Jak X: Combat Racing

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
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  1. PSM Magazine
    70
    It's been too long since we had a great vehicular combat game, and Jak X delivers some rollicking good multiplayer fun. It just lacks the flair needed to make it a must-buy. [Dec 2005, p.101]
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  2. GamePro
    70
    The controls also suffer a bit thanks to the floaty physics and awkward use of the shoulder buttons for boosting and attacking simultaneously.
  3. GamerFeed
    70
    Jak X: Combat Racing isn't really going to change your driving nature, as it lacks some of the zest of the more concentrated racing games out there. But it still delivers a mostly good time.
  5. TotalPlayStation
    70
    It's a racing game where the racing isn't even right thanks to cars that are just too squirrely and AI that blatantly cheats on top of rubber banding up behind you. Any fun the game had in the start is sucked right out by the end.
  6. The Sydney Morning Herald
    70
    Opponents cheat to keep every race competitive but it can be irritating, especially when rivals destroy your car within reach of the finish line.
  7. Eurogamer
    70
    Sure, it's repetitive; sure it's not doing anything massively new, but what it does provide is an exceptionally polished genre offering that fans of the series and kart games in general can get a lot out of.
  8. Total Video Games
    70
    There's enough car customisation capabilities for sense of progression together with a range of munitions that can obliterate opponents, and the narrative is exactly what you'd expect it to be in a Jak & Daxter game.
  9. Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
    70
    This is not "Jak 4." It's just a kart racer, albeit a quality one with bags of online potential. [Dec 2005, p.106]
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  10. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    68
    Jak X delivers smooth, intense online action and a solid variety of game types, including a take-out-the-drones death race and an entertaining sport hunt in addition to typical races. Nothing spectacular, but satisfying nonetheless.
  11. Gaming Age
    67
    The extremely dedicated, and perhaps a bit masochistic, will absolutely adore Jak X's lengthy and varied single-player, however frustrating it may be.
  12. Game Revolution
    67
    After three games packed with at least twenty hours of consistently engaging platforming, action and driving, it's difficult to see Jak X as anything but an odd diversion. Even taken within the context of combat racers (as the title requests) there's little to make it stand out.
  13. Yahoo!
    60
    Ultimately, the problem with Jak X is that the underlying game is utterly generic. Strip away all of the characters and you're left with a racing game that borrows from the genre, but doesn't give anything back.
  14. Edge Magazine
    60
    If this is the series' swansong, it goes out in the luxuirous manner in which the series was born – in a well-produced, moderately thoughful and firmly enjoyable instalment of an established genre – a manner that won't go unappreciated but will just as likely go unremembered. [Dec 2005, p.110]
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  15. Computer Games Magazine
    60
    The result is a fast, flashy exercise in steering, shooting, and squinting. [Dec p.93]
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  16. RewiredMind
    60
    To enter the racing genre successfully, you need to have some boiling hot IP, promotion that would make EA jealous, or some gameplay twist so innovative that the next bored developer will rip you off instead of vice versa. Jak X has none of those.

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best PS2 Game of 2005
50
#50 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 125 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 125
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 125
  3. Negative: 12 out of 125
  1. DarkEnergon
    Nov 19, 2011
    10
    In the same way Crash Team Racing (the fourth Crash Bandicoot Game) was a stellar spin-off competitive racer, Jak X (the fourth Jak & DaxterIn the same way Crash Team Racing (the fourth Crash Bandicoot Game) was a stellar spin-off competitive racer, Jak X (the fourth Jak & Daxter Game) wraps up Naughty Dog's share of J+D with true skill that only they have ever managed (how many spin-offs are ever as good as the original games? Until Naughty Dog came around, none). The racing is fast and intense, the number of vehicles and customisation options rival those of real racing sims and the actual "combat" side of the racing is brilliantly intuitive and very reminiscent of CTR, which is definitely a good thing, the most notable similarity is the upgrading of weapons through collecting dark eco (much like CTR did with Whumpa Fruit). As far as the story goes, its a let down coming straight out of the J+D trilogy, but it suits the subject matter well and brings back all of the characters and locations we know and love from the original titles, as well as much appreciated nods to previous events from said titles. A brilliant game that fans of the originals and newbies alike will love and a smashing send-off for Naughty Dog, we miss you D':… Full Review »
  2. RedRyan18
    May 22, 2014
    7
    Jak X isn't a bad game by any means, it's just not as good as the previous three installments. It's actually often very clever and funny. IJak X isn't a bad game by any means, it's just not as good as the previous three installments. It's actually often very clever and funny. I just wish the game didn't involve racing or a plot involving poison.… Full Review »
  3. Rayman
    Jan 9, 2013
    9
    Naughty Dog made the same thing, that they made with Crash Bandicoot: the fourth game is a racing game. Jak X isn't as good as CTR, but it isNaughty Dog made the same thing, that they made with Crash Bandicoot: the fourth game is a racing game. Jak X isn't as good as CTR, but it is still a fun game. It has the best story of racing games history. I give minus for repetitious and AI. It is stupid, that the other racers always comes to the finish within 15 seconds after you. But for a spin-off it is a good game.… Full Review »
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