An excellent, creative, game, but too short.

User Rating: 9.4 | Psychonauts XBOX
There are very few games that I consider to be truly funny to me. Not often does a game manage to successfully pull off something like this, with a great, yet whimsical plot, as well as grat control and variety. Some games feel constricting in what you can do; others have so much that you can do that you end up doing nothing. Psychonauts gives you open gameplay that you can spend many, many hours just searching for things, and gives clear plot goals too, so if you ever feel overwhelmed, you can just go through the story. Even the cheats are entertaining-just try the l337 speak code.
The controls are intuitive and responsive, and with a good variety of moves that you may earn, tings rarely seem stale. Unfortunately, you only have three slots for skills, so you will often have to switch between skills quite frequently. Difficulty-wise, it has a good balance. While you can get through with only basic skills, once you start using Raz's skills to their fullest, it affords a high level of mastery.
The visuals are quite good, and contain a distinct style to them. Inside of which, each level also has its own look to it. You will NEVER have to wonder which world you are in-they are all very distinct.

And of course, having characters such as the Milkman increase the personality of the game tenfold. Words can not give proper justice to them. And yet, oddly for a game, many of the characters seem to suffer from actual conditions, making them all the more believeable.

The only gripe that I have with this game is that it is too short. There is quite a bit of depth, but a game like this could always be longer.

So, overall, for an excellent plot, intuitive controls, near-perfect difficulty, great style, engaging characters, but unfortunately too short, I give this game a 9.8, as well as my personal 2005 game of the year. (yes-I even liked it more than RE4-and I love that game.)