Review - Jak X: Combat Racing
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When Naughty Dog developed the Crash Bandicoot series, it created three platform games and then followed that trilogy up with a racing title. The Jak and Daxter series took a similar progression: with three character-action games under their belts, the developers took the vehicle portions of the game and created a title that focused on them. Jak X is set in the same world as the past two games and is similar in how the story is presented, but plays completely differently.
Anyone who has played one of the last two Jak games will be familiar with how the series evolved towards more of Grand Theft Auto style of game. While Jak II used a lot of hovercars, Jak III was more about off-road vehicles and Smuggler’s Run type missions. These Jak III vehicles have made their way into a pure racing game that manages to tell enough stories and provide enough variation to stay fresh the whole way through.
The game features 24 tracks and several different modes. While the typical “beat everyone else” mode does apply, there are also races that require you to think and plan differently. Some force you to hit different spots on the track to freeze time, others ask gamers to grab as many turbo boosts as possible. Want some combat? Blow up as many enemy vehicles as you can or crash into as many vehicles as possible.
Add into this 12 selectable vehicles along with modifications for each and you have quite a few options while playing alone. You’ll also be rewarded with cutscenes and story as you completely the missions, which helps drive you along the game (no pun intended). As usual, Naughty Dog’s sense of humor is prevalent, and Daxter is a joy as always and shows why he’s getting his own PSP title.
The game features a pretty rich online mode that offers the ability to find competition for quick race, or even better, a deathmatch. Driving around wide open maps attempting to blow each other up will remind you of Mario Kart – and for good reason. Several other modes are set in the wide open areas including a team-based game called Capture that is great fun. Finding five friends online to play Jak X with shouldn’t be a problem as the multiplayer is the richest mode in the game.
The only downside is that the controls sometimes take a bit to work with and you can sometimes have some trouble getting out of tough spots on the courses. Other than that the game is pretty solid all the way around.
The graphics are impressive: each race course is absolutely gorgeous. The vehicles look great and the different special effects really set the game up as one of the prettiest non-realistic racing games I’ve seen. The audio is well-done with the always top-quality voice work and great sound effects. The soundtrack isn’t memorable, but doesn’t detract from the experience either.
Jak X might disappoint fans of the series looking for a platformer, but those who don’t mind being forced behind the wheel will find plenty of fun here. Fans of racing games that might not have played a Jak game should also clock a lap time.
B+
