Psychonauts: It’s Goggalor!

My send off for 2022 was none other than the masterpiece that is Psychonauts. Thanks to the folks at Limited Run Games, I have a physical copy of this game for the PS4 so that’s how I played it. Obviously it still plays exactly like the PlayStation 2 version, even down to mentioning the memory card. This was the perfect game to end the year on, and I just had to jump into the second one right after so Psychonauts 2 will be my first game of 2023.

A 3D Platformer From The Glory Days

Playing Psychonauts is like stepping into a time machine and going back to when consoles like the PlayStation 2 were in their heyday. Naturally that comes with both pros and cons, but ultimately this is a game I would recommend to anyone who enjoys 3D platformers. Personally, it is one of my favorite genres.

Psychonauts, like most 3D platformers, is also a collect-a-thon and there are plenty of collectibles here. From Merit Badges which grants you new psychic powers to PSI Challenge Markers to increase your PSI Cadet Rank, there is plenty to search for around the world. As you gain new abilities you’ll be able to revisit locations and reach new areas to complete your collections.

The PlayStation 2 definitely shows its age a bit in this title, but it is one that I am personally all too familiar with. Having grown up on games like Ratchet and Clank and Crash Bandicoot, I was more than okay with the hiccups this game had. If anything it honestly just added to the nostalgia, even though this was my first time playing this game. Don’t let the age of this game scare you away.

Raz

Razputin, or Raz for short, has one dream and one dream only: to be part of the elite team of psychic soldiers known as The Psychonauts. Having heard about a psychic summer camp for kids, Raz ran away from home in the hopes of honing his psychic powers. It is here at the Whispering Rock camp where things take a turn for the worst. As always though, I won’t spoil anything no matter how old this game may be.

Throughout the game you’ll be entering the minds of other characters. Each mind is packed with its own set of collectibles separate from the collectibles you can find around the camp. In the minds of others you can collect figments of imagination, emotional baggage, mental cobwebs and memory vaults. There are also various items to increase your health and ammo count.

During the game, Raz handles danger beautifully. In some cases he is even more level-headed than the adults around him. I thoroughly enjoyed every time Raz would tell a joke and then laugh at it himself. Sometimes he would even ask the other person if they heard him. I can’t tell you how many times I do that. He is just such a likeable character, you can’t help but smile everytime he is on scream. His age and light-heartedness help to keep the game from crippling under the weight of the issues it actually presents to the player.

A Light-Hearted Nod To Mental Illness

As someone who suffers from mental illness, I found it to be cathartic to sit back and explore these minds because it felt like I was helping them to navigate their illnesses. Ultimately, that’s what being a Psychonaut is all about. However, the game doesn’t ever put too much weight into this. I feel like they do it perfectly to the point where if you struggle with the things portrayed, you’ll appreciate it and if you don’t it is still a fun game to play. I can imagine that would be challenging to accomplish but Double Fine pulled it off perfectly.

Throughout the whole game, I kept feeling empowered to take control over my own struggles and proud of the progress I have made on myself. I definitely feel like the sequel has had more moments where I have been inclined to feel that way, but the first game did as well. It isn’t easy to face these challenges, but every day is a victory.

Each mind I visited was an opportunity to get to know a character inside out (literally) and help them with whatever problems they had. Sometimes they were problems they weren’t even aware of. Regardless though, one ten year old boy was able to help numerous adults with their issues, all without much training in the matter. If you ask me, Raz was born to be a Psychonaut.

Colorful Cast of Characters

From Raz himself to his fellow campers, this game is overflowing with character and creativity. Each person was so unique and fresh I honestly kept waiting for their to be some overlap but their wasn’t. Even when it came to level design, I feel like nothing repeated itself.

Every mind showcased its owner beautiful, catering to their individuality in a way that allowed you to get to know them better. Even every single kid at the camp had their own personality and psychic strengths. Do yourself a favor and explore the camp after every level. There is plenty of story to be had here and it is easy to miss.

I rarely pick main characters as my favorite, but Raz really was my favorite from this game. Milla was definitely second though, which should be no surprise to anyone who knows me. I connected with Raz more than I thought I would and I shared many emotions with him. I saw a lot of myself in him and it always helps when the character is relatable.

A Sequel Sixteen Years Later

Thank God this genre and this series is not a thing of the past. I can’t tell you excited it makes me to see new 3D platformers being made and when I fell in love with Psychonauts, I was so glad there was a sequel waiting for me to jump right into. I am also glad that I played these games in order. Double Fine has created two masterpieces that I hope continue to grow as a franchise. Psychonauts was the perfect send off to 2022 and Psychonauts 2 was the perfect way to start 2023.