Jak 2 - Hero Mode - Complete!!

2005-09-03 03:23:01 pm

give me your eyes!!!

Ummm, I have...

It was hard but I got into a rut where I seemed to do everything perfectly, great fun!

I remember the final boss took ages because I saved with almost no ammo then couldn't go back for pick ups :\

tenfoLd

2005-09-03 07:46:14 pm

i have unlocked it but i cant beat the cargo ship gun turret level on hero mode it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HARD.

CannibalK9

2005-09-03 07:49:56 pm

give me your eyes!!!

Yeah I just repeated till I was forced to learn where all the enemies were (or something similar, cant remember).
That one where you must fight hoards of enemies across the wooden walkways was a pain in the ass for about 3 days!

Anarchic_Fox

2005-09-04 09:26:03 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Don't you get invulnerability and unlimited Dark Jak unlocked really quickly when in Hero Mode? Seems like that would make most of the missions much easier.

Mkt2015

Edit history:

Mkt2015: 2005-09-04 09:35:19 am

2005-09-04 09:30:41 am

MGS for PS1 forever.

I don't know...so far I've only used the dark jak abilities a few times and I'm working my way through act 2 now. Several reasons:

1. It takes a while to collect enough dark eco
2. Most enemies are easy to take out without any dark abilities
3. There's not a lot of instances where it's really needed

Edit: I now know what you were saying. I wouldn't use invulnerability cause that'd be a big no no. Don't know about unlimited dark jak or ammo.

CannibalK9

2005-09-04 11:14:20 am

give me your eyes!!!

Don't know about anyone else, but I would be put off watching a run where the player used even in game cheats.

It can be done without, it's far more impressive, and feels more like a legitimate run rather than one which basically wouldn't need any tactics in later areas due to the easyness.

Besides, wouldn't it be slower getting the Dark Jak abilities rather than playing through without? I cannot remember what needs collecting...

Mkt2015

2005-09-04 12:32:57 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

I don't know. I'm basically following the strategy guide so I don't know if you could just skip all of the powers. I do know that the Dark Bomb comes handy in a few areas.

And no, I don't plan on using any cheats. So far the game has been rather easy...far easier than I remember except for one or two missions.

Mkt2015

2005-09-04 02:00:05 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

And now for an actual update. I am now to Destroy Equipment at Dig. I remember the first time I played this mission I died about 20 times before I even got close to beating it. However, on a practice run I didn't die.

2 hrs 18 mins --> 46%

tenfoLd

2005-09-04 02:19:34 pm

nice

Mkt2015

Edit history:

Mkt2015: 2005-09-05 09:27:07 am

2005-09-05 09:25:43 am

MGS for PS1 forever.

Does anyone know whether or not a person can go through the entire game and not get any dark jak abilities? If I can go without then even within what I've gone through so far (Act 1 and part of 2) I could easily shave off 10-15 minutes just by not going to the oracle several times and by not picking up every skull gem I find. In fact, it would probably be closer to 20 minutes saved.

Since it seems the amount of time it takes to get an ability (collecting the skull gems and going to the oracle) and being able to use it (collecting quite a bit of dark eco) outweighs the benefit of doing a move that takes out quite a few enemies. Afterall, a person could just use jak's regular moves and take out the same amount of enemies in only a few extra seconds.

The simple idea of saving 10-20 minutes almost makes me want to start all over again, but since Dark Jak seems to be a big part of the storyline I'd hate to start all over just to find out I can't skip any of them...except for the giant jak ability.

Does anyone know whether or not a person can go through the entire game and not get any dark jak abilities? If I can go without then even within what I've gone through so far (Act 1 and part of 2) I could easily shave off 10-15 minutes just by not going to the oracle several times and by not picking up every skull gem I find. In fact, it would probably be closer to 20 minutes saved.

Since it seems the amount of time it takes to get an ability (collecting the skull gems and going to the oracle) and being able to use it (collecting quite a bit of dark eco) outweighs the benefit of doing a move that takes out quite a few enemies. Afterall, a person could just use jak's regular moves and take out the same amount of enemies in only a few extra seconds.

The simple idea of saving 10-20 minutes almost makes me want to start all over again, but since Dark Jak seems to be a big part of the storyline I'd hate to start all over just to find out I can't skip any of them...except for the giant jak ability.

Psychochild

Edit history:

Psychochild: 2005-09-05 04:45:45 pm

2005-09-05 04:19:14 pm

I would just really bother to get the Dark Bomb for that one Seal mission, and it works out because for starters, it's pretty far into the game, so you'd inevitably have the amount of Metalhead orbs by then, and it's RIGHT in the same area, so it'd be a very brief detour. I never used Dark Jak much outside of that, and I don't think it's vital to the story that you even visit the precursor statue at all outside of possibly the first time so that you can trigger it on and off at will.

Edit: The Dark Bomb attack is only 25 metal head orbs, but I think I'm mistaken. I think when you get it, your Dark Eco is lowered to 0, so you'd have to get it before the Seal in the Slums...

.... Hrm.

It's only 25 orbs throughout ANY point in the game, so I'd look into it.

aaa2

2005-09-05 06:54:00 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

i got the backups of dark jak but i have to tell you that i used dark jak not even once when playing through last week

Mkt2015

2005-09-07 10:42:44 am

MGS for PS1 forever.

I intend to go through the game at least a 2nd time after I'm done with the current speedrun. Radix recently asked me if I'd want to be able to save anytime in a game. With a rough estimate I think that I could save at least 20 minutes by saving anywhere in Jak 2. So...saving anywhere and only getting dark bomb could easily get me 30-40 minutes saved.

I am currently at the Win Class 3 Race At Stadium.

2 hrs 33 mins. --> 50%

The hardest mission so far is getting this thing from the Water Slums and fighting your way out. I had to make sure I still had some health just so I could make it to the next save point...which wasn't easy.

Psychochild

2005-09-07 12:46:22 pm

You mean the one that Brutter sends you to? The one where ya shoulda abused Dark Bomb or were you just lackin' on the Dark Eco?

Mkt2015

Edit history:

Mkt2015: 2005-09-07 06:03:13 pm

2005-09-07 05:51:27 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

I thought the robot in the water or whatever was in the sewers? If it was the level I just completed I have a save before that that I can go to. I'm pretty sure I have full Jak.

Edit: I loaded that save up and I only have about 1/4 of my eco filled which means at the most a person could get less than 10 dark jaks during the game...I don't know how much time it would save. It's a good thing I'm intending to do the whole thing again.

CannibalK9

2005-09-07 08:38:13 pm

give me your eyes!!!

Yeah I found the preparation for missions a real difficulty since it takes ages to wonder off and get them then return. That mission in particular I found the hardest and had no dark jak and little ammo. I ended up honing a crude tactic with what I had then running frantically through the last half (dodging fire looks so cool on this game).

Getting what you need before each mission will impress me in particular since I was rubbish at that even when playing through for the second time.

Mkt2015

2005-09-07 11:43:00 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

I have had no problems with ammo. I start that mission with full ammo. There are only a handful of actual shooting missions...so whenever I pick up extra ammo...I barely even need it.

I got through that whole mission in about 5 minutes. That's me getting to the mission, doing the mission and getting to the next save point in five minutes. Would killing that shooting thing in the water really save much time?

Anarchic_Fox

2005-09-08 03:40:13 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote:

Don't know about anyone else, but I would be put off watching a run where the player used even in game cheats.

It can be done without, it's far more impressive, and feels more like a legitimate run rather than one which basically wouldn't need any tactics in later areas due to the easyness.

Besides, wouldn't it be slower getting the Dark Jak abilities rather than playing through without? I cannot remember what needs collecting...

For my part, I wasn't referring to using the cheats during a speedrun, but rather using them to beat Hard mode, since they're given very early in that mode. Apparently there are still some events where invulnerability doesn't help you, though.

Quote:

I got through that whole mission in about 5 minutes. That's me getting to the mission, doing the mission and getting to the next save point in five minutes. Would killing that shooting thing in the water really save much time?

It's possible to get through that mission in about a minute by taking the hoverboard all along the wooden platforms. Basically all you have to worry about is staying on the walkways, and jump-spinning to disable any soldiers in your way. You don't have to worry about getting shot. It's very difficult, though.

[quote]Don't know about anyone else, but I would be put off watching a run where the player used even in game cheats.

It can be done without, it's far more impressive, and feels more like a legitimate run rather than one which basically wouldn't need any tactics in later areas due to the easyness.

Besides, wouldn't it be slower getting the Dark Jak abilities rather than playing through without? I cannot remember what needs collecting...[/quote]

For my part, I wasn't referring to using the cheats during a speedrun, but rather using them to beat Hard mode, since they're given very early in that mode.  Apparently there are still some events where invulnerability doesn't help you, though.

[quote]I got through that whole mission in about 5 minutes. That's me getting to the mission, doing the mission and getting to the next save point in five minutes. Would killing that shooting thing in the water really save much time?[/quote]

It's possible to get through that mission in about a minute by taking the hoverboard all along the wooden platforms.  Basically all you have to worry about is staying on the walkways, and jump-spinning to disable any soldiers in your way.  You don't have to worry about getting shot.  It's very difficult, though.

NinjaNerd

2005-09-08 07:23:25 am

Quote:

Yeah I just repeated till I was forced to learn where all the enemies were (or something similar, cant remember).
That one where you must fight hoards of enemies across the wooden walkways was a pain in the ass for about 3 days!

That mission is actually really easy if you get on the hoverboard and just ignore the enemies. If you use the hoverboard the first 5 seconds of the mission will be hard but after you will fly by the troop carriers before they can even deploy the troops.

Also, the game wasn't that hard, I beat it in a 3-day rental. Going thru entire missions without dying once, however, sounds excedingly difficult.

Mkt2015

2005-09-08 01:02:13 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

Correction:

Not 2 hrs 33 mins --> 50%

Now it is 2 hrs 30 mins --> 50% with the hoverboard. That is in and out of the mission in 2 minutes! The only problem is making all of the fat people hit the deck as you run them over. If they don't, you end up falling in the water.

CannibalK9

2005-09-08 10:50:35 pm

give me your eyes!!!

Damn it, I completely forgot about that hoverboard. I used it in the areas it was necessary like the forest, and completely forgot about it.

I didn't touch it till the road leading to the final boss, where I re-discovered it and used it to plan strategies while floating on the dark-eco - that place it hard!

Again this strategy will be very fun to watch, and with regards to ammo I guess I'm just crazy and must shoot everything. If you have full ammo for the boss it'll be piss...oh well...

Anarchic_Fox

2005-09-09 04:29:34 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote:

Correction:

Not 2 hrs 33 mins --> 50%

Now it is 2 hrs 30 mins --> 50% with the hoverboard. That is in and out of the mission in 2 minutes! The only problem is making all of the fat people hit the deck as you run them over. If they don't, you end up falling in the water.

Do you know about using the jumping tricks (at least the horizontal spin that speeds you up) to knock people down?

Mkt2015

Edit history:

Mkt2015: 2005-09-09 10:40:51 am

2005-09-09 10:39:37 am

MGS for PS1 forever.

Did I know about jumping tricks...yes. Did I know they could be used to kill guards, no.

I'm just trying to get through this game once. I have the extra incentive to use saving anywhere the 2nd time around as well as not getting other Dark Jak powers. Unless I record several missions at once...I'm doing this mission by mission...and there are 70 missions so this is a major project and will still take another month I'd bet before I get it over with...at least.

Anarchic_Fox

2005-09-09 07:00:14 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, don't get discouraged! I'm really looking forward to this.

Mkt2015

2005-09-11 04:25:32 pm

MGS for PS1 forever.

Well, about another week and 3 more missions completed:

Win Class 3 Race at Stadium, Blow Up Strip Mine Eco Wells and Destory Ship at Drill Platform.

I would've done a few more missions but Win Class 3 Race at Stadium was very hard. I found the shortcut without reading the strategy guide, but to execute the shortcut every lap and not run into the wall is a huge challenge. The other two missions were fairly easy.

2 hrs 48 mins --> 55%