Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [PlayStation Portable Game] Helpful Guidepost
![sony-psp-go-handheld-game-console-black Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [PlayStation Portable Game] Helpful Guidepost](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4800193004_2ac133b8a5_m.jpg "Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [PlayStation Portable Game] Helpful Guidepost")
I was very reluctant to believe the mediocre reviews this game received since
1) I LOVED Daxter on the PSP,
2) I liked the PS2 Jak & Daxter Games,
3) I like High Impact’s Ratchet & Clank game,
4) I generally love platforming action-adventure type games, and
5) I’m always excited when a promising game is released on the PSP.
Well, unfortunately, Jak & Daxter disappointed. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why though. A lot of the traditional platforming and gameplay from early J&D games was there, and those functioned fine. Generally, the game was moderately challenging, and there were some interesting innovations (e.g., the set of Dark Eco powers).
Nevertheless, there were some problems with the game that kept making the experience less than it should have been. The entire game suffers from a lack of coherence. There are several different parts of the game: platforming and fighting as Jak, dogfights in the sky, bizarre “Dark Daxter” sequences, and Daxter-disarming-planes quick time minigames. Unfortunately, none of these different gameplay parts are really linked together well. More explanation and smoother transitions from the developer could have made the different parts of the game a bit smoother. It seems like all the parts of the story weren’t totally completed when this game was released.
Also, while most of the dogfights were really easy, there were occasional difficulty spikes that threw off the normal pacing of the game.
Others have complained about the camera controls, but I think this is something you can get used to fairly easily.
The control scheme also wasn’t the best (as another reviewer pointed out, using your left thumb to switch weapons and Eco powers as well as controlling movement was a poor design decision…nevertheless, that wasn’t too bad either).
All in all, the Lost Frontier isn’t a terrible game, but after seeing how good other, similar games were on the PSP (e.g., Daxter, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters), it was disappointing that such a promising game didn’t quite turn out as good as it could have been.
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The game focuses on the adventures of Clank and his secret alter-ego, Secret Agent Clank. Chronologically, this game is set after the events of Size Matters, but before the events of Tools of Destruction.
The game begins with Clank going to the Boltaire Museum to halt the theft of a priceless jewel known as the "Eye of Infinity". Clank sees Ratchet fleeing the scene of the crime, who is arrested by local law enforcement. While retinal scans prove that the thief was Ratchet, Clank is convinced his friend is innocent. Clank investigates the theft further, traveling to various locales until he comes across an enigmatic figure known only as the "Kingpin". Clank eventually comes across one of the Kingpin's lairs and rescues a scientist, who informs him that the Kingpin intends to build a giant laser with the power to destroy the galaxy. The scientist then reveals that the Kingpin is heading to an abandoned space facility. The Kingpin later reveals himself to be none other than Klunk, Clank's evil doppelganger first introduced in Up Your Arsenal. It is revealed that Klunk was acting through Ratchet via a mind-control device hidden on Ratchet's helmet.
Klunk reveals he has stolen the Eye to use as a refractor for a massive laser system perfectly poised to destroy every planet in the galaxy. He plans to threaten to use the laser on a planet (using Ratchet) and have himself, posing as Clank, stop Ratchet from destroying the galaxy, placing the hero in jail forever while Klunk would be idolized by the populace.
Halfway through their battle, Klunk activates the laser. Clank knocks out Klunk and manages to deactivate the firing sequence while Captain Qwark accidentally beams himself aboard the satellite, retrieves the Eye, and is beamed out of the satellite just before it self-destructs. Ratchet is exonerated of the crimes filed against him. Klunk is placed in Ratchet's custody, being turned into a new vacuum cleaner to use in the apartment.
Gameplay
Unlike previous Ratchet & Clank games, Clank's gameplay Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [PlayStation Portable Game] is more like Ratchet's. In the past, playing him was more about solving puzzles; now, he is a full on action character with weapons and gadgets of his own. Also featured are interactive cut scenes where the player must press a sequence of buttons correctly to sneak through an area undetected. Giant Clank, wherein Clank transforms into a monster-sized fighting machine, also makes an appearance.
Other playable characters
Besides Clank, both Captain Qwark and Ratchet are playable in the game. Qwark's gameplay segments are based on dubious accounts of his own exploits and are more action-based. Ratchet's segments in prison are more like the gameplay of previous games in the series.
Weapons and gadgets
Clank has six weapons in his inventory: the Tie-a-Rang, Cuff Link Bombs, Tanglevine Carnation, Blowtorch Briefcase, Thunderstorm Umbrella, and Holo-Knuckles. Clank has the opportunity to gain access to a snowboard and other vehicles. The player can upgrade Clank's "Clank-Fu" fighting moves and weapons, similar to the weapons-leveling system in traditional Ratchet & Clank games. The player can learn new techniques, as well as various finishing moves.
Development and release
The game was in development since before the release of Size Matters. In July 2007, rumors of the game's existence surfaced when David Bergeaud, who composes music for the Ratchet & Clank series, accidentally revealed the game in his online resume. The actual game was not confirmed by Sony until a pre-TGS 2007 conference.
Reception
Secret Agent Clank received critically mixed scores ranging from a 6.5/10 from IGN to an 8.5/10 from Game Informer. Most scores fall in the 6-8 level with a Metacritic score of 72/100. The PS2 version once again received lukewarm reviews.
References
^ PlayStation.com - Secret Agent Clank
^ Brian Keltner (2008-05-05). "Clank gets a Date". Sony. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/05/05/clank-gets-a-date/. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
^ PlayStation Blog - Secret Agent Clank Coming to PS2
^ a b c Jeremy Parish (2007-09-19). "1Up Previews: Secret Agent Clank". http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3162960. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
^ http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/review/R126354.html
^ http://au.playstation.com/games_media/games/psp/s/secretagentclank.jhtml
^ Weapons and Gadgets
^ PSP Playable Demo
^ http://au.playstation.com/games_media/games/psp/s/secretagentclank.jhtml
^ a b Andrew Yoon (2007-07-11). "Rumor: "Secret Agent Clank" game in development". http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/07/11/rumor-secret-agent-clank-game-in-development/. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
^ a b Jeff Haynes (2007-09-19). "TGS 2007: Secret Agent Clank First Look". http://psp.ign.com/articles/821/821037p1.html. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
^ Andrew Yoon (2007-10-25). "PSP Fanboy mega-interview: Secret Agent Clank". http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/10/25/psp-fanboy-mega-interview-secret-agent-clank/. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
^ Metacritic - Secret Agent Clank
External links
Ratchet & Clank Official Website
High Impact Games
Secret Agent Clank on the Ratchet & Clank wiki
v d e
Ratchet & Clank
Main games
Original series: Ratchet & Clank Going Commando Up Your Arsenal Deadlocked Size Matters
Future trilogy: Tools of Destruction Quest for Booty A Crack in Time
Spin-offs: Secret Agent Clank
Related articles
Ratchet Going Mobile Clone Home Characters
Developers
Insomniac Games High Impact Games Sanzaru Games
v d e
High Impact Games
Ratchet & Clank
Size Matters (2007) Secret Agent Clank (2008)
Jak & Daxter
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (2009)
Insomniac Games Naughty Dog
Categories: 2008 video games | PlayStation 2 games | PlayStation Portable games | Ratchet & Clank | Video game prequelsHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from March 2008 | All articles needing additional references
Will You Rate My PSP?
Rate my PSP (Playstation Portable)?Ok, rate my PSP on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 being the Worst, and 10 being the Best.Type of PSP: Original. (The very fist model)Condition: Looks pretty new, but I had it since the day it came out.Memory Stick: 16GBFirmware Type: 5.50 M33 (The Newest Kind)On the Memoery Stick I have downloaded Roms. The Roms that are downloaded are as follows:Super Nintendo Emulator. (With games such as megaman, donkey kong, breath of fire, and more!)Gameboy Advance Emulator (With Pokemon, fire emblum, golden sun, and more!)Gameboy Color Emulator (With original Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [PlayStation Portable Game] zelda, mario, and pokemon games!)Activision Hits- RemixedAtari ClassicsBeatsBlade Dancer- Lineage of LightBrave story- New TravelerBreath of Fire 3Bust-A-Move DeluxeCapcom Classics Collection- RemixedCrash Bandicoot- Mind over MutantCrimson Gem SagaCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIDisgaea- Afternoon of DarknessDragon Ball Z Shin BudokaiFinal Fantasy (The very first one- Anniversary collection)Final Fantasy 2 (The second one- Anniversary collection)FlowJak and Daxter- The Lost FrontierJeanne D'ArkKingdom of ParadiseThe Legend of HeroesMegaman- Maverick Hunter XMegaman- Powered UpMercury MeltdownMetal Gear Solid- Portable OpsNamco Arcade Battle CollectionPataponPhantasy Star PortablePuzzle Quest- Challange of the WarlordsRatchet and Clank- Size MattersRiviera- The Promised LandSuper Stardust PortableTales of EterniaValkerie Profile- LennethYS- The Ark of Napishtim____I also have a bunch of music, including awesome music game remixes, iron maiden, ACDC, disturbed, guns n roses, j giles, journey, and more!So what do you think? Rate my PSP on a scale from 1 to 10.(Side Question) If I sold this PSP on EBAY, how much do you think I could get for it? (With the 16GB memory stick included, of course!)
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What happened here? This Jak & Daxter game for the PSP was developed by High Impact Games, the same developer who created the two awesome Ratchet and Clank games for the PSP. But something went amiss with The Lost Frontier. It doesn’t even come close to matching the quality of the two Ratchet and Clank games, and it’s hands down the worst Jak & Daxter game to date. Not to say that it’s unplayable; it can be quite entertaining in places. But the game as a whole suffers from a lack of polish and sloppy gameplay mechanics.
The biggest problems with the game are the camera and using the d-pad to change weapon modes and eco powers. The camera is programmed to switch into preset positions at certain parts in the levels, and this often causes problems. It would have been much better if High Impact had just allowed the player total camera control at all times. Let the player screw it up, not the game itself. The problem with the d-pad is that there are simply too many functions mapped to it, and it’s too awkward to use in the heat of combat. The player uses the d-pad to do three things: change weapon modes, change eco powers, and activate an eco power. Having to take your thumb off the analog nub to do this means Jak is a sitting duck to attacking enemies. A much better solution would have been to have a quick select system as in the Ratchet and Clank games. One button pauses the game and brings up a quick select ring with the available weapon modes and eco powers. The player chooses with the analog nub and quickly resumes gameplay. The L and R shoulder buttons could have been used to switch back and forth between a weapon ring and an eco power ring. How somebody didn’t think of this is baffling.
Another annoying problem is that the game does not display Jak’s weapon mode and eco power at all times. The only time that information gets displayed is when the player changes weapon modes and eco power. Every time the player begins engaging an enemy, you have to fiddle with the d-pad to see what abilities you have equipped. It’s just a big pain in the butt.
The sky combat is fun, but way too easy. The game practically just gives the player everthing. Rather than being the grandiose Jak and Daxter game I was hoping for, The Lost Frontier is little more than a few day’s diversion. Worst of all, there’s no Ashelin: an unforgiveable crime. Rent this one, or wait until it drops in price.
This is a great game.
Ever since the first Jak & Daxter came out as a kind-of launch game for the ps2, i have loved this franchise. First of, I must say that anybody who is a PS2/PS3 owner must check out the Jak games. I have played many hours of many different types of games, but this series is my all time favorite.
But as i said in the title, this game is a must have for all psp owners, especially those who like J&D. Great story, good gameplay like the other games on the ps2, it really is a must have. after completing the game, this i now my favorite psp game.
also, for anybody else who likes jack and daxter, i recommend getting the game Daxter, which is also on psp. it is a nice side story set in between the first and second ps2 games
liked the game.Keep rolling them out! Service to get it was great and fast. Would order games again.
My nephew has all type of video games, but for some reason he cant seem to put this one down.