Daxter (PSP)

Introduction

Jak and Daxter have reigned on the PS2 for as long as we can remember. Now developers think they should attack the newly released PSP. This time around however, Jak isn’t involved in this adventure.

You play as Daxter (all alone in his first ever exclusive title) and you have to clean Haven City from killer bugs. But not to worry for Daxter has a few tricks up his sleeve to clean up the city and have some laughs in the process.

Gameplay

Starting off with controls, the adaptation from the console version to this handheld system is truly stunning and amazing; everything is tight and so very responsive. The right and left shoulder buttons are used to shift the camera around, the keypad and joystick used to navigate and the others used to either do jumps or special attacks.

In your arsenal you have a very cool electric bug squatter and you have a weapon that sprays insecticide. You can also get upgrades for weapons and in the mini games if you are successful in completing them you get to learn new tricks and combos. This game is so innovative and different that you can actually use the bug spray weapon to get boosts to reach to higher levels of an area.

In the missions you have a variety of things to do. It isn’t only one objective and you have the decision whether or not you wish to do everything in the game. The objectives go from a wide range like destroying bugs, collecting a certain item, destroying bug nests and a lot more.

Daxter is a mean bug killer and although this game is eighty percent fighting there are some great platform elements. Some of these are: double jumping (very necessary and is used to get to higher levels), the hovering device (insecticide spray, very useful and fun to use) and some puzzles are also found to add to this truly immersive game.

Boss fights also add to the gameplay as well as the mini games and collectables. Just when you thought you finished the game there are so many things left to do and complete. It adds a long replay value to the title and sends the overall tilt of the game higher than it was before.

Just when you thought that was it the developers threw in the use of vehicles.  Controls again for the vehicles are very well done and it doesn’t make the driving missions difficult, tedious or impossible to complete. Mainly everything is done well in this title in the gameplay department. Nothing has been left out or felt hurried to be completed.

Visuals

The fur on Daxter blows in the wind, I think that is enough said. This is truly the next generation of handheld gaming. Daxter’s graphics are amazing and mind blowing, animations are fluid and attacks and special effects look especially great.

Sound

Great voice acting as well packed into an excellently written script. Funny at times and it never gets boring. Sometimes the attacking sounds are out of sync but it doesn’t affect the overall value and tilt of the game.

Overall

Excellent game for all you PSP owners. This game shows us that the PSP is far from being dead and that there is potential for great handheld titles out there. Pick this one up as soon as you can; disappointment is far from possible with this title.