Game review: Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier - Sony PSP

It’s one of those games where none of the individual components would be particularly outstanding if they were the sole focus. However, they combine well to create something overall which is engaging and enjoyable.

Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is the sixth instalment of the popular series which originally launched on PS2 back in 2001.

This is the first time the two title characters have appeared together on Sony’s portable device.

The J&D franchise was initially developed by Naughty Dog but High Impact Games is at the helm this time.

With the odd exception in the series, most of the games have been action platformers.

It’s the same here, although The Lost Frontier also features aerial dogfights and what can best be described as obstacle course sequences. These extra elements vary the game up nicely, and the different styles of play should suit most gamers.

This time out young hero Jak, his cheeky ottsel (half otter, half weasel) sidekick Daxter and Jak’s love interest Keira are on a mission to save their planet from environmental disaster.

They must travel to the edge of the world on the hunt for the energy source known as green eco.

You might decipher some sort of climate change message from this scenario but to be honest the plot isn’t worth pondering too deeply because it’s one of those stories that makes less sense the more you think about it.

The main thrust of the game is still action-packed platforming.

You must guide Jak through a series of perilous stages as he solves puzzles, jumps bravely from ledge to ledge, swings from poles, overcomes obstacles and battles hordes of mechanical monsters. There are also some very challenging boss battles to be won.

The levels are not the standard 2D side-scrolling affairs. Instead they are seen from a third-person perspective as you lead Jak around expansive 3D environments.

Jak’s main weapon is a gunstaff which can be enhanced during the game, while Jak himself can acquire special abilities such as being able to unleash a powerful energy ball which explodes when shot. Some of these extra skills such as being able to build platforms out of eco must be used in certain circumstances to get around or over obstructions.

The second gameplay mode sees Jak and Daxter take to the skies to battle pirates who are intent on getting their grubby hands on the same eco as the good guys. At one point the pirates kidnap Keira who must be rescued.

The mid-air scraps with the pirates are exciting and fun.

There are five planes to fly in the game. With each you can perform daring loops and manoeuvres as you seek to blast your enemies out of the sky. You can also fling Daxter onto enemy ships to perform quick dexterity challenges such as yanking out pieces of equipment. As before with Jak’s ground abilities, the ships too can be upgraded in the game.

The third part of The Lost Frontier is some levels involving Dark Daxter. This occurs when the usually good-natured little scamp transforms into an angry Tazmanian Devil / Hulk type character complete with fight moves and weapons.

Daxter can crash through doors, shoot enemies, throw things and smash stuff.

The Dark Daxter stages take the form of top-down obstacle course type things where you must guide him from the start point, killing monsters and manipulating objects along the way to create a clear path to the exit.

Out of the three main aspects of the overall game the Dark Daxter part is the weakest. It’s just a bit boring. More tedious than terrible, it’s an unwanted distraction from the main plot.

As you would expect controls in The Lost Frontier vary from mode to mode.

On the platform levels the emphasis is on making Jak run, jump and use his abilities. In aerial mode the controls are focused on steering the plane and performing the various moves. In the Dark Daxter stages the controls are mainly used to perform his special powers.

It takes a bit of getting used to all the controls because there are a lot of movements and actions to remember for each mode, but the game holds you hand early on and provides useful prompts.

For the most part the controls are intuitive and responsive, although there are two weaknesses in the platforming levels which impact slightly on how enjoyable they are.

The first problem is the camera.

You can move it around horizontally using the L and R buttons but you are still faced with some awkward angles which make tasks such as jumping across ledges or attacking monsters more difficult than they should be sometimes.

There are times when the camera is either pointing in the wrong direction or is lagging behind the action. You find yourself pressing buttons in the hope of hitting an enemy or landing a jump, rather than being able to see what you’re doing.

The other issue is aiming.

There is no way to target monsters other than facing in their direction and hitting the fire buttons. The game uses a sort of auto-aim system, which makes the combat feel very randomised at times because you’re never quite sure what you’re locked on to or whether you’re going to hit it.

Graphically, J&D is a sight to behold.

The environments are all really vibrant, with colour splashing across the screen from the various visual effects.

The over-the-top cartoony characters are nicely detailed, with very slick animation.

The voice acting and soundtrack in the game are surprisingly good, with the animated cut scenes being watchable rather than instantly skipped.

Although it doesn’t excel in any one particular department, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier still provides a lot of gameplay variety.

If you don’t like one part of it then something else will soon come along which you do enjoy.

These action platform type games aren’t usually my kind of thing, but I’ve had more fun with J&D than I was expecting. There is more substance to it than I imagined.

Veterans of the Jak and Daxter series should love this latest edition while newcomers will find there is a lot of entertaining play contained within.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10 – A lively and likeable game featuring fast-paced challenges on the ground and in the sky. Definitely above average adventure game fare for the PSP.