![]() Unlike last time, Raz can now choose when to upgrade certain powers. I didn’t want to skip these moments, as again, I do like the plot, but there could have been a better way of providing exposition without having to put a complete stop to the action. And some of these scenes can really drag on, specifically a late-game section that comes in the form of an amusement park ride. There are even moments where you’ll watch a cutscene, move a little bit forward, then get hit with another one. All too often, you’ll find the platforming action getting interrupted with a cutscene. Not from the main campaign itself, which constantly moves the plot forward, but rather the pace of the gameplay. I was rarely challenged by these segments, but I never found myself looking forward to one either.Īlthough I’m a big fan of the story and overall design, Psychonauts 2 does suffer from some pacing issues. The lock-on system isn’t great, and the cumbersome camera often hides enemies out of sight. It’s more creative if nothing else, but the combat as a whole still feels sloppy and loose. Certain enemies can only be attacked when you use Time Bubble to slow them down, or you may need to pop into a foe’s mind with Clairvoyance in order to find their weak spot. Previously, you could get by using your fists and PSI-Blast, but now you’ll need to utilize your full moveset to survive. The improvement of the combat system comes from the fact that most of your powers can also be used in battle. The fighting in the first game was not great, and I can safely say that combating enemies here is better, but I’m still not sure it’s exactly great. One of Tim Schafer’s goals for the sequel was to make improvements to the combat. You might just stumble upon something important. Just to give you a hint, if you see a painting hanging around somewhere, it would be in your best interest to burn it down. These abilities can also be used to track down hidden objects and locations. One of the more common instances you’ll come across is using Mental Connection to latch onto a thought bubble, then using Time Bubble to slow down an object to create a platform. Psychonauts 2 is at its best when you’re using these powers to navigate the tangled minds you visit, and you’ll often need to use them in tandem to proceed. There have certainly been improvements to the core gameplay, but it still remains firmly rooted in the world of traditional platforming. For better or worse, Psychonauts 2 doesn’t deviate too much from this formula. Not that it was terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but the 3D platforming didn’t do much to separate itself from other similar titles flooding the marketplace at the time. While the world-building and writing of the original Psychonauts drew plenty of praise, the gameplay was arguably its weakest part. It could be viewed as a disappointment, but the universe of the series is so wild and weird, that I appreciated getting to see parts of it that weren’t featured in the previous effort. Fan favorites such as Sasha and Milla are still hanging around, but they don’t get to do as much in the main story as you might have expected. You’ll get to see more interaction between Raz and his siblings, as well as his parents and Nona. Raz’s family also decides to show up at Psychonauts HQ, which is also a welcome treat. We learn more about his history with the Psychic Six, as well as just how chaotic his mind truly is. Once again, it seems that the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of an adolescent intern.Īs for the returning cast, you’ll spend a good chunk of your time with Ford Cruller. The plan to kidnap Grand Head Truman Zanotto was only the beginning of a plot to resurrect an ancient evil known as Maligula. That would be unfortunate enough, but there’s something much more sinister going on at HQ. However, despite all he did in the previous games, he finds himself shuffled into the Intern Program thanks to second-in-command Hollis Forsythe. Picking up following the events of Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin (thankfully, there is a recap video to explain what you need to know), Psychonauts 2 sees Raz finally make his way to the Psychonauts Headquarters. A lot has happened since then, including the acquisition of Double Fine by Microsoft, but Razputin Aquato is finally back in action. That is until 2015, when a sequel was finally announced thanks to the then-burgeoning world of crowdfunded games. ![]() However, despite the best efforts of Double Fine head Tim Schafer, the low sales of the first game torpedoed plans for a sequel. Shortly after the release of the original in 2005, it felt like there were rumblings of a future entry in the planning stage. It’s been a long time coming for Psychonauts 2. ![]()
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