History YMMV / JakIIRenegade

* ContestedSequel: This game is one due to how much of a departure it is from the first game. Some prefer the more traditional CollectAThonPlatformer gameplay of the first game, dislike the [[ItsHardSoItSucks increased difficulty]] and think the DarkerAndEdgier setting and tone were a dumb attempt to make the game more "mature", while others consider it an overall better gameplay experience and enjoy the more complex story.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: When [[spoiler: Praxis reveals his piercer bomb]], was he trying to destroy the city, or was he [[spoiler: revealing the Precursor Stone to Jak?]]

** On that note, is Praxis really a CompleteMonster who was only concerned with staying in power? Or is he a WellIntentionedExtremist who genuinely believed his immoral actions were necessary for the city's survival? His speech to Jak after the Class 1 race seems to imply the latter.

** Clancy Brown would voice another ruler of a kingdom with a (somewhat) rebellious daughter fifteen years later, voicing King Frederic in ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries''. However, unlike Praxis, Frederic genially cares for Rapunzel, and is only strict out of AdultFear.

** [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron Praxis]] is the despotic ruler of Haven City, which he conquered by waging war to overthrow the good-hearted King Damas. Leading his people to poverty and suffering, Praxis's rule is so barbaric that even his own daughter attempts to betray him, which leads to him threatening to [[OffingTheOffspring have her killed]]. Kidnapping civilians as part of his "Dark Warrior Program", Praxis has them infected with Dark Eco, creating mentally unstable {{Super Soldier}}s for his army. Ostensibly enacting his cruel ruling policies to keep his Haven City able to combat the Metal Heads, Praxis is actually [[MonsterProtectionRacket supplying his "enemy" with Dark Eco to keep the war going]] and himself in power.

** [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron Praxis]] is the despotic ruler of Haven City, which he conquered by waging war to overthrow the good-hearted King Damas. Leading his people to poverty and suffering, Praxis's rule is so barbaric that even his own daughter attempts to betray him, which leads to him threatening to [[OffingTheOffspring have her killed]]. Kidnapping civilians as part of his "Dark Warrior Program", Praxis has them infected with Dark Eco, creating mentally unstable {{Super Soldier}}s for his army. Ostensibly enacting his cruel ruling policies to keep his Haven City able to combat the Metal Heads, Praxis is actually [[MonsterProtectionRacket supplying his "enemy" with Dark Eco to keep the war going]] and himself in power. [[spoiler:Upon being fatally wounded, Praxis attempts to [[TakingYouWithMe destroy all of Haven City]]--including his daughter--purely out of spite.]]

** [[BigBad Kor]], the leader of the Metal Heads, sought to destroy Haven City to obtain and consume the last Precursor Life Force. [[ManipulativeBastard To this end]], he [[BitchInSheepsClothing disguised himself as a kindly old man]] to help LaResistance, while making deals with Baron Praxis for Eco in exchange for softening his attacks--which he then undermines by sending Jak to sabotage Praxis's Eco supply and having Kaeden attack Haven City's defensive systems. When the systems are finally disabled, Kor kidnaps the younger version of Jak and promises to tear the city apart to find the Precursor Egg and murder all its inhabitants. Said to be the one to have wiped out the Precursors, Kor was driven entirely by his lust for death, destruction and the devouring of the last Precursor.
** [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron Praxis]] is the despotic ruler of Haven City, which he conquered by waging war to overthrow the good-hearted King Damas. Leading his people to poverty and suffering, Praxis's rule is so barbaric that even his own daughter attempts to betray him, which leads to him threatening to [[OffingTheOffspring have her killed]]. Kidnapping civilians as part of his "Dark Warrior Program", Praxis has them infected with Dark Eco, creating mentally unstable {{Super Soldier}}s for his army. Ostensibly enacting his cruel ruling policies to keep his Haven City able to combat the Metal Heads, Praxis is actually [[MonsterProtectionRacket supplying his "enemy" with Dark Eco to keep the war going]] and himself in power. Upon being fatally wounded, Praxis attempts to [[TakingYouWithMe destroy all of Haven City]]--including his daughter--purely out of spite.
** This is [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation up for debate]], it seems more likely that he is giving Jak (who even he admits is his supreme weapon) the Precursor Stone.

** At one point in the Tests of Manhood, after Daxter ends up being chased by a [[spoiler:spider]], the part with Jak requires him to climb up a ledge through the use of polls and platforms. It's a lot harder than it sounds.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: When Praxis reveals his piercer bomb, was he trying to destroy the city, or was he revealing the Precursor Stone to Jak?

* ItsHardSoItSucks: A common complaint about the game. Jak's max health is fairly low and checkpoints aren't as common as in most games, so dying usually sends you back several minutes. The game also tends to rely on FakeDifficulty, as enemies can attack from off-screen, most attacks take 2 bars of Jak's health, several missions are at least partially based on luck, and enemies tend to come in very large numbers that are difficult to fight off without weapons without the game's most powerful weapons... which also happen to have the least ammo spawns. Speaking of ammo, both it and dark eco don't reappear in your inventory if you die, so parts you got through by using them become even more difficult.

*** ...Yet the mission can be completed with ''astonishing'' ease by just spamming punch, as the animation tears through the guards and civilians, is fast enough so the turrets cannot hit Jak, and propels him forward, leaving the ground the only obstacle. You'll be hit a few times, but this tears the mission in half.

** The aforementioned [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron Praxis]] is the despotic ruler of Haven City, which he conquered by waging war to overthrow the good-hearted King Damas. Leading his people to poverty and suffering, Praxis's rule is so barbaric that even his own daughter attempts to betray him, which leads to him threatening to [[OffingTheOffspring have her killed]]. Kidnapping civilians as part of his "Dark Warrior Program", Praxis has them infected with Dark Eco, creating mentally unstable {{Super Soldier}}s for his army. Ostensibly enacting his cruel ruling policies to keep his Haven City able to combat the Metal Heads, Praxis is actually [[MonsterProtectionRacket supplying his "enemy" with Dark Eco to keep the war going]] and himself in power. Upon being fatally wounded, Praxis attempts to [[TakingYouWithMe destroy all of Haven City]]--including his daughter--purely out of spite.

** Special mention goes to Japan, where the change in tone [[AmericansHateTingle did not sit well]] with Japanese fans of the first game, which resulted in this game not selling well in that country, and the next sequel [[NoExportForYou not having a Japanese release]].

* VindicatedByHistory: The game has helped Naughty Dog be more comfortable with mature content in acclaimed games such as ''Franchise/{{Uncharted}}'' and ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs''.

** In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaidIIReturnToTheSea'', towards the end, Tip the Penguin is eaten by Undertow the Shark. They're respectively voiced by Max Casella (Daxter) and Clancy Brown (Praxis). In a way, Tip gains his revenge on Undertow by rescuing his prisoner and helping him overthrow his tyranny in this series.

* FandomRivalry: A small but interesting one with ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBrosTheLostLevels''. Not because of spite or petty jabs, rather there’s a lot of debate over which game was ''harder'' by comparison.

* DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound: The Krimzon Guard say the same quotes all throughout the city, over and over and over.

* RewatchBonus: It's likely too subtle to be given much consideration on a first playthrough, but almost all of [[spoiler:Kor's]] scenes are littered with hints and foreshadowing for TheReveal. Specifically notice how his quests ''never'' go against his faction.
** Another case is the scenes surrounding [[spoiler: The Kid]], which while a bit more noticeable, will likely fly over new players' heads, but once noticed will put events like the [[spoiler: Test of Manhood]] in a new perspective.

* MostAnnoyingSound: The Krimzon Guard say the same quotes all throughout the city, over and over and over.

* UnwinnableByDesign: The second half of the Underport mission is impossible to clear if Jak runs out of ammo, since no crates can be found anywhere. And the game continues to save during this mission, so unless there's a backup save, the game is unbeatable and must restart.