Game Review: Psychonauts (PC)
I'm going to start this review the same way Yahtzee did on Zero Punctuation so, bear with me...
I want you to take part in a little experiment. Firstly, grab a pencil/pen/someother-similarly-shaped-object from the debris surrounding your computer keyboard. Do it now! Don't read ahead wondering where I'm going with this, just do it!
Done it?
Good!
Now, make the Vulcan salute and place the pencil between your middle and third fingers and, with the other hand, squeeze the tops of your fingers together.
Done it?
You may have noticed you have just crippled yourself and are now in a great deal of pain. Congratulations, you have just received you punishment for not buying 'Psychonauts'.
(If you have bought Psychonauts please disregard the preceding)
As one of Yahtzee's early reviews, and one of the few games he's given a highly positive review for, Psychonauts has always intrigued me which is why I bought it at Christmas. However, I only played it for the first time last week and, let me tell, Yahtzee's right on the money with his review.
The game sees you in control of a 10yr old boy named Raz, who's snuck into what is best described as a summer camp of psychics and, because if his innate psychic skill, is allowed to stay (at least, for the moment). The game then proceeds to lead you through a series of worlds based on the minds of the people around you were you must confront their personal demons. That's about all I can really say. My favourite level sees you in a kind of paranoid delusion, where you're in a charming little neighborhood with cameras everywhere and thinly disguised government agents (or G-men, if you prefer, :P) trying to look inconspicuous. And, when I say thinly, I REALLY mean it. They all wear the trench coats and hats of typical G-men garb and there disguises involve carrying an object appropriate to the job in question and talking disjointedly about it, in a very baritone voice. It's hard to describe, so here's a video of them I found no the YouTube. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.
While it's a brilliant idea, and incredibly well designed, the main story is rather short, especially when compared to other games. That doesn't really matter though, in a world full of 'cookie-cutter' sequels, it's nice to play something inventive and original. It's also worth noting that this game come via the mind of Tim Schafer, who got the idea for this game while working on a game called 'Full Throttle' at LucasArts, back in a time before they fired the 'creativity' department in favour of the 'milking-the-Star-Wars-cow' department, but they rejected the idea on the basis that it wasn't 'family friendly' enough. Oh well, their loss.
There are two small issues with the game though. The first is the controls, which can be awkward at times. At a few points I had my hand contorted in ways I didn't know it could go. :S The second is the difficultly curve, which isn't so much a 'curve' as it is a brick wall, as the last few bits are so frustrating I felt I needed tranquilizers to calm me down. Having said that, it's not an unassailable brick wall though so if you can let a few control issues slide in favour of something original and clever, then I recommend this game.
Well, that's all I wanted to say here (because there's not a lot too say) so enjoy. To quote 'TheAmazingAtheist', 'Peace, the fuck, out!'
Oh, p.s, Yahtzee's original review is below. It's worth a look, if you can keep up with him.
I want you to take part in a little experiment. Firstly, grab a pencil/pen/someother-similarly-shaped-object from the debris surrounding your computer keyboard. Do it now! Don't read ahead wondering where I'm going with this, just do it!
Done it?
Good!
Now, make the Vulcan salute and place the pencil between your middle and third fingers and, with the other hand, squeeze the tops of your fingers together.
Done it?
You may have noticed you have just crippled yourself and are now in a great deal of pain. Congratulations, you have just received you punishment for not buying 'Psychonauts'.
(If you have bought Psychonauts please disregard the preceding)
As one of Yahtzee's early reviews, and one of the few games he's given a highly positive review for, Psychonauts has always intrigued me which is why I bought it at Christmas. However, I only played it for the first time last week and, let me tell, Yahtzee's right on the money with his review.
The game sees you in control of a 10yr old boy named Raz, who's snuck into what is best described as a summer camp of psychics and, because if his innate psychic skill, is allowed to stay (at least, for the moment). The game then proceeds to lead you through a series of worlds based on the minds of the people around you were you must confront their personal demons. That's about all I can really say. My favourite level sees you in a kind of paranoid delusion, where you're in a charming little neighborhood with cameras everywhere and thinly disguised government agents (or G-men, if you prefer, :P) trying to look inconspicuous. And, when I say thinly, I REALLY mean it. They all wear the trench coats and hats of typical G-men garb and there disguises involve carrying an object appropriate to the job in question and talking disjointedly about it, in a very baritone voice. It's hard to describe, so here's a video of them I found no the YouTube. Watch it and you'll see what I mean.
Click to viewWhile it's a brilliant idea, and incredibly well designed, the main story is rather short, especially when compared to other games. That doesn't really matter though, in a world full of 'cookie-cutter' sequels, it's nice to play something inventive and original. It's also worth noting that this game come via the mind of Tim Schafer, who got the idea for this game while working on a game called 'Full Throttle' at LucasArts, back in a time before they fired the 'creativity' department in favour of the 'milking-the-Star-Wars-cow' department, but they rejected the idea on the basis that it wasn't 'family friendly' enough. Oh well, their loss.
There are two small issues with the game though. The first is the controls, which can be awkward at times. At a few points I had my hand contorted in ways I didn't know it could go. :S The second is the difficultly curve, which isn't so much a 'curve' as it is a brick wall, as the last few bits are so frustrating I felt I needed tranquilizers to calm me down. Having said that, it's not an unassailable brick wall though so if you can let a few control issues slide in favour of something original and clever, then I recommend this game.
Well, that's all I wanted to say here (because there's not a lot too say) so enjoy. To quote 'TheAmazingAtheist', 'Peace, the fuck, out!'
Oh, p.s, Yahtzee's original review is below. It's worth a look, if you can keep up with him.