Psychonauts 2

As a close friend of mine texted me, it’s like a playable Tim Burton movie. Its imaginative reach leaves most other lighthearted adventure games far behind.

Sixteen years after the first game and no less than six years after the announcement that there would be a sequel, Psychonauts 2 is finally on the market. But is it worth the long wait? We're not going to beat about the bush. The answer is yes.

Fans of the original can now rest easy, knowing that the sequel they wanted, for the best part of two decades, has finally come to fruition, and it’s everything they could have wanted, and more. Psychonauts 2‘s story is deeper, more heartfelt, and wonderfully compelling. The mechanics and concepts in the original have greatly improved (although not without its minor issues), and the characters and their personalities exude bucketloads of charm. Without a doubt, this game will be on a number of game of the year nominations. Better sixteen years late than never.

Psychonauts 2 took over 16 years to reach the masses, and while it was an agonizing wait to return to the wondrous world that Double Fine has crafted, it was definitely worth the wait. Double Fine didn’t deviate from the formula they had crafted many years ago and still retained the humor and heart that the first title had. While this title doesn’t posit anything that remained unanswered, let’s hope we won’t have to wait as long to find out what happens to Raz in the next couple of days in his life.

Psychonauts 2 is absolutely everything it should be. It does not do everything perfectly, but it builds on what fans loved about the first Psychonauts in a way that keeps the spirit of the series alive and well.

Psychonauts 2 is a wildly creative, engaging, and thought-provoking masterpiece that bears the standard for all 3D platformers going forward.

Psychonauts 2 is a brilliant platformer with excellent level design and it is full of great ideas. Double Fine created a game that touches sensible issues with empathy and humor and thanks to that it hast the potential to be timeless. It is the sequel that Psychonauts deserved.

Like wafts of familiar scents, moments throughout Psychonauts evoke memories of both Double Fine and LucasArts’ highest highs. Many of Double Fine’s best known collaborators, from visual artists to voice talent, have pooled in. It makes a fine game, one about the atrophy of counter culture, how bonds make finer milestones than accomplishments, and how past failures do not negate future glories. Psychonauts 2 is a rare treasure, one that feels rarer and rarer as years go by, but clearly still possible with the proper gang of weirdos.

The bumps in my playthrough (for a final time, so far) have been minimal, and breaking to write these words to meet an embargo is keeping me from more quality Raz time. Psychonauts 2 is an intoxicating rollercoaster ride of invention and passion allowed the space and time to blossom that so few big-studio productions receive without substantial boardroom meddling, so credit where it's due to Xbox Game Studios for letting Double Fine loose with the creative juice. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've some more brains to bump around inside of, and some more retina-spinning sights to drink in.