Jak II: Jak is Bak... Company: SCEA When we last left our heroes Jak and Daxter, they had finally collected all of the Precursor Stones and were preparing to enter the giant door that led to ...well, we never got a chance to see what was on the other side of that door, did we? I'll be honest with you, after working my ass off to collect every stone in the game, I felt rather cheated. But, despite this I still went on to play through Jak and Daxter at least 3 more times, and the game still reigns as one of my favorites on the PS2. Now, nearly two years after their first adventure, Jak and Daxter are back -- and apparently that door lead to a not-so-happy place. The first thing players are likely to notice about Jak II is the darker tone the entire game takes. The first game was a fun adventure, and carried with it a light-hearted feel. This is not the case with Jak II, which takes our heroes to a very dark place and features a more mature story line (making it Naughty Dog's first Teen rated game). The game opens with Jak breaking out of prison where he has been the subject of relentless torment and experiments. This experience has left Jak with a bitter outlook on life, and he's not shy about telling you about it. After his escape, Jak has vengeance on his mind and sets out to punish those responsible. Much like the original game, the Jak II demo has all but engulfed much of my gaming life. Though the demo is only two levels long, I've been unable to tear myself away from the game. It's not that the demo is just THAT deep (although the hover board area does leave a lot of flexibility for exploration), but it's just that much fun. The first section is a simple introduction to the game's new weapons system. In a very Ratchet and Clank like twist, Jak can now use weapons, in addition to his trademark moves. Though the weapons don't seem quite as unique as those found in Ratchet and Clank, the simple selection found in the demo is still just as lethal. For the most part, this segment plays almost exactly like the previous games, only a tad more refined. The camera system has also gone through a bit of retooling and shows minor improvements. Switching through weapons is a breeze, and the abundant amount of ammo that can be found is liable to keep you shooting for awhile. Because of his experiences in prison, Jak now has the ability to enter a 'Berserker Rage' after collecting enough Dark Eco. After entering this mode, Jak becomes indestructible and capable of inflicting maximum damage. In addition to the run-n-gun action, Jak II also features a number of hover boarding segments. In fact, due to the game's very open level structure, Jak can hop on his board at anytime and tool around the world. The game will also feature other vehicles to aid in travel around the world. Though the demo was still early and featured a few bumps (such as a few control problems when grinding on the hover board), so far it looks like the game is shaping up to be everything the first game was, and could give Nintendo's storied mascots a run for their money. -Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker Related Links: Naughty Dog (Official Site) Jak II (Official Site) Sony Computer Entertainment Association