Jumping is everything in Jak's split level world. The ultimate aim is to get back to Haven to sort out the civil war that is raging between rival groups there and save the world - again. Damas eventually helps the pair but makes them undertake a number of challenges to test their abilities. Dehydrated and dying in the desert they are picked up by Damas, leading the Mad Max-type civilisation of Spargus. Their world-saving antics from previous games seem to have been forgotten. In Jak 3, Jak and sidekick Daxter find themselves banished to the desert after being caught up in a political scandal in the city of Haven. Jak 3 is reportedly the last title in the series and while visually it differs little from Jak 2, there are enough new scenarios, weapons and characters here to keep things relatively fresh. The original Jak and Daxter appeared around the same time as Ratchet and Clank and the two titles worked well as game equivalents of the buddy-flick, where an interesting pair get together and go on an adventure, heckling each other on the way but ultimately becoming inseparable. Its lively characters, imaginative storylines that elaborate on the classic good versus evil theme and straightforward gameplay has made it as appealing to adults as kids. (Herald rating: * * * *) As franchise games go, the Jak series has been a booming success selling millions of copies around the world.