Make room on the throne Mario! We finally have a great platformer again!
Psychonauts is an incredibly imaginative platformer released on various consoles, so if you haven't played it, I implore you to do so!
I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect when I first glanced at the box. The artwork was intriguing, and the title was so bizarre, it rattled in the concepts of my mind for quite sometime. Finally I was confronted with an immediate decision, do I want to spend my money on Time Splitters... Or this peculiar new game Psychonauts? I chose... And I'll never look back!
In Psychonauts, we follow the cranial adventures of young Razputin, a remarkable child who possesses extraordinary mental powers, so despite the negativity of his circus performer father, Raz infiltrates a psychic summer camp in order to become a full fledged mental warrior, or Psychonaut. My first impression of the game was inevitably positive. I am a huge fan of the animated works of Tim Burton, and seeing such unique, yet cartoonishly abstract characters made each cutscene and character interaction a joy to behold. However, I must admit that even if I had never developed an appreciation for such art, I would still be enchanted by the clever characterization, and funny characters. During the first few moments of gameplay, Razputin encounters a bizarre child wearing a metallic cap, and is convinced it stops him from causing pedestrian heads from exploding. Later, Razputin finds the same child captivated by a pack of squirrels, insisting they are commanding him to murder his fellow campers. I was shocked to learn that this game is genuinely funny! The plot is as follows, Razputin must divulge the fiendish motives of a brain snatching dentist, who liberates all of Razputin's peers of their craniums. In order to restore his fellow campers to their original states, Razputin must travel to a decrepit asylum, and confront the various villains that occupy it, armed with only his psychic might, and the wisdom of a bacon obsessed elder. There is more to the story, however I refuse to spoil the plot to those of you who have yet to play.
The game is a platformer, so gameplay consists of collecting items, and occasionally receiving a new element added to the formula. Psychonauts improves on these formulas by granting the player more advanced attacks as one collects various items, rather than the usual 1+up. Another shining exemplar of Psychonaust genius lies in the level design. In order to proceed in his ventures, Raz must traverse through the dysfunctional minds of his teachers, gigantic fish, and psychopaths. Environments range from misty, vine covered towers, to colorful neon city streets! All utilizing Razputin's various powers in different methods.
There are some development issues littered throughout the game, however I think the consistent positive elements far outweigh the miniscule negative ones!
Who is the milkman? Are you a weeping widow? What did the rainbow scout tell you.....