Besides. I'd much rather talk about the gameplay.

Unhinge thy mind

   The best thing about the undoubtedly loony setup of the game (besides being a great playground for Schafer's spicy sense of humor) is the fact that it gives the creators an almost unlimited license to create all sorts of great environments. The very first cut scene of the game talks about Psychonauts as warriors of the mind, and for good reason - most 'levels' in the game are activated by Raz (literally!) entering the mind of another character or creature. And because you never really know what's going on inside someone's head, you are treated to a complete surprise every time you decide to personally check in on someone's lobotomy. Every mind you enter unfolds into a fully unique world, with it's own rules and mechanics. Raz can end up as a huge King Kong-like monster in a city of tiny fish creatures, a pawn in a board game between two parts of a split personality, or a citizen in some strange, multi-dimensional Truman Show of a town that someone has concocted in their aching subconscious. This creates an overall flow of the game that is reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts - a main story tying together adventures across many unique worlds - except no Disney characters are in sight. That, and everything is funnier. Much, much funnier.

Giggle me this, giggle me that

   Current fans of Tim Schafer games will need no convincing, but in case you haven't come across his games in your travels, allow me to be your Frommer's Guide to Schaferland and say it plainly: this man is funny. Tongue-in-cheek humor and jovial explorations of the absurd are the prime tools of his trade, and Psychonauts fully reaps the benefits. Fun is poked at all imaginable sorts of things - anything from history to pop culture to movies and other games and just about anything else that can fit in a mind somewhere. The poking is delivered largely through conversation, and thankfully most members of Psychonauts' freakishly inventive cast of characters don't seem to place particular importance on actually having someone to have a conversation with. [Just like Ol' Willie in front of the liquor store! - ed.] Which simply means more delicious absurdities for your lucky (even if somewhat unclean) ears. Importantly, though, the rest of the game doesn't get hopelessly lost in this barrage of humor. Often enough games with a well-developed sense of humor can push little things like gameplay and story onto the back burner, which ends up hurting the overall experience. Recent examples of this can be seen with Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, and (to a lesser degree) Bard's Tale. Thankfully, Psychonauts manages to successfully sidestep this trap - although the game isn't flawless (easy there Tim, I am just trying to leave you a little room for the next game!), the core gameplay is extremely solid, managing to largely avoid lapses of frustration that often plague games with platforming and puzzle solving elements.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste

   Or so we had thought. Turns out that with a proper set of tools, laying ruin to an out-of-control mind can be a rather satisfying experience. As mentioned, Psychonauts is a platforming game at heart, which means the bulk of the action takes the form of jumping, grabbing, hanging, and of course, combat, which ranges from your basic punches to more elaborate, psycho-power assisted methods of damaging things, living and otherwise. As you make your way through the game, earning ability badges and collecting all kinds of silly things that add up to other silly things, Raz becomes a more accomplished master of his mental domain, adding powers like Marksman, Telekinesis, Pyrokinesis, Levitation and others to his arsenal. Some of these, like Marksman and Pyronkinesis, directly expand your combat abilities, while others are geared more towards puzzle solving - for example, Clairvoyance and Invisibility are frequently used in clever ways to trick your enemies [not to mention those heinous, perfectly innocent bystanders - ed.] into letting you take gruesome advantage of them. As your portfolio of mind manipulations increases, the game becomes increasingly multi-faceted, which keeps things interesting. Of course, each particular power can also be upgraded to multiple levels, adding even more psychobang [wasn't that a porno? - ed.] to the proverbial buck.

Oops, I did it again!

   It's the sound and the graphics, you see. As a reviewer, I always try to integrate my discussion of the sound and the graphics into other parts of the review, except the little bastards always seem to get the better of me, and so here I am again, all talked out about the gameplay, and sound and graphics are just sitting over there by the curb, untouched and giggling quietly. Well, whatever, dudes. I'll get you eventually.

   Visually, Psychonauts sports a great artistic style. Polygons be damned, I am talking actual art here, people. Characters look terrific, as if their quirky, tasty personalities passed straight through a visual food processor-prism-thingy and ended up in scrumptious, colorful 3D. Then that 3D was taken, ripped a nice big hole, and stuffed chock full of quality voice acting, sealed shut, baked for 3 hours at 250 degrees and served right away with a nice cold beer on the side and a bit of fresh green grass on top. Yes, that kind of grass.

Delectable

   As if you aren't already getting your shoes on to run to the store and get this game, let me finish you off with a swift kick in the pants: go on and get this game. Between the fun gameplay, the varied and creative environments, the great story, imaginative cast of characters, and, of course, the trademark Schafer sense of humor, there is very little that can go wrong here. Unless, of course, your brain has already been stolen by an evil member of the medical profession. In which case you need to run to the store that much faster.

       ... Vaga