Psychonauts

If you can excuse the occasional/rare game breaking bug, then there is nothing to hate in this game. Every character is fleshed out and well written. The dialogue and scenarios are funny and the mechanics are rock solid. however, yes there will be a few occasions where the game freezes, but there was only one instance where it happened during gameplay, every other time it happened during or after cutscenes. Crashing aside, the game really is a master piece.

First the positives: This game is very unique. The characters and the design of the levels all stand out. My real complain is the convoluted way in which you gain the things you need to progress, the usefulness of those things and the collectables. There are a ton of collectables that let you earn a rank, but you have to collect dozens of them to make a change, and even if you gain something (like an upgrade for a Psychic Power), you don't know if it's going to be of any use, because a lot of the time (only later in the game) you don't use most of your Psychic Powers or it's upgrades that much. This makes the collectables less valuable and more useless to be there, especially if you note that at rank 30 you can have everything to beat the game, so there is no more need to collect them. The arrowheads, the games currency, are pretty useless too. There are only a few items you can buy with them. The Cobweb duster is the only item you need to progress in the story, which costs 800 arrowheads. If there is only really 1 item you need, why do you have to buy it? Here comes the convoluted gameplay into play. But that's not it. To gain those 800 arrowheads, you have to buy the Dowsing rod and farm the 800 heads around the camp. This costs 10-15 extra minutes walking around the camp. This all could be much better by making an event that gives you the cobweb duster when you earn a certain rank. This is just an example, but there are more things that are more convoluted than they have to be. One other is the collection of 9 Psi Cards and Psi Cores to gain a rank, while the whole things are also spreaded around the camp, like why are the cores and cards seperated then? All in all, this is a not a bad game. It has unique ideas, but it tends to bend the level design, characters and story above the gameplay and platforming. If you're more into those first things, definitely check this game out, but if you're more into platforming action, then I would play something else.

I am rubbish at platformers, but I thoroughly enjoyed this game. I loved the variation of music in the different areas, the characters... so well done. I could save the game anywhere and anytime, for me -- that gives the game another 5 stars. :)

5 Starts because it's really a masterpiece... But those controls... tbh. They suck.

Psychonauts is to video games what Voltron was to giant robots: the fusion of like-themed elements into a single awesome gestalt capable of dealing a mighty blow. The game is a fun 3D platformer. If you enjoy games like Prince of Persia, or even old standards like Sonic the Hedgehog, you'll get a kick out of the gameplay. On the surface, it's the usual negotiation of rough terrain with developing powers and a little combat. The game shines in its conception and creativity. As Raz, you are a budding Psychonaut -- a warrior who takes the battle into the minds of the enemy. That might sound harsh, but the game plays out in a friendly yet subtley sinister summer camp. This is a great game for kids. Psychonauts draws its unique look from the surreal, literally psychedelic visions you find in each level. A drill sergeant's mind is a mess of barbed wire and trenches. A young child's mind might be a twisted bedroom of nightmare shadows and creaking closet doors. Every level is a masterpiece of Freudian inference. Tim Schafer is the mind behind Psychonauts, and that right there is a mark of quality. Schaefer drove landmark Lucasarts adventure games like Full Throttle and Grim Fandango. Story, dialog, and characterization all shine. Even between levels, Shafer presents the story as you explore the world: there are few if any force-fed cutscenes with exposition here. Psychonauts neatly dances between arcade jumper and point'n'click adventure. If that weren't enough, the game boasts some serious star power on the performance side. Cartoon voice acting megastars Richard Steven Horvitz and Charles Adler add their considerable talents to the main characters, supported by brilliant dialog. If you don't recognize the names, your ear will probably recognize the voices. Psychonauts is a must-have addition to any classic gamer's collection.