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Great innovative gameplay

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Psychonauts is pretty unique in the world of gaming - a game that provides innovative gameplay with a great sense of humor.

A bunch of kids with psychic powers are sent to summer camp, to learn how to become "psychonauts". You've got the scared small kid, the loner girl, the self conscious pushy kid, and the 'new kid', Raz. Suddenly, of course, there's a real problem and Raz - the most promising of the group - has to save the day.

There aren't "real" fights - these are all psychic combats inside peoples' minds. A person's mind reflects their own personal fears and thoughts. So for example when you go into the drill sergeant's mind you get a lot of bombs, dead soldiers, deep holes and so on. Whiel you're there you collect "figments" of his imagination for points, and you also sort out his "emotional baggage" for him to make him more happy and healthy. You leap over obstacles and find ways to get around barriers.

This makes the game great for all ages because you're never really slaying enemies. You're simply helping people get through their fears, killing off their imaginary demons in a fun platformy, puzzle solving manner. It also means that each "world" - or mind - is quite unique to that person's character.

You have choices along the way - you can choose to help your fellow schoolmates or let them struggle on their own. Helping your teammates brings you bonusses of course :)

The graphics are quite impressive for the XBox. The textures, shadows, footsteps and general "look" of each area are quite well done. The game is of course designed to be cartoony rather than realistic, and the effects are pretty spectacular in some areas.

The dialogues are really funny, and the voice acting - while generally handling very stereotypical characters - is quite good. The soundtrack has a number of styles, again depending on the world - and they fit in well with the mood of the world you're in.

Highly recommended!

A cult classic is born!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

A cult classic is defined as something, a film, book, album or video game, etc., which doesn't recieve much financial success or attention upon release, but because of it's uniqueness, gains appreciation over time by word-of-mouth and develops a devoted group of admirers. The 2004 game Psychonauts has already earned cult status.

This oddball adventure game was the brain-child (pun?) of Tim Schafer, the mad creator behind such classic LucasArts adventure games as Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, and a contributor to the first Monkey Island games. If you've played any of these, you are already aware of the unique vision and fresh humor he brings to his games, and how much fun they are. This game is all of this and more. It follows a platform-style of exploring different worlds, and collecting items to upgrade and progress through the game. It also features adventure-gaming traits in the levels and gameplay. But, it is how the developers play with the conventions of gaming that make this title so unique. As your character develops and gains new abilities, and is able to combine these abilities in each unique environment, you get a truly different and evolving game-play experience. I was continually surprised by how the game changed styles and gameplay techniques.

The levels are incredibly well-designed, and each one is totally unique in look and gameplay. The story-line is really engaging and funny. The dialogue and voice-acting is great. There are scenes that you can only access by having conversations with certain characters at certain times, so I recommend talking alot, but you'll find yourself wandering around and striking up random conversations just to hear the hilarious responses. You'll really grow to love these characters, and may end up quoting lines.

The graphics are perfect for the story. It is a very unique-looking game which has a colorful, cartoony, somewhat psychedelic look, and everything is anti-aliased to make it look very smooth. The look of the individual levels and the charcter design are incredible. The designers obviously considerd this a labor of love and a work of art, rather than some run-of-the-mill platformer. No boring ice level or fire level here.

In my opinion, the one drawback to this otherwise perfect game is the final level. Without giving too much away, it is like platforming gone totally wrong. I realize that since it is the final level, it is supposed to be hard, but it is just so frustrating, and unfortunately, if you fall or your character dies, you have to start all the way back at the begining of the incredibly frustrating level. Seriously, it is a dissapointing turn in what is up to that point a really joyous gameplay experience. Aside from this level's difficulty, some players dislike the content and artistic design of it, considering it ugly, but I thought it was very appropriate for the idea, and kind of liked the look. Once you finish this level, the actual ending of the game is well worth it. You can finish the game in about 12 hours I heard, but it took me about 20 since I wanted to hear as much dialogue as possible, and tried to find everything. Once the game is completed, you can go back to many levels, and there is some new dialogue and a little more to explore, but the gameplay is limited. I found it very fun to play a second time around, and I also enjoyed watching as I made my friends play it. It is very enterataining.

I am always hesitant to reveal too many details about story and characters when I am reviewing something. Plus this game is very difficult to describe to accurately convey how much fun it is.

To attept to summarize, though (spoiler alert):


That's all I'm saying - now go play the game.

This game was unfortunate enought to have been released as the 'next-gen' of platforms was about to be launched. It was developed by Microsoft, but they dropped it as production dragged on and they moved thier interests towards Halo 2, and upcoming Xbox 360 titles. But it was thankfully picked up by Majesco and was released on Xbox, Playstation 2 and PC. I have the Xbox version, which seems to be the best graphically and control-wise. The game did not receive a great deal of advertising, or promotion, unfortunately. Despite being lauded critically, it did not seem to find it's market upon release, and depending on who you ask is considered a 'failure' at least financially, and it was the last game released by Majesco. That is unfortunate, because this is one of the best, most unique games I've ever encountered and it deserves it's status as a cult favorite, and to reach broader audience. There is a move by the developers to release a version that is playable on the Xbox 360, but that may never happen. PersonalIy, can't wait to see what Tim Schafer's company Double-Fine produces next.

I recommend this game to anyone looking for a creative, oddball game that expands the possibilities of the medium, or just looking for a fun, funny diversion.

...T.V.?
Tee.. Vee...

One of the Best Xbox games ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Get this game! It's really one of the best games I have played, and I had a hard time to find it anywhere, until I found it here. It's really a lot of fun.

A diamond in the rough...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is a perfect example of gaming synergy. Take a unique art style that does not compromise gameplay, a platform gameplay that is a balance of tried-and-true with a bit of the new, a diverse set of organic levels that bring that new fresh scent to gamers' nostrils, and a story that involves the character with lighthearted quality--this is Psychonauts.

If you ever enjoyed a platform game you owe it to yourself to buy this game.

Kitchey, Fun, Addictive

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 22, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Like all the good reviewers already said, this game is awesome. I'm just adding my 2 cents.

I picked up a copy based on the reviews and all my other games just took a back seat this weekend to my exploring the warped world of what seems to be a well written book that I can play out in a video game scenario.

Definately try this out. It IS a platformer though...

You will feel that "go from this area to that area after exploring all the areas" but I'm only 4 hours into the game and I keep experiencing new flavorful adventures. So don't get turned away from the "platformer" comments.

I love this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

One of the coolest and most creative games I've had the pleasure of playing. Not quite the best (almost though!), but certainly the most sureal, innovative and satisfying. If you're not an elitist gamer who enjoys something different and fun, go get it.

Only from the mind of Tim Schafer

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 18, 2007
Author: Amazon User

At a time when everyone else was churning out the same old derivative games Tim Schafer in his classic "marching to his own beat" style came up with something that makes you scratch your head and say, "Hey! That's cool!"

There is very little that hasn't been said already about this game praising how brilliant it is. Starting is a little slow as you learn to adapt to the off beat nature of the environment, but that soon dissolves away in a mist of telepathic wonder as you plunge into the depths of the wacky minds of various character. However, not all is safe in both worlds as you must fend off mental censors, pyro-kinetic panthers, telekinetic bears, water that wants to drown you, poorly disguised secret agents, giant lung fish, and mental tanks. Each mind you enter is as unique as the character associated with it and range from the surreal to the outright weird.

Part of the fun in the game is using your newly acquired skills to explore the camp areas in search of Treasure hunt items, psitatium arrow heads (camp currency), and psicards to help your character level up as the game progresses.

All in all it's a brilliant game with uniquely slant point of view, much like Grim Fandango.

You want to play it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 24, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have problems starting a video game...let alone finishing one. This wasn't hard at all to get into and become immediately enthralled in its gameplay and story. The controls are fantastic as is the character development and 'gimmicks' which the game uses to great results.
The irony is that as a Psychologist I wish that I could just jump into peoples skull jelly like on the game and solve their problems, but alas...
I would recommend this game for all age levels and all types of pschoses

Could be a perfect 360 game! You listening, Microsoft?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm only a few hours into this title and the other 5-star reviews aren't lying...this is a fabulous game on all levels (save one, w/ caveats--and that I'll get to later). I'm a long-time gamer (began on the Atari 2600 and Apple IIe) so I've sort of 'seen it all'-- and thus find myself gravitating towards titles that transcend genre and cliched game mechanics. The same old, same old, even with splashy new next-gen hooks, well, BORES ME.

"Psychonauts" acheives both the comfort of familiarity and the refreshing draw of the truly inspired and original. It's familiar in the sense that it creates and evokes a world akin to a Pixar feature--it has bright colors, lots of humor and the game is engineered in such a way that you immediately feel safe to explore. The blood and gore is left checked at the door...but the intelligence and freshness isn't, so the surprises and rewards for playing arent' cheap shock, but more substantive. You quickly grow to love the characters and the world.

I wish there were more of this type of gaming available on the Xbox--it reminds me why I was so fond of the variety available on the Playstation 2, and why I enjoyed titles ranging from Ico, Klonoa, Final Fantasy X, Metal Gear and so on, to outstanding end-of-life titles such as Shadow of the Colossus and Okami. In none of those are you pushed to spill human blood in mindless swaths, and they were all incredibly gorgeous and innovative.

In the end, my only complaint/caveat is that there is no next-gen upgrade available for this title--"Psychonauts" begs to be given an overhaul for the 360s graphics engine capabilities, much like the upcoming PS3 "Ratchet and Clank" title will have. Alas, this isn't any demerit to the developers, but more a woeful shake of the head to the Xbox audience that didn't give this game it's due respect in sales and thus encourage such an enterprise.

Go buy this game and enjoy--and keep your fingers crossed that Microsoft will eventually 'get it' the way I'm betting you will...

itr seems to stick with you

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

i played this game when it first came out and I'll never forget it! i loved it so much! but it is just a game.

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