Psychonauts

[Kevvy Metal]

I have to hand it to the team of developers of Psychonauts, VERY few game have as much imagination poured into them as this game. Countless fantastic ideas are present in the design of the game. On paper, the ideas for levels like the bizarre milkman suburbs, the godzilla inspired city stomp, directing a play, bull fighting, the chess inspired one. So many great ideas. But this game is a strange one.

Id give it 10/10 for it's concepts and imagination, but in practise, the game is largely ****ing AWEFUL. so many broken platform section, a few in the chess level and the entirety of that mother****ing god aweful **** ****ing meat Circus level. Who the **** play tested this? I really think the reputation of this videogame has gotten totally out of hand. I to apreciate and admire is uniqueness and will to do something different, but at the end of the day, it's an entertainment product and it's broken to hell.

[Ostrog]

I've yet to see the Meat Circus and chess levels, so I don't know if it's a bad as you say. but I've found the rest of the platform sections to be pretty decent if not that different from other platformers. There are times I feel I've played it all before, but then something amazing happens and everything seems fresh.
I love the Milkman level. Easily the best part of the game for me.
The theatre level was a bit of a pain at times, what with the changing moods and all, but it reminded me more of the old point & click adventures where you'd try every possible thing you could to solve a puzzle. (Ah, for the simple days of Sam & Max, where almost everything could be solved by smashing a rabbit into an electrical panel. )
Playing it last night, I came across a

->Open Spoiler<-

disturbing little room in a dark corner of Milla's mind.

Has anyone else seen it? I'd heard some mention of it over at Gamefaqs, but wasn't sure what to expect. I'll say nowt for now, but this game isn't quite the cheerful platformer I thought it was.

[nekroxide]

Hmm, must've missed that. Do go on, I'm intrigued now!

I'm right near the end of it now, I think, just making my way up through the asylum. I think someone mentioned it before, but it's amazing the thought and imagination that've gone into some of the concepts and designs of the various levels. It's so refreshing not to have the same old water/ice/desert themed crap.

Black Veletopia was geooorgeous!

[Ostrog]

->Open Spoiler<-

That dark place is is in the room with the hole in the wall with wind gusting out of it. There's another small door next to it leading to a small room with some figments and a chest. Open the chest and you'll go to another place filled with Milla's personal demons. That's all I'll say for now.

I'm near the end of the game myself. The asylum level is class - it's even more warped and twisted than any of the mental realms I've seen. It's fantastic.
I may have to change my opinion of the milkman level, though - whilst it's still a favourite, it's just been eclipsed by Black Velvetopia. That's an amazing level there.
Now on to the Meat Circus!

[nekroxide]

Hmm, I'll have to give it a visit once I've finished the game.

I'm just onto the Meat Circus now myself, but I'm trying not to play too much because I don't want it to end.

I think I have a new favorite character, too:

Mr Pokeylope

[dc-arena]

I am on the Waterloo level now. Great design, shame its ruined by a crap camera and constant attacks off the canons Really starting to get annoyed with the game now, its just not enjoyable for me. Such a shame as there are some brilliant levels in the game. Trying to navigate around the castle to unjam the drawbridge - HA HA HA why don't you knock me off everytime I get around to the end.. FFS..

[Ostrog]

You could always try shooting the censors from afar or levitating over to 'em and then punch them in the face like I did.
Unless you're talking about the arnoured cannon blokes. I pick them up with the telekinesis and chuck 'em in the water.

[nekroxide]

The cannons are a doddle. Just go invisible, run up to them and torch the bastards! You should be able to levitate/float over to the ones by the drawbridge pretty easily.

I finished it last night after starting to get majorly pissed off at the Meat Circus level.

->Open Spoiler<-

It was going ok until that ****ing fence you have to climb across, while jumping the gaps. Man, that was annoying! Kind of a shame that the last level of the game was the least enjoyable, really. I like how the ending hints at a sequel, though.

[Len]

I agree with what you say Nekroxide but I doubt we'll see a sequel due to the poor sales, another BG&E methinks. Here's hoping anyway...

[Lyris]

http://www.doublefine.com/news.htm#30March2006

I can now die happy because I am forever immortalised as one of Double Fine's world inhabitants, looking like a tit for millions to see

(Scroll down, I am David Mackenzie from Scotland)

[vocoderfreak]

The cannons are a doddle. Just go invisible, run up to them and torch the bastards! You should be able to levitate/float over to the ones by the drawbridge pretty easily.

I finished it last night after starting to get majorly pissed off at the Meat Circus level.

->Open Spoiler<-

It was going ok until that ****ing fence you have to climb across, while jumping the gaps. Man, that was annoying! Kind of a shame that the last level of the game was the least enjoyable, really. I like how the ending hints at a sequel, though.

Just finished this game totally agree with you about that last bit. ft:

But I think that it is one of those real 'lost treasures', this game. Some of it was absolutely superb, and I particularly enjoyed the Black Velvetopia and Waterloo World levels. Stunning.

[Lyris]

Yeah, I agree totally about the last part. Very annoying and should have been toned down.

[FreelancePolice]

Well i've only just picked this up and i'm very impressed with it so far. The music and voice acting really stand out for me.

The levels remind me of a theme park when there is this superb illusion of certain aspects (the city below the planes in the first training level for example) that you know they're not real and its all exagerated in the persons mind. Ok, reading that back it doesn't make much sense but i know what i mean :P

[Lyris]

Yep, I do know exactly what you mean.

->Open Spoiler<-

Near the very end, you're up really high and can see the camp grounds where you started out as a tiny little spec of light on the ground below. It's such a Lucasartsy little touch, kind of like it's saying "you're up this far, there's no turning back".

[Xhorder]

Yeah, I agree totally about the last part. Very annoying and should have been toned down.

I was totally frustrated with the last chapter. Especially when the water is rising and you need to get out of there. I've never been as frustrated as then. That part is so hard.

But overall Psychonauts is one of my favourite games ever. Brilliant!