Brain-Bending Adventure in Psychonauts
Tim Schafer's latest game may not be a point-'n-click but that doesn't mean it's not worth a look.
You may not know his name, but if you were a fan of point-and-click PC adventure games in the '90s you almost certainly played his games. During his time at LucasArts, Tim Schafer was responsible for classics such as Grim Fandango and Full Throttle, and now he's venturing into a new frontier - the mind.
In Psychonauts, you play as Raz, a new recruit at the Psychonauts training camp and the organisation's only hope against a madman out to destroy the psyche of new cadets. The off-kilter story, filled with Schafer's comedic style, yanks you on a ride through the minds of your enemies.
As a Psychonaut-in-training, Raz is endowed with mental powers that grow as you progress through the game. You'll be able to hijack enemies' minds, rooting out their deepest fears, or hurl objects about with your telekinetic abilities. You can even muddy the mental waters of your enemies or set fires with a thought.
While there are a handful of levels based in the real world, the bulk of Psychonauts takes place in the labyrinthine crevasses of your enemies' brains.
Psychonauts was already released earlier this year in America where it picked up good reviews. Find out for yourself if Schafer still has it when Psychonauts hits PC, Xbox and PlayStation 2 in Europe later this year.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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