View source for Jak X: Combat Racing

{{short description|2005 combat racing video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title      = Jak X: Combat Racing
| image      = Jak X - Combat Racing Coverart.png
| alt        = 
| caption    = North American cover art
| developer  = [[Naughty Dog]]
| publisher  = [[Sony Computer Entertainment]]
| director   = [[Amy Hennig]]<ref name="PushSquare">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/12/hands_on_jak_x_helps_plug_a_hole_in_ps4s_library|title=Hands on: Jak X Helps Plug a Hole in PS4's Library|date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
| producer   = Elodie Hummel
| designer   = {{Unbulleted list|[[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]|Richard Lemarchand}}
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Christopher Christensen|[[Neil Druckmann]]<ref name="PushSquare"/>}}
| artist     = {{Unbulleted list|[[Bob Rafei]]|Erick Pangilinan}}[[Josh Scherr]]
| writer     = Daniel Arey  
| composer   = {{Unbulleted list|[[Billy Howerdel]]|[[Dean Menta]]|Larry Hopkins}}
| series     = ''[[Jak and Daxter]]''
| engine     = 
| platforms  = {{Unbulleted list|[[PlayStation 2]]}}
| released   = {{Video game release|NA|October 18, 2005|AUS|October 26, 2005|EU|November 4, 2005}}
| genre      = [[Vehicular combat game|Vehicular combat]]
| modes      = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}
'''''Jak X: Combat Racing''''' (known as simply '''''Jak X''''' in PAL regions) is a 2005 [[List of vehicular combat games|vehicular combat]] [[video game]] developed by [[Naughty Dog]] and published by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation 2]] console. It is the fourth installment in the [[Jak and Daxter|''Jak and Daxter'' series]]. The plot follows protagonist [[Jak (Jak and Daxter)|Jak]] and his allies who, after having been poisoned, must partake in a championship of the fictional sport of "combat racing" in an effort to obtain an antidote.

The gameplay differs from previous installments in the series, focusing on [[arcade racing]] rather than [[action-adventure game|action-adventure]] gameplay. However, the driving mechanics of the game were modeled after the previous entry in the series, ''[[Jak 3]]''. Furthermore, ''Combat Racing'' was the first ''Jak and Daxter'' game to feature a multiplayer mode, with the second being ''[[Daxter (video game)|Daxter]]''. In 2017, the game was re-released for the [[PlayStation 4]], alongside ''[[Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy]]'', ''[[Jak II]]'', and ''[[Jak 3]]'', all of which later became available on [[PlayStation 5]] through backwards compatibility.

==Gameplay==
In ''Combat Racing'', the player controls characters from the ''Jak and Daxter'' series, all of which race in customizable dune buggy-style vehicles. The two main modes of play in the game are Adventure<ref name="CNET">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/jak-x-review/|title=Jak X review: Jak X}}</ref> and Exhibition. Jak, the main character of the series, is the only playable character in the Adventure mode, and must participate in a series of Eco Cup Championships in the game's story to obtain an antidote to a poison he and his comrades have consumed. Jak can also take part in a variety of Events in the Championships as to earn Medal Points and advance through the ranks. The main event of the game is the Circuit Race, in which Jak must finish a set of laps in a course while avoiding the wrath of the other racers. The player can destroy these racers as well by picking up Yellow and Red Eco weapons,<ref name="CNET"/> with Yellow Eco acting as an offensive weapon made to attack and destroy opponents, and Red Eco acting as a defensive weapon made to protect the player from incoming attacks. Green and Blue Eco can also be picked up, acting as health recovery and turbo respectively.<ref name="CNET"/> Causing and taking damage causes a Dark Eco meter to fill up which, once full, causes weapons to become more potent versions of themselves. [[Save data]] from the first three ''Jak and Daxter'' games, ''Daxter'' and ''[[Ratchet: Deadlocked]]'' unlock several drivers for the game, including [[Ratchet (Ratchet & Clank)|Ratchet]] from ''[[Ratchet & Clank]]''. For the PlayStation 4 port, the save data of the PS4 ports of the first three ''Jak and Daxter'' games, ''[[Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection]]'' and ''[[Ratchet & Clank (2016 video game)|Ratchet & Clank (2016)]]'' are required to unlock the content.

==Plot==
A year after the Dark Maker threat has been stopped,{{efn|As depicted in ''[[Jak 3]]'' (2004)}} the rebuilt Haven City thrives, and the sport of Combat Racing gains traction in the gritty, gangster-ridden Kras City. [[Jak (Jak and Daxter)|Jak]], [[Daxter]], [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Ashelin|Ashelin]], [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Samos|Samos]], [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Keira|Keira]] and [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Torn|Torn]] are summoned to Kras for the reading of the late crime lord [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Krew|Krew]]'s last will, hosted by his daughter, [[List of Jak and Daxter characters#Rayn|Rayn]]. The group is shocked when Krew reveals in the recording that they have been poisoned during a toast and must compete in the Combat Racing Championship to win an antidote held by Krew's associates. The championship is co-hosted by the television presenter GT Blitz and Pecker.

Jak learns that the competing racers are tied to a crime syndicate led by the mysterious Mizo. During the gang's racing, Keira acts as their primary mechanic, eventually building faster and stronger new vehicles to aid Jak in his races. However, her true wish is to race alongside her friends but Samos forbids it, fearing for her safety. Sig also appears to assist the crew, whereas Kleiver appears to challenge Jak with a friendly rivalry. Mizo's right-hand man, Razer, a famous racer, returns from retirement. Finally another competitor enters for Mizo, an ex-Krimzon Guard robot known as UR-86. During the continuing competitions, stories of Blitz's father enter the mix as his father was a legendary racer for the Kras City Grand Championship, while Rayn continues to search through her father's video diaries searching for more information on Mizo and any information that may assist the team in defeating him. Animosity grows between Mizo's racers and Rayn, Jak and the gang as Jak continues to win races making Mizo more and more desperate.
 
As the final race approaches, GT Blitz enters as a mystery racer for Mizo's team. Keira finally jumps into the race as well. Jak completes and wins the Kras City Grand Championship. Blitz angrily storms over to Rayn claiming she cheated before revealing himself to be Mizo. After being subsequently exposed by Pecker, Mizo then steals the antidote and drives off with Jak in pursuit. Jak manages to damage Mizo's car enough that he ends up in a fiery crash. As Jak retrieves the antidote, Mizo mentions his father's "sick" love of racing and how his father's neglect to his family in the name of the sport caused his family to strive to own all of it, to the point that Mizo murdered his father. Mizo taunts the indifferent Jak before his car explodes, killing him.

Jak and the team celebrate with drinks at a bar where Samos commends Keira's driving. Rayn bids the team farewell, but leaves behind a figment of Krew's video diary revealing Rayn's complicity: she knew about the poison and orchestrated events to secure her family’s dominance in Kras’s criminal underworld, ensuring her own safety. In a phone call, Rayn spares Jak and his friends, acknowledging their bond but hinting at future distance. Choosing not to pursue her, Jak and the team continue to celebrate, and Jak and Keira finally share a kiss at Daxter's encouragement to which he remarks, "Now that's what I call a photo finish!"

==Development==
Naughty Dog selected ''Jak X: Combat Racing'' as their next project whilst three fourths of the way through the development of ''[[Jak 3]]''. The company wanted to expand on the [[List of vehicular combat games|vehicle]] aspects of ''Jak 3''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/jak-x/649754p1.html|title = GameSpy: Jak X: Combat Racing Dev Diary 2 - Page 1}}</ref>

===Music===
The soundtrack for the game was composed primarily by [[Billy Howerdel]] of [[A Perfect Circle]], with assistance from members of various other bands, including [[The Crystal Method]], [[Limp Bizkit]], [[Tool (band)|Tool]], [[The Offspring]], [[Faith No More]], [[Nine Inch Nails]] and [[Queens of the Stone Age]] (the game's intro sequence features songs from the latter, taken from their album ''[[Songs for the Deaf]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/a-perfect-circle-guitarist-completes-work-on-soundtrack-ponders-the-future|title=Billy Howerdel discusses composing Jak X: Combat Racing's Soundtrack|access-date=November 27, 2023|website=BlabberMouth}}</ref> The cutscene music was solely composed by Larry Hopkins.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 76/100<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/jak-x-combat-racing/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | title = Jak X: Combat Racing for PlayStation 2 Reviews | work = [[Metacritic]] | publisher = [[CBS Interactive]] | access-date = August 1, 2019}}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10<ref name="Eurogamer Review">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_jakxracing_ps2 |title=Jak X: Combat Racing review |last=Reed |first=Kristan |publisher=[[Eurogamer]]. Gamer Network |date=August 22, 2006 |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/49235.shtml|title=Jak X: Combat Racing Review from GamePro}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.9/10<ref name="gamespot review">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/jak-x-combat-racing-review/1900-6136158/ |title=Jak X: Combat Racing Review |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |work=[[GameSpot]] |first=Carrie |last=Gouskos |date=October 19, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2019}}</ref>
| GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="gamespy review">{{cite web |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/jak-x/659791p1.html |title=Jak X: Combat Racing (PS2) |date=October 19, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2019 |publisher=[[IGN]] |work=[[GameSpy]] |first=Bryn |last=Williams}}</ref>
| GT = 
| IGN = 8/10<ref name="ign review">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/18/jak-x-combat-racing |title=Jak X: Combat Racing Review |publisher=[[Ziff Davis Media]] |work=[[IGN]] |access-date=March 22, 2005 |date=October 18, 2005 |first=Ivan |last=Sulic}}</ref>
}}

''Jak X: Combat Racing'' received "generally favorable reviews", according to [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name="metacritic"/> ''GameSpot'' gave the game 7.9/10 praising the game's graphics and online multiplayer system while criticizing the game's difficulty in certain modes.<ref name="gamespot review"/> ''Eurogamer'' rated the title 7/10. They were impressed by the game's sensation of speed, the variety provided by the different modes and the online functionality but thought it suffered from the occasional difficulty spike and "loose, floaty handling" of the vehicles.<ref name="Eurogamer Review"/> ''IGN'' thought that the game was "a nicely presented, well-rounded combat racer" which benefited from a strong storyline and multiple play modes which made it good value. It was given an 8/10 overall score.<ref name="ign review"/> It was later added to the [[Sony]]'s Greatest Hits section.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/jak-x-combat-racing/}}
* {{moby game|id=/ps2/jak-x-combat-racing}}

{{Wikiquote}}
{{Jak and Daxter series}}
{{Naughty Dog}}
{{Ratchet & Clank series}}

[[Category:2005 video games]]
[[Category:Crossover video games]]
[[Category:Jak and Daxter]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Naughty Dog games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2-only games]]
[[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Vehicular combat games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]