Jak II Is a Misunderstood Masterpiece

[@JsReviews]

The irony of misspelling “comment” at 17:32 is definitely not lost on me. Hope everyone watching enjoys the video nonetheless!

[@landontrahan5770]

@Cyril Moore 100% he should but I think he should do a marathon on the Mortal Kombat series and play Mortal Kombat VS DC on Xbox series X for the best performance and quality.

[@toonlinkunknown7667]

Hehe. Nice. Commment.

[@munchrai6396]

the triple M commment bloody killed me. The fact that it was unintentional makes it even funnier

[@shindig9000]

It was a great video! Well until you implied the Last of Us part 2 had good writing xD

[@tvoyager7]

gold

[@calvinmatthews1527]

To me, the Jak & Daxter series is one of those really rare series that are held in high regard but doesn't exactly have near as much spotlight in the industry. Not underrated, just underappreciated.

[@aninfinitemindofmusicandreams]

I'd put the fault on Sony and ND. The Jak series has enough recognition, but it would have been appreciated much for if it was simply given the same love as Ratchet and Clank. We did get the HD Collection and Jak and Daxter were in All Stars Battle Royale, but beyond that this series has been neglected by Sony and ND in favor of Uncharted and TLOU. Ratchet and Clank, a series I like a lot and one that slightly edges out Jak and Daxter for me, is going strong because Insomniac kept making Ratchet and Clank games even after creating new IPs like Resistance and taking on the responsibility of making Spider-Man. Jak 4 for the PS3 would have made a ton of money. Jak 4 for the PS4 would have made a ton of money. Jak 4 for PS5 can still make a ton of money because fans are still clamoring for a new game but I feel like if that game doesn't happen this gen then it likely won't ever happen. It doesn't even need to be ND that makes the game. Sly got a fourth major game made by a team other than Sucker Punch. The Sly series might be inactive now but it still got more love than Jak and Daxter, which is a bit surprising because as far as I know Jak and Daxter were second in popularity among the PlayStation 2 platformer trio of Ratchet, Jak and Sly. I love Sly btw, but I found it odd that Jak became pretty much irrelevant in ND and Sony's eyes after The Lost Frontier. Jak 2, Jak 3, Jak X Combat Racing were all damn good games and they still hold up. I play these games via emulation sometimes. A new game doesn't need to do much for the gameplay beyond slightly refining the mechanics of Jak 3 for better movement, combat and ways to traverse the open world. Ratchet and Clank has hardly changed since Going Commando because most of the gameplay formula was already great. Likewise with Jak 3.

[@Blgmilk]

the problem is naughty dog decided to make a the game in some kind of alien coding and no other industry wants to bother remaking it.

[@InsidiousOne]

The age of mascot platformers has long ended by the time J&D came to be.

[@keyshawnbess572]

Because ratchet and clank didn’t try to change the formula or go all dark like jak did. That’s the reason why ratchet and clank was more successful.

[@BBK113]

@@keyshawnbess572 that's a lie, have you never played R&C 4?

[@chancemitchell4147]

“Jak 2 is one of my favorite games of all times.” He gets it. This guy gets it.

[@anniemayflower9187]

He said top 10 so not really

[@jaredsmitha7703]

W game

[@josemesa2934]

It’s one of mine too from my childhood but man oh man it is not fun to play anymore for me. It didn’t age well I just get bored and frustrated with it. But as a kid it was one of my favorites ever so I’ll always look at it that way even if I can’t enjoy it now

[@ShadowThe771]

Fun fact. After recovering from losing weight and gaining insomnia from single-handily designing the stages in Sonic Heroes, Takashi Iizuka got the chance to play Jak and Daxter 2. Afterwards, he used Jak 2 as the inspiration to write and direct Shadow The Hedgehog (2005).

[@MagmaPaint]

That explains a lot

[@fictionalmediabully9830]

That's hilarious.

[@fandomwanderer6334]

@@skibot9974 Did he ever play ratchet tho?

[@erikbihari3625]

You watched golden bolt too?

[@ShadowThe771]

@@erikbihari3625 Yes sir.

[@ExistentialGamer1]

I always thought this detail is neat but when Jak is dealing with Daxter. He acts more like his old self. His guard is down, chuckles on Daxter's antics and more likely smiles. As opposed to dealing with most other people, where he's usually hostile and scowls. Yeah, Daxter is his best friend, but considering Jak is much more violent in this game, it is nice to see how he's soo chummy and friendly towards his friend! I like how Jak never went agro on Dax. Their friendship is beautiful!

[@giovannihansen7406]

Although try to take a look on the idle animations of the game. There he's even angry with him, it seems, haha, although there's one where Daxter makes Jak laugh at the end and it's so cute

[@AAKVII]

Their friendship was so memorable.

[@Ospyro3em]

This is one of the PS2's best, make no mistake, but part of me is also really interested in knowing the direction this game would have originally taken had GTA 3 not been forced to be an influence.

[@wyattbottorff2473]

I agree. Wholeheartedly. Its success and value does not discount the fact that Naughty Dog has always followed the trends to enhance popularity, at the detriment of their originality.

[@botbeamer]

@@wyattbottorff2473 Maybe it could just be that they liked GTA III, I loved Jak II but I never liked GTA games that much which shows that there is something special about this game

[@hwanniggles187]

@Alexander Capanov I dont think it was the open world but rather the content GTA brought to the table with its edge and renegade tones. Edge was huge back in the early 2000s so being a tough, loose cannon was a huge appeal

[@joshshrum2764]

I mean it would probably just be similar to ratchet, just a lighter more funny tone, which i wouldn’t like as much still I’d like to see it.

[@Alt_Haven]

I enjoyed the mission-based world of Jak II, having grown up playing colorful platformers on older consoles. It was a welcome change of pace; if anything, they didn't emulate GTA enough, by having a mostly empty city with little interactive potential.

[@PowercellZeke]

Hello? Based department? We got a Jak II enjoyer in chat. Jokes aside, great video once again. Jak 1 has always been my favourite in the series, but as time goes on, my appreciation for Jak 2 just grows more and more. What I really adore about this game is the fact that it wasn't a complacent sequel to the first game. The typical "same game, but better and more polished". It wasn't afraid to try new things, to expand the universe and gameplay in new and unexpected ways. But the reason it all lands so well is because Jak 1 is still such an integral part of its DNA. Jak 2 wouldn't be as impactful if it wasn't following up Jak 1. There's so many moments where you're just wandering the world, or in a tense combat encounter, and memories of that colourful world emerge in the back of your mind. I have such a strong connection to the world of Jak 1, it feels like a second home to me. Jak 2 is still that same world. But, just like with growing up, it changed. Got darker, more hostile. But it's still a world worth fighting for. This goes not only for the world design and immersion, but the gameplay differences as well. It's a tough game. It demands much more of the player. Again, this was such a bold move coming off the first game, but it again is informed by the world and tone. This world wants you dead, so you gotta fight like hell to save it. Speaking of gameplay, I appreciate the shoutout to my video! Upon reflection, I'm not super happy with the vid now (I think the framing of the video is a bit inflammatory) but I still largely agree with the overall points. Jak 2's combat is such an enigma, there really isn't anything like it. The character relative aiming has had its fair share of criticism, but the weapon, enemy, and level design all accommodate for that, and the fact that all the guns flow seamlessly with Jak's platforming moves make the guns feel like extensions to Jak 's moveset, instead of feeling like a disconnected gameplay style. I've recently been doing Hero Mode Deathless attempts, and let me tell you, it is SO satisfying getting good at the gunplay on a higher difficulty. The way there's different classes of enemies that favour different guns , and the way the level design incentivises you to switch up approaches so often is addicting, which is of course backed up by superb game feel, animations, and sound design. Dark Jak and the city design are really the only things in the game that could have used some redesigning imo, but the fact they're in the game at all again just adds to the experience. And of course, the Jet Board is godly, so much fun. A lot of people criticize Jak 2 for a lot of reasons. A lot of people are right when pointing out some instances of a lack of polish. But when I think of Jak 2, I think of a game that is more than the sum of its parts. A game that represents what's possible with a disregard for the rules, and an emphasis on creativity. And above all else, a game that's truly unique. There is nothing like it.

[@tivvy2vs21]

Klonoa in banner = based. Subbed

[@PowercellZeke]

@@tivvy2vs21 haha cheers mate

[@razorsharp5643]

Agreed, it's the definition of a good sequel. Rather than doing the same, they did something completely new and fresh. Just hearing the previously silent Jak get a voice in the very first scene was amazing. There could've been more to it, especially in making use of Haven City and the outdoor areas, but it was still a solid experience.

[@Sam-yx9ry]

0:18 it baffles me that there are people who think that the series isn’t worth it after the first title… the original Jak & Daxter trilogy was a roller coaster ride from start to finish. One of the greatest video game universes and stories of all time.

[@zachdinga6496]

Agree! The story alone is worth playing these games!

[@daleo95]

I know it’s probably already been said but can we appreciate how Cor’s human design incorporates metal head iconography. The piece of jewelry that sits on his forehead? Chef kiss for the foreshadowing through character design.

[@donovanfaust3227]

And his beard looks like mandibles as well.

[@Jander406]

Jak 2 will always be near & dear to my heart. It was the game I got with my PS2 on Christmas.

[@ChronicSpinDash]

One of my biggest achievements as a little guy was beating this game (and getting my mom to let me rent it). That difficulty curve hit me HARD bruh. Love this game!

[@scatered1]

I got the game when I was 7 and didn't actually beat it all the way through until I was 12 haha

[@TheSilvantor]

I read that as beating your mom to let you rent it

[@ubermaster1]

Okay so I wasnt the only one, as a kid I vividly remember the game getting randomly insanely hard at so many points

[@coleanderson8035]

Getting the first piece if the seal of mar flashbacks

[@Drums_of_Liberation]

@@coleanderson8035 bro first seal was easy. The one in the port town with the insta kill water drone was the hard one

[@teneesh3376]

In the ways they could have given jak a voice. His first words being "I'm gonna kill Praxis" is too perfect for this game. It sets the tone perfectly and says that it's a different game. Also it's too funny

[@ForceEdge47]

That feeling when J uploads a new video about one of your favorite games just as you sit down with a plate of food and a beer on your day off from work. The Precursors have smiled upon me this day.

[@landontrahan5770]

Dude, Same. Minus the beer though. Personally, I'd stick with a Sprite or Water.

[@joncaples2624]

Nah fr man 😂

[@averytubestudios]

If J ever reviews Zelda games, I imagine I’ll feel same way.

[@Lassenissen]

Almost exact same here except I'm with a beer *after* a long day at work. An excellent treat after a hard day.

[@ayrtonjoga]

@@averytubestudios Who knows, maybe in the future? In the mean time, J has a friend who also posts Reviews called "Retropolis Zone", who already did videos in a few titles and is gonna cover the NES Zelda titles soon

[@RemyJustice97]

12:36 one major difference I've noticed after playing them back to back is that in J&D, Jak's roll jump deals damage if you land on an object or an enemy, and in Jak II, it does not

[@Megaman.ExE7]

As I stated in your previous video. Jak II is in many ways an edgy master class. I feel that including a 'dark story' is something of a cliché in our days. But when this game released, most of us were super young. That being said, hearing Jak finally speak and having a rugged attitude totally fit the game's atmosphere. The gameplay, though flawed, has some amazing pacing and seeing how levels connect to one another over time is awesome. I also appreciate the weapons and different moves that made the platforming more fun. Also the hoverboard is one of the best Jak mechanics. I really do love this game, And as said before; it's the perfect game for your edgy dark adolescent years

[@quincyrogers9826]

I think it’s worth mentioning the roll leap doesn’t do damage in Jak 2 like it did in the first

[@bestratchetandclank]

The loading zone is really underrated in Jak 2 as you really feel like the city and it divisions that go into danger zones feel secure and feels reinforced.

[@yashwant7109]

Too many people misunderstand the combat in this game and criticize it without ever dabbling with the true extent of the depth of the gameplay

[@TerrorOfTalos]

Yeah so much depth that sequel right after threw it all out because the foundation was already shaky af.

[@stephaniegalliart859]

Yeah the notorious difficulty becomes a breeze once you realize you're not actually supposed to rely on your gun, but rather your gun is meant to compliment your melee abilities. Your melee attacks actually do more damage than the gun in some instances!

[@AlryFireBlade]

Yeah this Combat isn't Jump and Shoot. It trys to be a bit more realistic. If it would be just Jump and Shoot, then it would be a CLone of ratchet and Clank 2 and forward.

[@TerrorOfTalos]

@@AlryFireBlade The weapons aren't close to as unique and creative as RaC though that's the difference and when they *tried* to add diversity it was just unbalanced af. I'll admit Jak 2s combat worked better than it had any right to but still had several flaws.

[@kidprime6863]

Although, the underutilization of Dark Jak, in both gameplay and story, makes his inclusion more of an afterthought.

[@DesignDoc]

Lots of cool things about Jak 2. Frustrated the hell out of me back in the day though lol.

[@sugarbooger4434]

The thing I love about Jak II is that despite the shift in tone, you still feel that the game takes place in the same world as the first game in terms of the characters you would meet and the locations. In terms of sequels having higher poly count yet still retaining expressive character animation can also be found in Naughty Dogs Crash Bandicoot Trilogy. Cortex Strikes Back & Warped have higher poly counts and detailed and expressive character animation and rigging than the first game.

[@BlazedApples]

I played the Jak games out of order. Jak X, Jak 1, Jak 3, Lost Frontier. This was the last one I played. And it ended up being my favourite.

[@Alt_Haven]

Wow, that's an interesting play through sequence.

[@acegamergoldie1008]

It was a really interesting way to continue Jaks story. I remember it being really hard as a kid.

[@PokemonkaDub]

I think that Jak's "Uncle" is just a guy Samos befrended after getting to the past and who raised Jak, like a foster parent and Jak just was calling him uncle.

[@infamous_yp1997]

I had no idea Clancy brown voiced Baron and now I can't stop hearing Mr.Krabs

[@LanguageSimp]

Just replayed Jak 1 and your video has inspired me to replay Jak 2. So hype!!

[@grafnosferacula7473]

Didnt expect to see the language simp here Do you play all these games in different languages too? X)

[@solarmoon33]

Liking Jak 2 is a sign of maturity and culture

[@thetikijam]

Amen

[@jaredsmitha7703]

Fax

[@fictionalmediabully9830]

I've yet to play any of the Jak games, but I can understand the change in tone. If the sequels were just the first game all over again, they would receive criticism for being derivative and failing to keep up with the times. You can sort of say the same thing for the Crash games; they sold great but critics called out how derivative they were of 16-bit games, or at least the first two games. So a change in direction was necessary. I will say Jak 2 does look like a good example of how to change a game series' direction, even if it can come off as jarring, whereas something like Shadow the Hedgehog was a complete mess in tone, characterisation and storytelling. Solid video overall.

[@reallyhimongod]

Damn you behind like sh!t

[@stephaniegalliart859]

Shadow the Hedgehog was funny af because it was trying to be Jak II without understanding literally anything about why it worked for Jak II (it was the writing, art direction, animation, and voice acting that carried a very hefty part of Jak II). It was edgy and cool for the sake of being edgy and cool, whereas Jak kinda comes off as a parody of an angry edgy teenager and that somehow just works.

[@ClassicCOD]

Jak 2 went from a kids game like spyro and crash, to a game for all and also carried on the story. it is a masterpiece. with the ps2 you saw games that felt fit the ps2, this game pushed the ps2 to its limits and made every game look awful

[@linkin7357]

Jak 2 is the reason you don't have to listen to the critics...

[@fictionalmediabully9830]

@@linkin7357 I remember researching it was well-received by the press at the time, sooooooo...

[@freaknr1]

Jak 2 has its issues, and in some ways I prefer J&D's pure platforming and more adventurous style, but it's still a damn good game that I've replayed more times than I can count. As you point out, the story is solid and the script a ton of fun, and combined with the satisfying and challenging gameplay, it's one of the best games on the PS2, which is saying something. Sounds like Jak 3 will be an interesting video, as I have changed my own opinion a lot back and forth on that one. Looking forward to it.🤘

[@jfb173jb]

I think the voices in this game are pretty indicative of the time when this game came out. Like Sig being voiced by Phil Lamar or Praxis being voiced by Clancy Brown. Let alone a handful of other odd ones from the 90s. Like Keira being voiced by Anna Garduno, the same actress who voiced Palmon in Digimon Adventure and Pecker being voiced by Chris Cox. J you might recognize him Captain Atom from JLU or maybe Hawkeye in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

[@ChristianFrates1997]

Don’t forget David Herman.

[@Starglaed]

Also Susan Eisenberg (Ashelin VA) who voiced Wonder Woman in the 2001 Justice League cartoon

[@jfb173jb]

@@Starglaed yep and from Jackie Chan Adventures she was Viper.

[@Starglaed]

@@jfb173jb right! I loved that show.

[@jfb173jb]

@@Starglaed it was a great show when I was a kid. Loved the oni mask season. hey not sure if you'll read it, but I'm working on a story that includes JCA. It's an MHA xover that I'll release on my Multiverse Peek story.

[@redstreak9430]

The fact I got a GTA Online ad on this video is appropriate considering the opening monologue

[@abdulazizalabdulkareem1380]

This sequel was awesome, idk why everyone doesn’t really like it that much

[@crangejo]

They don't know how to play it. It's similar to the RaC 2002 situation

[@mysterycupofjoe2670]

I love it, but the far off save points can be frustrating. It reminds me of the old NES difficulty. Pretty much Jak II tells you, "Get good!"

[@landontrahan5770]

@@mysterycupofjoe2670 Sonic Unleashed: A worthy foe. Our battle will be legendary.

[@Benjamillion]

Awesome in concept, but the difficulty spikes makes it hard to come back to for me.

[@TheBlackSamurai2708]

Lack of checkpoints

[@BruceWillisiscool]

I remember late nights at my friends house or mine and we would all play this. We would switch after every mission or death. The good ol days.

[@hexwolfi]

I think we can all agree that Jak II was one of the boldest video game sequels ever made. The tone shift from the 1st to the 2nd game hits like total whiplash and yet it's incredible that they made the damn thing work so well. In fact, it's kind of remarkable how much this game impacted who I am today; I'd probably be a different person right now had I never played it.

[@JakkedDog]

It's almost like Naughty Dog has a penchant for very divisive 2nd games lmaooo

[@NihilisticIdealist]

Jak 2 was misunderstood. The Last of Us 2 is just pretendious. Also, Crash 2 & Uncharted 2 were never divisive among their fanbase.

[@JavierGonzalez-um6vm]

oh my god, I didnt even realize that the weapon mod/ammo types corresponded to the eco types in Jak 2. Even after re-playing through the game for years I'm always still learning details lol, thank you for this awesome video !

[@thetikijam]

Amazing thanks for that

[@tabreezsiddique]

Best method of the slums ambush mission; punch your way through. (seriously though, that's like the tactic that got me by with little to no problems)

[@kidprime6863]

I'll keep that in mind the next time I do that mission again

[@_Tzer]

if shadow the hedgehog was more like jak 2 people would have honestly not hate it.

[@josephdias5859]

jak games are some of the goats of the 2000s totally underrated

[@jahfeezy7381]

Damn I thought everyone knew this game was goated. I loved it so much as a kid playing it with my dad and not being able to beat it for so long I think it took me 3 separate play thru lol

[@luminasdiary]

I replayed both 1 & 2 recently. I love Jak 1; but Jak 2 is even better. I think it has soo much more going for it. They somehow took 3d platforming and mixed it with open world driving to make something truly unique.

[@thetikijam]

Amen

[@nesoukkefka1741]

You know funny I NEVER realise Daxter was the one using the guns when ridind a vehicle, yet it's so logical I feel dumb now XD

Jak 2 was the first game a ever got, it came in the packaging to the PS2 console. It took years to progress beyond the first majot hurdle, the tank mission in Act 1. It definitively holds up today, with all the intrigue and Haven City. Haven City is like a separate character. Then there's a lot more moral ambiguity than the 1st game. That said, Jak 2 is one of my favorite PS2 games.

[@toasttitan3253]

Jak 2 did the same thing Shadow the Hedgehog did but… y’know actually good

[@danielhoward9729]

I loved Jak & Daxter growing up. 2 through my tiny brain for a loop, but I loved the time travel/future esthetic.

[@songoku2711]

Was watching your TMNT videos and stumbled upon you talking about Jak and Daxter! Earned a subscriber! Also, Jak 2 is my favorite in the series.

[@CocinaconAndiox]

Saying that you didn't need to strafe around enemies is just a lie. In a lot on situations strafing would be the ideal move, yet you have to rely on the auto aim when trying to move away and reposition yourself.

[@ronamus9330]

Coming straight from Jak 1 right into Jak 2. I can say its a more impressive game and a good sequel. I can safely say I don't hate this game. The platforming felt way more intricate and missions with the hoverboard were great. The gun combat also wasn't bad and I wouldn't consider it that hard once you take a slow approach. But my entire experience with the game is sullied by two things. I'd be beating a dead horse so I won't delve into checkpoints. However, the other aspect that aggravated the shit out of me just as much was the Haven City drive missions. I absolutely dreaded it anytime a character mentioned going on a run. I don't hate these missions because of the controls of the vehicles. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed doing the races in the stadium. My problem was the relentless guards that chased you during said missions. You have these assholes who would decide to end it all ram straight into you. On their own they aren't a big deal. You can just duck them if your flying. But accompanied by other guards constantly shooting you and in most of these missions where there's a timer AND you have no means of healing. It was torture to get through

[@ss2gora0]

skill issue. you just gotta know when to duck out of oncoming bikes, not that hard.

[@thetikijam]

Lol

[@russellwestbrook462]

@@ss2gora0when they decide to ram into you from behind there’s nothing you can do about it because there’s zero indication they’re about to ram you since there wasn’t a look back button. If they added that in it would’ve helped in the driving missions a lot

[@ss2gora0]

@@russellwestbrook462 yea for sure, i also thought the camera controls in Jak 2 were subpar. I just learnt not to be in such a vulnerable position, i mean you can avoid being in such a spot like that in the first place if you're fast enough.

[@MarkyVals]

Haven't thought about Jak and Daxter in years until I randomed into this video. You made me realize that I unconsciously view the gameplay to story ratio of Jak 2 as the ideal. They had a good story to tell but that wasn't the whole point of the game, just as much attention went to keeping the gameplay both challenging and fun. Going to have to find time replay it again at some point.

[@lomborg4876]

I love how a game from 2003 (2001 if you count Jak & Daxter: PL) have better animations than Skyrim from 2011

[@SolidSnake240]

I always assumed that every Jak fan loved this game when it came out. There's so many improvements to gameplay and the story was even more complex than the first. I put so many hours into it unlocking all the cheats.

[@thetikijam]

Yes it's fantastic. I have 0 issues with it

[@jordanread5829]

Even on hero mode, the only mission I always seem to struggle with is the one where you have to destroy the eco ship at the drill platform. And only because of the first section where you have to destroy 30 guards.

[@bendezero]

You caused me PTSD man by just reading it

[@lazyporcupine2360]

knowing that the guy who voiced praxis also voiced Mister Krabs makes him being a bumbling idiot of a dictator all the funnier IMO.

[@Guitar_Dude09]

Im loving these Jak & Daxter videos I’m getting , they are my top 3 games & nothing will take their place because I know I can always come back to them & still feel like the first time, great video!

[@TidusX16]

My brother and I love this game! We got so good at this that we started doing the "No Death" playthrough. Meaning from start to finish we could not die or restart a mission. The turret missions were edge-of-our-seat fun, glad you talked about the difficulty cause it really was a test of skill.

[@landontrahan5770]

When I start my own sonic tuber channel, I will 100% guarantee the entire Jak and Daxter series will get lets plays and streams.

[@tangoalpha94]

Whenever you take your weapon out the tone of the music changes. Details like that made the game cool to play as a kid

[@thetikijam]

This👆

[@patrickahwong5020]

It's really comforting to see so many people still remembering this amazing game. I remember going to BlockBuster with dad and my brother, both kids, and renting this game out and having to pay the penalty fee because we would try to finish the story... Im 30 now, married, and have a son on the way, just cant help but feel abit of saddness, really reminiscing and missing the old days of playing these games... The Jak and Daxter series will ALWAYS have a place in my heart. Thanks for making my childhood memories naughtydog

[@philipjennings4664]

Jack and Daxter is an incredible series with tons of personality. Huge part of my childhood

[@Longshot29]

The jak and daxter games are so darn good. Imagine how good a 4th one would be today if they didn't stop making them. They would be more recognized

[@rosyan]

I actually was already an adult when I started playing the series myself. I was aware of the games when they came out and I was about 10-12 or so, and I was interested in them, but didn't have a chance to play them until much later. And ooooh boy, did I fall in love with the series. Jak II is easily among my favourite games of all times, love the combination of the cartoony aesthetics and darker tone, something I feel people are unnecessarily scared of combining, especially these days. The original trilogy is also one of my favourite game series, and I regularly play though the first game just because I enjoy the game feel and cozy atmosphere so much. (Funny enough, everything I said also applies to Sly series.) Anyway, greatly enjoying the retrospective so far!

[@AntiPeoplePersons]

Us 90’s babies grew up on jak, he’ll always have our hearts

[@Strongtower23]

Love this game, it blew my mind as a kid, the whole time traveling aspect of it and it all tying together in a neat little bow at the end solidified it for me as a childhood classic.

[@KarimBoctorAwad]

What makes jak and daxter memorable are the characters and their distinct personnalities.

[@dylansurendranath3091]

This is also one of my favourite games of all time! Jak 2 really is an example of how to pull off a change in tone correctly, while also refining the gameplay from the first game.

[@naysgameopinions]

I'll never forget going up that elevator on the way to barons palace and seeing the city below me. That was so cool.

[@UnrealNeoBat]

42:46 Not to mention Kevin Conroy as the fisherman in the last game.

[@timyac]

What's worse than the missions with no checkpoints are the ones with too many. Sometimes you can get stuck at a tough spot with the checkpoint too close to prepare for the challenge.

[@178laaleros]

I loved jak 2 i remember when jak first talked in this game i was like holy shit this is way different

[@qrowing]

Really set the tone going forward, too. "I'm gonna _KILL_ Praxis!!!"

[@AtomicF0x]

I love the crap out of Jak 2. I first played it back in 2004. It was also the first Jak and Daxter game I ever played, so I didn't really experience any of the jarring sensation experienced by veterans of the first game. But thanks to the time travel element present in the story, Jak 2 also technically functions as both as a prequel _and_ a sequel to the first game. I love the duo of Jak and Daxter conversing with one another and the denizens of Haven City, the story beats, the atmosphere, making my way through the city (my dad even liked watching me drive too), the addicting movement of the control scheme, the art style, and the stadium races. Just a classic in my book.

[@landontrahan5770]

J, your channel and this entire retrospective makes me want to play the Jak and Daxter games. So, Thank you.

[@landontrahan5770]

@Alexander Capanov Yeah. I will. Please understand that I'm going into these games with a fresh mind. I will try to give each one the respect they deserve. Also, any criticisms I have don't interfere with the games' strengths.

[@landontrahan5770]

@Alexander Capanov Also, when I do in-character lets plays on my upcoming sonic tuber channel, I'm going to be doing commentary with a friend and will try to keep my promise.

[@landontrahan5770]

@Alexander Capanov I will play the PS3 versions.

[@landontrahan5770]

@Alexander Capanov Do you want to know what character I'll play in-character while playing these games?

[@landontrahan5770]

@Alexander Capanov Are you still there?

[@kidprime6863]

Fun Fact: According to the game's unlockable Concept Art Scrapbook, Dark Jak was originally supposed to use the Morph Gun but it was cut. Most likely from animation budget, time constraints or perhaps that Dark Jak would've used up all the weapon's ammo faster. Also another Fun Fact: another DCAU actor, Kevin Conroy, the voice of DCAU Batman, was the voice of The Fisherman from The Precursor Legacy.

[@ramonortiz1991]

My biggest complaint is why we never got figures of jak and daxter

[@patientzero8130]

Honestly one of my favorite things about the series is that every game an be taken in a vacuum and still be understood The first game I played in the series was jak 2 when I was around 10 and I still understood what was going on

[@oneautumnleaf2622]

For me I never thought Jak 2 or 3 changes jaks character in a way that felt weird, tbh it just shows he has matured and has gone through alot more. really wish we get jak 4 some day

[@RON_HART]

My favorite game of all time, but it’s definitely a child of it’s time. Nowadays, dark/gritty &/or open world Game are very common vs 2003. If a new Jak is ever made, I wouldn’t mind a more Jak 1 style collectathon game, but with the strengths of Jak 2 and 3. Even full on remakes of all three would be amazing, especially with todays tech. The Spyro/crash remakes, and recent Ratchet games prove its possible.

[@LeeEverett1]

Amazing timing, I just got done watching your Jak 1 retrospective so now onto this one 👌

[@GKnox215]

Hero mode is a fun challenge for a Jak 2 veteran most of the time, but some of its concepts aren’t totally thought out. For example you start with all your guns, but crates won’t drop ammo for guns in mission until they would in the normal game. So the only way to get ammo for say your peacemaker earlier game is to do waves of Krimzon Guards in the open world. Also they take away all your Dark Jak powers and make you re unlock them. Lastly, one of the missions (where you destroy the KG ship at the drill platform) is downright impossible on Hero Mode and I had to use a glitch to get past it

[@Jnensrevenge]

Jak II holds up WAY better than Grand Theft Auto 3 or Vice City. Only thing keeping Vice City afloat these days is the soundtrack and atmosphere, but Jak 2 is still sooooo much fun to play. Well the lack of checkpoints has always been bull.

[@ledarbyromeo9667]

Before I begin this video. I just wanna acknowledge Jak II as one of the handful of video games I've ever completed. I grew up poor & religious, Ive only owned a Super Nintendo, N64, PS2, and a Dreamcast briefly, and the XBox One, which I only ever played Fallout 4 on. Newer games just didnt happen. RuneScape, Jak II, GTA3, and Fallout 4 are the only games I really spent time in throughout my 32 years. I aint really a gamer, but sandbox games really either helped me handle a streasful childhood, or was a coping mech that sucked up 15+ years of my life & the reason Im an awkward reclusive that forces himself into social events & tries to fit in. Even now, Im still trying just to fit in. Jak II and long form reviews are so comforting. Thank you in advance.

[@MrJaagz]

In my opinion, there is a strategic use for Dark Jak's "super moves" in large areas with lots of enemies, for example, at the end of the first and last sewer level.

[@kidprime6863]

That's correct.

[@dominikwusa3570]

I started with Jak 2 as a Teen. Loved it. Jak 1 later was a huge disapointment for me. And i Loved Jak 3 too

[@pie6088]

I first played through jak 2 as an adult and I really enjoyed it. But I can see why others dislike it.

[@WHATISUTUBE]

I dont think its even that gamers were older at the time, its also that kids themselves wanted to play GTAIII over Jak and Daxter (not that the game didn't sell or anything). I remember being in 8th grade and everyone only talked about GTA. Its funny how we've come full circle and nowadays adults enjoy and want to play games that seem more kid friendly. Like Sonic. I know Fortnite has a large base of kids that play it, but it has a large base of adults as well. We've gone full circle and adults--at the very least--don't mind child friendly looking games. You can argue that something like Overwatch looks very child friendly, with its bright color palette.

[@Thirteen13551355]

Played this game around two years ago. It's amazing, in my opinion the best of the trilogy. I prefer most Ratchet games, but this game truly felt like the "Dark Souls" of 3D platforming hahaha (just a lot harder than Dark Souls).

[@Flesh_Wizard]

Dark Souls is the Jak 2 of action adventure RPGs

[@AVGJ3859]

Jak 2 has a better story, better graphics, amd more combat gameplay. The tone is a lot more mature than the 1st game. I can't think of anything that 1 does better than 2.

[@Alt_Haven]

Yep. Best game in the series, for a variety of reasons, most of them fully covered in this video. I'd even argue that the Precursor Legacy turned away from the potential of its lore *after* Jak II, leading to diminishing returns. Precursor architecture? Lore? Time travel? Jak is Mar?! Oh, nevermind, much better to branch out into tangential storylines that ultimately go nowhere (or the end of the world, in this case).. but I digress. Great breakdown in this video. Nicely done.

[@mrlloydval2887]

39:05 Wait.... 15 years? So Kiera is what, 13? And Erol, a grown man, spends half the game fawning over her?

[@JsReviews]

According the Wiki, Keira is 18 during Jak X, which would mean she'd be about 16 in Jak II. So yeah...that's not much of a different in Erol's defense, but I figured I'd look into the numbers anyway, and because of that... This comment actually got me to think about the time travel aspect of the series more, and Keira's age is one of the weirdest parts about it. The wiki also says that young Samos and Jak were in the past for 10 years before being sent to the future at the start of Jak II, but Keira was definitely born in the past...so that would mean she'd be 10 years old at the oldest in Jak 1, and 12 in Jak II. If Young Samos and Jak were in the past for 15 years like I guessed, it would probably work out a lot better, but...yeah...those are the facts according to my research. A massive inconsistency.

[@kidprime6863]

​@@JsReviewsDude, the more you analyze it, the more it hurts your brain. Let's just say Keira was 16 in Jak II and leave it at that.

[@Snake101333]

Jak II really was an amazing game. But a hard son of a gun....

[@BCZ21]

This was my definitely in my top 10 pS2 games growing up. I was like 12 or 13 when this came out n the GTA mechanics was mind blowing at the time

[@wildchameleon7622]

The setting was otherworldly The lore was interesting The guns were special, and enjoyable the Haven city theme is A masterpiece in terms of video game soundtrack

[@gajspalt]

Yes dude! Jak 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando are amongst my top favorite games of all time! Wish my PC was good enough to run emu software so I can relive some nostalgia.

[@ryaiariot]

Tbf Jak's "uncle" can be written off as just that; an "uncle" like how you would call a longtime family friend an uncle/aunt. We don't see any other supposedly blood-related family in TPL anyways so it's rather easy to make that a plausible theory.

[@christianmillan9527]

Great voice cast, I wanted to say Phil Lamar is very talented and Baron Praxis (Clancy Brown) is mr. Krabs lol

[@justcus]

i remember getting stuck on the hellcat cruiser mission as a kid. i gave up playing for a while because i just couldn't beat it and it really bummed me out because i loved the first game. eventually i picked it back up and after a few more attempts i made it past that mission. when i got to the metal head nest mission i hit another wall. i'm not sure if there was something wrong with my tv, or if it was intended, but the area in game was so dark i couldn't see anything and would just die over and over from all the metal heads. a friend at school told me that they had the same issue and to just turn the brightness setting up on my tv. i went home that day, tried it, and beat the level after a few tries. good times. jak and daxter / ratchet and clank were two of my favorite video game series as a kid (and still are). i loved how they would have easter egg references to each other in both games. i really wish naughty dog would reboot the series. i'd even just take a proper remake of the trilogy, but a proper reboot with jak 4 would be amazing.

[@limitedbrainchill2707]

The phrase "Boomer Shooter" (3:44) is completely new to me and I love it.

[@travisc7722]

Glad to see someone appreciate this game. I might have to do a replay myself!

[@FutureJacket]

J I appreciate your restrospectives. Having grown up during the edgy 2000s Jak II was my favourite game and something that was hard won. I only had access to Jak and Daxter through a friend. But Jak II was mine. And it was awesome.

[@joaquini007]

Bro.... You've definitely got your sub. imma buy some merch.

[@GnarlyKnots]

I played the first Jak and daxter as a kid and loved it, when i was a teenager, i went to blockbuster and saw Jak 2 and had no idea they made a second game. I saw the gun and Jaks new look and was extremely interested, as i grew up since the first game, it kind of grew up with me. Then i read the back, it says "Jaks mad as hell" and i went yep, time to buy this

[@bigpharmasports9120]

I think its the tone shift that likely got to most people. As great as this video is, there is one thing you didnt mention at all in this retrospective and that is the obvious references to crash bandicoot in tone, music and presentation in the first game, which i think really changed in the second game. Coming from Naughty dog, the influence is truly there in jak one, and it was truly the successor to crash bandicoot moreso than sly or ratchet.