Due to the game's uncanny matching of quality to the console versions, Daxter is the most impressive PSP game yet.
If there's one thing you'll notice about Daxter from first glance is that, well, it looks exactly the same as the console ones! Every detail you can recognize from the PS2 games is still there! There's still amazing environment detail, extremely impressive character animations, and superb lighting and textures. Not only that, but this game plays with a very consistently smooth framerate. Everything about the game graphically is top notch, and giving the graphics anything less than a perfect ten is just plain ignorant. Granted, there are some slow-downs during transition between areas, but this lasts less than two seconds most of the time, and doesn't hinder the gameplay at any point in time.
One thing I remember the most about the original Jak and Daxter and its sequels is that once I start playing them I can hardly stop playing it. The most distinctive thing about these platformers is that you won't let go of the controller until either 1. You feel like your bladder is about to explode or 2. you're about to die of starvation. I remember beating the original Jak and Daxter in a single day when I was 11, and I also remember nearly beating Jak 3 in the same length of time. Daxter is no different. Daxter keeps your PSP on for hours and keeps you entertained throughout the entire game. The reason for this has always been the stellar presentation, wacky characters, addictive gameplay diversions, and seamless controls. PSP's controls may be less than seamless, but trust me, it gets close. Daxter has to be the best possible way to put a 3D platformer on a portable system ever. Not only would I be more than confident to say that Daxter pounds all other handheld 3D platformers into the ground, but also beats most console platformers as well. It's just that damn good.
Another thing to mention is that along with everything else, the sound is as perfect as could be. Just like the console games, there are unique sounds for everything in this game. The music is classic platformer goodness, the voice acting is some of the best on the PSP, and there are no sound glitches at all. Once again, I could not notice anything noticeably wrong with the sound, in fact, it's stellar.
On average, I'd say it'd take about 10 hours to beat this game, but considering it's a platformer, that's pretty good. However, it's also got extras, like collecting precursor orbs which unlock new mini games that you can play at any time after the game is over. These mini games are very fun and by getting new trophies, you get new combat moves and helath meter boosts. The precursor orbs are also a fun challenge to find once you've beaten the game, because orbs that were previously unreachable are made accessible by the weapon and platforming power-ups you have gained in the game.
As mentioned before, I am a fan of Jak and Daxter games. This game I recommend to people who like pretty graphics, people who like action, and people who like platformers. Some moments in this game are so rich and fun that you don't care anymore that it's on a handheld, you just sit there and play it on your couch like you would a console on a regular TV. It's just that good. This isn't just a gamer-on-the-go game, it's a true gamer's game. It's a throw-back to the platformers of the old days where all it was was just using your resources to reach platforms, jump across crevices, and whack the crap out of random enemies. This is not to say that's all you do, most of the game's greatest moments take place doing much more than that, but it's nice to see a game come along that compiles all of the greatest elements in platforming history, execute them perfectly, and make them into a game that's fresh and addictive. All gamers with a soul will enjoy this game.