Jak of Jak and Daxter fame is back again. Jak has been in prison for 2 years, tortured and infused with dark powers. By the time Daxter rescues him, he's ... different ...

Where the first Jak and Daxter was about bright, cheery bouncing to gather up objects, the second Jak has an older, wiser, more cynical guy. The game begins in almost a Grand Theft Auto style, with the cops chasing you down and you carjacking whatever vehicle comes by to get around town. You drive around the streets from spot to spot, getting new missions and proving yourself.

The graphics are really good as you bounce, spring and roll your way across the various levels. Daxter has some really cool moves as he tags along with you. There are the normal hop-and-jump platform levels plus tank-chasing-you and other combinations of efforts.

The game definitely appeals to the more mature audience of the PS2. While the first Jak and Daxter was an "E for Everyone" game that was more of a Super Mario game, this one is darker and more serious. It carries a rating of "T for teen" and isn't quite suited for the pre-teen set.

There are plenty of games now for the kiddie players, so keep this one for the teen-and-up gamers. It's a more mature platform game, with themes of slums without water, torture and death. Still fun and rewarding for those teens and up who enjoy the Jak game series!

Buy Jak 2 from Amazon.com