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Daxter (video game)

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Daxter
North American box art
Developer(s)Ready at Dawn
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Producer(s)Naughty Dog
Designer(s)Michael John
Programmer(s)Andrea Pessino
Artist(s)Ru Weerasuriya
Composer(s)Jamey Scott
SeriesJak and Daxter
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
  • NA: March 14, 2006
  • EU: April 13, 2006[1]
  • AU: April 28, 2006
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Daxter is a 2006 platform video game developed by Ready at Dawn and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. A spin-off of the Jak and Daxter series, Daxter takes place during the two-year timeskip occurring during the opening cutscene of Jak II; unlike the other installments of the franchise focusing primarily on Jak, the game focuses on the adventures of his sidekick Daxter while Jak is imprisoned.

Daxter received generally positive reviews from critics and the game had sold more than 2.3 million units by June 2008.

The game was re-released on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June 2024.

Gameplay

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Players assume the role of Daxter in his role as a bug exterminator, while he is searching for his friend Jak throughout the game's story. Daxter can perform double jumping and ledge grabbing, can crouch to squeeze through narrow gaps, make use of trampolines to reach higher ledges and ride on ziplines, and make use of vehicles to move around the game world's map. Portals and gateways are encountered within the main environment which lead to locations containing missions that players must complete in order to advance the story.

Combat in the game focuses mainly on melee attacks using an electronic blue eco powered bug-swatter, with players able to perform combo attacks on multiple enemies. After the initial missions, the player gains access to an extermination tank which sprays green eco-based bug spray to stun enemies, with it later able to be upgraded with several new functions, including a jet pack to allow Daxter to fly, a flamethrower modification which can improve the effectiveness of the jet pack, and an ultrasonic attachment that shoots blue eco-based high radial damage projectiles. Damage taken from enemies and certain environmental hazards can be recovered by collecting green eco health packs, while the spray tank's supply can be regenerated by absorbing green eco clusters.

Two forms of collectibles can be found during the game, including Golden Bug-Gems, similar to the Metalhead Gems from the second and third installment of the Jak and Daxter series, along with the traditional Precursor Orbs, the latter of which can be used to unlock special features. In addition, players can unlock unique items by breaking picture frames found hidden throughout the game, and with a Jak X game connected to Daxter, can alter the character's goggles and, if the connected save file is 100% complete, a modified Hover Scooter paint scheme.

Plot

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The game takes place in the final months of the two-year gap presented in the opening of Jak II (and the aftermath of The Precursor Legacy), between the moment when Jak is taken prisoner by the Krimzon Guard and the time in which Daxter finally rescues him from the Krimzon Guard Fortress. The introduction shows Jak being captured, while Daxter manages to escape. Almost two years later (having no luck with rescuing Jak), Daxter has forgotten all about finding his friend. An old man named Osmo, whom Daxter meets, hires Daxter as an exterminator working in various parts of Haven City, and occasionally its environs, to exterminate bug-like Metal Heads referred to in-game as 'Metal Bugs'. During his adventures, Daxter meets a mysterious woman named Taryn who, despite being less than impressed by Daxter's interest in her, occasionally helps him.

After completing a number of missions for Osmo, Daxter sees Jak in a Prison Zoomer and attempts to chase after it. After being cornered by some Krimzon Guards (who had noticed Daxter's pursuit), Daxter is rescued by Osmo's son Ximon, who assists him with several more missions including one to Baron Praxis' palace where Daxter steals a map of the Fortress, the prison where Jak is being held. After returning to the extermination shop, an arthropod sidekick that Daxter acquired earlier is killed by Kaeden, a bitter man who seemingly wants to steal Osmo's shop, but, in actuality, is working for Kor, the Metal Head leader.

When Daxter tries to stop Kaeden from escaping the shop, Kaeden suddenly blows up the shop with a bomb he placed in the shop earlier. Daxter and Osmo survive, and Daxter promises to stop Kaeden, but only after he rescues Jak. Daxter infiltrates the Fortress and finds Kaeden, who reveals himself to be a giant Metal Bug. Daxter manages to defeat Kaeden, who tries to warn him that Kor is waiting outside for them, and then uses a hover platform to begin searching for Jak within the Fortress, leading into the opening cutscene from Jak II. After this, the game cuts to a point later in the timeline at Daxter's Naughty Ottsel Bar, where he is recounting the story to Jak, Keira, Samos, Tess, and Taryn.

Reception

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Critical reception

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Daxter received "generally positive reviews" from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[2]

Daxter is regarded as one of the PSP's best titles by a number of websites. GamesRadar+ ranked Daxter the 4th best PSP game ever made, calling it “an absolute must-play for the PSP enthusiast.”[9] Kotaku cited it as one of the 12 best PSP games, claiming it's “as funny as it is well-tuned.”[10] Additionally, Digital Trends and TechRadar each listed Daxter among the 10 best PSP games, with the former specifying that “Daxter’s vibrant colors and subtle details inject the game with a ton of flair.”[11][12] During the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Daxter for "Action/Adventure Game of the Year", "Outstanding Achievement in Animation", and "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Male" for Max Casella's vocal role as Daxter.[13]

Sales

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As of June 2008, the game has sold more than 2.3 million units.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Sony PlayStation Portable - Release Dates // PlayStation Portable /// Eurogamer". Eurogamer. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b "Daxter". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Daxter Review". Eurogamer. March 20, 2006. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "Review: Daxter". Archived from the original on March 24, 2008.
  5. ^ "Daxter for PSP Review – PSP Daxter Review". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  6. ^ "Jak's sidekick steps up to the plate to represent for platformers on the PSP". Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "IGN: Daxter Review". Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
  8. ^ "Daxter Review".
  9. ^ "The 25 best PSP games of all time". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "The 12 Best Games on PSP". Kotaku. March 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Nick Hastings. "The 10 Best PSP Games". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  12. ^ Emma Boyle. "Best PSP games: 10 games that are perfect and portable". TechRadar. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  13. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Daxter". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  14. ^ James Brightman (June 11, 2008). "God of War PSP Dev Talks About Ending PSP Development". GameDaily. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
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