The Joystiq Free Game Club: Psychonauts
by Justin McElroy 
{ Jul 28th 2008 at 8:00PM }
So here's the question: Why haven't you played it yet? You might have had an excuse a couple of years ago, when it was just a poorly-marketed Majesco game. But how has it not made its way onto your must play list at this point? It's cleverly written, it's got some really memorable levels and characters, it's just an all-around great way to spend your time. OK, so maybe some of the actual platforming and combat gameplay is a touch spotty from time to time. But we can look past it, and we're betting you can too.
If you've played the game, feel free to use the comments below to share your thoughts/gushing adoration. If you haven't, we'd love to hear your excuses. If you're about to play it for the first time ... well, don't let us keep you. We'll still be here when you're done.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jaclo @ Jul 28th 2008 8:14PM
I loved this game. Great dialogue. One of the funniest games I've ever played. And I'm not sure what you mean by the gameplay being spotty. I loved it as well. Perhaps I'm just not as picky of a player though.
Anyone who has never played this definitely needs to go do so now.
Grey Acumen @ Jul 29th 2008 8:26AM
I totally agree, I found a crack that let me play without the disc, so I was able to use a friends copy, but I went and got my own just because of how fun and quirky it was. It cost me less than $10, since I was willing to go used.
It's got some serious graphic options, so even if your computer isn't top of the line, you're almost guaranteed to be able to run it, and it works great with a controller + mouse setup.
I already use gametap, and I like it, even though you can't play any games unless you have an online connection, even if the games never do anything online. I've beaten Blast Miner, Blood Omen 2, Thief 3, and am in the middle of Tomb Raider Legend(which is actually supposed to be too spec heavy for my computer to be able to run) and about 4 other games.
There is a catch though. Despite the numerous, more spec intensive games out there that will run on my computer, Psychonaunts on gametap WILL NOT run on my computer. It ALWAYS freezes up at the opening cutscene, if it even gets that far. It plays fine from the actual discs that I bought, so it's not an issue from my computer.
I've even gone and switched the gametap settings to do the full install download, and then tried completely removing the download and doing the full download over again from scratch. When I checked on the forums, this actually seemed to be a pretty common and unaddressed issue as well.
So yeah, I recommend Psychonauts, and I may recommend Gametap, but I don't necessarily recommend using Gametap to try Psychonauts specifically. You might get lucky and get it to run, but you also might... NOT get it to run.
JerJer @ Jul 28th 2008 8:14PM
1) make psychonauts
2) make it free
3) ???
4) -(profit!)
Rauten @ Jul 28th 2008 8:15PM
The Milkman's milk is delicious. So is this game.
Here's something to convince all of you heathens that haven't played this game yet:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/2-Psychonauts
CONFUSEDgam3r @ Jul 28th 2008 9:40PM
Who is the Milkman? :D I love that level!
Chase @ Jul 28th 2008 8:15PM
Let's just say, because of Psychonauts, I warmly await Brutal Legend.
svenhoek @ Jul 28th 2008 8:16PM
I love psychonauts. It was unique.
Ass Masterson @ Jul 28th 2008 8:22PM
I tried to get into this game. Maybe the hype made it harder, but running around that tree talking to people didn't really do it for me. Suppose I'll give it another shot, but sometimes I wonder how these 'massive critical hit' games become so.
DiRT @ Jul 28th 2008 8:59PM
I agree. I loved his adventure games but this platformer failed. Long live Grim Fandango though.
House @ Jul 28th 2008 9:24PM
I didn't care for it either. The cutscenes, dialogue, etc. were fantastic, but it was a weak platformer with a bad camera. And my eyes got really tired looking at the game: no effort was made to pull characters and interactive objects to the foreground.
Saria the Cat @ Jul 28th 2008 8:26PM
I don't know, I just never got around to it...There is no good excuse, really. There are so many other "old" games I still have to get to, though, like Beyond Good and Evil.
markhill66 @ Jul 28th 2008 8:34PM
I bought this as an Xbox Original. I really like it, but there is something inside me that makes it hard to play last-gen, achievement-less games on my 360. Maybe I'm just shallow.
ArmiMaan @ Jul 28th 2008 8:35PM
I think I may be only person in the gaming world who hated Psychonauts with a passion. I skipped it over because everything I heard about it didn't appeal to me, but then I relented under the overwhelming hype post-release.
I found the product to be well-written and funny, but the gameplay elements were horrible. That lungfish sequence under the water was the most frustrating gaming experience I've ever had, and some of the other platforming was similarly aggravating thanks to loose controls and a poor camera. I wanted to complete the game, but as hard as I tried to love it, Psychonauts was just too poorly implemented to keep me interested.
Courtney @ Jul 28th 2008 8:45PM
Loved this game, played it alternating control with my wife and daughter (cause we all liked it so much we didn't want to just watch).
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 28th 2008 8:53PM
Incredible game. One of my favorites. Very unique.
Mike @ Jul 28th 2008 8:54PM
I actually just picked this game up with Fable last weekend. Got both for $12.
otaking241 @ Jul 28th 2008 8:55PM
The reason I'm not playing it now is the same reason I haven't played it in the years since its release: it's ugly. The visual style is completely unappealing, like Tim Burton's stuff but without the charm. I'm aware that it's a stellar game with witty dialogue and I'd probably love it, but there's no way I'm sitting down to hours of quality time with something that looks like that.
Great Game + Fugly Stick = No Way
j.howlett @ Jul 28th 2008 8:59PM
thats one reason i never got it
mr mobius @ Jul 28th 2008 9:02PM
Boo hoo. It's not HD. Get over it. The great game part should be the only important part of that formula. I still love Super Mario 64 even though it's out of date graphically.
j.howlett @ Jul 28th 2008 9:23PM
it has nothing to do with HD, it's the art direction. i can see how unappealing the characters look clearly. super mario 64 doesn't make me want to look away. looks aren't that important to a great game, but if you can't take looking at it
Haggard @ Jul 28th 2008 9:51PM
It actually is HD since it's on the PC.
Grey Acumen @ Jul 29th 2008 8:42AM
I'll be honest, I didn't like the art direction too. It made me think of Bug's Life crossed with Nightmare Before Christmas, but once I let myself get into the game a bit, you start to realize just how expressive and quirky it makes everything in the game.
The game has a lot of humor, both silly and morbid, but then it also has serious moments as well, and this particular art style complements all these different moods. It may not be visually appealing to look at, but after playing it for a bit, I really wouldn't have it any other way.
t_m @ Jul 29th 2008 12:23PM
i loved the art direction... i thought it was like tim burton stuff, but.. well, great.
Avoli @ Jul 28th 2008 8:55PM
I got this game on Steam, knowing so very little other then people talked about it.
Sweet Baby Jesus...best money ever spent.
Vaitork @ Jul 29th 2008 2:26PM
I got it on Steam too, even after having finished it before.
This is one of those games that authentically make you want to give your money to these people.
I really wish it sold better back then. Good thing the blogging community has done it's job bringing these jewels back from the bottom of the pit they were in.
Lex @ Jul 28th 2008 9:14PM
I haven't played Psychonaughts because it's a platformer. I hate platformers make it a rpg, action, or puzzle game and cut the jumping bs then we can talk.
Ficken @ Jul 28th 2008 9:24PM
So believe it or not I just picked this game up from gamestop for 6 bucks. I havent had a chance to play it as i also picked up Beyond Good and Evil AND ICO... Which i have yet to play because something in my mind is telling me 12 days of cod4 multiplayer just isnt enough.... I'll get there maybe..... eventually
Saria the Cat @ Jul 28th 2008 9:56PM
Ico is freaking amazing, you seriously need to just set aside the short time it requires and absorb all of its awesome juice.
Kendall B @ Jul 28th 2008 9:32PM
I'll agree that the platforming was really cheap in areas (especially the final level), but damn if I don't occasionally think of the lungfish screaming "Freedom!" and still chuckle.
Infidel @ Jul 28th 2008 9:33PM
Joystiq, your wish is my command, downloading it now.
daniel @ Jul 28th 2008 9:34PM
havent actually finished, i think im somewhere past half way, but because i got my ps2 only last year i went pretty crazy buying all the games id heard were good, been working through the unfinished ones over the summer, and i actually put psychonauts in my ps2 today, intending to play through the rest of it this week
p3arl @ Jul 28th 2008 9:36PM
god, i have heard so much about this game and how great it is.
Guess i have no excuse now, downloading as we speak
Odoyle @ Jul 28th 2008 9:47PM
You have no business calling yourself a gamer if you won't even play it when it's free.
mr mobius @ Jul 28th 2008 9:52PM
The gametap downloaded isnt letting me download anything.
Oh cruel fate! What hath thy done to deserve such torment?
Bitter Kevin @ Jul 28th 2008 10:00PM
I still haven't played it, for what I feel are valid reasons:
1. Hideous art design
2. I hate platformers
3. Spite for having it shoved down my throat by every game reviewer/blogger/messageboarder on the weinernet
OK, maybe the last one isn't so valid :)
eldee @ Jul 29th 2008 2:49AM
your loss. i could give a shit less whether you play it or not, but you're the one missing out.
Shagittarius @ Jul 28th 2008 10:13PM
I think this games problem is it hit at just the time when platforms were falling out of favor with the gaming public.
I tried it just last year for the first time, it seemed like it would have the excellent Tim Shaffer witt and commitment to quality but I still couldnt drag myself through another platformer anyways.
At least this game appears to have an appeal to it, I can understand the hype, unlike that piece of shit know as beyond good and evil.
Terryjr91 @ Jul 28th 2008 10:23PM
Ah yes. I remember Psychonauts. It was one of my favorite PS2 games. With its' great humor, very good/weird story, awesome levels, and in my opinion, really unigue art. It's a must play, and if you haven't, then what are you waiting for? Go! Now!
Terryjr91 @ Jul 28th 2008 10:42PM
Ah yes. I remember Psychonauts. It was one of my favorite PS2 games. With its' great humor, very good/weird story, awesome levels, and in my opinion, really unigue art. It's a must play, and if you haven't,
then what are you waiting for? Go! Now!
Terryjr91 @ Jul 28th 2008 10:44PM
srry about double posting. I didn't see my post for 10 min, so I tought it didn't go through.
Lijik @ Jul 28th 2008 10:47PM
Money was the main reason, time being a second. Even when it was cheap on steam I was too busy playing through other classics of yesteryear that I missed out on like Grim Fandango or games that I wanted to get when they first came out but for whatever reason couldn't like Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy or BG&E.
Just never got around to it on my list yet, but it being free does knock it up straight to the top.
Jacksons @ Jul 28th 2008 11:05PM
I know Psychonauts, like Beyond Good and Evil get mentioned over and over as the best games ever (because they're obscure, of course.) That's a bit silly, but they're decent games.
Donald @ Jul 28th 2008 11:17PM
I love platformers, but this game didn't do it for me. And I never found anything horribly wrong with it that truly broke the game. It was just a combination horrible art design (it seriously make me appreciate the charm of Mario games so much more) and just being boring. I just could never get into it.
But that's just me, if you loved the game I'm sure you found something to love about it.
Poisoned Al @ Jul 28th 2008 11:21PM
Until the last level, you'll think this is an awesome game. When you get to the last level, you'll want to hunt down the designers and murder their whole family. Seriously, the Meat Circus is a check list of annoying game design.
whiny bitch @ Jul 29th 2008 1:55AM
Yeah, Meat Circus... hrm... turn on all the cheats you can. :(
arcsine @ Jul 29th 2008 10:28AM
Whird. I was so excited to beat the game, spent hours replaying that final acrobatic thing over and over and over until I just threw the controller down and resigned myself from hours of enjoyable gameplay. Nice difficulty curve, Majesco. And start-over-if-you-die? FUCK. YOU.
Cyber-Tyrant @ Jul 28th 2008 11:31PM
Very good platformer.
Too bad it didn't get enough consumer love...
Lard @ Jul 28th 2008 11:32PM
It's a fun game with a ton of personality.
It's not perfect, and there are some frustrating bits, but it's a truly original game, and worth your money.
Bought it for PS2.
Strud @ Jul 28th 2008 11:37PM
I have played through Psychonauts twice and will probably do it a third time at some point. I really love it. The levels are very memorable and unique. The Milkman level just creeps me out and the Napoleon game board was a great idea. I like platformer games and this is the best I have played.
Lijik @ Jul 29th 2008 12:29AM
So my download finished, yay! Now its complaining that I don't have enough space and when it needs to unpack I need 44 meg. Only I have way more than 44 meg. When I tried again it started hustling me for 59.8 megs of freespace I do indeed have.
How do I fix this and just play the game? Am I being punished for not playing it sooner? I'm sorry Tim Schafer!!