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Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier Review
Written by Robert Workman on Thursday, November 5, 2009
Plays just as wonderfully as previous Jak and Daxter adventures, spectacular flying segments, features a great comedic style in both its presentation and dialogue, the Dark side of Daxter is bad-ass, plenty of unlockables and collectibles.
Storyline is slightly weaker than previous games, easily beaten within a few hours, no online battles.
Supposedly, Naughty Dog wrapped up its Jak and Daxter series on the PlayStation 2 with Jak 3 and the following driving game, Jak X. That, however, hasn't stopped the duo from making a killer comeback, this time on the PlayStation Portable. Despite being made by a different team (High Impact Games, the same developers behind Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters), Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is just as entertaining as Naughty Dog's previous games.
In it, Jak and Daxter live peacefully in the village, worn out from previous. However, a sudden lack of Eco sends everyone into a frenzy. The power begins to fade, and Eco Storms occur, threatening their village. With help from an up-and-coming Eco sage named Keira, they find a far-away land that has plenty of the magical stuff. They set out on a journey to track it down and save their home world, not knowing that a group of air pirates also want it for themselves. The chase is on.
Most of the platforming gameplay was borrowed from previous Jak and Daxter games, but there's a comfortable feel to it. You'll happily enjoy pulling off spin kicks and double jumping your way to higher ground. However, there are some new tricks.
First, Jak now carries guns (ala Ratchet), and can improve his skills using dark Eco. This includes expanding melee strength and health, along with the power of his weapons. Daxter uses dark Eco as well, transforming into a Hulk-like version of himself, with spikes grown out of his back and immense strength. His platforming segments are a lot of fun, with a mixture of enemy bashing and puzzle-solving (mostly just hitting switches while avoiding obstacles.)
The plane battles are the best additions to the game. Since you're going head-to-head against air pirates, you'll need to take them down while dog fighting, hopping into a plane and shooting them out of the sky before they can do the same to you. These flying segments look impressive, and aiming your cursor at the bad guys is a snap. You can also perform aerial techniques to avoid incoming fire and swivel behind someone, just when they least expect it.
We were worried that High Impact Games wouldn't be able to meet the same high-quality standards Naughty Dog set with previous Jak and Daxter games, but The Lost Frontier is equally delightful. The animations look excellent (especially dark Daxter) and the level design isn't too shabby, with a huge world to explore and huge, expansive areas to fly around.
Don't worry about the sound, either. The Lost Frontier has the same zippy, hilarious dialogue as previous games, with Jak, Daxter and others providing amusing commentary. The background music is also a delight, with some new tunes mixed in with a few Jak and Daxter classics.
As enjoyable as The Last Frontier is, it doesn't last forever. You'll beat the main story mode in a matter of hours, and it doesn't always hold your attention. There's nothing over-the-top about the it, no major surprises. It's just a "point A to point B" tale, and that's a wrap. There are some hidden unlockables, though, including Precursor Orbs to track down and bonus little goodies, including a movie player. Not much else, though.
Nevertheless, just when we thought we'd seen the last of Jak and Daxter, High Impact Games surprises us with this thrilling romp. Welcome back, team.
