Psychonauts 2
Better than we even hoped for.
Psychonauts 2 is a time sink. Now that’s a phrase laden with negative connotations, an expression typically associated with the type of alwaysonline and open world experiences that show little appreciation for your attention. Just so we’re all clear, that’s not what’s going on here, as developer Double Fine has delivered a generous and expansive adventure full of heart and humor. Psychonauts 2 is a time sink in the truest sense, in that your time will sink into the ether as you play. Minutes will turn to hours with ease, and before you know it, the credits are rolling and your cheekbones are sore from all the smiling. Double Fine’s psychodyssey defies all expectations.
And what expectations they were. Psychonauts 2 is an unlikely sequel to a cult classic that was released in 2005, funded by fans in 2015, and published in 2021 by a platform holder that almost killed both series and studio back in the waning days of the original Xbox generation (Microsoft was set to publish the original Psychonauts as a platform exclusive, dropping the title as it turned its attention to the Xbox 360, throwing Tim Schafer’s new team into turmoil). Double Fine has walked a winding path to get here and that’s reflected in the consistency, quality, and unabashed weirdness of the overall experience. Psychonauts 2 is what you get when a talented team has no choice but to go all-in on the hand it has been dealt by the house.
That resolve is palpable in one of Psychonauts 2’ s earliest missions. In it, Razputin Aquato – circus acrobat turned Psychonaut-in-training – tumbles into a stage that seamlessly combines the perilous energy of a high-roller casino with the latent trauma of a hospital ICU. It’s a high-risk level for Double Fine; Hollis’ Hot Streak features bespoke artwork and soundscapes, purpose-built platforming and mini-games, and numerous opportunities for quiet concession and contemplation.
Psychonauts 2 captures the spirit of 90s cartoons and channels it into an imaginative, inventive adventure that never fails to find heart and humor in every one of its consciousnessexpanding encounters.
Josh West