'Psychonauts 2' First Gameplay Looks Good, Includes Goat Buttholes

Double Fine Productions has just released footage from the first playable build (in-progress version of the game) of its upcoming Psychonauts 2, and there is plenty to dig into for series fans. The build is set in a giant quarry, with rocks, trees, and ridiculously precarious poles and platforms to perform feats of acrobatics over.

Protagonist Raz' little psychic bubble is back, allowing him to roll quickly, double-jump, and float off of long platforms. A few other mechanics have a second in the spotlight: there's wall-jumping this time, and the timing looks like Mario's iteration, a hair or two softer for Raz' slightly floatier base jump. There are also updrafts that you can float on, Breath of the Wild style (though, those aren't created on-the-fly as in Zelda's latest—or are they?).

Also in this game? Goats. Goats with scary eyes and little x's for buttholes. You're welcome.

Like most Double Fine documentaries and updates, there's a healthy smattering of behind-the-scenes moments with the team, going into the inspiration behind the level, a look at animating early cutscenes, and the broader team's first experiences actually playing it.

One thing that isn't in the video, but is heavily teased, is any details about the new brains (worlds in Psychonauts are based on individual character's minds). "We want you to discover them like Christmas morning when you play the game," according to Project Lead Zak McClendon. Then, they have the gall to show blurred-out footage of said stages alongside devs saying things like "that's so cool!" which is a naked-ass tactic to make me jealous and hungry for more, and yes, it's working.

I mentioned elsewhere today that Psychonauts is my all-time favorite game, so, you know, no pressure. From what I can possibly glean second hand here, the action looks smooth, with Raz bounding, floating and twirling as intended.

The game is still a long ways off, but I look forward to the next little tease in the meantime.

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