Psychonauts 2 is one of the best and most creative games to come out this year. The story-telling is brilliant, the level design is enthralling, the aesthetic is impossible to mimic, and it’s just plain fun to play. There are a few bugs to be patched out, but I highly recommend playing this game, no matter who you are.
Psychonauts 2
Developer: Double Fine
Price: $60
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed,) Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC
The first Psychonauts is a real marvel of a game. For so long, it felt like we’d never get a sequel to one of the most creative and charming games of the sixth console generation until it got crowdfunded. Even when we knew it was coming, I was concerned about the quality, as sequels made over a decade and a half after the original product’s release are rarely what we hope for. But I was ecstatic to find out that these worries were for naught, as Psychonauts 2 is everything I wanted from a sequel and more.
In Psychonauts 2, you play as Razputin Aquato, a young acrobat and Psychonaut-to-be fresh off the heels of his adventures in the original game and The Rhombus of Ruin. There’s a mole in the Psychonauts who’s helping a malicious group called the Deluginists bring back the evil Maligula– a Grulovian psychic who killed many people using hydrokinesis before being killed by Ford Cruller. Raz and his fellow Psychonaut interns, as well as the Psychonauts he’s come to know, must try to stop Maligula from returning while discovering the identity of the mole. It’s a grander story than that of the first, but it follows up on many of the original game’s threads in satisfying and surprising ways.
The way that Psychonauts 2 conveys supplementary story details through gameplay and level design is remarkable. The shapes of the various figments in each mind say a lot about the character’s state of mind, as do the enemies present. You’re practically platforming over manifestations of each character’s mental health issues, so by playing the level, you immediately gain a better understanding of the story and its cast. To go deeper into this point would spoil some great moments, but I really have to say that Psychonauts 2’s way of filling in its narrative with extra details deserves acclaim. A special mention goes to how, through Clairvoyance, you can see that Sasha Nein views Raz as a younger version of himself, which made me very happy.
“No two stages feel alike, as each level represents their character in vibrant and well-designed ways.“
Right from the start, Psychonauts 2 gets you comfortable with its gameplay. You start with your main powers from the previous game, so anyone jumping in from the first game will be comfortable right off the bat. Platforming is tight and combat is fun thanks to the many ways in which you can approach it. You can fight from afar with PSI Blasts and Incinerate, or use melee and Thought Links to take out enemies up close. Improving upon your powers is especially pleasant, as they all grow and become more powerful as you rank up.
The new powers are no slouches either, as they can be used to navigate areas to find additional collectibles and bonuses. There’s an addictive sense of exploration to every hub and stage in Psychonauts 2, as each secret gets you closer to ranking up. There’s plenty to collect throughout Psychonauts 2, so you’ll never really feel like there’s nothing to find for the duration of your playthrough. Even having beaten the game with a few review games coming to my plate, my first instinct is to return to Psychonauts 2 to 100% the game, just because of how fun it is to play around in.
There are, unfortunately, some bugs in at least the PS4 version. Nothing that can’t be patched out, but I had the game crash once, freeze up for seconds at a time, and bug out in ways that made me restart the game a few times. It’s a shame, as so much of the game feels as though it has been combed through and perfected, so I hope after their well-deserved vacations, the minds at Double Fine can fix these minor issues to make the game even better.
As can be expected from a Psychonauts sequel, the visuals and overall presentation are simply stunning. The sheer creativity on display in every mental stage is breathtaking, and the wide variety of characters and enemies are a delight to discover. No two stages feel alike, as each level represents their character in vibrant and well-designed ways. From a trippy Woodstock-esque festival to a troubling It’s a Small World dark ride, each stage is a blast to experience as you explore every nook and cranny. The new characters look fantastic as well, with that Double Fine cartoonishness setting them all apart from one another in wonderfully goofy ways.
The voice acting is top-notch as well, with many incredible voice talents, actors, and actresses lending their voices to Psychonauts 2’s characters. Richard Horvitz, as always, knocks it out of the park as Raz, but the whole cast really deserves to be commended. There’s not a single voice that felt out-of-place or wonky, which gives the story some extra flavour thanks to such strong consistency.
The Final Word
Psychonauts 2 is simply one of the most charming and enjoyable games I’ve played in ages. The story-telling is nothing short of brilliant, the gameplay has been greatly improved upon, and the presentation is astounding. There are a few bugs that need patching, but that doesn’t stop Psychonauts 2 from being one of the best games of this generation.
MonsterVine Rating: 5 out of 5 – Excellent
