Jak And Daxter is perhaps destined to go down as Naughty Dog's most underrated work. That's not to say that the PS2-era action platformer wasn't any good - it was absolutely fantastic. It's just that when you stack it next to the likes of Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last Of Us, it's bound to slip through the cracks.
That's a damn shame, because for my money Jak And Daxter deserves just as much love, attention, and praise as the rest of Naughty Dog's creations. Not only was it a fascinating stepping-stone in the developer's transition from cartoony platformers to more cinematic experiences, it was also a phenomenal adventure in its own right - one packed with secrets to find, platforming challenges, and beautifully designed worlds that pushed the PS2 to its absolute limits.
If Mario was the perfect platforming mascot for Nintendo, I feel like Jak And Daxter were perfect in representing the sleek, otherworldly ambition of the second generation of PlayStation.
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The good news is that as the original Jak And Daxter: The Precursor Legacy turns 19 (yes we're all very old now), Naughty Dog has revealed that it hasn't forgotten about its black sheep franchise. Writing on Twitter, the studio celebrated the game's Birthday, prompting an outpouring of love and support from fans that we rarely see directed at the PS2 classic.
Several fans were quick to point out that since next year is the series' 20th anniversary, maybe a PlayStation 5 remake could be on the cards? Bluepoint Games already nailed Demon's Souls and Shadow Of The Colossus after all, why not Jak And Daxter next?
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Others pointed out that they'd rather have a Jak 4 after all these years... but we have to wonder if Naughty Dog would be the studio to do that or if they'd rather move on to something new and hand the franchise off to another developer. Going back to a series like Jak And Daxter right after a game like The Last Of Us Part II would certainly be a fascinating shift for the team in every sense - one I'd personally love to see.
For now, I remain quietly confident that Jak And Daxter will return for their 20th anniversary in some shape or form. We'll just have to hold on tight and see exactly what Naughty Dog has in store for its most overlooked of creations.
Featured Image Credit: Naughty DogTopics: GAMING, News, PlayStation, Naughty Dog
