Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

Good lord, is this a beautiful game. [Jan 2002, p.124]

FHM

Great, if somewhat surreal platform adventure with massive playability. Cancel your social life.

Gaming Age

The difficulty ramps up perfectly, and the game does not rely on a typical lives/continues system.

GameZone

The gameplay is what makes Jak and Daxter what it is: a masterpiece.

Electric Playground

Offers up the kind of gaming experience that you will never forget.

TotalPlayStation

From the way the game renders an entire world that you can explore from one end to the next without a single loading screen, to animation that literally trounces anything ever seen in any videogame, to game design that keeps things interesting despite being what some would call “just a fetch quest,” this is a perfect example of the next generation in videogames.

IGN

It has that magical feeling that not all games can possess and it's just flat out a joy to play...One of the few games that I can't help but smile and have fun when I'm playing...A true 3D platform/adventure masterpiece.

Game Informer

On several occasions, I found myself staring in awe at the little details Naughty Dog so meticulously included. [Jan 2002, p.76]

Absolute Playstation

SWEET PACKAGE. The graphics are gorgeous and gameplay was an extremely nice experience as well as addictive.

GamerWeb Sony

Its charismatic cast, wonderful voice acting, drop dead beautiful graphics, and awesome level design make Jak and Daxter one of the best platform/adventure games I've ever played.

TotalGames.net

An enjoyable remix of all the best that platform adventures have to offer and, ultimately, it can only be your loss if you do decide to pass on it.

Game Revolution

[It] has as set a new benchmark for the platformer genre with its huge environments and gaming freedom. Play this one through, and you'll never look at platformers the same way again.

Game Over Online

Another surprise to me was the great management of textures within the game.

XenGamers

Lush graphics and feature film-quality animation complement the fun gameplay and tight controls.

Into Liquid Sky

Probably the most impressive part of the game is that all of the territory is connected, visually and gameplay-wise. Anywhere you can see, you can get to.

Eurogamer

A decent length for a videogame at roughly ten hours, and it boasts an enormous number of hugely varied tasks to complete and beautiful sights to see. Capped off with an elegant control system and intelligent game design, this is the platformer to bury both mediocre rivals like "Banjo Kazooie" and old classics like "Mario 64."

Yahoo! Games

One of the most thrilling games to hit PS2 since its launch.

Cheat Code Central

If you love this type of game, if you enjoy being taken into a world that lasts very long, is fun and is not frustrating to play, then this is a must have for your collection.

Hot Games

Jak and Daxter brings back memories of the fun of Crash without killing the character through repetition.

GamePen

Simply amazing.

GameSpy

The nonexistent load times, unlimited draw distance, and non-linear level design go far to establish Jak & Daxter as a classic, but there could have been more innovation to cement its position.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Outstanding polish.

PSX Nation

Moving from one area to the next is the smoothest I have ever seen in any game. From a technical standpoint, this is truly revolutionary.

GamePro

Its premise is straightforward, yet there’s so much to do and see, along with some sizeable challenges that will test even the brightest adventure veterans.

GameSpot

While it generally lacks originality, its tight execution and heavy action elements ensure that things never become dull.

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

If a game like "Devil May Cry"'s a double espresso, heavy on the sugar, then Jak and Daxter's a nice soothing cup of tea. One offers non-stop thrills, but is over almost before it starts; the other's everything you'd expect, and it won't get you especially worked up, but lasts much longer.

GameShark

There's no loading time, ever, and you can always see some part of the map, fully animated, from where you currently are. It's a neat trick that isn't fully realized until you a few hours into playing.

Gamezilla!

I was a tad disappointed in the slowdowns but, given the beauty of the game, it was forgivable.

Cinescape

This world is giant: get really high up in the air and you can see most of the videogame. That’s an incredible feat, something I don’t think I would have imagined feasible on the Playstation 2.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Handily bests the Crash games in every way. [Jan 2002, p.210]

PALGN

A fairly solid 3D Platformer with only a lack of difficulty letting it down. Definitely more worthwhile at the cheaper Platinum price point, and worth a look for all gaming fans.

G4 TV

The camera is sometimes unwieldy, and for some bizarre reason can only be rotated around Jak, not moved vertically, though there is a first-person view that lets you look around. Beyond that, however, Jak and Daxter is an excellent example of a 3D platformer.

GMR Magazine

The studio that gave birth to Crash Bandicoot brings a couple of new mascots and new gorgeous 3D world to the PS2. [Feb 2003, p.92]

All Game Guide

While it would have been nice to see some new play mechanics introduced or more bosses to fight (only three are in the entire game), most will have a hard time putting the controller down.

GameCritics

It is Daxter who gives the game its flavor—more so than the relatively anonymous Jak. This flavor is ultimately what sets Jak And Daxter apart from a lot of the other platform games out there.