Jak 3: Greatest Hits

Jak 3: Greatest Hits
by Sony (PS 2)

I’ve always been a huge Ratchet & Clank fan so I never had touched the Jak series. But when you see a new PS2 game in a bin for $12.95, what the heck. Sometimes, not as often as you should, you come across a title that makes you remember why you love games. This is just such a title. I can’t speak to the first two games in the series so I don’t know the whole back story of Jak and Daxter, but you don’t really need that background to enjoy, no love this game.

With other titles of this type the visual landscape can seemed forced and unconnected. Just making stuff “pretty” cause they could, not because it make sense to the game play. That is not the case with Jak 3. Of course this isn’t an “open world,” but at points it sure feels like it. I ventured all over the place and there was usually more than a little value in my effort.

What I enjoued the most was the number of weapons and vehicles. In some games of this type they can seem limited. Not with Jak 3. There are twelve interesting guns, four melee attacks, and a “dark” Jak mode with melee that is just flat out fun. I also really came to dig the hover-board, which always seems to be around when you need it.

The interplay between segments tells a story that does affect game play, but not so much to make it a burden. And my a burden when I play a title of this type I just want to have some fun, not have to engage in complex analytical reasoning.

It took me about 28-32 hours to complete, which looking at the reviews is longer than most. Many were not happy about this little fact and seems to be a big issue, but it was only $12.95. Jak 3 is time well spent.