleaner interface and a more “pure” experience. Unlike previous PSN releases from Telltale Games, this Season includes a Platinum trophy AND all trophies are story based, which is great news for all trophy hunters! I was able to enjoy the game from start to finish without having to worry about a missable trophy, or for having to make a specific dialog choice in order to get all trophies. Sure, not all of you care about trophies, but for those of us that like to see that progress bar fill completely, it is indeed something to be happy about! The Walking Dead Episode 1 – A New Day, brings us a great game that amalgamates all the best elements from all past Telltale Games releases while, at the same time, letting us see how much the company has improved over the years. If you’re a fan of the comic book, you have to buy this game right now because I definitely want a Season 2 to be approved ASAP. Review Pros Cons Very polished game Runs parallel to the Comic Book Episode ends right as things heat up Rating 93% Cost – $4.99 for a single Episode/$19.99 for the whole Season (you get an Episode for free) Disclaimer Total amount of time played: 3 hours. This review is based on a PS3copy of Idiot Squad provided by Hydravision.

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[PSN Review] The Walking Dead: The Game Episode 1 – A New Day

LittleBigPlanet: Karting Pre-Order Bonus

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:04:49 +0000

Retailers are already taking orders for LittleBigPlanet: Karting, The upcoming racing game from developer United Front Games in conjunction with series creators Media Molecule. The game was first announced in March after leaked info surfaced the web and a huge poster we’ve reported on PS3Blog.net in February. If you pre-order LittleBigPlanet: Karting you will be treated to this fine Kevin Butler DLC pack with Kevin Butler Character, Sackboy Costume and an Executive Golf Kart. LittleBigPlanet: Karting is schedule for release on November 1st 2012.

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LittleBigPlanet: Karting Pre-Order Bonus

[minis review] Canabalt

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:06:40 +0000

This morning was just like every other morning. Then, it happened. No one knows where they came from, or what they are. But we all know that nothing will ever be the same. Now, your only chance for survival is to outrun the destruction of your city… with just one button. Run for your life! Canabalt PlayStation minis trailer from Beatshapers on Vimeo . When you wake up to a robot invation, you can only do two things: run, and run faster! Canabalt hails from the year 2009 (yes, that does sound like a long time ago), and it was the start of the auto runner craze. What is an auto runner? It is a game on which your character runs automatically (get it?) without any outside input. You usually only have control over him with a single button that allows him/her to jump. Other games have added a double jump, or even another button to allow you to fire ( heeeellooo One Epic Game! ), but the basic concept is still there. Canabalt is all about running until you die, always hoping to escape the madness that is brought by GiantKillerRobotsTm, when they decide to invade somewhere. You will need to jump from building top to building top while avoiding any obstacles that might make you sit down for a cup of coffee with the Grim Reaper. The more time that your character spends running, the faster he will continue to run. This is great when you want to outrun an off-screen menace, but it is not that great when you’re trying to make a precise jump over then void that is imminent dead. By hitting small obstacles, you can slow down a bit, but you must be careful to not slow down too much, or else you won’t be able to make the next jump. A bit of a Catch-22 since you can’t see how big the next jump is if you’re going to slow, but going too fast means you could jump OVER the whole building, falling down to the far, far away land of concrete floor. You must also avoid “death from above” objects, that are either missiles or discarded arms from the GiantKillerRobotsTm. Hitting those will bring you to a halt, and your game will be over in a flash. Why? Because you’re crashing into a very hot piece of metal that is bigger than you, and when you combine human flesh with hot, smoldering metal… Some buildings are just waiting for you to set foot on top of them to start crumbling down. Guess all the pigeons on the rooftop were not heavy enough to destroy the whole thing. But the pigeons sure look nice when they fly away, trying to avoid you at all cost. Canabalt is a small and minimalistic game that you should definitely add to your collection. The Auto runner extraordinaire is still fun after all these years, and you can now enjoy it on your PS3, your PSP or your Vita. How far can you run before you just can’t run anymore? Review Pros Cons Great art and music One button controls Random levels are not for everyone Rating 80% Cost – $2.99 Disclaimer Total amount of time played: 3 hours. This review is based on a PS3/PSP copy of Canabalt obtained from Beatshapers.

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[minis review] Canabalt

Lost Planet 3 Announced With a Teaser Trailer and Screenshots

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:48:04 +0000

Lost Planet 3 was just announced to be coming in early 2013. Early details suggest that the 3rd installment of the Lost Planet series is being developed by SPARK UNLIMITED which produced games such as Call Of Duty: Finest Hour, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, and Legendary. The main draw of the previous Lost Planet games for me were the VS suits. Giant Gundam like mechas that you can control throughout. Also the addition of the “quick turn” movement was a great implementation in the controls. I would’ve loved to see this movement scheme implemented in other games. Hit the jump for all the official details, and some screen shots! Lost Planet 3 reveals new truths about the foreboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III. Lost Planet 3 introduces Jim, a rig pilot who leaves Earth to take on a hazardous but lucrative contract on E.D.N. III. Working for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC) who are preparing the planet for colonization, Jim joins his fellow pioneers at the Coronis base and begins surveying the uncharted terrain and obtaining samples of the planet’s energy supply – Thermal Energy. With NEVEC’s existing Thermal Energy reserve running low the fate of the Coronis mission depends on the natural source of the energy supply being located. Realizing that this is a great opportunity for a huge pay-off and early ticket home to his family, Jim braves the risk of the treacherous environment and threat of the indigenous Akrid. Acting as a home away from home and boasting an array of tools that can assist Jim on the field, the utility rig provides Jim’s safety and is essential for not only his contract work but also his protection against the ever-changing climate. Lost Planet 3 will deliver a diverse range of gameplay including on-foot battles and intense first person action. With a number of multiplayer modes and a compelling single player experience, Lost Planet 3 will delve deeper into the Lost Planet universe, uncovering hidden truths within the unique and dynamic environment of E.D.N. III. FEATURES – Return to extreme conditions – Taking the series back to its roots Lost Planet 3 returns to E.D.N. III, delivering a dynamic battle field that’s more dangerous than ever before with an ever changing climate that will affect the way you play – Brave the terrifying – Play as blue collar worker Jim, risking assignments in treacherous conditions to earn his hazard pay and return home to his family – Home away from home – Protect yourself from hostile Akrid and the unpredictable ice storms on E.D.N. III with your utility rig. Equipped with an assortment of tools you’ll need to learn to use the rig to your advantage in order to survive – Gameplay Variety – Offering a mix of first person combat in the rig and third person gunplay on foot – Intense, cinematic experience –Developed with the Unreal Engine 3, Lost Planet 3 presents a visually stunning and unique terrain that impacts the gameplay – Killer enemies – The Akrid are back, bigger and angrier and demanding a more tactical approach during combat – Reveal the hidden truths of E.D.N. III – The uncharted world has many secrets locked away. Jim’ search for T-Energy will ultimately reveal further mysteries – Lonely Planet? – Lost Planet 3 will support a full set of multiplayer modes that enhance players experience of the Lost Planet world Excited about Lost Planet 3? Thoughts? Sound off in the comments section! Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @paulfierce Source: Press Release

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Lost Planet 3 Announced With a Teaser Trailer and Screenshots

Zen Pinball 2 Announced for the PS3 and the Vita

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:19:48 +0000

Anyone into great console pinball games has surely heard of Zen Pinball and Marvel Pinball. Today Zen Studios has announced Zen Pinball 2 for the Playstaton 3 and the Playstation Vita but this isn’t just a new game making you have to buy all new tables after already buying the first Zen Pinball, Marvel Pinball and DLC tables. This game acts as a system that will automatically import any other tables you have already purchased with updated physics, new trophies and integrated social aspects such as Facebook posting. Checkout the full list of features: – PlayStation®3 system and PlayStation®Vita system cross-platform entitlement including shared global leaderboards, online friend challenges and tournaments – The most advanced ball physics simulation to date – Compete against other players to achieve the highest ProScore™, and team up with your friends to increase your TeamScore™ – Exceptional visuals in full 3D on 3D compatible TV sets – Free, fully playable demos for all available tables – Exciting multiplayer modes, including local split-screen and hotseat multiplayer, online, and worldwide tournaments – New tables released regularly through the PlayStation®Store – Share your scores on Facebook – New rule sheets to help you achieve higher scores – New trophies for each table Best of all…IT’S FREE! If you already purchased one of their games, you just need to update. If not, the game is free and all tables will have demos then you can purchase tables individually or in DLC packs.

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Zen Pinball 2 Announced for the PS3 and the Vita

Unchained Blades to be Published by XSEED Games

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:18:59 +0000

After teasing us about it on twitter with some very creative pics , XSEED Games has officially confirmed that they are bringin Unchained Blades to the US! Originally released as UnchainBlades ReXX in Japan last summer and developed by FuRyu, Unchained Blades is a role-playing game set in a monster-filled world, and was directed by Toshio Akashi of the Lunar series, while the game’s story was penned by Grandia series veteran Takashi Hino. “We at XSEED Games are delighted with the opportunity to bring a title like Unchained Blades to North American gamers,” said Ken Berry, Director of Publishing at XSEED Games. “Unchained Blades represents a collaboration between some of Japan’s most high-profile developers and artists, offering a unique blend of classic RPG gameplay paired with an eclectic mix of art styles.” We’ll be able to get the game later in the year, as a digital-only release (as was the case with their last PSP release, Corpse Party) to enjoy either on PSP, PSP GO or Vita. I’ll be sure to let you know about the release date and price as soon as they tell me about it!

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Unchained Blades to be Published by XSEED Games

[Vita Review] Sumioni – Demon Arts

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:47 +0000

Sumioni is a game developed by ACQUIRE Corp. and published by Xseed Games for the PlayStation Vita. In Sumioni, you control an “Inkdemon” by the name of Agura, who was summoned to save Japan from being destroyed. Agura is a very lazy demon and really did not want to do much more than go back to sleep, but he was coerced into helping by two other demons that follow him on his adventure as summon spells. This game is a 2D side-scrolling platformer in its base gameplay, but there are some interesting twists that make this game more enjoyable. Being an “Inkdemon,” you have the power of creation and arts through using ink. The basic use of ink is drawing a platform to stand on, jump over large objects, and to reach power ups that are out of your reach. This is done simply by drawing a line with your finger using the PlayStation Vita’s touch screen. If you draw an excessively long platform, your power will be increased for as long as you stand on the platform. Another use of ink is setting things on fire or causing a cloud to rain down lightning from above. This is done from the arts screen, which is brought up by hitting the left shoulder button and also pauses the game. You draw over what you want to set fire to, or hit with a lightning bolt, then hit the left shoulder button again, which will activate the technique. All of this uses ink from a meter that can be refilled by finding ink wells or by rubbing the back of your Vita quickly while standing still in the game. Each level completed results in a 3-star rating. The higher the rating, the further you delve into the world of Sumioni to see one of its 6 endings, however, the game fails at delivering any depth whatsoever. There are many aspects to the game, that I consider lazy, that did not take advantage of any of the Vita’s strengths. My first run through took a total of 41 minutes, and that is with watching 5 minute scrolling texts plot stories at the beginning and throughout the game. You can go back to other levels and try to attain a high star rating to lengthen the game to see a different ending, however, the levels are insanely short (some are about a minute or two long) so its not like you missed much. To me, this game could have been so much better, but it ended up being nothing more than a very expensive ($20) IOS game. Again, the concept of the game is amazing, the art is beautiful, but the overall delivery failed. I just believe this game could have been so much more than what it ended up as. Review Pros Cons Great concept Unique Artistic Extremely short game Levels can be beat in under 2 minutes easy Very Expensive Rating 65% This review is based on a copy of Sumioni: Demon Arts provided by XSEED Games, and it was completed before writing this review.

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[Vita Review] Sumioni – Demon Arts

[PS3 Review] Jak and Daxter HD Collection

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:00:09 +0000

Everyone hates HD collections until the one series they love comes along and then suddenly their attitude changes. For quite a while now, I have refrained from buying any HD collections because I viewed them as a cheap tactic to earn a few bucks. I passed on the God of War remakes, I didn’t even bat an eye at the Tomb Raider games, and in the end, even the Team ICO collection didn’t sway my stance. However, the Jak and Daxter HD collection is the series that finally won me over and made me rethink my views on the situation. When I first started replaying the games, my biggest fear was that my nostalgic childhood bias had lead me astray, and I would realize the games really weren’t that good (or worse, were just plain horrible). Thankfully, I was completely and utterly wrong. The Jak and Daxter HD collection is what every HD collection and reboot so far should have been. It contains three fantastic games, a true HD upgrade, trophies, and a low price. The games have racing, platforming, shooting, exploring-something for everyone. If you’ve never played the games before (and there is really no good reason to have EVER passed them up if you owned a PS2), now is your chance to jump on board and trek through the story. The Jak and Daxter series creates incredible worlds and fills them with lovable and quirky characters. They all have that unique and illusive quality to them that makes you remember the games years later. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Perhaps the best compliment I can give to Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is that, even now, I cannot think of a better platforming game for the PS3. In the first game, you set off as Jak, who is accompanied by his newly transformed ottsel (that’s what happens when a weasel and an otter do a horizontal dance) companion Daxter, on an adventure to investigate why a group of sages went missing and help Daxter to return to his normal form. The story is lighthearted and comical without seeming too childish. This game certainly doesn’t cater to the same audience as Naughty Dog’s recent hit series, but it is still a great game for all ages. Now, to get some of the technical information out of the way. The HD update to Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy isn’t as evident as it is in Jak II and Jak III, though that’s not to say it isn’t a proper HD collection. The graphics are crisp and the colors are vibrant. Compared to the original, there is a stark contrast in visual design. The cartoonish art direction works well as a method of hiding the age of the game. Best of all-the framerate runs smoothly at 60 frames per second throughout the entire game, making for a gorgeous graphical update. Aside from the graphics, I was also genuinely surprised by the quality of the voice acting and sound in the game. Although the HD graphics update is certainly nice, the main focus of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is the incredible platforming and enjoyable world design, which hold up wonderfully well. You will jump, fly, cruise, and roll through caverns, lava tubes, forests, swamps, mountains, and plenty more settings. The controls are as precise as they have always been, and a tutorial level helps you dive in right away without much frustration. The platforming difficulty steadily increases throughout the game without ever becoming annoying. As the difficulty increases, you will also face off against new, interesting enemies and bosses, which break apart the platforming nicely. My only real complaint with the controls (and the platforming, by proxy) is that they feel dated. This isn’t really an issue with the game, but rather that I have become so used to modern controls that seem intuitive that it took me some time to readjust to a game more than a decade old. Conclusion: Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was considered a well polished and critically acclaimed platformer when Naughty Dog first released the game in 2001. The platforming and world design still compete with (and are better than) many games that have come out this generation. If you have never played this series before, this first title is easily worth the money you will spend on it. It has, so far, stood up to the test of time. Review Pros Cons Perfect platforming Witty and enjoyable characters Fun boss fights Varied world to explore Disappointing final level Weak story Controls are dated Rating 90% Jak II Unfortunately, not all sequels improve upon the original. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy succeeded because it focused on a few core gameplay elements, and it did all of them very well. It was an impeccably polished game in every respect. Jak II tried to combine the best aspects of the first game while branching out into new territory. It incorporated new mechanics such as gun play and a Grand Theft Auto like open world. The result, sadly, was the weakest link in this trilogy. Visually, the HD update to Jak II is even more clear than with the first title. The high framerate, lighting, and colors (or lack thereof in this game) are all much more noticeable. Jak’s animations are cleaner, and the game was rendered on a much larger, much more epic, scale. Jak II starts off immediately after the hidden ending in the first game. Jak and co. find themselves launched through a portal and scattered throughout time in a new world where three major factions are fighting over control of a bleak city. Jak is captured and tortured, which sets off the main events of the game. You run or clumsily fly through the city attempting to complete fetch quests and collect-the-item missions all while trying to uncover the secrets behind the city, stop the impending battle between factions, find your friends, and seek revenge. My biggest complaint about Jak II is that they tried, unsuccessfully, to incorporate too many elements into the game. There is a very forced change in tone from lighthearted and comical to dark and drab. The platforming elements are still there, but they are no longer the sole focus of the game. Although the platforming portions are relatively well done, they are all set in a world with little variation. Furthermore, many of the battles and exploration elements found in the first game have been replaced with fetch quests and poor shooting mechanics. Now you might get the impression I hated Jak II, but I actually still loved it. The introduction of new move sets and new ideas, including a dark version of Jak, were brilliant. Without the change, Jak II would have seemed stale-the ideas just weren’t implemented well. The story in Jak II is also greatly improved over the first game. Conclusion: Despite being the weakest link in the trilogy, Jak II is fun and decently respectable. The game tried to incorporate too many elements and the result was a hodgepodge of ideas that were not fully realized. Jak II just doesn’t have the same balance and polish that the first game had. It is a great game, and the collectibles will have you playing it for a long time (though they are sometimes tedious to find), but unless you are going to buy the entire collection, I would recommend passing up this game and instead downloading the first and third titles. Review Pros Cons Story is more interesting Return of lovable characters New ideas to keep the series from becoming stale Gorgeous graphics Poor balance of new ideas World is often boring and tedious The ‘dock’ level Fetch quests Rating 78% Jak 3 The third and final “true” game in the Jak and Daxter series, Jak 3, is once again a radical departure from the first title, and a vastly improved sequel to the second title. Jak 3 does away with all of the tedium involved in Jak II’s vehicle fetch quests, and replaces it with something that is actually fun. In short, Jak 3 successfully combines the random mix of ideas that was Jak II’s ultimate downfall. Top it all off with some of Daxter’s one liners (which are possibly the highlight of the game for me) and you have the recipe for a AAA game. Naughty Dog pulled out all the tricks with the gameplay styles here. Missions fluidly switch from racing to shooting to platforming and back again. The fetch quests all have a purpose now and all contribute towards the larger story. The best part about the new fetch quest system is that the ending location of one quest usually triggers the start of a new one, so you never feel like you have to repeatedly backtrack to previous locations. The larger missions in the game are broken up into smaller parts, which helps to maintain interest. Basically, Jak 3 is a refined version of the second game, and it shows. The platforming is on par with the first title, the shooting mechanics are now improved, the vehicle races are thrilling, and the world is once again an interesting place to explore. You gain the ability to transform into either a Dark or Light version of Jak, and the new abilities introduced with each transformation compliment each other. Furthermore, the combat in Jak 3 is more complex, requiring you to seamlessly blend various melee attacks and twirls, dark and light powers, gun games, and all-around bad-assery. Even small little annoyances, like traveling too slowly, are remedied by vehicles and hover boards. Conclusion: Without spoiling the entire series’ story, Jak 3 is set in the same universe as the first two games and marks the conclusion of the original trilogy. It is the perfect finale, and easily the best game of the collection. The relationship between Jak and Daxter, the cutscenes, and the wisecracks all have Naughty Dog’s signature style of humor. It’s easy to see how this studio developed Uncharted. Review Pros Cons Epic conclusion to a great trilogy Hilarious ending Fantastic mixture of gameplay elements Best looking game of the series Occasional camera glitches Some frustrating missions Rating 95% The Bottom Line The Jak and Daxter HD Collection is a must-own title for anyone. If you are ever looking for a platforming game, or you find yourself with a few bucks and some time to spare, I cannot recommend these games highly enough. No series is perfect, and I would be lying if I said these games were the epitome of the genre (I’m looking at you, Jak II), but they are an absolute joy to play. The gameplay is responsive, the story is humorous and amusing, and the worlds you explore are absolutely brilliant. All three games are still on par with this generations titles and are well worth checking out. You can download them separately through the PSN or buy all three games in the collection. Stay tuned for more news and an upcoming surprise! Review Pros Cons True HD update Sharp platforming gameplay Enjoyable characters Second game is good, but not great Camera is occasionally wonky Rating 90% *Disclaimer: As I do not have a 3D TV, I wasn’t able to test the 3D functions of the collection. However, the Jak and Daxter HD Collection can be played with 3D functionality. This review is based off of a retail version of the collection, provided by SCEA for review, and all three titles have been completed thoroughly.

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[PS3 Review] Jak and Daxter HD Collection