Jak 3

"An awesome and satisfying conclusion to the Jak trilogy."

Let me start by saying that this is my first review so bear with me. Jak 3 is the conclusion to the acclaimed Jak series. Let me say that this is definitely the best of the series in almost every way. While all of the Jak games are terrific games this one definitely feels the most fleshed out and really shines.

GAMEPLAY: The most important aspect of every game and where the Jak games always shine. At first it will feel the same as Jak 2, but as you keep playing you'll realize it can be very different. The biggest change is how you use your eco powers. In Jak 2 after you collected enough eco you could turn into a super powerful form for a short time. I won't go into detail, but the way Jak 3 lets you conserve your eco powers means you'll use them much more often. The gunplay element has returned better than ever. You now will get a total of twelve guns each having there own uses which really spices things up. This also leads to many different decisions to make whether it be going all Rambo with a machine gun or just blowing everything away with a nuke. The only complaint I have is that the "auto targeting" can be a little off at times which can cause some moments of frustration, but these are few and far between. Jak 3 once again uses mission based gameplay with some large areas to explore from the scorching wastelands to the war torn Haven city. Jak 3 sports a large mission variety with something for everyone from racing to shootouts to classic platforming. The best part is is that the difficulty of the game has been toned down so it is challenging, but not frustratingly challenging. All in all the gameplay is wonderful.

STORY: Once again the Jak series has delivered a well written and compelling story that will keep any gamer entranced. The story is told through some beautifully done cut scenes. There is never a dull moment and the story will keep you gaming just to see what happens next in the game. The only complaint I have is that one of the major plot twists is obvious from near the beginning of the game, but it still isn't enough to bring its score down. Great story.

GRAPHICS/SOUND: Every game in the Jak series has had superb graphics and Jak 3 is no exception. At first I thought the graphics were the same as Jak 2's, but after playing for a few hours I realized that they are an improvement over Jak 2's, especially during the cutscenes. The weapon effects in particular are spectacular and some are really a site to behold. During the cutscenes all of the characters are animated wonderfully and very smoothly. The graphics in this game are truly incredible and never once did I notice any slowdown or choppiness. The sound is also very well done in this game especially the sound effects. Everything from gun sounds to the sounds you make when walking on different surfaces are represented in clear and unyielding detail. The guns in particular , though, are truly where the sound department shines with each gun making unique sounds both when fired and when they hit an enemy. The music, while good, has never been the Jak series strong point. It conveys the correct mood of the particular scene, but it still leaves something to be desired. It's not bad, it's just not great. Music aside, the sound in this game is very well done.

PLAY TIME/REPLAYABILITY: Due to the decrease in the difficulty of this game Jak 3 is a tad shorter than Jak 2. Still, it provides a good ten to fifteen hours of gameplay depending on whether you do all of the side stuff. I found Jak 3 to be much more replayable than its predecessors due to the constant fighting you can participate in in Haven city. There are also many hidden secrets to be unlocked from new dune buggys to all kinds of crazy stuff. The verdict: good replay value.

RENT or BUY?
Buy, buy , buy, and furthermore buy. I cannot make it any clearer than that. If you love video games than you must buy this game. A word of warning though: I highly suggest playing Jak 2 first if you haven't already or you'll be lost for alot of Jak 3. Oh and one more thing, BUY THIS GAME!!!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/22/04