But don't get the wrong impression that Daxter's only form of communication is through his actions, because nothing could be farther from the truth. Daxter is quite a loudmouth, the type of character that always has something funny to say. Max Casella returns to voice everybody's favorite ottsel, and he doesn't hold anything back knowing that it's a portable game. His jokes are still as funny as they ever were and the way he just kind of falls into all of the story twists makes this feel like a fully realized adventure. This is a character you can really get behind, the type of hero that you want to see succeed. This may not have the deep story of a Final Fantasy or Metal Gear Solid, but you'll always want to know what's coming next and what Daxter's next one-liner is going to be.
Not only does Daxter manage to raise the bar when it comes to graphics and sounds on the PSP, but it does so without any load times. Thanks to the game's slick seamless loading chances are you won't notice the game loading until after you've entered a new level. Instead of popping up a big box that tells you that it's loading, Daxter allows you to control the character while it's grabbing the next bit of information, effectively masking any load time. This means that when you're going into a new building the front entrance might be a little longer, but only to give it time to fully load the amazing graphics, outstanding music, and everything else that makes Daxter one of the best portable games of all time.
Once you've managed to do and see everything there is in the single-player adventure then it's time to find some friends and play them in Daxter's unique two-player modes. The two player mode doesn't have anything to do with the platformer side of the game; it's more or less a play on "Rock, Paper, Scissors" … except with bugs. As you go through Daxter's story mode you will find hidden two-player items that are tucked away in hard to reach locations. You use these to battle your friends or computer opponents in Bug Combat, a turned based mini game that is a lot of fun, for awhile. There isn't much of a point to this mode, but its fun for what it is and a great diversion from the rest of the excitement.
Along with finding these special items, you can also uncover a number of funny cheats and hidden items. Late in the game you will find a Jak mask, which you can wear if you're the type of person that misses controlling the human side of this duo. You can also plug this game into Jak X and unlock even more hidden items, which may be the most fun you've had with that racing spin-off in months. It's these little things that prove that Daxter manages to get everything right, no matter how big or small.
It's easy to come away from Daxter impressed, this is one of the best playing games on the PSP and easily the best 3D platformer on any portable game system. With its air tight controls, stunning visuals and ever-evolving game play, you can't help but love a game like Daxter. Regardless of whether you're a fan of 3D platformers or not, there's enough in this game to warrant a look. This is the type of game PSP owners have been waiting for, and a great show piece for anybody who doesn't already see the system's potential. Let's hope this is just the beginning of a whole series of great portable platforming adventures.
A-
Daxter isn't just a great platformer with amazing graphics and sound, it's one of the best playing games you can get on the PSP. You can look around all you want, but there's no reason to; Daxter is the new king of 3D portable platforming games!
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