![]() ![]() Weird, whimsical, and surreal as it is thanks to a script cowritten (as Psychonauts was) by Schafer and Valve veteran Erik Wolpaw, Psychonauts 2 is conscientious and understanding in its depictions of mental health disorders and therapy, though the constraints of the game dictate that catharsis comes faster than it typically can in actual treatment. Psychonauts gameplay largely takes place in two types of settings: sprawling hub areas that Raz can traverse and explore, and themed levels set inside the psyches he enters to help allies and enemies alike clear away cobwebs, face facts, and confront traumas-crucially, without taking advantage of their sensitive states to impose his will or deprive them of their agency. Lowly rank aside, he has weighty problems to tackle: a mole in the Psychonauts, the Voldemort-esque rumored return of a formerly defeated adversary whose origins are closely tied to those of the Psychonauts themselves, and persistent uncertainty about whether he has a girlfriend. A few delays later, fans finally got their hands on the long-awaited title, which came out on Wednesday for Windows, PlayStation 4, and every recent Xbox system.Īt the start of Psychonauts 2, Raz discovers that he’s only been admitted to the intern program, but his junior status doesn’t hold him back for long. Psychonauts 2 was announced almost six years ago after years of fan campaigning and professional flirtations between Double Fine and potential publishers. Subsequent re-releases raised its profile and expanded its player pool, which made it possible for the sequel to attract almost $4 million in crowdfunding. The first Psychonauts didn’t sell well initially, but its distinctive visuals, off-kilter characters, and endearing tonal mix of comedy and empathy made it a critical and cult favorite. Like its celebrated predecessor, which arrived in 2005, Psychonauts 2 is a third-person platformer developed by Double Fine, the Microsoft-owned but independently operated studio started by Tim Schafer, the legendary LucasArts auteur. Psychonauts 2 doubles as an interactive art exhibit, but in some respects it’s also a semiconventional video game, so here’s a more mundane description. Yet even though every level looks different, they all unquestionably belong inside Psychonauts, a singular series that follows few rules except to stay resolutely and exquisitely true to itself. The environments of Psychonauts 2 are as full of folds, wrinkles, and contradictions as the addled in-game brains that contain them. Not because of how lifelike it looks, but because of how much less lively real life looks by comparison. But I compulsively snapped stills of Psychonauts 2 like a tourist on his first trip away from his hometown. I’m not normally a screenshot person when I play games, because fumbling for a capture button or being ambushed by a pop-up breaks the spell of the scenery. After spending time in a world where every character and corner is at least slightly askew, obedient buildings are boring. Nor would one want them to conform to familiar designs or stick to symmetrical layouts. No structures seem up to code, except for the computer code that created them. Every plant needs a trim, and every human a haircut. In the figuratively and literally twisted settings of the sequel to Psychonauts, every hallway is warped. User Rating: 4.Nature abhors a straight line.Wield a powerful array of psychic powers to blast, burn and levitate things, or even slow down time itself to solve environmental puzzles and battle strange enemies.Leap acrobatically through the air, traversing tightropes and trapezes in a varied, challenging, and joyful platforming experience.Explore unique environments using Raz’s ability to dive into people’s brains to battle their inner demons, unlock hidden memories, and resolve their emotional baggage.Experience an imaginative, cinematic story that mixes humor and intrigue, brought to you by legendary game designer Tim Schafer ( Grim Fandango, Brütal Legend, Broken Age).Psychonauts 2 serves up danger, excitement and laughs in equal measure as players guide Raz on a journey through the minds of friends and foes on a quest to defeat a murderous psychic villain. ![]() Their leader hasn’t been the same since he was rescued from a kidnapping, and what’s worse, there’s a mole hiding in headquarters.Ĭombining quirky missions and mysterious conspiracies, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game with cinematic style and tons of customizable psychic powers. Razputin “Raz” Aquato, trained acrobat and powerful young psychic, has realized his lifelong dream of joining the international psychic espionage organization known as the Psychonauts! But these psychic super spies are in trouble. ![]()
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