Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 403 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin Game Cover
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
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Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is a virtual reality adventure that continues the story of Raz and the Psychonauts. Immerse yourself in a paranormal world as you rescue the Grand Head of the Psychonauts from the dangerous Rhombus of Ruin. Using only your psychic powers, you must reunite your friends and free Truman before it's too late. This game is a must-play for fans of the original Psychonauts, offering a unique and mind-bending experience.

  • PC
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 403 reviews
story49 positive mentions
replayability4 negative mentions
  • The game is polished well with stunning visuals and retains the charm of the original Psychonauts.
  • Puzzles are engaging and don't become aggravating, making for a fun experience.
  • The voice acting and humor are top-notch, capturing the essence of the beloved characters.
  • The game is very short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Controls can be cumbersome, relying heavily on head movement rather than hand tracking, which can feel awkward.
  • The ending feels abrupt, leaving players wanting more content and depth.
  • story138 mentions

    The story of "Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin" serves as a charming bridge between the first and second games in the series, featuring well-written humor, engaging characters, and a captivating plot that expands on the Psychonauts universe. While the experience is relatively short and linear, it effectively immerses players in its narrative, making it a worthwhile play for fans, despite some critiques regarding its replay value and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its storytelling quality, humor, and character development, making it a delightful addition to the franchise.

    • “The game's story is written by Tim Schafer, the creator of Psychonauts and other classic adventure games.”
    • “The story complements the Psychonauts world perfectly, and was very well thought out and written.”
    • “Once you get into the game and the story unfolds more and more, you will be engrossed and taken away by its fantastic story, writing, and humor.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “The story itself is quite short and can even be finished in one go; however, if you want to relish the taste of returning to the Psychonauts universe, consider splitting your playthrough into a few sessions.”
    • “Story-wise, the game is not a major point in the Psychonauts series outside of its final minutes.”
  • graphics72 mentions

    The graphics in this VR game are widely praised for their high production values, vibrant art style, and immersive environments, effectively bringing the quirky Psychonauts universe to life. While some users noted technical issues like blurriness and latency, the overall visual experience is considered stunning and engaging, particularly for fans of the series. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the unique and colorful graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The environments and graphics in Rhombus of Ruin are stunning and highly immersive.”
    • “The wacky and colorful Psychonauts artwork really comes alive in VR.”
    • “As far as polish goes, this is one of the nicest looking VR games around; the textures are gorgeous, and there's a lot of detail to the world you're being railed through.”
    • “The game's graphics are also not very impressive, especially compared to other VR titles.”
    • “The tutorial is confusing, almost no graphic options (like turning off anti-aliasing), anti-aliasing is killing the immersion and making everything blurry.”
    • “Graphics 6/10, gameplay 2/10.”
  • gameplay67 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as a short, point-and-click adventure with limited mechanics, primarily involving teleportation and simple puzzles, which some players found underwhelming for a VR experience. While the writing, art style, and humor are praised, many reviewers noted that the gameplay feels outdated and lacks depth, making it less engaging compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it offers a unique experience for fans of the Psychonauts series, but its brevity and simplistic mechanics have led to mixed feelings about its value.

    • “It offers a unique gameplay mechanic, a captivating story, and a lot of humor.”
    • “The core gameplay is about looking around in each scene for interactable objects and figuring out which power to use on them, in order to break each character out of their hallucination, making it more like a VR point-and-click adventure.”
    • “While the gameplay is simpler than most VR titles, it makes up for it with that unique style and humor that only Double Fine can bring.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit stiff though, because you spend most of the time 'bound' to the spot of the person whose mind you invade.”
    • “The gameplay can be very cryptic and pretty much requires a walkthrough.”
    • “Gameplay wise, unfortunately I find it to be very lackluster.”
  • humor56 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm, witty dialogue, and quirky characters, staying true to Tim Schafer's signature style. Players appreciate the integration of humor into the gameplay, with funny voice lines and clever interactions that enhance the experience. Overall, the game delivers a delightful mix of engaging storytelling and laugh-out-loud moments, making it a must-play for fans of the original Psychonauts.

    • “The game's humor, charm, and personality are intact, with witty dialogue and quirky characters.”
    • “The ability to actually see the perspectives of other characters during the game was hilarious and ingenious.”
    • “The story and humor are very much what you expect from Psychonauts/Tim Schafer, with a lot of weird jokes.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its high quality and integration into the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the brilliant original soundtrack, memorable intro and outro songs, and excellent voice acting, all contributing to a captivating atmosphere. The sound design, including background music and sound effects, is consistently described as top-notch, complementing the game's humor and visuals effectively.

    • “The presentation, writing, pacing, and music doesn't miss a beat, despite the 13 years between the games.”
    • “I really enjoyed it, and the OST is brilliant.”
    • “The great sound quality in today's headsets hammers home the strength of Psychonauts' sound and music too.”
    • “The presentation, writing, pacing, and music don't miss a beat, despite the 13 years between the games.”
    • “Music and sound effects are also top-notch, as is expected, with writing perfectly fine and some real laugh-out-loud moments.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to its short playtime of 2-3 hours and a lack of alternative gameplay paths. While some players mention minor replay value through achievements and scene interactions, the consensus is that the game does not offer enough content to warrant multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers suggest that the price point reflects the game's brief experience, making it more acceptable for those who enjoy the initial playthrough.

    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “I feel like it has good replay value as well because there are so many things to goof around with in each scene.”
    • “This is a relatively light and short VR experience (although there's some easter egg achievements to add some replay value).”
    • “Near zero replay value, since you know exactly what has to be done - there are no 'alternative' ways through the game.”
    • “The game can be completed in about three hours, with little replay value or extra content.”
    • “It's on sale for $5 at the moment and that's about the right price for the amount of playtime you'll get... about 2 hours with no replay value.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impeccable graphics, sound, and adherence to the original's unique style and humor, effectively capturing the essence of the Psychonauts series. While many players appreciate the immersive experience and nostalgic elements, some express disappointment over the lack of diverse environments compared to the original game. Overall, the atmosphere is considered cohesive and engaging, making it a strong entry in the VR space.

    • “Graphics, story, atmosphere, sound, and voices are impeccable.”
    • “It captures the unique atmosphere and style of the original rather nicely.”
    • “But it is a perfect follow-up for Psychonauts; it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the original game and puts it to good use.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly through nostalgia for the original Psychonauts, with many highlighting the impactful character returns and callbacks that resonate deeply for fans. The experience elicits a range of feelings, from joy to sympathy for previously one-dimensional characters, though some caution that those unfamiliar with the original may miss out on the emotional depth. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of nostalgia and emotional engagement, making it a poignant experience for long-time fans.

    • “Loading up and seeing the characters from one of the most classic games of all time in VR was a little, I don't know, emotional... *cough*...”
    • “And then... they made me feel sympathy for a character we always thought was a one-sided Disney-like villain!”
    • “I almost can't recommend this game if you haven't played the original game pretty much almost to the end... lots of callbacks and jokes from the original Psychonauts game, and a surprise character return near the end, and the emotional baggage you reveal will be impactfully meaningless to someone who hasn't played Psychonauts 1.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it performs well with no significant bugs or hiccups, some users report graphic issues such as blurriness, latency, and stuttering, particularly in VR mode.

    • “Runs very well and is fully optimized with no bugs or hiccups.”
    • “The game ends with a full-length performance of the hilarious title theme - maybe the best I've heard in a video game.”
    • “Not optimized very well for VR.”
    • “Graphic issues such as blurry images, latency, stuttering, and framerate spikes are prevalent.”
    • “Performance issues detract from the overall experience.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while the game runs smoothly with impressive textures and models, some players encounter bugs, particularly with newer VR sets. However, many note minimal stuttering and good performance overall.

    • “It runs great with no stuttering, and the textures/models blew me away.”
    • “Runs great, minimal repro.”
    • “Pretty buggy with newer VR sets.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game offers valuable insights into the backstory and character development between the first and second installments of the series, despite its short length. Players appreciate the depth of character development, particularly for unexpected characters, enhancing the overall narrative experience.

    • “Although it's a short experience, it provides valuable insight into the events between Psychonauts 1 and 2, along with important backstory and character developments.”
    • “Great game with excellent character development, especially for some unsuspecting characters.”
    • “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
    • “While the game has potential, the character development is shallow, leaving many storylines unresolved and characters feeling one-dimensional.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and unpolished, with frustrations arising from the need to restart multiple times and difficulties in positioning within the game environment.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became boring.”
    • “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Many users criticize the monetization of virtual reality adaptations of console franchises, labeling them as overpriced and short experiences that feel like cash grabs, suggesting a lack of effort or expertise from developers.

    • “Often, when a console-born franchise steps into the world of virtual reality, fans are treated to a $40, 10-minute-long cash grab made by developers who are too lazy or inexperienced to give people what they paid for.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems like the developers are more focused on squeezing money out of players than delivering a quality experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many in-game purchases that disrupt the balance of gameplay, making it clear that the developers prioritize profit over player satisfaction.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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