Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Everytime Tim Schafer creates a game, I know it will be a blast.Having been on a roll starting with The Day of the Tentacle up through The Grim Fandango, each game has been delightfully intelligent, creative and an overall wonderful experience.Psychonauts is no different.In fact, it is one of the best games I have played not only this year but in a long time.
The setup is that there is a camp for psychic children who feel different in the outside world.At the camp, the counselors teach children how to harness their power to become Psychonauts, psychics who actually enter people's minds and sort out their problems.Because of this setup, each and every world is completely different from the others.Connected to a hub world of the camp, each real "level" is a person's mind.And each mind reflects the person's personality, fears, phobias etc.For instance, the beginning level is that of your drill instructor.His level is a warzone complete with mines, air plane drops, explosions, barbed wire etc.
Tim Schafer's touch is also evident in the characters who are actually characters.They all have a personality and are very emotive.I haven't laughed at a video game so hard since Conker's Bad Fur Day.This game is hillarious.From the kid who practices looking through a peep hole in the day to get practice for when it's filled with girls to trashing a town Godzilla style, the game has it in spades.However, there are some surprisingly disturbing moments in the game that are also darkly humorous.Because you have psychic powers, you also can do some pretty cool stuff from pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, invisibility, etc.These moves help you progress through the levels and pick up hidden items throughout the game.
Graphically, the game is awesome on the Xbox.The levels are done in vivid colors and with a wonderful cartoon style.The campground seems alive as there are creatures walking your path.From squirrels, crows, pigeons, lizards, bears, etc, the world seems populated and just feels real.You can tell a lot of time and effort was put in to make this game come alive and it works.The game is presented in 480p, for those interested.
Aurally, the characters are voiced to perfection.Some great voice actors have been employed and it really helps create characters that are lovable.The only audio glitch I've noticed is that sometimes my speakers will "click" as voices come in or as the sound changes sometimes.The game is also presented in 5.1 surround in game.
Since the game is a platformer, all of the standards apply.In the real world and in each person's mind, there are a ton of things to collect.In the real world, there are arrowheads that can be pulled from the ground that represent cash.There is a scavenger hunt also going on that will earn you rank (which gives you new powers) and there are cards that can be formed as more rank.In each person's mind, there are also different things to collect such as emotional baggage, mental cobwebs, figments of the imagination and safes which you much punch open to reveal some of the person's past.Some of these slide shows are funny and some are actually kind of sad as you see how these people came to be who they are.I list these items to collect just as a note that the game definitely exhibits all of the charms of a platformer.But there actually is a reason to collecting everything and they fit together in this humorous world.
The game moves quickly and besides one or two intstances of panning that had the game do a wave type pattern, it is perfect.My recommendation if you play the game is to take your time talking to everyone.It helps flesh out the story and if you listen and keep making rounds after each world you will see minor breakups, makeups, humorous instances involving squirrels who tell one kid to kill everyone, and plain funny dialogue.Take your time with this one and you will definitely be rewarded.
This game is great, it's just what I was looking for.It helped remind me why I play video games.When a person can create such wonderful worlds and allow you to play in them, you realize why you play games.It is so creative.Where else can you be chased by a giant fish, rage across town as a Godzilla-like creature, be in a disco world where you must race, pin-ball style, wage war against a Napolean complex and set fire to squirrels?If you want a creative and fun video game that will take approximately 10-15 hours of your time, then this is definitely a must buy.Sure some say the game is too easy and relies on platforming cliches but honestly when you are having this much fun, does it really matter?Why quibble over small faults when you will genuinely have a complete and utter blast playing the game?I absolutely cannot recommend this game enough.And unfortunately, it's one of those games that will end up like Ico or Beyond Good and Evil where no one hears of it and no one plays it.Don't let that happen.Play this game because its games like this that the industry needs to keep creating.
A must buy.Creative and excellent.
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Product Description:
Psychonauts are special psychic operatives with powers they use in service to the world's governments. When students begin disappearing from Psychonaut boot camp, a young recruit begins tracking down the mad scientist responsible. Face inner demons and wrestle with other people's nightmares, while accomplishing your mission -- all without going insane. Immersive story injected with lots of humor and lots of imaginative environments Challenging puzzles with alternate solutions that self-tailor to your strategies & abilities
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