Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
| Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | |
|---|---|
| File:Jakanddaxterbox.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Naughty Dog |
| Publisher(s) | SCEA |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release |  December 4, 2001 December 7, 2001 December 20, 2001 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is the first video game in the Jak and Daxter series. It was released for the Sony Playstation 2 on December 4, 2001. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy spawned two sequels, Jak II and Jak 3, and two spinoffs, Jak X and Daxter.
Storyline
The game revolves around Jak and Daxter, two boys living in Sandover Village with one of the wisest men on the planet, Samos the Sage, and his daughter Keira. When Jak and his best friend Daxter disobey Samos and go to Misty Island, Daxter falls into a pool of Dark Eco and is turned into an Ottsel--a combination of an otter and a weasel.
The initial object of the game is to seek out Gol Acheron, the Sage of Dark Eco, in order to turn Daxter back into a human. Along the way, Jak learns how to use different types of Eco: green to heal, blue for speed, red for increased combat ability and yellow to throw energy blasts. Unfortunately, around two thirds of the way through the game it is discovered that Gol and his sister Maia have been corrupted by Dark Eco. The rest of the game centers around seeking out Gol and Maia and defeating them before the tyrannic pair can use Dark Eco to flood the world and form it to their liking.
Characters
The game's main character. Little is known or revealed about Jak in the game. Jak stays silent and only expresses himself by way of facial expressions.
Jak's mouthy, self-centered friend/sidekick. He claims that he's the hero, but he doesn't do much of anything except run his mouth off. A majority of the witty humor in the game comes from this character's dialogue and actions. Early in the game, Daxter falls into a Dark Eco pit, and is transformed into and ottsel (a cross between an otter and a weasel).
Samos Hagai (Green Sage)
Samos is the master of Green Eco, a substance providing health. Samos is captured by Gol Acheron and is forced to power Gol's Precursor Robot. Short-tempered and quick to doubt, Samos guides Jak and Daxter along from one area to the next in the course of the game. He along with other sages were rescued by Jak and worked together to create a source of Light Eco.
Daughter of Samos and the self-decided love interest of Jak. Keira is great with machines, being able to fix vehicles and other objects for Jak and Daxter to reach new areas.
Gol Acheron has a vast knowledge of the substance Dark Eco, so much that he knows how to reverse its destructive nature. This knowledge makes him the only person who has the power to change Daxter back from an ottsel. Unfortunately, he and his sister Maia Acheron were transformed and driven insane by the Dark Eco, aspiring to increase the corruptive nature of Dark Eco. Having become the antagonists, they recruited a Lurker army to gather Precursor Robot pieces and artifacts. Their goal was to unleash the Dark Eco in the silo near their citadel using a giant Precursor Robot to open it and release the Dark Eco into the world so they can mold it to their liking. In order to save the world, Jak has to destroy them by any means necessary, meaning Daxter will be stuck as an ottsel forever. It is believed that Gol was killed after falling into the Dark Eco silo, but some fans of the series find that doubtful since he and his sister Maia know how to control Dark Eco, and Samos told Jak and the others that they might see them again.
Maia, like her brother Gol, was tainted and transformed by the Dark Eco they studied for a lifetime. She and her brother desired to flood the world with Dark Eco and rebuild it to their liking. The two recruited the Lurkers to help them scavenge the parts to a Precursor Robot; the only thing capable of opening the Dark Eco silos. She and Gol, inside the robot, were defeated by Jak when he channeled a beam of Light Eco at them, and their cockpit sunk into the silo. While they are presumed dead, Samos believes they may still be alive, and there are apparently rumours of them still living in the catacombs.
The Blue Sage is the descendant of the original sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Blue Eco, an electricity like substance that exudes energy capable of quick movement. The Blue Sage was captured by his former friend Gol Acheron and was forced to power Gol's Precursor robot. He was rescued by Jak and together with the other sages, helped to create a source of Light Eco.
The Red Sage is the descendant of the original sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Red Eco, a red gooey like substance that gives great strength. The Red Sage was captured by Gol Acheron and was forced to power the shields protecting Gols' Precursor robot. He was one of the friendlier sages and lived in a volcanic crater. When he was rescued by Jak he mistakenly presumed that Daxter was the one who had rescued him and gave him all the credit. He and the other sages then worked together to create a source of Light Eco.
The Yellow Sage is the descendant of the original sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Yellow Eco, a bright fiery substance that lets the user shoot boiling hot balls of energy from their hands. The Yellow Sage, like all others before him, was captured by Gol Acheron. He is the grouchiest of the sages and was intent on making a snack of Daxter. On his back he carries a blaster that presumably shoots yellow eco from its barrel. He along with other sages were rescued by Jak and worked together to create a source of Light Eco.
Bosses
- Dark Eco Plant - Found In Forbidden Jungle
- Lurker Ambush 1 - Found In Misty Island
- Lurker Ambush 2 - Found In Boggy Swamp
- Klaww - Found In Mountain Pass
- Lurker Ambush 3 - Found in Gol and Maia's Citadel
- Precursor Robot - Found in Dark Eco Silos
Plot
The story begins with a narration by Samos the Sage, master of Green Eco. He elaborates on two young boys, the fifteen-year-old Jak, and his best friend Daxter. The two are making their way to Misty Island, the one place Samos told them not to go. They arrive on the island just in time to witness a large gathering of Lurkers before two twisted persons. Jak and Daxter, worried by what they are seen, are on their way off of the island when they are confronted by a pool of Dark Eco. While his friend inspects the pool, Jak locates a small Red Eco barrel. When they go to leave, however, a Lurker Commander attacks them. Jak kills the Lurker using the Eco barrel, but the explosion throws Daxter into the Dark Eco pit. Daxter flys back out of the pit, unharmed, but changed from his previous form; he had been transformed into an ottsel. They return to Sandover Village and seek help from Samos, but he proclaims that he couldn't help Daxter, even if he wanted to. He adds that only Gol Acheron, Sage of Dark Eco can help change Daxter back, and he lives far to the north.
The route north is blocked by Fire Canyon, and to traverse it Jak and Daxter need a Zoomer vehicle powered by a heat shield. They begin their adventure into the dangerous parts of their strange land in search of power cells. They soon recover enough power cells to power the heat shield and journey through Fire Canyon aboard their Zoomer. At the end of the canyon is Rock Village, which has been destroyed by a giant Lurker named Klaww. In addition to this, the Sage of Blue Eco who watches over the village has mysteriously vanished. Jak and Daxter find themselves in search of more power cells to power an anti-gravity device and unblock the way to Klaww's lair at the peak. After opening a path up the mountain, they defeat Klaww and ride their Zoomer down the mountain to the Volcanic Crater. Jak then makes his way to the Red Sage's laboratory, where he learns that all of the sages (excluding Samos) have been kidnapped by the same figures who command the Lurkers. The two turn out to be Gol and Maia, the people who were said to be able to change Daxter back into his normal form. Jak must once again recover Power Cells to fuel an upgraded form of Keira's heat shield. Their task complete, Jak and Daxter use the Zoomer to navigate the Lava Tube to the Yellow Sage's laboratory, where they activate the warp ring so that Keira can come through. Once she arrives, she tearfully relates that Samos has been captured as well. Journeying through Gol and Maia's citadel, Jak and Daxter succeed in freeing the Sages, and then travel up an elevator to the top of the Dark Eco Silos. There they confront Gol and Maia who have pieced together the ruins of a Precursor robot in order to open the silos and release the Dark Eco inside. Jak battles the pair, but only defeats them with the help of the four Sages who their powers to form a source of Light Eco. Daxter realizes that the Light Eco would change him back to normal, but instead decides to allow Jak to save the world. Jak channels the Light Eco through his body, and beams the energy towards the robot, disabling it and ruining Gol's and Maia's plans. The two are then locked into the silos and said to be destroyed by the Dark Eco's power, but Samos has his doubts about the two being completely destroyed.
After the adventure has ended, our heroes find an ancient Precursor Ring in the laboratory that is explained more in the sequel, Jak II
Gameplay
Items
Being a platformer, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy offers many collectables for the player to find throughout the game, including:
- Power Cells - The main source of power allowing the player to advance to the next area in the game. They are small and circular, orbited by four outer spheres and a fifth smaller one. Power cells are obtained by performing various tasks throughout the game. Comparable to the Jiggies from Banjo-Kazooie and the Stars from Super Mario 64
- Precursor Orbs - Egg-like objects that are found floating slightly above the ground in un-explored areas. These are used as the currency throughout the world, allowing the player to purchase power cells during the course of the game.
- Scout Flies - Small fly-like creatures trapped in red-and-silver boxes which are found in each area. Collecting the seven scout flies in each area yields a power cell.
Eco
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy contains forms of energy known as "Eco", harvested and made available by the ancient Precursors. Eco is available for use by way of small pieces that give Jak a short spurt, or larger vents which give him a fully-charged burst of Eco energy. Eco comes in six different forms:
- Green - Green Eco restores health. Fifty small ones or one big one restore one third of Jak's health meter.
- Blue - Blue Eco temporarily increases speed, magnetizes Precursor Orbs, and can activate ancient Precursor artifacts that ran down.
- Red - Red Eco can be used to increase strength, and can take down tougher enemies in fewer hits.
- Yellow - Yellow Eco can be used to fire energy balls which break open tough crates and harm enemies, among other things.
- Dark - Dark Eco is not used physically throughout the entire game, as it is toxic. When contact is made with it, Jak and Daxter becomed harmed and lose health.
- White - White Eco is used in the final battle of the game. It is an amalgamation of all other types of Eco except Dark.
Locations
- Sandover Village - The game's beginning area is home to Jak, Daxter, Keira, Samos The Sage, the mayor of the town, a sculptor, a bird watcher, a fisherman, and a farmer. There are multiple houses which the player can enter, a pen where Yakows graze, and access to the surrounding areas: Forbidden Jungle, Sentinel Beach, Misty Island (Boat), and Geyser Rock (Warp).
- Geyser Rock - This small island is located a short distance away from Sandover Village and is the training ground for the player when he/she begins the game.
- Sentinel Beach - Provided that Samos' hut faces north, this beach is located to the east of Sandover Village. Various Lurkers make their home here, including the Lurker Snakes, Lurker Snails, Lurker Dogs, and Lurker Sharks. It also seems that Sentinel Beach is an extension of Sandover as a few houses are in the area. Sentinel Beach is also where Samos collects Green Eco for study, and where Jak, Daxter, and the bird lady hatched and looked after the orphaned Flut Flut egg.
- Forbidden Jungle - Despite the name, the jungle is free to be explored. The area is infected by a Dark Eco Plant residing in the Precursor temple in the center of the jungle, which is the reason for the tentacles infesting the area. Lurker Pythons hide in the trees to ambush prey, while Lurker Pirhanas do the same from the water, and Toads patrol the paths. A band of Lurker Soldiers set up a device to stop all available Blue Eco energy from giving power to Sandover Village.
- Misty Island - Falling into the foggy water results in instant death. Lurker Soldiers and Lurker Commanders patrol the various cliffs and canyons of this island. Possibly, Misty Island was home to giant creatures, before they all died out from the Dark Eco poisoning the entire island. Lurkers also set up a ship here which periodically sails from the island to other Lurker encampments to give or receive supplies. This is the first place where Jak find Red Eco.
- Fire Canyon - The only way to reach the neighboring Rock Village is to pass through the Fire Canyon. The canyon is boiling hot with collapsing rocks and lava pools everywhere. Oddly, Lurkers can withstand the heat of the canyon and walk on the hot rocks unharmed.
- Rock Village - The entire village is under a constant rain of flaming boulders from a huge Lurker called Klaww. Also, the Blue Sage's lab is a mess, and he's nowhere to be found. Much of the inhabitants seemed to live in the houses which are built right into the central mountain of the village. Some of them have been crushed and are burning from Klaww's attacks. Houses around the mountain have already been crushed and burned. Noted survivors are the failed warrior, the gambler stuck in a barrel, and a geologist studying the behavior of a certain creatures.
- Precursor Basin - This area is nothing more then a huge basin with Precursor ruins situated on it. Flying Lurker Soldiers patrol the area searching for anything valuable to give to their masters. A group of special flowers have been infected by Dark Eco, and Lightning Moles reside in the basin, making their homes under the surface.
- Boggy Swamp - The sky over Rock Village is gloomy, dark, and cloudy. A storm recently passes through the area and is currently over Boggy Swamp pouring rain into the already drenched area. Various Lurker creatures reside here including Lurker Bats, Lurker Frogs, and Lurker Rats. Also, the Lurkers have set up a blimp in the area, its purpose is anyone's guess. The Flut Flut Bird Jak & Daxter rescued at Sentinel Beach can be used here to cross the dangerous black water, which is contaminated by Dark Eco. Primitive Lurker traps are set up to hamper intruders. The first area where Yellow Eco is found.
- Lost Precursor City - Lurker Soldiers now make the underwater city their base of operations for the Rock Village area. The city's ancient defense systems are still active, which include various electric pipes that are hazardous if you touch them, the green acid flashes which disintegrate any intruders that fall into the water, and whirlpools which drag hapless beings to drown.
- Mountain Pass - To get straight to the volcano, Jak & Daxter have to defeat the giant Lurker known as Klaww. The valleys of the area are rigged with explosives and the Lurkers have it set to blow if any intruder enters the area.
- Volcanic Crater - Houses The Red Sage's deserted laboratory and a pair of miners. A gondola, though shut down for the time being, leads to the top of the volcano, and old mine carts lead the way to spider infested caves or a lava filled cavern.
- Spider Caves - Quiet, dark, and full of Lurker Spiders. They the prime resident in these caverns. Both baby and adult spiders wait to ambush and make the next passer-byer become the next meal. While Lurker Centipedes like to eat the very pillars they live in, which if they succeed, the whole cave could collapse and cease to exist. A small band of Lurker Soldiers and Lurker Miners make residence around a mining camp. They barely move beyond their camp due to the fact they may get eaten by spiders or fall into the large pools of Dark Eco. They appear to be uncovering an ancient precursor robot.
- Snowy Mountain - It's constantly snowing on this mountain, and Lurkers have a fort set up on the top of the mountain. It could be considered odd that a snowy mountain accumulated directly above a smoldering hot volcanic crater.
- Lava Tube - The passageway leading to the Yellow Sage's lab, it's like Fire Canyon, only much hotter. The yellow sage has laid out rails of which the zoomer can travel on later on in it. This place is also where Gol and Maia seem to be smuggling their dark eco through.
- Gol and Maia's Citadel - The Yellow Sage's lab, which has been turned into a base of operations for Gol and Maia. Most of the contraptions within rely completely on anti-gravity support devices, making a very difficult fortress to break.
- Dark Eco Silos - This area is the spot where Jak & Daxter fight Gol & Maia in their precursor robot.
Trivia
- In Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, when Ratchet gets a piece of the Hypnomatic, he holds it up in the air, a short tune plays, and Clank starts dancing and spinning; this is a reference to the animations that happen when Jak gets a power cell. Ratchet gives Clank a weird look, after which Clank apologizes.
- In Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, there is also a picture of Jak and Daxter in Clank's apartment, and in Damosel, after going through the bank.
- If you wait a little while, the TV in title screen of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando cuts to footage of Jak and Daxter and Jak II.
- The moving plant in Samos' hut is a recolored version of a Crash Bandicoot 1 and 2 enemy. It dosn't attack you however but it's motion is the same.