![]() ![]() If the fine details are found in the hidden corners of Psychonauts 2’s levels, then the brilliant visual design is where the broad strokes are. It’s a nuance that’s rare to see in a comedy game, and it’s very welcome here. Psychonauts 2 knows that we’re all a little bit broken, and in offering up this sort of context, developer Double Fine acknowledges that there’s a reason people are the way they are. ![]() Of all the power-boosting collectibles and currency, the most exciting things to find within a person’s brain are their Memory Vaults, which offer a glimpse at some of the darkest parts of their past, and work to humanise each and every character. Psychonauts 2 offers a considered look at mental health, and while its takes on subjects like gambling addiction, anxiety, and isolation could have been played entirely for laughs, there’s a thoughtful and empathetic centre to it all. The plot of Psychonauts 2 has a lot of brains, appropriately - the script is equal parts sharp and silly - but it also has an awful lot of heart. Narrative is an important part of Psychonauts 2, as well, and this is a true story-driven platformer, which is still a rare sight in the modern age. Psychonauts 2 does offer a Narrative Combat setting, however, which makes these fights a breeze, and if you’re more interested in the platforming than the combat, then it's a good option to consider. The fights aren’t actually difficult - you’ll rarely die during them, thanks to a generous supply of health pickups - but they can really drag on. Combat isn’t nearly as tightly-tuned as the platforming is, and enemies can be real damage sponges, making these sections stretch out even when you’ve picked up a load of upgrades. These fights can be fun at first, but they all too quickly devolve into tedium. Levels aren’t just about platforming either, with combat encounters peppered throughout. This offers a nice bit of replay value, but in practice, combing through a level a second or third time for a hidden collectible can be a bit frustrating. In fact, most of the levels contain collectibles that can’t be picked up until you’ve gained a new ability later in the game. ‘Emotional Baggage’, meanwhile, requires you to locate a corresponding luggage tag in order to collect them, giving you a reason to backtrack once you’ve found them. ![]() The vast majority you’ll find are colourful, crayon-like ‘Figments’, dotted around to help guide you in the right direction, fiendishly hidden or tucked away in hard-to-reach areas. Each level is packed with collectibles too, which are a joy to hoover up as you go. Speeding through levels using Levitation is fast and frantic, and a double jump combined with a short hover means that you’ll very rarely miss your landing. In a 3D platformer, movement is everything, and luckily Raz feels great to control. ![]() Raz is kitted out with a bunch of abilities, old and new, to help along the way, such as the grappling hook-like ability Mental Connection, or a Time Bubble to slow spinning obstacles and fast-moving platforms, which unlock as you progress, opening up your traversal options. Psychonauts 2, like the first game, is a 3D platformer, and you’ll need to jump between the fractured parts of the mind you’ve leaped inside, whether that’s platforms shaped like crumbling teeth in the cranium of a crazed dentist, or snapping venus fly traps in a gardener’s dome. However, when he turns up on his first day, he discovers that he’s part of the intern program instead, and has to work his way up the ranks of the agency.Īlong the way, Raz will have to get knee-deep within different characters’ grey matter, for a little positive mental adjustment to help them on their way. But don’t worry if you haven’t played the previous games - Psychonauts 2 offers up a quick and entertaining refresher on the story so far, right at the start, and before long, you’re in the thick of it with main character Raz as he joins the Psychonauts - a group of secret government spies with psychic powers. Psychonauts 2 picks up where the original Psychonauts, and its VR-only sequel, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, left off. ![]()
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