New Jak & Daxter game announced...?

[ChibiGoku]

Information, along with screenshots, can be found here (http://kotaku.com/5193991/jak-and-daxter-discover-the-lost-frontier).

It doesn't appear to be an April Fools joke, but the fact that it was announced on April 1st didn't really help matters. I was unsure about posting this here, simply because of the fact there is very little information on this. That and there is still the possibility that this could turn out to be a fake. However, I seriously doubt gamefaqs and a number other places would've added an entry to this game if they weren't sure about it. I guess all we can do is wait and see.

In any case, I'm surprised this is finally getting made. It's been literally years since the trademark was registered, I was wondering if anything would come of this. Guess good things come to those who wait. Curious though, that they're producing it for the PS2 and PSP, rather than the Playstation 3. I'm not complaining though, since I've yet to get a Playstation 3, just it's odd they would choose to develop for a system that's currently near the end of it's life.

Another thing of interest is it's being done by High Impact Games. Although I wish it was Naughty Dog developing this, it does mean that this game is in good hands though.

EDIT: High Impact Games have it on their site (http://www.highimpactgames.com/news.html).

[Keiichi]

No kidding. R&C made the jump to PS3 so why not Jak? Though I'm sadden that Naughty Dog won't be having anything to do with the game. I really hope they have'nt abbanded yet anouther good character like they did poor Crash.

[creativerealms]

After what happened to Crash after Naughty Dog moved on I have some fears. I don't want history to repeat itself.

[R-Taco]

If only ND was developing it...

[PC!]

Surprised. I figured the Jak series was over. Interesting that they're giving Daxter back his billing in the title. Still, I haven't enjoyed the series since it went all dark and trigger-happy, so I'll probably skip it.

[Starbro]

I'm with PC. I would've enjoyed the Jak & Daxter series more if they had stayed on the whimsical fantasy path that the first game embodied. I get that the producers wanted to give Jak a personality since he was pretty much a blank slate in the first game, but turning Jak into a Mr. Brooding Angry Guy with a dark alter ego and turning the world into a Mad Max inspired dystopia wasn't the way to go I thought.

It would be nice if this new installment (provided this isn't just some leftover April Fool's joke) would lighten things up from Jaks 2 and 3, but I'm not counting on that happening.

[Desensitized]

Oh boy, another repeat of Crash.

Geez, can't Naughty Dog hold onto anything?

[Daxdiv]

Well considering the fact that the game is being developed for the PS2/P rather then the PS3, I'll be more optimistic about it.

[Novapocalypse]

I swear I read somewhere Naughty Dog was co-developing it.

But after Crash I would prefer it be ND alone.

[ChibiGoku]

Let me just explain something that might relieve some worries. High Impact Games are former exployees that worked under Insomniac Games, often considered the sister studio to Naughty Dog. These are also the same guys that worked on the Ratchet & Clank series, with High Impact Games doing the work on the Ratchet PSP games. IGN made a post that indicated that Naughty Dog is involved in it's production (to what extent, I don't know).

Given the guys behind the game's main production and apparently Naughty Dog's involvement (though unknown to what extent), I honestly think this is in safe hands. Probably the only reason Naughty Dog themselves aren't working on the game is the fact that they're focusing their attention on Uncharted, which makes sense. Whether or not the main studio returns is another question all together though. Though it is odd to see that Ready At Dawn isn't working on it, since they did Daxter.

In any case, all we can do is wait until it comes out until we can really say if this is going to be good or bad.

[Novapocalypse]

^ Yeah, I read into it a little later and found out about that. So I don't think we will have to worry about Jak being Crash Bandicoot the second.

[Neo Yi]

I'm with PC. I would've enjoyed the Jak & Daxter series more if they had stayed on the whimsical fantasy path that the first game embodied. I get that the producers wanted to give Jak a personality since he was pretty much a blank slate in the first game, but turning Jak into a Mr. Brooding Angry Guy with a dark alter ego and turning the world into a Mad Max inspired dystopia wasn't the way to go I thought.

I love the first's sense of charm and colorful worlds, but I admit Jak II is my favorite of the series, if not because it took its characters and story and beefed it to the max. Now I'm not a fan of cute games getting the edgy treatment, but I felt it was done right or right enough that it created a bold story with characters you can still enjoy.

The thing about Jak is that he develops from a brooding angst creature of revenge into a hero who cares for Haven City (which I admit, I'm a bit disappointed they didn't emphasis his royal heritage to) and its citizens.

Of course, that's just the sequel. Jak 3 was an exercise in story frustration. Derailed badly in every way that if I could, I'd refuse its existence. But no matter how much I adore Jak II, I still can't picture Jak with guns. I just can't.


Getting back on topic. Am I the only one a little concerned that this game is coming out for the PS2? Last I checked, Sony bought out Naughty Dog which means the Jak and Daxter franchise is their property. So the question reminds: why shove it on a yesteryear console then advertise on a brand, spanking new system? Is Sony trying to make that Drake: Uncharted's territory?

On the plus side, at least I won't have to worry about buying a PS3 just for this game (although I wished they had left the Jak series alone instead of continuously cash-cow it. The trilogy did an admirable job ending the overall story). I can also hope those screenshots are really, REALLY early because frankly, they currently look terrible.

[R-Taco]

I didn't like the story changes after the first game and I did miss the charm it had, but I feel that the gameplay improved a lot with both sequels. Number 3 is my favorite gameplay-wise, and the first is my favorite story and visual-wise.