Psychonauts 2 Is Worth Playing but It Isn’t Without Its Preservation Concerns

Developer Double Fine has had an eclectic mix of games over the years. From the outlandish and eventually underwhelming Brutal Legend to the inventive Stacking and often overlooked Massive Chalice, Psychonauts 2 is an oddity. This isn’t a studio that’s known for making many sequels.

The first Psychonauts plays just like what you’d expect from a mid-2000s platformer complete with an antiquated control scheme, so-so camera, and abrupt ending. A combination of fan funding and Microsoft’s acquisition of Double Fine has willed Psychonauts 2 to life and we’re all the better for it. Here’s why.

Psychonauts 2 has you in the role of Raz, the latest recruit to the titular Psychonauts — an international espionage organisation whose members excel in all manner of psychic abilities. All is not well though.

Their leader is near comatose since his kidnapping (that was discovered in the first game) and his eventual rescue (that was in Psychonauts In the Rhombus of Ruin — a VR addition to the series). Furthermore, there’s a mole in their midst with plans to bring back Maligula — a famous mass-murdering villain that can control water with her mind.

If this sounds like a lot to digest, it really isn’t. A breezy opening sequence keeps you up to date with the events from past entries and sets up Psychonauts 2’s adventures well enough.

It’s against this backdrop that Psychonauts 2’s events take place and its setting is as bizarre and refreshing as the first game. You’ll traipse through people’s brains to unlock secrets they won’t willingly speak or simply to change their mind by rearranging their line of thought all while resolving their emotional baggage.

These levels take the form of hospitals or offices complete with their own outlandish touches like baddies such as Regrets — flying foes that drop weights down below, Doubts — slime-based enemies that slow you down, and Enabler that buff other foes not unlike the Shamans in Ghost of Tsushima’s Iki Island expansion.

Without spoiling much, the events of Psychonauts 2 proceed at a steady clip, there’s barely a dull moment. Throw in a dialogue that’s peppered with humour aplenty and a host of memorable characters, and you have one of more entertaining games of the year.

All of this is backed up by slick controls. Traversal through Psychonauts 2’s imaginative worlds is a treat. From jumping to uni-cycling through a barrage of foes, there’s little amiss. Controlling Raz feels responsive as it should be even when coupled with a host of abilities at your disposal like levitation and pyrokensis.

There are a few instances when jumping onto a platform is tougher than it looks as some sections of play make it tough to ascertain the actual depth or distance from your destination, but by and large Psychonauts 2’s moment to moment gameplay is solid.

On the whole, Psychonauts 2 is a fun adventure replete with all the trappings you’d expect from a modern platformer in terms of collectibles and unlockables. While it’s a fun experience, we hope Microsoft eventually releases it on disc. Right now, Psychonauts 2 isn’t slated for a disc release unless you backed it on Fig aeons ago.

It’s odd that Phil Spencer’s proclamations for preservation seem to benefit Xbox Game Pass’ existence rather than the gaming community at large, which includes those of us what would like a physical release. In fact, it makes us wonder if this is going to be the state of every mid-tier Microsoft-published game that’s not earmarked to sell millions of copies — the absolute disregard of a physical release because when Microsoft decides to take its servers offline, you’re out of luck on console and would have to resort to piracy on PC.

Nonetheless, Psychonauts 2 is one of the better releases from Microsoft this year, playable on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S as well as any device that supports Xbox Game Pass. Granted the heavy hitters like Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite are on the way, but Psychonauts 2 is in a league of its own.

For the latest gaming news and reviews, follow IGN India on Twitter and Facebook. For the latest gaming videos, follow us on Instagram.