 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Psychonauts
- Windows, Xbox
- Price: $47.88
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
We predict you'll love this quirky, creative game.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game is witty, creative, and at times extremely funny. But its scary-looking, bizarre, and sometimes cruel characters make it inappropriate for younger children. There are also some references to tobacco use and some negative social behaviors that are encouraged by adult characters.
What's it about?
In PSYCHONAUTS, players take the role of Razputin, or Raz for short -- a not-so-subtle reference to the famous Russian mystic Rasputin. Desperate to become a world-famous Psychonaut agent, Raz runs away from home, which happens to be the circus, and his overbearing father, who doesn't approve of Raz's psychic abilities. Raz escapes to the one place where he can learn how to use his powers and become an international secret psychic agent: Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp.
At the camp, Raz meets many strange and unique characters, each of whom will help him develop his skills as a psychic. However, the longer Raz stays at the camp, the more he realizes something is amiss -- someone or something is attempting to take over the camp, and in the process is stealing his fellow campmate's brains. Raz soon finds himself as the only one who can save the day.
Is it any good?
Psychonauts deserves praise for its original story and interesting character development, along with some engaging puzzles. It is filled with psychological terms: For example, players need to find the luggage tags to pieces of "emotional baggage," or they need to clear out "mental cobwebs" while avoiding "personal demons." But it can be dark and disturbing. This is a good choice for teens (and parents) looking for a change of pace.
The characters, while cartoons, are creepy-looking and usually pretty odd, and the camp bullies are mean and cruel. Adult role models do not always send a positive message: A camp director tells Raz he should use his ability to ignite objects only when it's really important -- or entertaining. Characters soon learn that they can cause all sorts of objects to start on fire, including animals. After igniting a squirrel or seagull, Raz makes distasteful comments like, "You had that coming" or, "See you in hell."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes this game entertaining. How is it different from other games you play -- and how is it the same? Why do you think there are so many copycat games -- instead of truly unique games, like this one?
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AGE
Psychonauts was a creative gem, and despite some gameplay/handling issues (the controls got iffy from time to time) it was as fun as a particularly crazy barrel of monkeys. Perhaps a mom or two might get mad about drugs, violence, and some of the adults giving bad advice, but may I remind that the real worlds had some drugs, violence, and adults giving bad advice?
Sure, Shasha Nein smokes, but so does 1 person out of every twenty that you run into on the street, and they're REAL PEOPLE.
Sure, you set fire to the squirrels, but it was meant in humor.
Sure, Nills is OBESSED with women, but at the age that guys notice girls exist, what guy ISN'T obsessed with the ladies?
There's some language, but only a peppering, and you can't have game today that doesn't have you destorying your enemey unless you're playing a puzzel game or, heaven forbid, the Sims.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Psychonauts was amazing, dazzling, and so close to perfection you can taste it in the last controller-splitting moments of the game when you're wondering just which way is up. A child should not have to miss out on this work of art because their mom thought their kids would then go out and try to light squirrels on fire with their minds. This game reaches out to those who can take the joke and laugh at the somewhat twisted and totally original humor.
If you let your kid watch Invader Zim, you can probably let them play this game. If you were disgusted when Zim started torturing kids to pick a 'best friend' you'll concider this a blemish to mondern socity.
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AGE
Good.
The dark humor in this game may be a bit too iffy for some - a camp teacher is seen to be cruel and has a militaristic view of the world - but overall is a good game. It's very Tim Burton-esque.
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AGE
Incredible
Psychonauts is probably one of the best games....ever. I actually almost like it more than Halo2. THe style and animations/graphics in the game are awesome and mind-numbing. The twisted "milkman/security guy" is really awesome. If you are even looking at this you should buy it.
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AGE
Can you say 'perfection'?
Okay, so maybe it's NOT perfect, but it's certainly close. Psychonauts, hands down, has to be one of the most creative, inspiring, and all out amazing games I have ever played. However, there is an obvious reason why it's rated 'T'. Now, I could go on and on about how all the different things are good and morally correct and righteous, but I think that you guys have done a fine job with what you have posted in the general info. So, I shall end my review by simply saying..."Good game."
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| Platforms: | Windows, Xbox |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | Majesco |
| Release date: | April 20, 2005 |
| Price: | $47.88 |
| ESRB rating: | T |
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