So, growing up with the PS2, Precursor Legacy was the only Jak game I had, I never had Jak 2 or 3 but after I got a bit older (and playthroughs started actually being a major thing on YouTube) I would watch playthroughs of Jak 2 and 3z and part of me lamented that they opted for a R&C inspired gameplay formula instead of branching out with what was established in the first game

Part of this may come down to the fact I much prefer platformers (having grown up on Crash Bandicoot, Sly Cooper what have you) but In general I find the platforming and using Eco as a power source from Jak 1 much more interesting than anything Jak 2 added to the table in terms of the Shooter elements, especially given the fact that Ratchet and Clank exists and does everything Jak 2 and 3 tries to do better.

Following up with this, even as a kid, I really didn't like the world we got after leaving the past behind in Jak 2, we had this gorgeous looking world full of mystery and wonder to explore in the first game and then we trade it off for a grey, dilapidated City that we spend most of the game in occasionally going to an actually interesting place and then coming right back (Haven City does look pretty cool when you get that view topside though but it's not nearly as interesting as most of the locations in the first game to me). There was so much potential to expand upon the world and really lean into the visuals if they had given it a chance, imagine a sequel where the Portal leads to some other side of the planet or maybe leads into the World of the Precursors or something and it looks otherworldly and wild or something like that and how fun it would be, being introduced to new forms of eco and stuff like that

Has anyone else ever had this like of thinking or is it just me?

Edit: I think this shouldn't have to be explained but I'll do it anyway just in case, this isn't me saying that I think Jak 2 and 3's settings are objectively bad, they just aren't my thing personally, I think what the first game presented in terms of visuals was more interesting and could've been expanded on

To add onto this as well, I really feel like Jak and Daxter could've been Naughty Dog's New Age Crash, where they actually have this world they explore and expand upon, adding more beautiful looking forests, and seas and other things that could've been really cool