Set squirrels on fire... with your brain.

User Rating: 8.5 | Psychonauts PS2
By jmpenn04 | Review Date:
Psychonauts is another under-appreciated gem. Whether it's due to poor marketing, all that time spent in development hell, or the fact that it's a platformer, a genre that has long since seen its heyday, Psychonauts ended up selling pretty poorly. Most people who pay regular attention to game journalism well have already heard how its low sales are a crime considering its creativity and humor. And that's true. You'll see more imagination in this game than ten of its better-selling peers. While much has been made of the game's sense of humor and quirky art direction, the high point of the game for me is the level design. There are no levels like these in any other game, period. Those stages placed in the real world are engaging enough, but the real fun comes from the inner psyches of the characters you'll meet along the way. No two minds are remotely alike, and the way each stage reflects that person's mind are so inspired you'll wonder whether Tim Schafer hasn't done a little psycho-diving himself. The psychic powers are fun to play with, and it's a joy to see what new upgrade you'll get as you rise through the ranks. There are a few caveats, however. While the art is fun to look at, ultimately the game is not the most beautiful you'll ever play. And unfortunately a lot of your time will be spent item hunting as much as accomplishing objectives. This isn't too big a deal for me, as I cut my gaming teeth on collect-a-thons, but might be a deterrent for some players. Ultimately, it's an incredibly rewarding experience and a whole lot of fun to play.

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