Psychonauts

"A twisted adventure that's fun for everyone."

It's been a roller-coaster ride for Psychonauts and it's developer, Double Fine. Psychonauts was first unveiled at E3 2002 with Microsoft as the publisher, where it won several E3 awards and caught the attention of Xbox community... then it disappeared. For 2 years we heard nothing, and then it was announced that Microsoft was no longer publishing Psychonauts. The community automatically thought the game was dead. Then, like a knight in shinning armor, Majesco picked up the publishing rights and brought the game to the public... and boy am I glad they did!

Gameplay - 8
Good simple fun, what platforming should be, and what Psychonauts is. This game won't frustrate you with near impossible jumps or require you to have expert timing, it's a game that just about any one can pick up and automatically feel comfortable playing. If you are gamer looking only for an extreme challenge, then this game might not be for you. If you are gamer who enjoys adventuring and new experiences, then Psychonauts is a game for you. The variety of the Psychonauts' levels, make each one a joy to explore. One criticism I have of the levels though, is they play more horizontal than most platformers I have played. What I mean is, many of my past platforming experiences have the player ascending a mountain or series of platforms with jumping puzzles. The higher you went, the greater the tension built, as you would look down and see the ground getting further and further away, but you do not have that in Psychonauts. Instead, most of the heights created in Psychonauts are produced by have the levels floating in mid air (or the middle of someone's mind if you will), this doesn't provide the players with as much tension or a sense of accomplishment. Still, even without the vertical levels, I found myself enjoying Pyschonauts levels, because their uniqueness. They may not be what I'm used to, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Story - 10
The strongest parts of this game is, without a doubt, it's story and characters. It is, perhaps, the best story I have ever seen in a Platformer. And it is from this story and these characters, that the players will receive their sense of accomplishment. It is a story that will drive players to complete the game, and that will compel them to play it again. While the gameplay is good, it's the story, characters, and humor that make Psychonauts great.

Graphics/Sound - 9.4
The artistic style of Psychonauts is wonderful and the amount of art is amazing. From the unique figments, to plant-life specific to each level, to the complete look of the stages; they are all so different, that going into a new level felt like stepping into a new world. Which I believe was the effect Double Fine was going for, and they pulled it off perfectly. The sound, amazingly enough, was even more impressive; as it features some of the best voice acting in gaming history! The music, composed by Peter McConnell, is also great, completing the remarkable atmosphere created in Psychonauts.

Final Thoughts - 9.7 (rounded up to a 10)
This is a well polished gem, that would be a great addition into most any game collection. Psychonauts is an easy game to get into, and once you're into it, you'll never want out.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/10/05