Psychonauts 2was recently released on August 25th, 2021, which is over 16 years since its predecessor first hit stores. The game has stayed true to the franchise’s roots but offers many modern upgrades, particularly to its visuals, encouraging a new generation of gamers to experience thecult classicplatforming series.
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Much like its predecessor,Psychonauts 2is more complex than the average platformer, as protagonist Raz has a plethora of psychic abilities for players to utilize in combat andwhile platforming. So, to give new players a helping hand, here are some beginner tips forPsychonauts 2.
10Levitation Is Great For Getting Around In A Hurry
Psychonauts 2features a range of large, open, interconnected levels and hub areas that players will be frequently revisiting and traversing. The game does have a fast travel system, known as the Brain-Only Network, though players will still find themselves moving around on foot for much of the game’s runtime.
Thankfully, there is a built-in solution to this asRaz’s Levitation ability drastically increases his movement speed, making long walks a breeze. Faster movement isn’t all that the Levitation ability is good for either, as it can also be upgraded to be effective in combat.
9Dodge Frequently In Combat
Psychonauts 2has a wide range of enemies and bosses for Raz to defeat. In truePsychonautsfashion, every one of these enemies has its ownunique designand move set, so different strategies are required to take down each one.
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However, there is one simple technique that is handy for every encounter, dodging.Dodging inPsychonauts 2is fast, responsive, and has great distance. By staying on the move and dodging attacks frequently, players should be able to avoid taking significant damage.
8Utilize Every Combat Ability
Psychonauts 2offers players a vast range of combat abilities. Thesecombat mechanicsare all centered around Raz’s psychic powers, which may make them sound complex at first, but in reality, they’re relatively basic action-platforming gameplay mechanics.
As mentioned before, there are numerous different types of enemies inPsychonauts 2.Each of these enemies is susceptible to one of Raz’s abilities in particular, so it’s worth experimenting to see which ability is most effective for each enemy.
7Upgrade The Wallet As Soon As Possible
When starting off inPsychonauts 2, players will be restricted to holding just 100 Psitanium at a time. This may sound like a lot on paper, but players will soon realize how quickly this can max out, and how limited their buying options are.
So, when players reach the Motherlobe, they should be sure to visit the Otto-matic shop.For 75 Psitanium players can purchase the Psifold Wallet, which will increase their capacity to a whopping 1000. It’s certainly worth doing this before entering another level, otherwise, players will see bucket loads of Psitanium going to waste.
6When Needing Psitanium, Destroy Everything In Sight
Once players have upgraded their wallet capacity, they’ll want to start racking up on Psitanium. There are many different ways to earn Psitanium, with one of the most effective methods being to search for keys that open supply chests, which often contain large portions at a time.
However, when players are in a hurry and don’t want to search for keys and chests, there is a far easier method. Simply put, players can start smashing everything in sight, as a surprising amount of objects all over the game have Psitanium tucked inside them.The Pyrokinesis ability is particularly handy for finding Psitanium, as almost every flammable item has some hidden inside.
5Get The Mental Magnet Pin
One final tip for collecting Psitanium is to get the Mental Magnet Pin, whichdraws items to Raz from a greater distance. Initially, this may seem like an unnecessary investment, especially at the start of the game when players are happy to collect everything in sight.
However, collecting everything will soon get tedious, and the Mental Magnet Pin will suddenly feel like one of the handiest items in the game. Along with collecting Psitanium, the Mental Magnet Pin also works on other small items like health orbs, which can be very helpful while in combat. The Mengal Magnet Pin can be bought at Rank 8 for 200 Psitanium.
4Look Out For Bonfires
As players progress through the game, they may start to notice that there are a significant amount of bonfires scattered around. These bonfires aren’t just there for aesthetics, they allow Raz to travel to hidden areas.
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This isn’t because players can fast travel with them like inDark Souls, it’s because players canuse their Pyrokinesis ability to light them, then use their Levitation ability to rise up the newly created updraft. This will usually take them to a hidden area, with plenty of collectibles lying around.
3Don’t Worry Too Much About Purchasing Healing Items
In most games, healing items are the first and most important thing for players to purchase, so many people will start investing inPsychonauts2’s PSI Pops and Dream Fluffs at the first chance they get.
Buying healing items does have its purpose, of course, but most players will be able to completePsychonauts 2without ever really need them.Psychonauts 2doesn’t providetoo much of a challenge in terms of combat, anddefeated enemies will usually drop a generous amount of health orbs. Moreover,the penalty for death isn’t too taxing, so even if the worst happens and players lose all of their Mental Energy, they’ll only be mildly inconvenienced.
2Thoroughly Search Each Area Before Moving On
Psychonauts 2is filled to the brim with numerous different types of collectibles to find. Searching for collectibles is certainly not a new concept to platforming fans, especially those who grew up withgames likeBanjo-KazooieandSuperMario 64.
Like in those classic games,Psychonauts 2’scollectibles provide a wide range of benefits to players. There are Half-A-Minds that increase Raz’s Mental Energy, PSI Challenge Markers that increase his rank, Memory Vaults that offer key story details, and plenty more. Suffice to say, it’s worth taking the time to explore every area in the game before moving on.
1Revisit Levels
Following on from the previous point, it’s worth noting that most levels can’t be completed 100% on the first attempt. This is becausesome sections are initially inaccessible, as Raz will not yet have the abilities. Thankfully,Psychonauts 2lets players revisit levels.
Once players have completed Operation Lady Luctopus, they will be able to access the Brain Tumbler in Sasha Nein’s lab, which will let them travel to the hub area known as the Collective Unconscious, wherelevels can be replayed. It’s certainly worth revisiting levels once gaining new abilities, as they’ll let Raz obtain a wide range of beneficial items.
