This review contains spoilers
I played this a couple of times a year ago when it first came out but I want to talk about it now if that's alright.
One of the things that is lesser than the 1st game is it's sense of humor. Psychonauts 2 takes itself a lot more seriously then the 1st game which definitely works really well in certain areas like Bob's Bottles but I think in terms of the main story, it kinda makes the experience worse in my eyes.
I'm just going to rip the band aid off here. I don't like the ending. The redemption of the antagonist just plain doesn't work. It's also just really weird how early on the whole story stops to talk about using the psychic powers to change people's minds is wrong only for that ultimately being what allowed for the antagonist's current redeemed state to even happen. I feel like the story was attempting to parallel these to lessons but I don't think it worked. The "it was a flight or fight response that we all have" as an excuse for killing protestors leaves a gross taste in my mouth too. I keep wondering what if the overall story beats happened but this game came out a few years later instead of 15+ if this game still had it's lackadaisical tone the 1st game had in regards to morality, then it may have worked better but that's a lot of hypothetical layers.
I'm a little mixed on the characters as well. Most of the returning characters are about as good as they were the 1st go around with a few complaints. Going back to my "it's less edgy" complaint, Raz seems a bit more focused on being a wide eyed fan boy of the Psychonauts with no mean bone in his body. I also wish Lily had more to do in the game. I was excited in Fatherland Follies when she was in the level only to have that dashed when she just kinda helped you with an intercom. As for the new characters, I liked all the Psychonauts founders. The new kids though range from mildly passable to complete dislike. I think the main problem for me is the kids in the 1st game had a web of satirical melodrama that was fun to follow that just isn't there with new kids. As much as I tried nothing even close to that here with the new kids. It's especially grating how they show up in cut scenses during the final battle trying to artificially give attachments to these characters. I kept searching for some additional scenes that made the kids feel more dynamic like the original game did for it's cast. Something like the made man scenes for Maloof or even just some passing dialogue like all the tongue in cheek love drama in the first game but generally that really wasn't there or not expansive enough to really have anything to grab onto. Raz's family was pretty good though. I will say I'm having a tough time imagining Raz thinking his dad hated him in the 1st game when all we see is the world's biggest sweet bean but it's forgivable.
On my 1st playthrough, I was pretty sour on the game due to those feelings on the ending but something happened... I kept wanting to go back to the game and I couldn't quite explain why at first. It's the levels. They're just so fun to go through. The Questionable Area is especially is just a place I'm always excited to be in. I've gone back to 1st game quite a few times over the years and there's a good half of the stages I'm groaning to go back to which just isn't the case in 2. They're all very smooth experiences with a lot of thought in how you move through them and all the fun things you can see in them. I actually also think getting all the collectable's is the ideal experience which is definitely not my belief about the 1st game. I know some people complain about how there's less abilities but I mostly prefer how it feels like every skill feels like it has multiple thought out uses unlike some of the abilities in the 1st game. I do wish the game was more challenging. I'd be so excited if they added in some challenge maps similar to A Hat in Time. Even a hard mode that adds more/stronger enemies to encounters would be appreciated.
Anyways, I still prefer the raw charm of the original game but the sequel is great in it's own rights.
One of the things that is lesser than the 1st game is it's sense of humor. Psychonauts 2 takes itself a lot more seriously then the 1st game which definitely works really well in certain areas like Bob's Bottles but I think in terms of the main story, it kinda makes the experience worse in my eyes.
I'm just going to rip the band aid off here. I don't like the ending. The redemption of the antagonist just plain doesn't work. It's also just really weird how early on the whole story stops to talk about using the psychic powers to change people's minds is wrong only for that ultimately being what allowed for the antagonist's current redeemed state to even happen. I feel like the story was attempting to parallel these to lessons but I don't think it worked. The "it was a flight or fight response that we all have" as an excuse for killing protestors leaves a gross taste in my mouth too. I keep wondering what if the overall story beats happened but this game came out a few years later instead of 15+ if this game still had it's lackadaisical tone the 1st game had in regards to morality, then it may have worked better but that's a lot of hypothetical layers.
I'm a little mixed on the characters as well. Most of the returning characters are about as good as they were the 1st go around with a few complaints. Going back to my "it's less edgy" complaint, Raz seems a bit more focused on being a wide eyed fan boy of the Psychonauts with no mean bone in his body. I also wish Lily had more to do in the game. I was excited in Fatherland Follies when she was in the level only to have that dashed when she just kinda helped you with an intercom. As for the new characters, I liked all the Psychonauts founders. The new kids though range from mildly passable to complete dislike. I think the main problem for me is the kids in the 1st game had a web of satirical melodrama that was fun to follow that just isn't there with new kids. As much as I tried nothing even close to that here with the new kids. It's especially grating how they show up in cut scenses during the final battle trying to artificially give attachments to these characters. I kept searching for some additional scenes that made the kids feel more dynamic like the original game did for it's cast. Something like the made man scenes for Maloof or even just some passing dialogue like all the tongue in cheek love drama in the first game but generally that really wasn't there or not expansive enough to really have anything to grab onto. Raz's family was pretty good though. I will say I'm having a tough time imagining Raz thinking his dad hated him in the 1st game when all we see is the world's biggest sweet bean but it's forgivable.
On my 1st playthrough, I was pretty sour on the game due to those feelings on the ending but something happened... I kept wanting to go back to the game and I couldn't quite explain why at first. It's the levels. They're just so fun to go through. The Questionable Area is especially is just a place I'm always excited to be in. I've gone back to 1st game quite a few times over the years and there's a good half of the stages I'm groaning to go back to which just isn't the case in 2. They're all very smooth experiences with a lot of thought in how you move through them and all the fun things you can see in them. I actually also think getting all the collectable's is the ideal experience which is definitely not my belief about the 1st game. I know some people complain about how there's less abilities but I mostly prefer how it feels like every skill feels like it has multiple thought out uses unlike some of the abilities in the 1st game. I do wish the game was more challenging. I'd be so excited if they added in some challenge maps similar to A Hat in Time. Even a hard mode that adds more/stronger enemies to encounters would be appreciated.
Anyways, I still prefer the raw charm of the original game but the sequel is great in it's own rights.