Jak 2 Renegade (PlayStation 2)

By JON MINIFIE

Herald rating: * * * *

Naughty Dog, creators of the brilliant but slightly tired Crash Bandicoot, bring the second instalment of this simple yet highly playable platformer and, boy, do they bring it with style.

The similarities between Jak (pictured) and Crash are there, if you want to look for them. They both attack with spins, collect objects, and the environments can also be likened to each other.

Jak has been imprisoned in a futuristic fortress for years, tortured and experimented on by the evil mastermind Baron. Jak gets out, he's mad and he wants revenge.

The levels are vast and extremely open-ended. The main location, Haven City, is huge, Liberty City huge, with nary a loading screen in sight and with more twists and turns than a slinky mauled by a small child.

More than 15 different levels lay beyond the walls of Haven City and it's all you can do to get through the wonderfully rendered streets and alleys to get to play them. And when you do, it's nothing short of gobsmacking just how good looking they are.

Day turns to night as in the previous Jak & Daxter title, but this time round there's a weather engine, too. Clouds hide the sun, which peeks from gaps and causes gasps from onlookers. Jak and friends have trebled in polygon count, leaving you quite satisfied in your purchase of a PS2 and not in the least bit bitter that your mate has an Xbox.

As far as gameplay goes, it's pretty similar to the Precursor Legacy. The levels, while linear to a degree, offer plenty of surprises and diversity aplenty, from re-establishing the town's water supply to defending a stranded vehicle to garner the respect of a hot chick.

Sure, from time to time it's tough to get through Haven City without bashing into everything in sight, but that's a pretty minor beef compared with how much this game has to offer. And that's the great thing about Jak 2; the fact that no matter what kind of game you normally like, you'll find something in this title that is sure to please.

$119.95


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