Action & Adventure: General

[Mightyowl28]

got a PSN card coming in the post...

Should I buy the Jak trilogy or Ratchett trilogy..????

I never played either on the ps2, although I have played Ratchet on PS3 and Jak on PSP

opinions please...

[RONNYNS]

go for Ratchett.

[Solid_Snake12345]

I would recommend the Ratchet and Clank trilogy for definite. For me at least, Jak 2 and Jak 3 were quite a step-down from the first game and the shift from focusing on platforming to a greater focus on action wasn't beneficial to the series (for me). However, Ratchet and Clank is the exact opposite in that it underwent the same transition (shifting from an even focus between platforming and action to a greater action focus while retaining platforming) but it paid off extremely well. For me, with the Ratchet and Clank trilogy each game is excellent (the first game is slightly dated due to a lack of strafing but other than that it holds up amazingly well, graphics included) and the series improves notably with each game (Up Your Arsenal being the strongest in the trilogy to me) whereas I can't say the same with Jak and Daxter.

One of the common criticisms with Ratchet and Clank is that it remains too stagnant after Going Commando and although that is true to a certain extent, I view it more of a testament to how Insomniac managed to perfect the formula so early and continue to improve upon it each game (which can be seen very well in the trilogy). One other thing I wish to add is that while I am almost finished the first game, the graphics have stood up incredibly well. The fantastic art direction makes it a formidable game in the graphics department and is easily comparable to a Playstation 3 game and I imagine that this will hold through for Ratchet and Clank 2 and Ratchet and Clank 3 as well.

[TheNarrator]

would depend what you fancy really. always saw J&D as more of a platformy kinda game, maybe less so in the sequels which got guns and driving added in there and went off in a different direction, but certainly the first game.

whereas R&C have always really been about shooting stuff up and does it all really well. both games have the same colourful, cuteness to them with the same sort of kid friendly setup though.

[kiwiatlarge]

^ This...

Jak and Daxter is a great early PS2 platformer, and not too difficult (very aged looking now though, even with the HD upgrade) but it is by far my favourite of the trilogy.... Jak 2 earned a lot of praise for thinking outside the square at the time, but the clunky controls (like a lot of PS2 and PS1 games, compared to newer PS3 games) have dated, and it's difficulty curve and checkpointing borders on madness at times..

Honestly, when a game which at it's heart is a platformer traps you at a stalemate because it is trying to be open world (yet unlike GTA has no actual free roam time killing of interest) because you can't reach Point B from Point A on your hovercraft within set time, there are some serious design flaws going on..

Haven't spent much time on Jak 3, but I don't dig the driving element to it... Again, the driving controls aren't the best...

Ratchet, I haven't spent much time on the PS2 games, but certainly going on the PS3 series, you know with Ratchet what you are getting into... The general concensus is that Ratchet 1 shows it's age the most, and the lack of refinement... Most opinion I've read suggests that Ratchet 2 and 3 are as good as any platformer you will find on any Playstation system...

[GroundBreaker91]

I grew up with Jak & Daxter so im going to be biased anyway, i never played any of the PS2 R&C games so ill definitely be getting the HD Trilogy because its like 3 completely new games one package

[SmithB14]

Jak and Daxter  R&C are very good games as well but the J&D series Is a special one for sure, not including Jak X which was a spin off although It was an alright game In It's defence. And The Lost Frontier which I heard such bad reviews about I didn't even bother giving It ago (not made by Naughty Dog anyway so It doesn't matter) 

The J&D series Is one that has stuck with me throughout my childhood and into my early and now late teenage years (much with thanks to the HD Collection which gave me the chance to play them allllll over again) the story Is inspiring and better than anything modern games have to offer If you allow yourself to be immersed In It.. The characters likewise (It's fantastic to see how Jak grows throughout the series) and as for Daxter he'll be making you laugh from the begining of the trilogy to the very end! I won't even go into detail about the more minor characters but they all bring something new and unique to the table. The gameplay world itself Is also special In all 3 games despite It changing drastically from the 1st to the 2nd and even to the 3rd In some aspects.. The series starts off with simple platforming and adds more and more as It progresses through the games (Weapons, Vehicles ect.) whilst still keeping that original platforming structure. Ignore the people saying Naughty Dog shouldn't have taken the series In the direction they did, and that the 2nd and 3rd games should have been just like the 1st that's rubbish. The series wouldn't be half as good If every game was just like The Precursor Legacy (although no doubt It would still be fantastic)

anyway I'd definitely go for J&D If I had to pick just one, that's taking nothing away from R&C which Is also a fantastic series and focuses more on weapons and upgrading them ect. and less on storyline and characters (although there both still fanatastic)

Jak & Daxter all the way!

[Pin-Pin-Ire]

Get Ratchet and Clank.

I don't think you should bother with Jak and Daxter. The first Jak and Daxter game was one of my favourite PS2 games but Jak 2 is an abomination. It is meant to be a children's game but no children's game should have a difficulty level so high that you would prefer to go and play Demon Souls or COD on Elite.

It isn't even a good high difficulty level. At least in Demon Souls when you die it's because of your own fault but in Jak 2 it seems the game is so badly designed that it actually interferes with you playing. It's a shame since the story is good but most people don't enjoy it as they can't beat most of the missions.

To be honest the only reason I bought the Jak and Daxter remake was so I could finally beat Jak 2. I think Jak 2 was the only PS2 game I couldn't beat and it has always been a sore point for me. I'm not even enjoying the game and that is the worst part

[Hybridhuman27]

Ratchet

[SmithB14]

You've never beaten It?

Are you playing with your eyes closed or something.. I admit at times It's challenging but I've beaten It about 10 times the first of which I was about 13 years old..

I guess everybodies different.