Okay, okay, I know gaming sites have reviewed the hell out of this game- it was awarded 'the best game you've never played' award a few years back and all...
.... But I'm going to give you my two-cents anyway because six years after its' release, I finally beat it.
Funny story about that actually... When I first heard about this game and its' almost God-like status among platformers, I nearly peed my pants with excitement and ordered myself a copy. It really sounded like a dream-come-true. One that my inner nerd, my Literature major, and my obsessive GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL brainwashing from GameFreaks as a kid would all enjoy- AT THE SAME TIME! In fact, I was SO excited that minutes after I ordered it, I was watching 'Let's Play' videos on YouTube about it.
One night, I was watching GriffinLobster's Let's Play under my covers ( great Let's Play-er by the way. I really recommend his videos over some of the others. He's pretty funny ) and eagerly watching every Psychonauts moment when my world came to a grinding halt and I began to have this like extreme paranoia...
... it was after he jumped into the Nightmare Room.
I was not expecting it AT. ALL.
And what lurks inside, that caught me off guard, made me afraid to go to sleep that night and several nights after. Hell, when the game finally came in, I had to throw the case away because I felt like the Nightmare Room would attack me if I turned my back on it.
I know, I know, I'm such a neurotic weenie.
Anyway, I played the game, and had an absolute blast. Up until the fateful level with the Nightmare Room. Thankfully it only exists to scare your pants off, so there's nothing to compel my GOTTA CATCH EM ALL to make me go inside. I had to not play it for a few weeks... and only when it was daylight outside... and my girlfriend was home.
It was like that about Psychonauts through EVERY. FUCKING. LEVEL. and all I could notice was how incredibly full of nightmare fuel it was but the masochist in me continued to torture myself this way.
And then when I reached the most Freudian terrifying level of them all, the Meat Circus, it all changed. In a bizarre way. I had been talking about the level for weeks with my girlfriend and was so excited to finally play it... and when it came on the screen, I asked her "is this not one of the scariest things ever conceived?" - she said "yeah, it's creepy, but it's just a game."
And all of my fear regarding Psychonauts itself faded instantly away.
Isn't it great? I was such a basket case over it that Tim Schafer should have made me a lunatic in the possible Psychonauts 2 !
Funny anecdote over, now for the actual review...
Psychonauts (T) 2005 - Majesco / Double Fine / BudCat
--- Story : You are Raz, boy acrobat, who infiltrates a highly classified government training program for psychic soldiers. To be a Psychonaut has been your life's ambition! - unfortunately, they are going to call your parents to take you home. You have three days to become a Psychonaut, travel through lunatic minds, and unravel a terrible plot full of brain-stealing, giant monsters, and world domination.
--- Graphics : Looks like Tim Burton and Disney had babies again. Some of the best PS2 graphics you'll see but considered dated for those spoiled with PS3 and XBOX360 textures. Everything is carefully crafted. That's what makes the nightmare hunting so much fun.
--- Sound : I own the soundtrack to this game I loved it so much. It fits the moods perfectly and adds to the overall feeling of madness. You have to be a fan of klezmer clarinet and Danny Elfman like melodies in order to appreciate it though. I can't listen to the whole thing through without feeling like I'm going to lose my mind. Especially Happy Flowers .... ok, maybe I`m being melodraamatic. The point is, it`s a good soundtrack.
--- Playability : Ok, there's a few control problems that I ran into especially when grinding, well, anything. I hope you don't plan on jump from grind to grind much otherwise you'll meet a lot of game-overs. They just don't align quite right and it makes it really frustrating. I also think you almost have too many powers and I didn't like having to switch powers constantly to help me progress. It just feels like it's slowing you down. But hopefully the incredibly deep characters and storyline will keep your attentions long enough to getsnthrough these bugs. Otherwise, it is a platformer's dream come true with a puzzle fiend's piece of heaven. ActionAdventure at its' finest! - did I mention PS2 version has awful loading screen times?
--- Replay Value : This, like many other platformers before it, relies somewhat on your ability to collect stupid shit for the sake of GOTTA CATCH EM ALL! And trust me, it's not easy to do. I am only technically at 60% of the game because my obsessive compulsiveness hasn't compelled me to gather the millions of gatherables in Psychonauts. Plus with a kickass story and characters (I really mean it,it was the characters that kept me going. There`s so much to them that you almost feel like you know them) I promise this one a ridiculously high replay,
--- Where to Find : I got lucky and found my copy on Amazon.com for about $12. Now it ranges almost daily between $13 to $80. I have seen it in some GameStops and secondhand stores from $12 to $24 depending on where. That`s if you want a hard copy. This gem came out on PS2 and XBOX originally, but is now also available through XBOX LIVE (for 1500 points) and Steam (for... I don`t know)- so it`s pretty easy to get a hold of as long as you aren`t Nintendo. Sorry Nintendo.
My ultimate rating...
8.5 / 10
For its` few playability flaws, it stands as one of the best games out there thanks to a dynamic design and unforgettable characters and story...
(... and for the ability to scare the pants off of me into a psychotic fear of the dark for about two months. )
Recap...
+ GREAT story and characters / HILARIOUS dialogue / Creative level designs and concepts / Attention to details / GOTTA CATCH EM ALL
- Loading Screens (PS2) / Too much powers? / minor control issues / Nightmare Room
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