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This long-awaited sequel to a cult classic exceeds expectations. Psychonauts 2 is a fiercely imaginative platforming action adventure game that offers an experience every bit as memorable as the first game and perhaps even more so.
The most notable improvement is the visuals - the improved character designs, the more nuanced animation, the dynamic lighting and the higher fidelity make this a dazzling game. The writing is as heartfelt as it is humorous, with voice acting and animation that compliments it perfectly to tell a story about living with the flaws we all have. My only complaint with the progression of the story was what I found to be a premature "point of no return" that locks off the previously open world until you effectively finish the other 50% of the story. The music is a major highlight, showing personality at every turn and complimenting each level seamlessly. The gameplay remains mostly the same as the first game, with some new mechanics added via Raz's new powers.
This leads me to my biggest problem with the game - the management of Raz's powers. Aside from his basic attack and double jump, each of Raz's abilities need to be mapped to one of four buttons. This is good in theory until you realize that several of the more basic skills also have to be mapped here. "Levitation" is a must-have that gives you the ability to glide, bounce, and traverse the world more quickly, while "PSI blast" is your ranged attack. I found myself reluctant to unequip those two at any time because of their usefulness when it came to exploration and combat, respectively. This meant I often had to pause the action to swap one of my two other powers for something suited for the particular enemy or puzzle i was facing, which was more than a bit annoying. This is only further emphasized by the "pins" Raz can equip to add modifications to his powers. Some are more cosmetic while others essentially buff certain powers. You can only have three equipped at a time and they aren't especially useful (when i beat the game, I had two pins that were strictly cosmetics and one that pulled in pickups from a small distance around me).
In the end, Psychonauts 2 is a thoughtfully crafted game that lives up to the fun of the original. Despite my own complaints with the controls and the underwhelming rank system, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this game. I was often left in awe of the bosses, the levels, the art, the music, the acting, and of course the story. This is an inspiring showcase of what developers are capable of with a loyal fan base and the resources to bring their vision to life.