Razputin is finally set to make his return next month after sixteen long years, and the wait looks to be well worth it as Psychonauts 2 brings more nuanced takes on serious mental health topics through visually stunning and intricately crafted levels. Despite being initially announced in 2015 with a massively successful crowdfunding campaign, there were major concerns for Psychonauts 2 as it struggled with development issues.
Thankfully, Psychonauts 2 got some much-needed additional support with Microsoft's acquisition of Double Fine, which allowed the team to maintain some essential moments that would have been scrapped. The additional funding from Microsoft and the resulting improvements have led to a game with a stellar degree of polish. Psychonauts 2 will take players on a journey into several minds, most importantly their own, as they accompany Razputin on his quest to stop a terrifyingly powerful psychic cunning enough to infiltrate Psychonauts headquarters. The much-anticipated sequel will feature a beautiful variety of levels and mechanics.
Psychonauts 2 seeks to improve the core functionality of the series, including new post-game playability, and to tell a much more in-depth story than the original. The game starts with an on-brand setup involving Dr. Loboto that both introduces new players to the franchise's unique style and serves as a smooth refresher course for fans of the original. These early moments expand on the series' original premise with a stunning trip inside Loboto's brain, which introduces familiar abilities and lays the groundwork for the sequel's deeper narrative.
Psychonauts 2: Bigger & Better
Players new and old will appreciate simple gameplay improvements such as smoother camera handling and platforming. The few times the camera did get squirrelly in the preview, it was an intentional design choice. Psychonauts 2's style is on full display in each level, from the obscure mind of a dentist to a neon kaleidoscope of a hospital and casino, each level of Psychonauts 2 brings a unique experience that explores the depths of the human mind.
Brains aren't merely the gameplay cornerstone of the Psychonauts franchise; they're also the central concept as Double Fine strives to explore profound psychological and sociological topics through quirky and complex worlds. The topic of mental health has become increasingly prevalent in the gaming industry as games seek to explore issues that society has long struggled to discuss openly. Notable games like Hellblade: Sensua's Sacrifice and Celeste have delved into explorations of the human mind, and Psychonauts 2 looks to build on the work of the original on that front. While Psychonauts takes a quirkier approach than most games with abstract designs and tongue-in-cheek deliveries, the care and attention to detail are present in Double Fine's creation.
The only prevalent pain point in the preview was some clunky controls on the grind rail traversal. Transferring from one to another and jumping off entirely could easily be mixed up, but that could get smoother before launch. Combat-wise, the game starts slow and steady, but it does ramp up quickly after the first couple of brains. Players would be wise to explore everything they can in the Motherlobe hub at the onset to gain unlocks and upgrades, with a particular focus on combat and consumables. Upgrading early and often to improve the combat experience, as some of the brains get rather lengthy, will be crucial. While players will have some new powers in Psychonauts 2, some tried and true abilities available at the start will give players an edge when the fighting starts.
Regardless of whether players are returning fans of the franchise or entirely new to the series, they will find a whimsical adventure filled with charm and introspective narrative. Psychonauts 2 aims to be bigger, bolder, and wackier than its predecessor from start to finish, and at least during its preview, it seems to achieve that lofty goal.
Psychonauts 2 releases on August 25th, 2021, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 via Backwards Compatability, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, and Windows 10 PC. Screen Rant was provided early gameplay access via Xbox for the purpose of this preview.