Why I Love Psychonauts

          Years ago I wrote a review on this game for a site called Multiplayer Fanatics. The site itself has changed much since then and I never have the time to write for them anymore. This was the first review I had ever written and it was more of a discussion rather than a critique. You can read the original review here. For this week, I want to discuss the game once more.

           Psychonauts is a 3d platformer based around the human mind. It was made by Tim Schafer and his studio Double Fine. I see Tim Schafer as like the Tim Burton of video games; they both make these strange worlds that are filled with things that should frighten you, but also make you laugh. Psychonauts existed in such a place that appeared normal on the outside, but the inside showed so much more of the bizarre and psychedelic. The best part: it played like a dream. 

          The story begins with Razputin, a kid with psychic powers who shows up at a camp that specializes in teaching children the ways of the Psychonauts. The camp counselors are not so keen on welcoming Raz at first, but upon sensing his psychic powers, they let him stay. The next day, Raz sees one of the counselors for his first lesson: infiltrating the mind. This is where the gameplay begins. 

          Inside the mind of Coach Oleander, we see a battlefield. Wired fences, trenches, artillery firing into the air, bomber planes soaring through the sky, unexploded missiles, and even tanks! This is the mind of a man who’s seen war. Upon navigating through the mind’s various obstacles, I come across some drawings. These drawings reveal the innermost thoughts of Coach Oleander. Turns out, he never did actually make it to the military. He was too short to qualify. And yet, he dreams of being able to join the army. It made me wonder why he was so obsessed with joining the militia. I did not discover the true reason until much later under… unusual circumstances. 

          The whole game plays like this: you enter the mind of a person, navigating their thoughts and emotions, seeing their past and most intimate desires. And seeing all of this, you realize there’s character development. The character’s themselves don’t have to tell you of their past; you get to witness it (or at least fragments and symbols of it). Some minds even show signs of disorders such as bipolar personality or schizophrenia. Upon clearing up the inner turmoils of these people, you effectively improve their lives. That always felt amazing; beating a level not just to complete it, but to make someone’s day better, if not their livelihoods. 

          It’s not only a journey into a series of twisted landscapes based on thoughts and feelings, but a lesson in psychology. You learn why certain people act the way they do, and in most cases they need outside help just to stay sane. Psychonauts is definitely one of my favorite games I’ve ever played. I would suggest anyone who can to try this game. It’s quite a trip.