Our minds play a trick on us: Psychonauts 2 you can touch

On August 25th we will embark on another cerebral adventure with Raz in another Psychonauts 2, the latest imaginative game from legendary game designer Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango, Broken Age, Brutal Legend) and Double Fine Productions. Recently, the Xbox Wire team had the opportunity to delve into the first few hours of the upcoming cinema platformer and explore some of its unique environments, re-familiarize themselves with Raz’s iconic abilities, and discover that they may have a subconscious dental phobia.

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Will: So let’s start with a review. Did any of you play the original? Psychonauts (shameless plug: play it now with Xbox Game Pass!) when it came out? I played it on the original Xbox in 2005 and found it to be one of the funniest and most charming platformer of the generation.

Jeff: I tried to think back to what I did in 2005; What was going on in my life that made me never play the original Psychonauts? Memories of that time are a blurring of gambling Jade empire and listen to the “Kaiser Chiefs”. After a few Bing searches, I confirmed that yes, Psychonauts Released just a week after this Bioware classic, and, well, we didn’t have an Xbox Game Pass back then!

Mike: The original Psychonauts lives on in my head, like some kind of emotional baggage, as one of the great original Xbox games that I never finished – I only unlocked the first handful of psychic powers, but played enough of the original to understand what was going on at Whispering Rock was going on summer camp. The newsreel intro too Psychonauts 2 also helped refresh my memory, almost as if someone had put a cobweb vacuum into my brain …

Will: Okay, that sounds like I’m the only one Psychonauts Veteran. That works very well with this format!

Jeff: For all it’s worth, the opening sequence caught up with me so well that I’m confident to say that even with no prior knowledge, nothing can stop you from jumping straight into the game. And if you want to learn the origins of Raz and his fellow Psychonauts, Xbox Game Pass members can always go back to the first Psychonauts. Speaking of which – was the original game so dentally busy?

Mike: Oh man. The teeth! The teeth … That was quite a starting level, which was both incredibly fascinating and uncomfortable for me as I was playing an entire level inspired by the Art Deco of the 1960s, but also with every muddy step I took along one with teeth filled gum line made annoying. Even so, much of what the original was made of has been recorded Psychonauts unique in that every witty experience you went through was a completely different level, inspired by an injured psyche. Also, by the end of the first level, you will have essentially all of your core powers from the previous game, such as levitation, telekinesis, and others. It was a very easy way to get you into the action … as an intern! How was your first day of class?

will: Yes, I was happy that there was no artificial barrier to keep your core strengths right from the first game Psychonauts 2. I thought we’d be sure of some sort of “Raz lost his powers and now he needs to remember how to use them!” Sequence, but instead we only got a (very) short tutorial on how to use things like melee attacks, PSI blasts and pyrokinesis to defeat the enemies we encountered in the first level. I dug the first piece and was glad we got a brand new area to explore at Psychonauts HQ.

Jeff: I really enjoyed how it allowed me to wander through the Psychonauts headquarters to get a grip on Raz while I was immersed Psychonauts 2‘s atmosphere that is more abstract and smarter than anything I’ve played lately. It is both charming and awesome how elements of your mind like regret, emotional baggage, or bad ideas manifest as physical beings, often enemies in more complicated ways than just jumping on their heads.

Mike: One of the things I’ve had the most fun so far has been mixing my powers to fight enemies, such as rolling around on my hover ball and using telekinesis to grab objects and throw them on the head. Are there any techniques that you found very useful in the early stages?

will: Well, it’s not really a technique in itself, but I enjoyed the addition of the clairvoyant power that gives the player the ability to jump into an NPC (or even a rat) head to learn more about the area they find out. I especially love the way Raz is portrayed as a Derpy cardboard cutout when looking at himself through the eyes of others.

Jeff: Of all the recent games I’ve played, I didn’t expect to be reminded Scarlet Nexus! Before leaving HQ, I juggled Raz’s initial melee and PSI blast attacks with a telekinesis move that would make Yuiti and Kasane proud. I was even able to match it to the correct trigger as my own brain has made that connection since graduation Scarlet Nexus last week. I appreciate that all of these techniques can be upgraded at your discretion, which makes the hunt for the various collectibles valuable beyond the basic hunt for success.

Mike: I know we’re only a couple of heads on it Psychonauts 2, but I like the variety of levels we’ve seen so far. We’ve traveled through slimy gums and teeth, explored the world of The Motherlobe (and lost our clothes), and hopped around on giant poker chips at Lady Luctopus Casino that ended in an epic boss fight with Lady Luctopus herself. I hope that this wide variety of worlds can keep up with the rest of the game. Is there anything you’ve seen so far that has really impressed you?

will: As you mentioned above, the overall aesthetic is really great. They pointed out the art deco feel which is great but is taken to the next level with some jazzy background tunes that feel like they were brought straight from a swinging cocktail party. As someone who loves collectibles, I also really appreciate that the upgrade system ties in so closely with it. I always feel that my obsessive Borderline collection actually benefits the skills and play style I want to use.

Jeff: I found the entire library level delightful. So much of the best material on this level (and the game as a whole, from what I’ve played) is optional. There’s a lot to explore, and from a pleasure perspective, there are so many characters to talk to off the golden path. While I’m sure speed runners will set records with Psychonauts 2 The next Games Done Quick are coming, this experience with which you want to take your time. Trust me, you don’t want to have to deal with more regrets.

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Psychonauts 2 launches August 25th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S and Windows PC and will be available from day one with Xbox Game Pass. Psychonauts 2 also supports Smart Delivery, so you get the best version available for your Xbox console at no additional cost. Xbox Game Pass members can also prepare for this upcoming adventure by watching the original Psychonauts today with their membership. We’ll have more to share in the run up to launch next month, so keep it posted here on Xbox Wire. Likewise, follow @DoubleFine on Twitter for even more info on Psychonauts 2 and their many other excellent games.