Archived from groups: alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 (
More info?)
On 8 Apr 2005 05:28:27 -0700, "yschandra" <yschandra@gmail.com> wrote:
>I am a great fan of both Jak & Dexter and Ratchet & Clank. I only
>Played Jak 1 & Ratchet II. Now I am wondering which one to get. Jak II
>& III there is a radical change from I. Is it ok to get Jak III and not
>II. Similarly should I get Ratchet I or III (I can't play online)?
I've played all six titles, and while the two series are often
compared to each other, they are different games. Amusingly, Ratchet
and Clank II (Goin' Commando) even has a few nods to Jak and Daxter,
which I won't give away if you haven't played it yet.
As with most games and their sequels, it isn't required to play them
in order, but it does help if you care to know what's going on. I
played all the way through Jak and Daxter, but Jak II was SO
frustrating at spots that I put it down and never went back to it. I
got stuck at the hovercycle race through the city - I just could NOT
win it, after at least 100 attempts and two broken controllers. As
much as Jak II tried to be non-linear (almost Grand Theft Auto-like)
at this particular point there's nowhere else to go until you win the
race. Then I picked up Jak III (after hearing it was easier) and
didn't really understand what was going on at the beginning, since I
never finished Jak II. And then I got stuck again (this time at the
"fly the glider through the rings" level.) I personally have a problem
with games that come to a grinding halt just because you can't get
past one spot...
Ratchet and Clank, on the other hand, is pretty much a series of
platform smasher games. There is also a continuing storyline, but it
doesn't affect gameplay all that much if you didn't play the previous
(although you do get weapon bonuses if you have a save from the
previous game on your memory card.) Each game builds on the previous,
adding more weapons and upgrades, but essentially it's the same game
style - fly from planet to planet, break things, kill enemies, and
collect bolts to buy weapons. Ratchet and Clank III - Up Your Arsenal
boasts the most weapons of the series, such that they had to add an
alt-menu to hold all of them. Sadly I never finished R&C III - I had
the game for like two months but no time to play it, then decided it
was time to send it back to Gamefly for the next in my queue. I'll
grab it at EB at some point... so many games, so little money...
If you're undecided, I suggest a rental to make sure you like the game
first. The earlier titles are probably in bargain bins by now, so you
might be able to find them for under $20. There's also Gamefly.
-Z