Jak II

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 463 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 368 out of 463
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 463
  3. Negative: 29 out of 463
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  1. Tromble
    Jun 29, 2021
    9
    Jak II is a PlayStation 2 classic that holds up remarkably well but is likely balanced too difficult for modern audiences.

    Jak II is a rare sequel in how much it fully transforms the identity of its precursor while maintaining the core foundation that made the original work. Many of my gripes with the original still exist here but at-least the over-sexualized character designs are no    Jak II is a PlayStation 2 classic that holds up remarkably well but is likely balanced too difficult for modern audiences.

    Jak II is a rare sequel in how much it fully transforms the identity of its precursor while maintaining the core foundation that made the original work.

    Many of my gripes with the original still exist here but at-least the over-sexualized character designs are no longer literal children.

    Overall I highly recommend Jak II.    … Expand
  2. AlcoholicGoat
    Jul 25, 2022
    8
    Remember when Naughty Dog cared? Yeah me neither. Such an amazing experience replaying this. Why is it that Naughty Dog is so averse to making a fun game? Jak II has a decent story and the gameplay services the narrative. They don't have to be at odds. A great game uses the narrative to inform the gameplay and vice versa. ND clearly only cares about money (like all companies no **** butRemember when Naughty Dog cared? Yeah me neither. Such an amazing experience replaying this. Why is it that Naughty Dog is so averse to making a fun game? Jak II has a decent story and the gameplay services the narrative. They don't have to be at odds. A great game uses the narrative to inform the gameplay and vice versa. ND clearly only cares about money (like all companies no **** but wow they treat this franchise like the redheaded stepchild. **** you Neil. Make another Jak game you ****. I love the tone and atmosphere of Jak II. It's a way better revenge story than TLOU 2. It's also a dark horse sequel that took risks and was polarizing. Only this game is actually based as **** and a trendsetter, lacking all pretention. Stop trting to chase oscar-bait praise. Make a fun game again. It won't kill you. Crank up the 2000s edge, bring back the artstyle and tone, write a good retrospective Jak 4 like Uncharted 4, I'm so tired of seeing Ratchet and Clank getting sequels. Sony I will give you money for Jak 4. You do realize that right? Same for you ND.… Expand
  3. CnPx98
    Jul 23, 2022
    8
    The game is good but at times it can really be frustrating. The lack of strafing in a game like this just made fighting enemies annoying at times cos you couldn't aim properly. Especially tougher targets. You would try to aim at them and constantly miss. Instead you just spam jump, spin shoot which wasted all your ammo but it's the only way to hit targets at times. Camera angles in thisThe game is good but at times it can really be frustrating. The lack of strafing in a game like this just made fighting enemies annoying at times cos you couldn't aim properly. Especially tougher targets. You would try to aim at them and constantly miss. Instead you just spam jump, spin shoot which wasted all your ammo but it's the only way to hit targets at times. Camera angles in this game were so crippling at times. At 1 point your trying to climb a wall of falling rocks and the camera just makes it impossible to see where they are coming from. Or another point when these metal heads are shooting lazers but the camera doesn't point at them till your up close so you have to memorize the beam times rather then see them. Was it seriously that hard just to zoom that part out and make the camera locked? Also the camera is inverted when zooming with no way to disable. It would have been nice to allow to have normal camera controls.
    You also better like racing with hardcore rubber banding and annoying mechanics because this game is packed of it. Your in a flying car but ramps stop you steering. You constantly get pushed into walls by the AI. Boosting is basically pointless since there is not straight areas to use them causing you to blow up and die. Then have to start over. You also get a race through the streets where boosts are on every corner throwing you into walls. These races were just the worst and made me contemplate just removing the game. No one likes racing in these games. Racing games are for racing. The difficulty in this game is a complete mess. You never know if a mission will make you loose your cool or be a cake walk. I don't mind a challenge but games should gradually get harder not a couple easy missions then a ridiculous hard one with checkpoints every 20 minutes. Repeating the same 15 minutes all the time just gets frustrating. I know the game is old but these things aren't that obscure even for its time. Other then these issues the game is good. You can get it on PS4/Ps5 aswell if you want to play with a new. But for some reason the PS2 emulator Sony made is a bit buggy and sound can be a biit weird at time. I really hope we get more Jak games in future but I really can't see it. Naughty dog are mainly focused on remastering the same game several times.

    As much as all the bad things mentioned above I really do love this game. It's 1 of my favourite PS2 exclusives. The story in this game is also my favourite out of the 3 Jak games.    … Expand
  4. Mr_Nobody34
    Jan 14, 2022
    7
    Ratings for the time period it came out
    Story : 8
    Gameplay : 8
    Graphics : 7
    Fun Factor : 8
    Environment interaction : 5
    Sound effects : 8
    Overall Immersion : 7
  5. USSJ
    May 7, 2023
    10
    what a masterpiece i like the game new way of introducing guns which makes it different from the first one while most people think this game is hard and by extension means its bad i think its a great touch from naughty dog to make it more challenging (this couldnt be said to every mission though whoever made drill platform,strip mine eco,water slums seal peace deserves a special place inwhat a masterpiece i like the game new way of introducing guns which makes it different from the first one while most people think this game is hard and by extension means its bad i think its a great touch from naughty dog to make it more challenging (this couldnt be said to every mission though whoever made drill platform,strip mine eco,water slums seal peace deserves a special place in hell)i like the hoverboard and the story is decent overall highly recommended… Expand
  6. AmadouIraklidis
    Nov 6, 2022
    10
    A masterpiece of a game. A near perfect blend of story telling, open world exploration, and gameplay. Not only was this a great transition game, like a game for growing up, it also had an emotional element. Haven city had meaning. The progression in the game was palpable, the revelations in the story astounded and awed.

    One of the greatest games ever made.
  7. wojtulace1
    Jan 30, 2023
    8
    Good. Unique gameplay. Sometimes traveling from mission to mission through city gets tedious. Few missions could benefit from more checkpoints.
  8. aaronnmp96
    Jan 31, 2023
    7
    It has many flaws but for the time it was very good, Jak has a more Edgy character and it was not necessary
  9. Kris224b
    Feb 13, 2023
    10
    The greatest game ever made. Amazing core gameplay and insanely good variety of missions.
  10. coolmattsinegar
    May 3, 2023
    10
    Matthew Alexander "Matt" Sinegar [SIN-NA-GAR] (An EXTREMELY Mature & EXTREMELY Heterosexual (Straight) African-American/Black Man): Jak II (2003) Is LITERALLY Always One Of My All-Time Favorite PlayStation (PS) Games.
  11. Warrior_of_Doom
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    The overall score is based on how much fun I personally had with every component of the game
    and the overall experience.
  12. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    8
    It was fine, but i prefered the first one. I beat it tho. I liked the gameplay, but the world, the characters and the story were, imho, boring.
  13. suresour
    Sep 4, 2023
    10
    Jak 2 is not just a game; it's a monumental masterpiece that redefines the very essence of gaming. With its impeccable blend of breathtaking visuals, captivating storytelling, and exhilarating gameplay, Jak 2 earns a solid 10 out of 10 without a shadow of a doubt.
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PS2 Game of 2003
6
#6 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
10
#10 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 47 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 47
  3. Negative: 0 out of 47
  1. Gamestyle
    70
    It’s undoubtedly a bold (if not brazen) attempt to entertain, and while Gamestyle found itself striving to collect every last item from the first title, it is hard to see the same happening with this one. Which leaves its technical achievements looking rather muted.
    Read full review
  2. Electric Playground
    100
    I was hooked on the gameplay and the story of Jak II almost immediately and my addiction and love of the game hasn’t subsided weeks later. Jak II is, without question, one of the finest gaming experiences I’ve ever had.
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  3. Gamer.tv
    95
    Naughty Dog's expansion of Jak and Daxter's world to include different forms of gameplay has been seamless, and should open up their adventures to those who find the very concept of platform games anathema.
    Read full review
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