Daxter is a 3D action-platform game from the Jak and Daxter world. It first appeared on the PlayStation Portable in 2006. In 2024 the same game arrived on PS4 and PS5 as a “Classics” title with up-rendering, rewind, quick-save and optional video filters. The new ports let many players see why the original release was praised for its clever design, good controls, and lively humor.

Setting and Story

The tale sits in the two-year gap between Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy and Jak II. In the opening scene Jak is taken by the Krimzon Guard, while Daxter escapes. Almost two years pass. Daxter now works as a pest exterminator for an old man named Osmo, clearing “Metal Bugs” around Haven City. Jobs send him through hotels, mines, breweries, and even the Baron’s palace. He meets Osmo’s son Ximon and the mysterious Taryn, finds a map of the fortress, and finally breaks into the prison to free Jak. The plot is light, yet it fills an empty space in the series timeline and keeps the pace moving.

Core Gameplay Loop

Haven City acts as a small hub. From Osmo’s shop you ride a hover scooter to mission gates. Each gate loads a self-contained level where you must squash bugs, gather items, or race against timers. The structure feels close to the big console games, but on a shorter cycle that matches handheld play. Autosave is frequent and there are no lives, so failed jumps drop you at a recent checkpoint, not back to the menu.

Variety is a key feature. Standard platform stages swap with vehicle rides, zip-line runs, on-rails turrets, and boss fights. The quick shifts keep the six-to-eight-hour adventure fresh.

Controls and Movement

Ready at Dawn mapped most PS2 moves to the PSP’s smaller layout without fuss. Daxter can double jump, grab ledges, crouch-crawl through vents, bounce on trampolines and slide along zip-lines. A short hover is possible once you earn the spray tank jetpack upgrade, letting you glide after the second jump for extra distance. Controls are tight, and animation tells you exactly where feet will land, helping players with limited 3D-platform experience.

Combat System

Early on you receive an electric bug-swatter that swings fast and can chain hits into nearby enemies. After the first story jobs you gain a Green Eco spray tank that stuns foes. Three upgrades change its use:

Jetpack – press jump a third time to hover.
Flamethrower – burns foes and boosts hover range.
Ultrasonic blast – fires a blue Eco shockwave for heavy damage.

The tank shares the same Eco pool as your hover; learning when to spray or save juice becomes part of the skill curve. On ground, a chain reaction strike lets you leap from one bug to the next for instant kills if you keep the stick aimed well.

Upgrades and Vehicles

Several machines break the routine:

A personal hover-scooter speeds travel inside Haven City.
Mine carts, turret guns and zoomer chases appear in one-off set pieces.
Larger boss arenas test jetpack control and timing.

Because each tool stays for only a scene or two, the game never feels bloated.

Collectibles and Side Content

Two main pickups drive progress:

Golden Bug Gems drop from big insects and mark mission completion.
Precursor Orbs hide in corners or float above tricky jumps.

Orbs unlock Dream Sequences, short parody mini-games that spoof The Matrix, Indiana Jones and other films. Winning these dream scenes rewards health boosts and fresh combat moves. Completionists also search for picture frames that unlock cosmetic goggles, and bonus items appear if you own a linked Jak X save on the same memory card.

Another diversion is Bug Combat, a rock-paper-scissors battle using collectible “combat bugs”. Each choice (direct, indirect, guard) beats one other and loses to one. It is simple, but it adds a pocket multiplayer mode for breaks between levels.

Presentation and Performance

On PSP the game stood out for its clean models, rich color and low load times. Frame-rate rarely dipped, even in open courtyards or moving vehicles. Critics in 2006 called it one of the handheld’s best showcases. The 2024 ports keep every asset then push the image to high resolution. Rewind helps tricky jumps, and instant save states shorten retry loops. The cartoony art scales well on modern screens.

Difficulty and Length

Normal play lasts about seven hours. Optional orbs and dream medals add two to three more. The challenge is fair but spikes in the last third: narrow jetpack gaps, turret waves, and a multi-phase final boss. The steady checkpoints and modern rewind curb frustration for new players.

Strengths

Varied gameplay keeps the platform formula fresh.
Tight controls feel responsive even with one analog stick.
Humor and voice acting suit Daxter’s loud personality.
Strong PSP visuals, now sharper on PS5.

Weak Points

The story is simple and often predictable.
Later areas reuse early level art, reducing surprise.
Camera can snag in tight halls, though rewind softens the issue.

Tips for New Players

Break every crate; many hide orbs or health packs.
Use double jump then hover to cross long gaps. Tap hover only at peak height to save spray energy.
Press Left/Right on the D-pad to change spray modes in mid-air for more hover reach.
Start each level by looking behind the spawn point; designers often place secret orbs there.
In fights, trigger the chain reaction attack: after killing one bug, keep the stick pointed at the next foe and tap attack for an instant leap kill.
Spend orbs on the early dream games first; the extra health pays off later.
On PS4/PS5 hold L2 + R2 to rewind after a mistimed jump, then release to resume.
Before the final palace stage, farm Green Eco clusters to keep the spray tank full.

Trophies and 100% Completion

A full clear now grants a platinum trophy. You need 500 Precursor Orbs, all five dream mini-games, one secret mask and a three-bug bomb kill. Everything is reachable in one run. Use quick-save before dream scenes, and rewind during hover trials to avoid full do-overs. The platinum takes around eight to ten hours for most players.

Final Verdict

Daxter still feels good today. The short run time, linear mission flow and frequent jokes fit handheld play, yet the modern ports give enough comfort to enjoy it on a couch. If you like classic 3D platform games with fast movement, light combat and collectables, Daxter remains an easy recommendation.