Daxter

What does a chatty ottsel do when his buddy Jak disappears? He sets off to find him on his own – and out of that came one of the most beautiful and finely tuned platformers on the entire PSP. Daxter, from 2006 by Ready at Dawn, is a spin-off from the world of Jak & Daxter that puts his motor-mouthed pet in the lead role.

The gameplay is a classic 3D platformer: jumping, collecting, combat and exploring varied environments, all interspersed with humor and Daxter's commentary. The player controls him and sets off on his own adventure while searching for the vanished Jak. The game draws on the colorful, playful style of the series and offers brisk, pleasantly accessible action that suits both fans of the original trilogy and newcomers.

Where Daxter truly dazzles is its technical execution. Ready at Dawn – who would later show off their craft with God of War on the PSP as well – squeezed gorgeous graphics, smooth performance and precisely tuned controls out of the console. The game is among the prettiest things ever made on the PSP and again proves just how deeply this group could reach into the hardware's capabilities.

Thanks to the combination of a likable hero, tuned gameplay and terrific presentation, Daxter ranks among the titles worth trying on the console. It is proof that even a supporting character can carry their own game – and be entertaining while doing so.

Why play it: One of the prettiest and most finely tuned platformers on the PSP – a colorful adventure with the motor-mouthed Daxter in the lead role and technical excellence from Ready at Dawn.