Gameplay

Items

Being a platformer, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy offers many collectables for the player to find throughout the game, including Precursor Orbs, power Cells, and more.

Eco

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy contains forms of energy known as "Eco", harvested and made available by the ancient Precursors. Eco is available for use by way of small pieces that give Jak a short spurt, or Eco vents which give him a fully-charged burst of Eco energy. Eco in this game is avalible in six different forms:

• Green - Green Eco restores health. Fifty small ones or one big one restore one third of Jak's health meter. Green Eco can also be used in the Precursor Basin to purify plants infected with Dark Eco.

• Blue - Blue Eco temporarily increases speed on foot and on the Zoomer, magnetizes Precursor Orbs, Green Eco, and Blue Eco, and can activate ancient Precursor artifacts/technology that ran down.

• Red - Red Eco is used to increase strength, and can take down tougher enemies and other objects in fewer hits, somtimes with only a single blow.

• Yellow - Yellow Eco is used to fire energy blasts with a slight homing ability. This can be fired in third person mode, or, for more accuraccy, first person view. Yellow Eco is used to break open tough crates, harm enemies, shatter rocks, etc.

• Dark - Dark Eco is not used physically throughout the entire game, as it is toxic. Contacting Dark Eco Crates cause Jak and Daxter to lose health, while contacting pools of Dark Eco kills Jak instantly. However, in the sequel, Jak II, it is the only type of eco that is used, other than Green Eco.

• Light - Light Eco is used only in the final battle of the game. It is an amalgamation of Green, Blue, Red, and Yellow Eco, and seemed to have shared characteristics of those types of Eco. After the final battle, it is not seen again.

Locations

Main article: List of Jak and Daxter Locations

• Sandover Village - The game's beginning area is home to Jak, Daxter, Keira, Samos The Sage, the mayor of the town, a sculptor, a bird watcher, a fisherman, a farmer, Jak's uncle, and perhaps more unseen characters. There are multiple houses which the player can enter, a pen where Yakows graze, and access to the surrounding areas: Forbidden Jungle, Sentinel Beach, Misty Island (by way of boat), and Geyser Rock, by using Samos' Warp Gate. Samos' warp gate can also be used to warp to the Sages huts, after turning the power on later in the game.

• Geyser Rock - This small island is located a short distance away from Sandover Village and is the training ground for the player when they begin the game. It is, as the name suggests, covered with many Geysers.

• Sentinel Beach - This beach is located a very short walk from Sandover Village. Various Lurkers are found here, including the Lurker Snakes, Lurker crabs, Lurker Dogs, Lurker Sharks, and the monkey-like lurkers seen most often. It may be that Sentinel Beach is an extension of Sandover Village, as a few houses are in the area. Sentinel Beach is also where Samos collects Green Eco for study, and where Jak, Daxter, and the bird lady hatched and looked after an orphaned Flut Flut egg.

• Forbidden Jungle - Despite the name, the jungle is avalible to the player at any givin time. The area is infected by a Dark Eco Plant residing in the Precursor temple in the center of the jungle, which is the reason for the tentacle-like thorns infesting the area. Pythons hide in the trees to ambush prey, while Lurker Pirhanas do the same from the water, and Lurker Toads patrol the paths. An unkown person (or persons) set up a device to stop Blue Eco found in the jungle from giving power to Sandover Village.

• Misty Island - Falling into the foggy water results in instant death. Lurker Soldiers and Lurker Commanders patrol the various cliffs and canyons of this island. Possibly, Misty Island was home to giant creatures (hence the giant skelitons), before they all died out from the Dark Eco poisoning the entire island. Lurkers also set up a ship here which periodically sails from the island to other Lurker encampments to give or receive supplies. This is the first area visited by Jak and Daxter, and where the latter was turned into an ottsel.

• Fire Canyon - The only way to reach the neighbouring village, Rock Village, is to pass through the Fire Canyon. The canyon is boiling hot with collapsing rocks and lava pools everywhere. Oddly, Lurkers can withstand the heat of the canyon and walk on the hot rocks unharmed.

• Rock Village - The entire village is under a constant rain of flaming boulders from a huge Lurker called Klaww, untill he is defeated. Also, the Blue Sage's lab is a mess, and he's nowhere to be found. Much of the inhabitants seemed to live in the houses which are built right into the central mountain of the village, but some of them have been crushed and are burning from Klaww's attacks. Noted survivors are the failed warrior, the gambler wearing a barrel, and a geologist studying the behaviours of lighting moles.

• Precursor Basin - This area is nothing more than a huge basin with Precursor ruins situated on it, but has become overrun by plants. Flying Lurker Soldiers patrol the area searching for anything valuable to give to their masters. A group of special flowers have been infected by Dark Eco, and Lightning Moles reside in the basin, making their homes under the surface.

• Boggy Swamp - The sky over Rock Village is gloomy, dark, and cloudy. A storm recently passed through the area and is currently over Boggy Swamp pouring rain into the already drenched area. Various Lurker creatures are here including Lurker Bats, Lurker Frogs, and Lurker Rats. Also, the Lurkers have set up a blimp in the area, its purpose to pull Precursor technology out of the mud. The Flut Flut Bird Jak and Daxter rescued at Sentinel Beach can be used here to cross the dangerous black waters of the swamp, which is contaminated and dangorous. Primitive traps are set up to stop intruders. This land is also owned by Boggy Billy.

• Lost Precursor City - Lurker Soldiers now infest the underwater city near the Rock Village. The city's ancient defence systems are still active, which include various electric pipes that are hazardous if the player touches them, the green acid flashes which disintegrate any intruders that fall into the water, and whirlpools which drag healples beings to drown, and pitfalls occanonally filled with Dark Eco.

• Mountain Pass - To get straight to the volcano, Jak and Daxter have to defeat the giant Lurker known as Klaww. The valleys of the area are rigged with explosives and the Lurkers have it set to blow if any intruder enters the area.

• Volcanic Crater - Houses the Red Sage's deserted laboratory and a pair of miners. A gondola, though shut down for the time being, leads to Snowy Mountain, and old mine carts lead the way to spider infested caves and a lava filled cavern.

• Spider Caves - Quiet, dark, and full of Spiders, the prime residents in these caverns. Both baby and adult Spiders wait to ambush and make the next passer-by a meal. While Lurker Centipedes naw at the pillars supporting the cave, and even the volcano, looking for precurser artifacts. However, if the supportes are stripped clean though, it would cause the whole area so collapse. A small band of Lurker Soldiers and Lurker Miners work around a mining camp. They barely move beyond their camp, perhaps due to the fact that they may get eaten by the Spiders, or fall into the large pools of Dark Eco. Or, it could just be that they are too busy excavating a giant, ancient Precursor robot.

• Snowy Mountain - Constantly covered in snow, this mountain is host to many Lurkers, who have a fort set up on the top of the mountain. It could be considered ironic that a mountain of snow accumulated directly above a smouldering, hot volcanic crater.

• Lava Tube - The passageway leading to the Yellow Sage's lab, it's similar to Fire Canyon, only much hotter, and larger. There are rails laid out on which a zoomer can travel on. This place is also where Gol and Maia seem to be smuggling their dark eco through, evidant by the velhicals carrying large dark eco boxes.

• Gol and Maia's Citadel - The Yellow Sage's lab, which has been turned into a base of operations for Gol and Maia. Most of the contraptions within rely completely on anti-gravity support devices, making a very difficult fortress to navigate through.

• Dark Eco Silos - As the name suggests, they are monolithic Precursor silos containing vast amounts of Dark Eco. This area is the spot where Jak & Daxter fight Gol & Maia in their precursor robot, and used Light Eco to destroy it.

Plot

Story

The story begins with a narration by Samos the Sage, master of Green Eco. He speaks, however cryptically, on the Precursors, the masters of the universe and creators of all life on the planet, but still questioning their existence, Samos is searching for answers. He elaborates on two young boys, the fifteen-year-old Jak, and his best friend Daxter. The two are making their way to Misty Island, the one place Samos told them not to go. They arrive on the island just in time to witness a large gathering of Lurkers before two twisted figures. Jak and Daxter, worried by what they are seeing, are on their way off of the island when they are confronted by a pool of Dark Eco. While his friend inspects the pool, Jak locates a small Eco barrel. When they go to leave, however, a Lurker Commander attacks them. Jak kills the Lurker using the Eco barrel, but the explosion throws Daxter into the Dark Eco pit. Daxter flies back out of the pit, unharmed, but changed from his previous form; he had been transformed into an ottsel. They return to Sandover Village and seek help from Samos, but he proclaims that he couldn't help Daxter, even if he wanted to. He adds that only Gol Acheron, Sage of Dark Eco can help change Daxter back, and he lives far to the north.

The route north is blocked by Fire Canyon, and to traverse it Jak and Daxter need a Zoomer vehicle powered by a heat shield. They begin their adventure into the dangerous parts of their strange land in search of power cells. They soon recover enough power cells to power the heat shield and journey through Fire Canyon aboard their Zoomer. At the end of the canyon is Rock Village, which has been destroyed by a giant Lurker named Klaww. In addition to this, the Sage of Blue Eco who watches over the village has mysteriously vanished. Jak and Daxter find themselves in search of more power cells to power an anti-gravity device and unblock the way to Klaww's lair at the peak. After opening a path up the mountain, they defeat Klaww and ride their Zoomer down the mountain to the Volcanic Crater. Jak then makes his way to the Red Sage's laboratory, where he learns that all of the sages (excluding Samos) have been kidnapped by the same figures who command the Lurkers. The two turn out to be Gol and Maia (Gol's sister), the people who were said to be able to change Daxter back into his normal form. Jak must once again recover Power Cells to fuel an upgraded form of Keira's heat shield. Their task complete, Jak and Daxter use the Zoomer to navigate the Lava Tube to the Yellow Sage's laboratory, where they activate the warp ring so that Keira can come through. Once she arrives, she tearfully relates that Samos has been captured as well. Journeying through Gol and Maia's citadel, Jak and Daxter succeed in freeing the Sages, and then travel up an elevator to the top of the Dark Eco Silos. There they confront Gol and Maia who have pieced together the ruins of a Precursor robot in order to open the silos and release the Dark Eco inside. Jak battles the pair, but only defeats them with the help of the four Sages who uses their powers to form a source of Light Eco. Daxter realizes that the Light Eco would change him back to normal, but instead decides to allow Jak to save the world. Jak channels the Light Eco through his body, and beams the energy towards the robot, disabling it and ruining Gol's and Maia's plans.

The two are then locked into the silos and said to be destroyed by the Dark Eco's power but Samos has his doubts about the two being completely destroyed, hinting that they might return. This plot line was subsequently dropped from the series with Jak II and has not been reintroduced since.

After the adventure has ended, our heroes find an ancient Precursor Ring near to the silo where Gol and Maia were imprisoned that is explained more in the sequel, Jak II.

Characters

Main article: List of Jak and Daxter characters

Jak

The game's silent protagonist. Little is revealed about him during the game.

Daxter

Jak's mouthy, self-centered friend/sidekick. He claims that he's the hero, but he doesn't do much of anything except run his mouth off. A majority of the witty humor in the game comes from this character's dialogue and actions. Early in the game, Daxter falls into a Dark Eco pit, and is transformed into an ottsel (a cross between an otter and a weasel).

Samos Hagai (Green Sage)

Samos is the master of Green Eco, a substance providing health. Samos is captured by Gol Acheron and is forced to power Gol's Precursor Robot. Short-tempered and quick to doubt, Samos guides Jak and Daxter along from one area to the next in the course of the game. He was rescued along with the other sages by Jak and worked with them to create a source of Light Eco.

Keira Hagai

The only daughter of Samos and the self-decided love interest of Jak. Keira is great with machines, being able to fix vehicles and other objects for Jak and Daxter to reach new areas. She is also the target of Daxter's many failed romantic overtures.

Gol Acheron

Gol Acheron has a vast knowledge of the substance Dark Eco, so much that he knows how to reverse its destructive nature. This knowledge makes him the only person who has the power to change Daxter back from an ottsel. Unfortunately, he and his sister Maia Acheron were transformed and driven insane by the Dark Eco, aspiring to increase the corruptive nature of Dark Eco. Having become the antagonists, they recruited a Lurker army to gather Precursor Robot pieces and artifacts. Their goal was to unleash the Dark Eco in the silo near their citadel using a giant Precursor Robot to open it and release the Dark Eco into the world so they can mold to their liking. In order to save the world, Jak has to destroy them by any means necessary, meaning Daxter will be stuck as an ottsel forever. It is believed that Gol was killed after falling into the Dark Eco silo, but some fans of the series find that doubtful since he and his sister Maia know how to control Dark Eco, and Samos told Jak and the others that they might see them again.

Maia Acheron

Maia, like her brother Gol, was tainted and transformed by the Dark Eco they studied for a lifetime. She and her brother desired to flood the world with Dark Eco and rebuild it to their liking. The two recruited the Lurkers to help them scavenge the parts to a Precursor Robot; the only thing capable of opening the Dark Eco silos. She and Gol, inside the robot, were defeated by Jak when he channeled a beam of Light Eco at them, and their cockpit sunk into the silo. While they are presumed dead, Samos believes they may still be alive, and there are apparently rumors of them still living in the catacombs.

Blue Sage

The Blue Sage is the descendant of the original Sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Blue Eco, an electricity-like substance that exudes energy capable of quick movement. The Blue Sage was captured by his former friend Gol Acheron and was forced to power Gol's Precursor robot. He was rescued by Jak and together with the other sages, helped to create a source of Light Eco.

Red Sage

The Red Sage is the descendant of the original Sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Red Eco, a red gooey like substance that gives great strength. The Red Sage was captured by Gol Acheron and was forced to power the shields protecting Gol's Precursor robot. He was one of the friendlier sages and lived in a volcanic crater. When he was rescued by Jak he mistakenly presumed that Daxter was the one who had rescued him and gave him all the credit. He and the other sages then worked together to create a source of Light Eco.

Yellow Sage

The Yellow Sage is the descendant of the original Sage appointed by the Precursors. He is a master of Yellow Eco, a bright fiery substance that lets the user shoot boiling hot balls of energy from their hands. The Yellow Sage, like all others before him, was captured by Gol Acheron. He is the grouchiest of the sages and was intent on making a snack of Daxter. On his back he carries a blaster that presumably shoots Yellow Eco from its barrel. He along with other sages was rescued by Jak and worked together to create a source of Light Eco.

Boggy Billy

Boggy Billy lives owns Boggy Swamp. Billy is supposed to be a hillbilly in the swamp that doesn't shower, bath, and likes to drink (the bottle he holds presumably contains some sort of moonshine). Jak and Daxter aid him by killing all the Rat Lurkers so that Billy's pet hippo Farthy would return. Farthy returns to Billy and Billy gives Jak a Power Cell.

Explorer

The Explorer, or Jak's Uncle, lives in Sandover Village in retirement. When Jak and Daxter set out on their mission to the north the Explorer asks Jak for some Precursor Orbs for supplies.

Gambler

The Gambler lives in Rock Village and as you can guess he is a gambler. At one point he bet that the Warrior would beat Klaww in a fight. The Warrior lost the battle and the Gambler lost all his money (Even lost his pants and uses a barrel). Jak and Daxter feel sorry for the Gambler and spare ninety Precursor Orbs to get him back on his feet. Then the Gambler said he would give them a Power Cell if they can beat the race record in the Precursor Basin. Eventually the Gambler has to give the Power Cell to Jak.

Geologist

The female Geologist discovered the Lightning Moles in the Precursor Basin. The Flying Lurkers invade the Precursor Basin and scare the Lightning Moles away from their burrows. The Geologist begs Jak and Daxter to get them back for a Power Cell and also ninety Precursor Orbs for research supplies. Jak ends up with two Power Cells. The Geologist has an English accent.

Gordy

Gordy is one of the two miners of Volcanic Crater. He works with Willard in mining a gigantic diamond that would take hundreds of years, with two workers, to get out. Gordy has a short temper because he has to work with Willard. Jak and Daxter come to them one day and ask if they have any Power Cells. Gordy tells them that they found four while digging and that they would have to pay them ninety Precursor Orbs for each Power Cell. Eventually Gordy gets four sets of ninety orbs and Jak and Daxter get the Power Cells. It is never told whether Gordy and Willard ever finished their work.

Farmer Zeb

Farmer Zeb, or just the Farmer, is the farmer of Sandover Village. He has a large straw hat and owns a ranch where he keeps his Yakows. It seems he is a lazy farmer because his Yakows always escape and he does nothing. Zeb asks Jak and Daxter to get them back in the ranch. Jak leads all the Yakows back in the pen and Zeb gives him a Power Cell.

Farmer Zeb also owns a large amount of land which he uses for crops (a possible rice paddy is visible near the entrance to the Forbidden Jungle).

Farthy

Farthy is Boggy Billy's pet Hip Hog, which is a small cross between a hippo and a warthog. Farthy ran away when the Lurkers attacked Boggy Swamp. Jak and Daxter got Farthy back to Boggy Billy by using Yellow Eco.

Mayor Manac

Mayor Manac, or just Mayor, is of course the mayor of Sandover Village. He stutters a lot and is always nervous. One day the Eco Beams in the Forbidden Jungle were disconnected by Lurkers and Jak and Daxter asked for his help. For their help Manac gave Jak a Power Cell. Manac also is some what a briber on account that he bribed Jak to make a contribution to his campaign.

Ollie

Ollie the Fisherman is the fisherman of Sandover Village and provides food for the other villagers. He is good friends with Jak and Daxter and likes to call Daxter "Shrimpy". Ollie allows Jak and Daxter to use his speed boat after Jak catches 200 pounds of fish in the Forbidden Jungle.

Tweedledove Perch

Tweedledove Perch or the Bird Lady or even the Birdwatcher is the birdwatcher of Sandover Village and is obsessed with all kinds of birds, even to the point were she thought Daxter was a bird. Tweedledove asks Jak and Daxter if they can find a Flut-Flut egg in Sentinel Beach. She goes with them to Sentinel Beach and waits at the bottom of the cliff while they push the egg off. She gives them a Power Cell for their valor and brings the Flut-Flut to the Green Sage.

Warrior

The Warrior is the protector of Rock Village. Once he was a hero to the villagers of Rock Village, but when Klaww arrives and the Blue Sage is kidnapped the Warrior battled Klaww and lost. He became fearful and scared of anything that moved. Jak and Daxter try to get him from crying in his corner but he is too scared. Daxter loves to crack jokes about him because of his size and that he is afraid. He helps Jak by putting the pontoons back to go to the Mountain Pass.

Willard

Willard is one of the two miners of Volcanic Crater. He is supposed to be a complete idiot: that is why Gordy hates him, and he does not seem to understand math or anything else. He works with Gordy in mining a gigantic diamond that would take hundreds of years, with two workers, to get out. Jak and Daxter come to them one day and ask if they have any Power Cells. Gordy tells them that they found four while digging and that they would have to pay them ninety Precursor Orbs for each Power Cell. Eventually Willard gets four sets of ninety orbs and Jak and Daxter get the Power Cells. It is never told whether Gordy and Willard ever finished their work.

Bosses

• Dark Eco Plant - Found at the Forbidden Jungle. Simply stomp on its head during an opening in its attack pattern three times to kill it.

• Klaww - Found at Mountain Pass, after getting enough Power Cells to power the Blue Sage's levitation machine. Supposedly an oversized Lurker cyborg of some sort.

• Precursor Robot - Found at the Dark Eco Silos. Piloted by Gol and Maia, this is the game's final boss.