E3 2003 – First Look
Jak speaks!
No longer is the hero of a
best-selling Sony PlayStation2 series the silent hero. The innocence is lost and
the voice is there.
Sony demonstrated the second
in the series during E3 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. With its smooth
gameplay and familiar player interface, this incarnation could be as fun as the
first. However, be forewarned, this game is also more mature than the first
light-hearted adventure.
The game begins with Jak
being broken out of prison. Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the innocent
hero has been hardened by the experience. The look is a little darker, the eyes
hold the burning flame of vengeance and the attitude is a lot tougher.
After his escape, Jak does
want any indignant hero would do – goes after the guys responsible for his
predicament.
“The game has a lot more
mature tone,” said Blake Hennon, of Bragman Nyman Cafarelli – the public
relations firm working the show for Sony.
The look of the game is
bright and colorful, and the tale is filled with guns and gadgets, affording
players the opportunity to create their own mayhem as Jak begins his quest. The
sound is similar to the original tale, as is the general gameplay.
However, this game will
sport a Teen rating, according to Hennon.
Is the world ready for a
leaner, meaner Jak? Likely. Though the storyline appears linear, with the
familiar gameplay and solid graphical elements, fans of the original game should
enjoy this adventure. Sony has the game slated for a September release although
Hennon said the game might ship in November.
