Psychonauts 2 (Xbox One Review) – Mind-Bendingly Brilliant
Tim Schafer and Double Fine’s team of artists are the best for video game writing. This development team has demonstrated time and again that you only need a little ingenuity to create memorable video games.
Double Fine has made a name by combining creative art design, simple gameplay, and great writing to create innovative experiences. This was more evident than in 2005’s Psychonauts. Double Fine’s greatest opus, Psychonauts, has survived the test of time. Psychonauts remains a favorite of many, including me. Psychonauts is considered the best Schafer game. 16 years on, can Psychonauts 2 still live up to the high expectations of the original? It is a clear, unassailable yes.
Following up less than 3 days after the Whispering Rock Incident, Psychonauts 2 begins in the cubicle-ridden offices at the Motherlode. This is the headquarters of the titular Psychonauts, which was repeatedly mentioned throughout the first game. The stage is set for a story that will reveal the dark secrets of their past and change their future. Raz begins to find the mole in the organization. The story unravels in digestible layers, as the past is linked to the present. It presents a mystery unlike any I have ever seen. Psychonauts 2 allows you to simultaneously track a story in the present and past with a unique plot. This could be difficult for smaller games.
Jumping between the minds of the eccentric new cast members will reveal their traumas, fears, and identities. This is a poignant connection between gameplay, story, and the original game. Mind-bending effects are employed with reckless abandon to sell the illusion of being inside someone’s mind. There are tons of optional world-building, backstory, and collectibles that can be found within.
