Jak II (2003): The Review

Overview

Jak II is a bold evolution of the franchise, trading the whimsical platforming of its predecessor for a darker, edgier tone and a sprawling open-world city. With a gripping narrative, tighter gameplay, and an expanded arsenal of weapons and vehicles, the game marks a turning point for Naughty Dog, pushing the boundaries of what a platformer could be. While its increased difficulty and uneven mission design may frustrate at times, Jak II stands tall as a daring, memorable sequel that still holds up remarkably well.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

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The Positives ✅

Jak II goes for a darker, more serious tone this time around, and honestly, it works. The story has way more emotional weight than the first game, and Jak himself actually feels like a character now, not just a silent hero. It gives the whole world a bit more depth and complexity that wasn’t really there before.

Haven City, the game’s open-world hub, plays a big part in that. It’s a gritty, dystopian city packed with side missions, hidden areas, and vehicles you can hijack. It feels busy and alive, which helps sell the whole “oppressive regime” vibe the story leans into.

Combat also gets a serious upgrade here. Guns, hover vehicles, and Dark Jak powers mix things up and give the platforming formula a bit of an edge. Missions can be pretty tough, though, you’ll need some patience and a bit of skill to push through certain parts, but finishing a tough mission actually feels rewarding.

The presentation holds it all together. The voice acting’s solid, the cutscenes are well put together, and the world-building is great across the board. From the industrial city streets to the underground resistance hideouts, everything feels like it belongs to the same grim world, and that atmosphere really sticks.

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The Negatives ⚠️

One of the biggest issues in Jak II is the punishing difficulty spikes. The game has a bad habit of throwing sudden, brutal missions at you with almost no checkpoints, which means you’ll be replaying the same sections over and over. It’s one of those things that can get pretty frustrating, especially when the difficulty feels less earned and more forced.

Vehicle controls are another weak spot. Navigating through the crowded streets of Haven City often feels more stressful than fun. The driving mechanics are a bit clunky, and getting stuck between NPC vehicles or tight spaces happens way too often.

Some missions fall into that unforgiving design trap. There are sections that rely heavily on trial-and-error, where success depends more on memorizing enemy patterns or layouts than actually reacting with skill. It can feel cheap after a while.

Lastly, the lack of fast travel stands out. Having to cross the city over and over can get pretty tedious, especially later in the game when you’re just trying to reach the next main mission without another accidental hovercar crash slowing you down.

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The Experience 🎮

It took me around 20 to 25 hours to finish Jak II, and honestly, it felt like more than just a sequel, it’s a full-on shift for the series. The darker story, the open-world structure, and the combat upgrades all work together to give the game a completely different vibe compared to the first one. It’s not perfect: the difficulty spikes and clunky vehicle controls definitely tested my patience more than once, but when it clicks, it really clicks. Between the gritty world, the edgier tone, and the mix of platforming and gunplay, it’s a stylish, ambitious adventure that still holds up. If you’re into platformers but want something with a bit more attitude, Jak II is absolutely worth your time.