Alex
El Toxico
nach den Gamespoteindrücken jetzt noch die von IGN:
Jak meets GTA.
Another major pillar in this game is that Jak finds people who send him on missions. Yes, it sounds the same -- he collects 10 widgets and returns for a star, or a big gold coin, or something. But no, that's not what happens. He is set on missions that earn him keys to open other areas of the city, or items that are helpful or he meets people who give him weapons.
Creative director Dan Arey explains it this way: "Jak follows a complete storyline. We have a massive script that drives him forward, and the events in the story coincide with his actions to push it to the next dramatic event."
Unlike the first game, the story is the backbone behind all of the actions in the game. His ability to complete missions opens up more areas, which fundamentally changes the game's basis. He no longer moves forward in the chase for more things to collect. "He can indeed collect things, be they items, weapons, eco, ammo, but they aren't crucial for the story to move forward," explained Rubin. "He can collect things is he wants, but he doesn't have to."
Jak II feels excellent. The same sharp sense of movement and control, intuitive moves and instant reaction guide his motions with an uncanny and apparently difficult set of moves to achieve. Naughty Dog makes it so easy to ignore all of the incredibly difficult technical feats it achieves, and it's only after playing other games do you fully appreciate what they're capable of doing. Jak has about three times the move he previously had. He has all the basic moves from before -- spin attack, summersault, thrust attack, etc. -- plus all of the moves he can perform while in dark eco super form, plus all of the moves he can pull off while using weapons. All of the animations coincide perfectly with these moves even at this early state (the game is due in fall 2003, probably in September or October). Already, Naughty Dog is ahead of the game.
O-ho-ho-ho yes, my friends. Jak and Daxter transforms into Metal Slug, and it's all-out blasting mayhem. With a quick press of the Dpad, players instantaneously flip out another weapon and start blasting. Jak passes through several weapons testing grounds, which is where you see those 2D characters in the screenshots. That weapons test area challenges players with the shotgun. This shotgun, however, is different. It sends out a powerful bursting pulse that alters the air around it. The effect is similar to the gun blasts in Minority Report, wherein the wave blurs the air around it. The shotgun feels just awesome. It gives you that big blasting sound, and the shot hits your opponent and sends his flying backward with a shock and a jolt. It's equal to using the shotgun in Doom. Big, powerful and very satisfying indeed. Another amazing thing is that Jak can attack with his weapons. When up close, he can kick opponents, or whack them with the weapon, using the butt of the weapon to bludgeon them. The animation is uncannily smooth, but the actual gamepl
ay creates a whole new dynamic, which is the constant and seamless switching between shooting and hand-to-hand combat.
The list of new things, however, goes on. The streets of this new city are bustling with moving vehicles and denizens. It looks like a weird take on Grand Theft Auto III, but substituting in Naughty Dog characters and cities instead. And Naughty Dog doesn't deny that GTA hasn't an effect on its game. So, not only are there people walking around, there are vehicles everywhere, and yes, you can jak (pun intended) any vehicle you can see. That's right, and they all feel more or less like the anti-grav whatever-it-was-called ship from the first game. The vehicles take damage and blow up if you're not careful and you they cast you flying into the streets. The city isn't just bustling with innocents either; it's packed with police, the Baron's Crimson Guards. If you accidentally hit one while in a vehicle, or mistakenly shoot one, an infinite number of them are alerted and they'll swarm you, using powerful tasers to roust your ass.
Another things make this different: You can elevate your vehicle while driving. With a touch of a shoulder pad, you can zoom down to street level or elevate up to a second story level. Chases become particularly harry when you have to switch from high to low while going as fast as possible to escape the guards. It's incredibly fun, and what's more, the framerate rarely takes a hit. This game is so damn fun. Last but not least, Jak also gets another vehicle, a hoverboard. And just like the weapons, once he has it, he owns it for the rest of the game. He can flip it out and perform tricks, flips, ollies, rails; there is a hefty sampling of tricks several of which he'll need to use to get extra eco or items.
Jak meets GTA.
