Psychonauts 2 Reviews
Prepare to go insane in the brain with one of the year's most imaginative interactive experiences
Witty, charming and full of character, Psychonauts 2 manages to keep what made the original so memorable, and add worthwhile additions to improve the experience. It tackles dark subjects with tact, humour and is like nothing else on the market. There are not enough of these types of games these days and Psychonauts 2 stands tall, proud, and nearly alone in its field.
Despite the shortcomings, the World of Psychonauts is worth a visit. Sure, we had hoped for a more refined experience, but there is still a lot to like here – and the noisy fans who have longed for years for the sequel will be pleased.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
The 20 or so hours we spent completing Psychonauts 2 saw us indulging in plentiful side quests and content, simply to spend more and more time in a world we still don't feel entirely done with. There are very few games that offer an experience as good as this, with ingenious level design and heavier themes that never feel sludgy or, more importantly, preachy. Brilliant aesthetics go hand in hand with tremendous gameplay here and it's a genuine delight to say that it's all been worth the wait. It's so good, in fact, that we now want the original Psychonauts to be remade in this engine, with this fidelity, in order to finally do it justice. Psychonauts 2 is consistently creative, enormously fun to play, visually inventive and spectacular and spins a cracking yarn to boot.
If you are looking for a fresh and pleasant experience to go through without taking the cabbage, Psychonauts 2 is the ideal candidate. Artistically inspired, rather beautiful, funny and generous whether in terms of content, or gameplay mechanics, you never get bored. Inventive and creative, Double Fine has cared for its foal in every detail, from writing to environments to collectibles, must do it.
Review in French | Read full review
The very existence of Psychonauts 2 demonstrates that good ideas have to overcome a thousand difficulties before being realized, but in the end they somehow impose themselves. It took years for the first chapter to overcome people's skepticism but, day after day, it has built up a fan base so large that we were finally able to play with a full-fledged, high budget sequel. And it's beautiful. Pleasant, original, colorful, compelling. Do you need more adjectives to be convinced?
Review in Italian | Read full review
So many videogames treat their human characters as singularly good or evil, or worse, as disposable cannon fodder that exist only to be killed. In addition to its excellent platforming, puzzles, and action, Psychonauts 2 impresses the most because it treats human frailty and failure with warmth, compassion, and humor that is never cruel or demeaning. Inside our heads, we’re all just bundles of doubt, random connections, ill-considered motivations, and weird memories mixed with kindness, aspiration, and delight. I’m grateful to Psychonauts 2 for the reminder.
Psychonauts 2 is a masterclass in design. Some of the levels in the game will stick with me for another 16 years easily. I hate that it took this long for Tim Schafer and his team to get the chance to make this sequel, but it was truly worth the wait. Fans of the original are in for a treat. Anyone with Game Pass should not hesitate to download this game. This is now on my short list of best of the year, and I cannot wait to see what Double Fine does now with an even larger budget.
Psychonauts 2 is a true sequel, that evolves a lot of ideas from original game, while still stays true to the style the fans love. If you're looking for something special, then this title is fore you. Whimsical and fun Psychonauts 2 is one of the best games we played this year.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Psychonauts 2 is a must-play for anyone interested in what modern platformers can do and what a compelling comedy adventure looks like in 2021.
Psychonauts 2 delivers on everything it madly promises. That includes old school platforming with new school precision, an impressive visual style that never falters, and a world begging to be explored.
Psychonauts 2 in particular is a game of surprising psychological insight, full of rich, flawed characters at the end of their ropes. If so much of this game is a reiteration of what worked about its predecessor, it functions as a reminder for just how much of the medium is still catching up to Psychonauts.
Psychonauts 2 is a wacky adventure with a lot of heart, which has only a few small weaknesses.
Review in German | Read full review
Classic in setting and structure, Psychonauts 2 proudly adheres to the canon of platform adventure of the early 2000s: that line of products that stood out for a certain craftsmanship in the construction of the levels and for a strong attention in the characterization of history and characters. Just like in the first chapter, the elements of originality do not come so much from the gameplay - which is still well studied and effective - as from the exuberance of the story, from the variety of situations, from the amount of unexpected and out-of-the-box sequences.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Psychonauts is back with a charming, challenging, thoroughly entertaining sequel that will please 3D platformer fans and especially anyone who loved the first game.
All the passion, affection and dedication of Tim Schafer's team is reflected in a practically round video game that is difficult to find defects of consideration. Its impeccable script took you through an exciting story full of themes that are not usually touched within the middle, spectacular art direction and graphics of squearing, a sublime design of levels that exalts game mechanics, and very well polished controls, are just some of the reasons why we believe, Psychonauts 2 has to be yes or yes in the lists of the best games of the year, and without a doubt, as one of the best titles that Microsoft has had the honor of publishing in its already rich history within the medium.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Psychonauts 2 is a fun, endearing puzzle platformer full of quirky challenges and entertaining dialogue. If you’re a fan of the original, or just enjoy platformers, Psychonauts 2 is a great purchase. The only downside is that its graphics and combat mechanics can feel a little outdated.
Psychonauts 2 is an absolute joy to play. It’s hard to put down not only because it’s a solid game from top to bottom, but also because it’s just so damn charming. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Raz and his crew of zany characters, and I imagine that just about anyone who decides to pick up Psychonauts 2 will feel the same way.
Playing Psychonauts 2 is like taking a step back in time in the best way possible. The fact that the game’s core concept still holds up 16 years later is a testament to how far ahead of its time the first game was. Psychonauts 2 feels like it’s the game Double Fine always wanted to make. It incites a childlike, playful nature that I’ve not experienced in games for ages. At the same time, it deals with some heavy subject topics in ways that feel nuanced. Even if you haven’t touched the original, Psychonauts 2 is absolutely worth playing through.