I really, really like the series. The first game is a standard 3D platformer in the vein of Banjo Kazooie and Rayman 2 and 3. It has a small hub with portals to the different levels, and you can return to them if you miss stuff. It can be a real collect-a-thon at times, but the writing has the enjoyable snarky wit one would expect from a Naughty Dog production, and the jumping feels really tight. It's feels quite different from the next two games.
The second and third games take a more sandbox approach to the action. There is a city map and vehicles available in the second one, but many of the missions retain the linear direction of the first game. The third one has an overworld desert environment. Both of these games feature more weapons and vehicles than the first entry, but it fits the series and the writing is even better. There's good variety to the missions and there are some things you can get sidetracked with. Jak 2 has this feeling of not quite reaching the potential of the overworld, like the developers were still getting their feet wet with the concept. I think Jak 3 is the better of these 2, it feels more polished and sure of itself. I don't often hear it, but I would compare Jak 3 with Rage, they both feature a desert overworld with focus on vehicle gameplay mixed with linear shooting levels.
At any rate, I say get it. They don't quite match the brilliance of, say, Psychonauts, but they are all worth playing. I can't comment on the "HD" malarkey, my experience lies with the PS2 line.
EDIT: And while you are at it, check out the Sly Cooper collection as well. The first two alone are worth the price of admission (the third is more of a mini-game collection).
Post edited February 22, 2012 by EC-
