Radical Jak sequel abandoning the naïve tone for urban Dark Fantasy. New gunplay mechanics, vehicles and Haven City world are brilliant. A significant franchise turning point that dared an audacious and successful change of direction.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player12+
Description
North American edition of Jak II released in 2003, the second entry in Naughty Dog's trilogy. Same platforming, shooting and urban open-world mechanics (Haven City) as the Japanese and European versions, published by SCEA. A major dark turn for the series after the first game.
Jak II review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Taking a darker, more heavily armed turn, this chapter grafts gunfights and city joyrides onto platforming that stays pixel-perfect as ever. The variety of missions and the vehicle driving across an open world tighten the pace without sacrificing any of the joy of the jump. A few difficulty spikes still grate, but the mechanical richness and the fluidity of the action remain remarkable.
A sequel that tips Naughty Dog's mascot into a darker urban open world, blending platforming, driving and gunplay in a dystopian city. Still fairly widespread in the West, its interest lies in this bold tonal turn within the saga rather than scarcity. A prime piece for action-adventure fans wanting to track the Jak line's transformation.
Is Jak II still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2003 on PS2, Naughty Dog's sequel takes a radical turn by dropping Jak into Haven City, an oppressive metropolis inspired by the urban open world. The hero grows up, gains firearms and a dark side tied to black Eco. The timed missions and the steep difficulty left a mark, sometimes to the edge of frustration. The dystopian art direction and the more mature writing remain strong, and the hovercraft driving energises exploration. Recommended for seasoned action platforming players and for trilogy fans ready for its most demanding turn on Sony's second home console hardware globally.
