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Psychonauts 2 - Preview Gameplay (Xbox Series X)

rubhen925

Member
Got a chance to check out the first couple hours of the game as well as 2 extra levels later in the game, thanks to Xbox Canada. Here's some info:

- Xbox Series X version according to PR runs at 4K 60FPS, and 1440p 120fps. The game does feature HDR.
- The preview includes the first 3 areas (Loboto's Labyrinth, Hollis's Classroom, & Lady Luctopus Casino. The Motherlobe HUB is also available), as well as 2 extra levels later in the game (Compton's Cookoff & Cassie's Collection)
- There are a total of 4 boss fights in the preview
- The game is primarily a platformer, sprinkled with some combat scenarios. Temper your expectations if you think you'll be fighting 90% of the time.
- Your Psychic Abilities are slotted into the Bumpers, and Triggers. So you can use 4 at a time. Melee is X, Jump is A, and dodge is B.
- The game in my opinion was very forgiving with the damage it did. There were no options for difficulty. Funny enough you can make things easier in the settings by giving yourself invincibility. LOL.
- I noticed slowdowns in a couple cutscene startups. Never during combat or gameplay moments.
- Loading times can range from 2-3 seconds depending on the levels you're loading in and out off

Story Trailer:




IGN Preview:




Gamespot Preview:




UPDATE - OK due to some confusion and misinformation, Xbox has asked me to private my videos. So filling the thread with other previews. Sorry guys. Not my call. Guess you can't see the full gameplay till game launches.
 
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DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
You didn't even use invincible mode!

Seriously though, watching now and it looks great. Excited for this and thanks for the video!
 
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Here's the resolutions and frame rates for all the platforms.
 
Super excited for this game, but that opening bit with the voices of the character Sasha not being able to complete sentences, getting cut abruptly, and janky voice dialogue caught me a little off guard.

I didn't watch past 20 minutes though to keep myself in the dark, but seemed a teeeny bit rough.

If anyone watched the full thing, or if OP could chime in, do let me know if this is just a minor occurrence since im gonna shy away from spoilers. Thanks!

Edit: Watched a teeny bit more and yeah, wow, i'm pretty surprised that the voice acting feels really jarring to the cutscene. After R&C, it feels a little bit hard to accept. Oh well.
 
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rubhen925

Member
Super excited for this game, but that opening bit with the voices of the character Sasha not being able to complete sentences, getting cut abruptly, and janky voice dialogue caught me a little off guard.

I didn't watch past 20 minutes though to keep myself in the dark, but seemed a teeeny bit rough.

If anyone watched the full thing, or if OP could chime in, do let me know if this is just a minor occurrence since im gonna shy away from spoilers. Thanks!

Edit: Watched a teeny bit more and yeah, wow, i'm pretty surprised that the voice acting feels really jarring to the cutscene. After R&C, it feels a little bit hard to accept. Oh well.
The dialogue during cutscenes are good. No cutoffs there, but say for instance while you are moving in the game and they say something. You can accidentally skip that piece of dialogue if you pick something up or interact with an object/character. You can even trigger a cutscene by going too far and cutting those side dialogues.
 

GymWolf

Member
I'm gonna ask again, is this title more combat centric like knack or more platform centric like mario?!
 
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Markio128

Member
Good on them for doing the PS5 version justice.

Can’t wait to play this on my Series S at 120fps.
It’s just the PS4 version with unlocked frame rate. Not sure that it is doing the PS5 any justice haha. Maybe I’m missing the irony, or sarcasm in your post.
 
I'm gonna ask again, is this title more combat centric like knack or more platform centric like mario?!

IMO it's the story and characters that are the highlight in first part.

Haven't played 2 obviously but hoping it has good platforming. Don't expect Double Fine to make "Dark Souls good" combat or anything.
 
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GymWolf

Member
IMO it's the story and characters that are the highlight in first part.

Haven't played 2 obviously but hoping it has good platforming. Don't expect Double Fine to make "Dark Souls good" combat or anything.
I'm okay with simple combat done good but if the game is really 70% platform it's far too much for me, the max quantity of platform that i can stomach is around knack\ratchet level or even less.
 
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Castef

Banned
More platform centric.
Yep, don't underestimate its platforming qualities. For instance the new transversal is actually very good.

Yet, it also includes a good combat system, very articulated.

For instance, loved how they implemented telekines in a way VERY similar to Control.

(I've written about it here, but it is in italian...)

Between plot, characters, fighting system, platforming and exploration (LOTS of things and secrets) we are talking about a VERY good game. Don't sleep on this one.
 
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I'm okay with simple combat done good but if the game is really 70% platform it's far too much for me, the max quantity of platform that i can stomach is around knack\ratchet level or even less.
What? You've never played a Mario game(kart excluded)?
 

Isa

Gold Member
I appreciate the impressions. But as I've been waiting since I finished the original at launch on og Xbox so long ago (and after subsequent replays), I've been keeping myself in the dark for the most part. One of my favorite games of all time. The humor and level design was ingenious. How everything was thematically linked was also very cool and made each area unique, it was a pleasure to explore it all. Plus it must have been a ton of work, as not only the art style had to be consistent despite the huge variety in assets but the fact that they made each mind(world) unique in game design is an achievement.

Can't wait to play this on my XSX!
 
This will be Xbox's 1st major new release from their first party studios in the new gen that I'm extremely excited about.

Gears Tactics was released on Xbox, which was technically new to Xbox, but I'm much more drawn to this style of game. Psychonauts 2 is a game for much of its time in development I wasn't anticipating, but as I started seeing more of it, it genuinely looks like something really special. Can't wait to play and experience this one.
 
Wasnt this a crowd funded game? Wondering why it didn't get a proper ps5 version...not very "consumer friendly" is it lol
They crowdfunded a PS4, Xbox One, Mac, Linux and PC release I think. Crowdfunding doesn't include next gen consoles. Being owned by Microsoft it makes sense they would focus only on the Microsoft next gen console. This isn't like Bethesda who was only just this May acquired by Microsoft.
 
They crowdfunded a PS4, Xbox One, Mac, Linux and PC release I think. Crowdfunding doesn't include next gen consoles. Being owned by Microsoft it makes sense they would focus only on the Microsoft next gen console. This isn't like Bethesda who was only just this May acquired by Microsoft.

Yeah. Adding unlocked frame rate for ps5 is already doing to much.

IMO they should add an exclusive 1080p 15 fps option to PlayStation versions.
 

Kuranghi

Member
I'm not sure I want to spoil any of it for myself because I'm so excited, will have a peek in a bit prob though.

With the PS5 one running at 1440p60 I might just play this on PC. I have a feeling it will not scale well up to 4K on my GTX 1080 and 60fps is a must in this kind of game so I won't lock to 30 to hit 4K. I hope I can do 1440p@120 with reduced settings on PC, if the AA is really good I can accept 1080p120 as well if max settings aren't possible at 1440p.
 

Derift

Member
They crowdfunded a PS4, Xbox One, Mac, Linux and PC release I think. Crowdfunding doesn't include next gen consoles. Being owned by Microsoft it makes sense they would focus only on the Microsoft next gen console. This isn't like Bethesda who was only just this May acquired by Microsoft.
Personally If I wanted to play it I would just play on xbox. "Anti consumer" gets thrown around so much on this forum so I thought I would throw it out here aswell
 

SLB1904

Banned
I'm not into platforms but I remember playing the ps2 classic on ps4. It was so good. Didn't finish because it got shuffled into my backlog
 

JLB

Banned
Yeah. Adding unlocked frame rate for ps5 is already doing to much.

IMO they should add an exclusive 1080p 15 fps option to PlayStation versions.

Well, maybe once Jimbo decides to port TLOU2 to Xbox consoles, Phil will consider it.
 
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