Daxter
This game is a lot like its protagonist: fluff on the outside, solid within.
Published: April 15, 2006
For all it does right, one would presume the gameplay to be equally matched by some top-notch storytelling, right? Well, not exactly. The problem here is that, depending on the audience, a majority of the brewing plot elements are either going to provide some welcome insight to fans who're acquainted with the entire Jak tale, or make for a whole lot of head-scratching for newcomers. It is assumed that you've played through Jak II and are well aware of the convoluted conflict that has thrown Haven City into such a dystopia. I, for one, didn't, and found myself slightly disoriented (to put it kindly) once the game decided to involve key individuals from the Jak II cast in order to thicken, and in some cases, progress the story. No matter the player, though, the abrupt shift from the job-hopping, extermination gig to an immediate focus on getting to the bottom of Jak's imprisonment and the powers that be holding him captive comes off as just poor transitioning.
When all is said and done in core adventure (and in exchange for some freaking awesome extras, that does mean hunting down each and every Precursor Orb), Daxter offers up another clever diversion in the form of Bug Combat. Essentially, it's a head-to-head battle between bugs in rock-paper-scissors format, though with a bit more strategy. It's not the most involving thing in the world, but Ad-Hoc functionality and the opportunity to add to your cast of bugs and power-ups by picking up collectables in the main quest make for some reasonable substance.
But wow, what a sight this one is to behold. For as little of action that takes place in the actual city, the amount of time that must have been put into rendering makes for some breathtaking results. This isn't the cluttered Haven City you may be familiar with, but with minimal traffic and nonexistent pedestrians, providing all the more incentive for you to really soak up your surroundings, not which of the least is an awe-inspiring draw distance. The indoor environments are brought to life with just a superb execution of lighting, some really well coordinated AI reactions and overall detail. Even the slightest nuances look marvelous, from the striking, varicolored glow of a flame to the clouds of dust kicked up after Daxter lands a jump. The in-game graphics, in addition to some expertly crafted cutscenes, make the game a visual treat through and through.
And honestly, with Max Casella offering another rousing performance as our newfound protagonist, did you think the audio would be anything short of impressive. Dax isn't the only one who shines, as even the supporting characters (and there are many of them) feature voice-overs that capture their personalities captured to a tee. The soundtrack, ranging from brassy and determined to more easy-going, fits in snugly with the essence of each level, coupled with an animated range of sound effects that are just as fitting.
I will be perfectly honest: upon first playthrough, I was very much underwhelmed by what the game had to offer. Seeing as I was (and, truth be told, still am) unfamiliar with the twists and turns that set the stage for the later Jak games, I just couldn't see past the slightly jumbled story and appreciate Daxter for all it was worth. But the more time I spent with it, the more I realized what an unbelievably fine-tuned piece of work this really was. Heck, I even question whether I went straight to knocking the story for the simple fact that the gameplay worked so effortlessly that there was nothing there to complain about. To put it simply, this is the epitome of a handheld platformer done right, and despite the lacking narrative (I still can't get over that brusque ending), the overall production values and execution set this one right in with the cream of the crop. This is the type of stellar PSP experience you've been waiting for, and I can only hope we begin to see a whole lot more of 'em.