Summary:
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing are the only available Jak games on PlayStation Plus Premium.
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is one of the best 3D platformer games on the PS2; some consider it the best in the series. But it’s the only game in the series without gunplay, and Jak doesn’t have a voice actor.
- Jak II completely flipped the series on its head by adding guns and more abilities to the combat. They also added vehicles you can grab and drive everywhere on the map. On top of that, they made an engaging and funny story that makes it the complete package.
- Jak 3 expanded on Jak II in almost every way. They made a bigger map, larger vehicles, and even bigger guns. Jak 3 is jam-packed with fun abilities that will keep you loving the combat the whole way through.
- Jak X: Combat Racing was an unexpected twist on the series with a fun story and engaging arcade racing gameplay that plays best with friends.
Naughty Dog has been a famous video game studio for the last two decades. They’re known for making popular games like Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Crash Bandicoot.
During the PS2 era, Jak and Daxter was Naughty Dog’s main project, and they put their hearts into each release. The series offered platformers, shooters, and racers that were all fantastic.
With services like PlayStation Plus Premium out, revisiting these titles in their PS4 remastered versions is so much easier than it used to be. Let’s Look back at the series and rank the best games in the franchise on the platform for anyone who wants to try them for the first time or revisit them.
Want to check out other classic PlayStation franchises? Check out our Uncharted or God of War rankings.
What Jak Games are on Plus Premium?
4: Jak X: Combat Racing
Jak X: Combat Racing is a game that successfully takes a well-known series and puts it into a new type of game, that can be a lot of fun to play with friends.
While there are some issues with the AI of computer players in the later levels, the game has a lot to offer with its multiplayer options and extras that you can unlock. The combat modes are more enjoyable than the racing ones, but there is enough variety to keep players entertained for a long time.
Fans of the series will enjoy continuing the story of the last 3 games and will get all of Daxter’s classic jokes and one-liners.
Overall, Jak X: Combat Racing is a fun game with a good mix of features. There are plenty of online and offline modes, and the story is engaging. Although it strayed from what the Jak games are known for, I believe it’s still worth a playthrough. But I think the others are worth playing first.
Is the Jak X: Combat Racing Platinum Trophy Hard?
The platinum trophy for Jak X is supposed to be the easiest out of the series on PS Premium. It only needs one playthrough, but you’ll need to spend some time grinding for power cells to buy the required items. Looking at online guides, it should take around 15 hours.
3: Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
The Precursor Legacy is the first game in the Jak series, and some consider it the best, and it’s the best-rated one on Metacritic. But I’m putting it at #3 on this list because I enjoy how the next two games add shooting mechanics and give Jak more of a personality compared to this full-length platformer game.
Jak and Daxter is one of the best 3D platformer games for the PlayStation 2 period. Although it feels like an open-world Crash Bandicoot, it’s well-designed, exciting, and the puzzles are the right amount of challenging.
The game feels alive, especially compared to other games released in the era. The different environments are beautiful and popping with colour, and the enemies are varied and fun to battle. The story is suitable for all ages and is the perfect blend of serious and funny. But on the downside, there’s only so much to do after you beat the game except for grabbing all the collectibles.
Still, Jak and Daxter is a great game, and anyone who’s a fan of platformers should try it. If you plan on playing through all of Naughty Dog’s signature PS2 series, start with the Precursor Legacy.
Is the Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Platinum Trophy Hard?
The platinum trophy for Jak and Daxter is a relatively easy trophy to get. It only needs one playthrough and requires you to get all the collectibles in the game with some minor challenges. It’s more time-consuming than challenging and will take about 10 hours with guides.
2: Jak 3
Jak 3 is the last main game in the series made by Naughty Dog, and it’s basically Jak 2 on steroids. It came out a year after the previous game and primarily expanded on the successful formula. It’s my second favourite game in the series because of it.
Gameplay-wise, it’s almost the same as Jak 2 in every way, except they focus pretty hard on vehicle missions and add more gun mods that are a lot of fun. But some of the new weapon enhancements are too overpowered, making the game easier than the others.
This is by far the most extensive map of the series, adding a vast desert to drive in, while keeping most of the city environments from Jak 2.
As a total package, Jak 3 gives players exciting action, funny moments, and a story that ends nicely. It’s not the best in the series, but it’s definitely the biggest and a great addition to a collection of great games.
Is the Jak 3 Platinum Trophy Hard?
The platinum trophy for Jak 3 is relatively easy, but it is the most time-consuming on this list. It only needs one playthrough in total. But it will require you to get all the collectibles in the game through lots of orb challenges. If you use guides online, it should take around 20 hours.
1: Jak II
Jak II was a surprising change for the series. They dropped Daxter from the title and gave Jak a voice actor and personality. They brought the characters into a completely different environment and introduced guns and Dark Jak into the franchise. This is my favourite game in the franchise because of all the changes they made. They all felt like improvements.
The game combined elements of platformers, action games, and adventure games to create a unique and exciting experience.
It has a large variety of missions and challenges that keep players engaged, from shooting levels to racing courses. It’s a blend of platforming and action that feels just right, and the guns in the game are particularly satisfying. But I will admit that it is the most challenging game in the franchise.
However, it did feel as if Naughty Dog wanted to use the original Jak formula and twist the gameplay to be closer to the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which was dominating the gaming market at the time of the game’s release.
The story is the other part of what makes Jak II great. Having Jak as the straight man to Daxter’s comedic relief created funny banter in most cutscenes. They toe the line well in adding new characters and hanging around familiar friends, and the new environments are spectacular. From playing in the sewers to riding around in the forested mountains, they give quite a nice amount of variety in and outside of the city.
Jak II is a fantastic game that succeeds on every level. It takes the platformer genre in new directions and offers gameplay and story that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. The game is visually impressive for its time and plays great, making it one of the best games on the PS2. If you’re only going to try one Jak game in the franchise, you should play this one.
Is the Jak II Platinum Trophy Hard?
The platinum trophy for Jak II is the toughest to get on this list, but it’s not too challenging. It only needs one playthrough in total, and it’ll require you to get all the collectibles in the game through lots of orb challenges similar to Jak 3. If you use guides online, it should take around 18 hours.