On the heels of the launch of Psychonauts 2, plenty of newcomers to the series already have the game predownloaded on their preferred system of choice. After all, the game has had plenty of coverage over the past week or so as reviews have started being published, and an interview with Double Fine was featured prominently during today’s Xbox Showcase for Gamescom. The sequel to the mind-bending third-person platformer finally seems to be getting the spotlight it deserves, but it’s also possible that plenty of potential fans are skipping the original and diving headfirst into the sequel.
With the constant gaming releases that happen in the latter half of the year, it makes sense that not everyone has the time to play all the games that came before new entries in the many franchises that are receiving follow-ups. For what it’s worth, Psychonauts 2 does include a refresher for those who either haven’t played the first or haven’t played it since its initial release over 16 years ago. While that refresher is all well and good, the original Psychonauts is absolutely worth playing before starting up its sequel when it releases this week.
Understanding Psychonauts' Past
Aside from being a fun platformer filled to the brim with fresh ideas and clever writing, Psychonauts also has an excellent story that’s best experienced first-hand. Sure, the recap in Psychonauts 2 hits all the major beats, however, there’s a huge difference between experiencing a game’s narrative personally and simply having it be retold. Plus, there are bound to be plenty of smaller details missing from the recap that truly give Psychonauts much of its charm and background. There will likely be nods to some of those omitted details in Psychonauts 2 that would go unnoticed and unappreciated if the player hasn’t experienced the original title.
In Psychonauts 2, players once again follow the adventures of Razputin Aquato. However, instead of being the full-fledged Psychonaut that he was at the end of the first game, he’s nothing more than a lowly intern. His disappointment can only be truly understood if the player went on his previous journey with him as he showcased plenty of psionic skills that would make him a shoo-in for being a true Psychonaut. While not entirely necessary for understanding the plot of Psychonauts 2, Raz’s journey in the original Psychonauts really fleshes out the world that the sequel is set in, and can enhance the player’s appreciation for the events that take place in the sequel.
Revisiting a Classic Title
In addition to helping the player understand the in’s and out’s of the world of Psychonauts, the first game is an easily accessible classic that still holds up relatively well today. Obviously, some aspects of its design don’t work flawlessly (the Meat Circus level being at the top of the list of modern players’ grievances) but it still has a lot to offer and is only roughly 10 hours long for those looking to simply finish the story.
Psychonauts is available on Xbox Game Pass, so it’s easily available for anyone who’s looking to give it a try. At the end of the day, the original game is a cult classic and, while Psychonauts 2 might end up being more commercially successful, it absolutely deserves its spot in gaming history and is worth revisiting. What’s more, Psychonauts’ age might really start to show if played immediately following Psychonauts 2 as the sequel will be modernizing plenty of the mechanics found in the first one. This means that those looking to revisit it might be turned off by its presentation when compared to its sequel.
Psychonauts 2 launches August 25 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.