Much-loved but massively undersold, Psychonauts is one of the unsung heroes of noughties 3D platformers. The game was written and designed by Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions - which was behind legendary 90s point-and-clicks like Grim Fandango and the Monkey Island series. Psychonauts was a wonderfully original platformer that followed young psychic Raz as he enters the weird minds and twisted psyches of people living at the 'Psycadet' camp, trying to uncover a malicious plot brewing in the camp. The gameplay is a combination of conventional platforming, and use of psychic powers such as telekinesis and invisibility. But what really makes Psychonauts a gem is the rich ensemble of quirky, witty characters, and the beautiful, surreal settings where the game takes you. With the game comically revolving around dreams and the subconscious, the its environments are a vibrant fusion of Crash Bandicoot, Salvador Dali and Tim Schafer's unique art design. Making a new 3D platformer IP in the 2000s was never going to be easy. But after a slow start, Psychonauts eventually gathered a cult following once the digital game downloads boom took off. It's one of the most inventive and most 3D platformers ever made, and a must-play for fans of the genre.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
