Psychonauts 2

johnny_ultimate

It's been a long time since it was announced, but Psychonauts 2 is finally out this week.

https://youtu.be/liJTZfJhOcs

I've a real soft spot for the first game - sure, it might not be the tightest 3d platformer around, and those infamous difficulty spikes are infamous for a reason. But it was still a game overloaded with imagination and wit, full of heart and humour. And some of the mechanics such as the rolling psych-ball were a pleasure to use.

The first reviews for the sequel thankfully seem very positive.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-08-20-psychonauts-2-review

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/08/psychonauts-2-review-an-early-easy-nominee-for-2021s-game-of-the-year/

Anyone else looking forward to diving in? Will this be your first game in the series or have you played the original?

CastorTroy

I just played the first one for the first time last week. Really enjoyed it. It didn't feel like a 16 year old game to me. only time I really had an issue with it was near the end when climbing chain fences since jumping from one surface to the next never seemed to work for me.

Will be picking the new one up at some point but good to see it got good reviews. Might see if I can get the VR game before then

SuperBowserWorld

I'll definitely give it a spin as it's on GamePass.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117793718#Comment_117793718

Yep that was a nightmare. Jumping and the guy never grabs on but you get through it eventually.

wench

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117793718#Comment_117793718

Oh god, the Meat Circus!

Played it when it first came out and got stuck there. Played again a couple of years ago and stayed with it to the end. Great game.

CastorTroy

That's the one. Had to Google how to do it. Only good thing was you had infinite attempts since didn't lose any energy if fell into the water

brady12

Only half way through first one in game pass so won't buy two at launch but I love first one even though it's 2006 game so deep be buying 2

SuperBowserWorld

How's this game playability wise? Look very interesting and original, incredible in places ... Wondering does it play well, like Mario Galaxy/Odyssey well ???

wotzgoingon

Started this game this evening. Loving it so far. Stayed true to it's roots regarding the first game. Shame it took like 20 years for a second hopefully there will be a third sooner than in next 20 years.

johnny_ultimate

Only played through the first level but really does feel like Psychonauts with the budget and scope and technology the ideas deserved. The way the level twists and contorts in all sorts of Inception-esque but playful dream logic is a delight to behold.

wotzgoingon

I'm currently at the head quarters and they really throw you in at the deep end at the start especially if you never played the first. I have decided to give it a break for the rest of the evening. I've a few YouTube videos to catch up on. I'm really enjoying it so far.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117803203#Comment_117803203

Well I'm in the casino now and yes it does play as well as Mario Galaxy imo.

Thread is pretty dead for such a good game. It may fall short like the original and people play it years later and say how good it is. I didn't buy the game as it's free on Gamepass but I would have bought it day one even if it wasn't on there.

johnny_ultimate

I’ve been looking forward to this game for quite some time - I mean, I backed it like five-six years ago now. But it’s been a long time since Psychonauts, and a lot of ‘alright’ Double Fine games since had somewhat tempered my expectations.

But by god this is fantastic. Just finished the casino section and it’s everything you’d hope a Psychonauts sequel would be: a delightful rush of gameplay and visual ideas. A few generations of technology advancements have served Schafer and co well: this is a veritable rush of slick set pieces, great graphics and stylish design. Whether it’s a glorious, flashy heist sequence or simply the adorably grotesque character designs (really brought to life with some great costume design and texture work), it looks great and feels great to play too (well, some floaty physics and imprecise jumps aside).

Yes there’s still lots of collectibles. Yes the combat isn’t great, and the platforming doesn’t quite have that Nintendo level of shine and precision. But the game focuses on its strengths, and the pacing is a thing of beauty: constantly ushering you along from one amusing or imaginative idea to the next. It really delves into the thorny consequences of its fantastical concepts too - both narratively and mechanically.

Those reviews that dared to utter ‘GOTY’… based on the evidence so far, there’s a strong case to be made that this is comfortably one of the year’s best. The very best kind of video game sequel.

wench

I backed it on the kickstarter, so I only paid €37 for it. €60 is a bit steep.

It's a great game, feels like a proper continuation of the story, and plays almost exactly the same (including the slightly dodgy platforming!)

Missed the original so had no idea really what to expect from this but sure gamepass no risk etc. so giving a go and really enjoying it so far.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117813024#Comment_117813024

The original is on Gamepass also.

wotzgoingon

I got to the section where you can go back to past levels and collect stuff I missed. But I'm missing some skills to collect everything in the teachers second part brain. I have everything collected in the first two levels.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117813117#Comment_117813117

Yeah I was wondering about that early on, as there were things I had no way to get to so figured it was like that in that you could get abilities later and come back. Good to know.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117813258#Comment_117813258

Once you finish up in the Casino and go back to head quarters you gain that ability.

wotzgoingon

This game really opens up when exploration wise when you get to the quarry. I had a quick look around and was getting full on those purple things you collect so headed back to the machine and bought the pouch to carry 1000 of them.

Yeah got to that point last night, wasn't really expecting it to be honest. Kind of thought I'd just be running around the Motherlobe and doing quests there. No sooner did I find myself in the quarry, I found myself in another equally large area. Game looks to be much bigger than I was expecting.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117818515#Comment_117818515

Is that the questionable area. If so I just got there now.

wotzgoingon

I was playing this yesterday and got to the part where you enter the brain of the guy you collect the bees for. Pretty difficult but got through it in the end.

johnny_ultimate

I think a good hub area is one of the most underappreciated pleasures of video games.

This game has more than one. All in.

wench

Finished it last night, great game.

Thankfully no ridiculous platforming needed this time :-)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117823267#Comment_117823267

Yeah did that one last night, going to have to redo it as you need to finish with in the time to get the collectibles. Messed up on the last one with the order I did things in. I turned on the assists for the boss.

EDIT: Looks like you can't redo it, you have to wait until the end of the game and the box will be gone and the tag will be there.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824821#Comment_117824821

I didn't even know there was assists. Luckily I have the pouch to hold 8 lollipops and was maxed out going in there and only for having them I wouldn't of had got through it. I was down to my last brain of health when I beat it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824898#Comment_117824898

Yeah it's a long one too and I was ill prepared so switched on the assists to avoid repeating it. They don't disable achievements either by the way.

wotzgoingon

I got to the old base. Can't even remember the name and was just playing it. It's another base area to explore. I've put 23 hours into the game so far. I honestly was searching the whole game area of the band section for one figment. I searched high and low and eventually found it. I have the majority of all areas 100% completed. I still need the ability of get through small spaces to finish the rest off 100%.

You're close to it, and it's a funny ability.

wotzgoingon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117834270#Comment_117834270

I was thinking I was close to receiving that ability alright. I haven't played it this evening as I'm a bit worn out from playing the last 23 hours. I was hooked so kept playing but it caught up to me. I haven't played a game so much in a while(getting old I must be) When I was younger I was gaming all the time.