Unknown
Several issues, follow pcgamingwiki's guides.
Stuff like snow steps and shadows are multiplied, you can disable shadows in the graphics setting, but the snow steps and others will continue to be broken.
The game only supports 4:3 resolutions or else the menus will be stretched, use 1440×1080 for 1080p.
I installed a mod to enable better widescreen and full screen support.
It works flawlessly out of the box, but only in 4:3. Getting it to work with widescreen took a tiny amount of tinkering, but that's also true for the windows version.
Keyboard button icons
Followed this guide on proton 9.0-4 and everything runs well now. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3248471960
I tried many layouts, inlcuding these recommended in previous report, none were working for me
Every time the game gets to the main menu, it resets the controls to garbage.
This game has partial controller support, meaning mouse and keyboard inputs are required (on all platforms) and setting the controls is generally very buggy. This is the best I could come up with, and it's working very well with only minor inconveniences.
- Set proton in Properties -> Compatibility.
- Set the control scheme to the one I named "Actually working controls - read description".
- Start the game. You see the opening screen. Press Start (above right joystick), then use the trackpad and trackpad click to navigate the menu. Go to Options, Bindings, press Default, press Ok. Close the menu.
- Press A and walk (using the joystick normally) to Start New Game. Pick a bunk. Here you need to use the keyboard - Steam+X opens the keyboard. When prompted to press Space or Enter, use the keyboard to enter those buttons. Write a name (or keep "Raz") and start the game.
- Do the little tutorial.
- When the game begins, as before - Press Start (above right joystick), then use the trackpad and trackpad click to navigate the menu. Go to Options, Bindings, press Default, press Ok.
- Now you can play the game and all controls work.
- Every time you reach the main menu, the controls reset and you have to set them to Default again.
This way, the game works very well with the exception of wrong button prompts.
If you're annoyed with the UI stretching from 4:3 to 16:10, follow the steps described in this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3248471960
Download the Widescreen Fix, unpack it into the Psychonauts main folder, edit the ini to say WidescreenHudOffset=111.111 and add the following launch option:
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b" %command%
The mapping regardless of operating system isn't good for controllers. Go to '/home/[USER]/.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile [NUMBER]' and change the last few values in Profile [NUMBER] - [NICKNAME].ini
Jump_Alt=Joy1
Attack_Alt=Joy4
Use_Alt=Joy3
Cancel_Alt=Joy2
Journal_Alt=Joy10
Stats_Alt=Joy9
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX
Psychonauts works right out of the box because it has native support. You can enjoy the game without configuring the mappings if you use the keyboard. In a worse scenario, you can run the Windows version with Proton or Wine, but I haven't dealt with that issue.
The game is excellent, but has several problems in the Native version. I recommend playing with Proton to have a better experience.
Native config files folder: .local/share/Psychonauts/
- At the first time, the game did not open with Proton, giving the following error:
The game was unable to create the Direct3D device. Apparently the game would generate a DisplaySettings.ini file where the graphics options would be, but since the game did not open, it was not generated. - To solve it, I started the game natively and got this same file from the config files in the native folder, and pasted it into the game's installation folder.
Only then was I able to open and play the game with Proton.
Native
Sometimes the audio stops and returns one second later. Using the PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60 command in the launch options makes it less likely to happen.
Native
Default control mapping is horrible, I needed to modify the 'Profile 1- Raz.ini' file, and I set the controls as (suggested in other reports):
Jump_Alt=Joy1
Attack_Alt=Joy4
Use_Alt=Joy3
Cancel_Alt=Joy2
Journal_Alt=Joy10
Stats_Alt=Joy9
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX
Proton
The default controls are better, but there is a problem where opening the game or even just going to the main menu causes the bindings to reset to a different configuration. Using the default bindings option in the game options returns them to the expected default. Apparently with Proton, the game does not get the bindings from the 'Profile 1- Raz.ini' file in the folder where the game is installed. The file does not undergo any changes.
Native
Does not support Steam Cloud saves.
Native
I had a bug where the character has multiple instances, and his shadow overlaps in several places on the map. Disabling shadows completely in the game options solved it, but sometimes this bug is noticeable on maps where Raz's footprints interact with the environment. Apparently this shadow/instance bug is related to the native OpenGL version, as the same thing didn't happen in DXVK when I tested it with Proton.
Considerations
Native
- I played about 2 hours in the native version of the game with OpenGL. I had several problems as mentioned and I do not recommend playing natively.
Proton
- Playing with Proton seems to be more stable, although there are still issues with the controls (but it doesn't have the audio, shadows/OpenGL issues of the native version).
Played with Proton-Experimental [bleeding-edge] in 1080p fullscreen with 60 FPS stable.
It's an excellent platform adventure game, and it works relatively well in Linux if played with Proton.
Works fine out of the box
Minor audio issues
Game wouldn't start when launched through Steam, had to find the executable at ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Psychonauts
Used the Controller config from other reviews to fix my PS3 controller buttons. and changed to fullscreen.
Some pre-rendered cutscenes are stretched from 4:3 to widescreen and are low-resolution.
In the Pause Menu Journal, the mouse could not click menu items and I had to find a different part of the screen to select items, making it hard to even get to the Settings menu. Fixed by changing to fullscreen and my native screen resolution in Settings/Config.
PS3 controller buttons were mapped incorrectly and caused the camera to spin uncontrollably when connected, fixed with the Config file from other reviews.
Valve are huge pieces of shit and removed my Steam Deck guide. So the game is impossible to play on Steam Deck unless you're me.
No I will not be reuploading it. I'm not risking my steam account. Go fuck yourself if you're planning on harassing me over it like everyone else.
Native sounded fine; Windows via Proton was noticeably worse.
Game would randomly unbind controller for no apparent reason; no xinput support on native, resulting in a spinning camera
Cloud saves do not work on the native version
Sadly the game is in a pitiful state. The native Linux version is missing xinput support and cloud save functionality, meanwhile the Windows version boasts significantly degraded audio and random unbinding of controller buttons. Not to mention sometimes for no apparent reason it'll show keybaord icons even while using controller, making playing the game needlessly confusing. I would love-love-LOVE for this to get patched, but there's no way to tell if that will ever happen.
Unplayable with the default controls, was unable to change in game key bindings. Absolutely shameful for Valve to mark this as "playable".
I needed to follow some steps on the PCGamingWiki article to avoid controller spinning and enable controller glyphs.
- Camera spins when using controller (Linux)
- Mouse/keyboard input prompts when using controller (Linux)
- Generic controller button icons (Linux)
Those are the steps to follow. You will also need to bind the escape button to any unused buttons on the controller to be able to open the game menus and settings (arrow down or up, or the back buttons).
The game starts for the first time with lower resolution, you can change it to 1280x800 in the settings menus.
Once the issues are fixed, the game is running very well.
To add to my previous report, when I started a new game, I had to then change my binds from the Steam directory, not linux's share folder.
steamapps/common/Psychonauts/profiles/profile 1/Profile 1- Raz.ini
or
.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile 1/Profile 1- Raz.ini
one of the 2
It was difficult to even reach the graphics settings screen to enable fullscreen. But it stays once you set it.
Movement keys bound to triggers. This solution comes from the previous 2 reports below me, it worked to achieve a traditional control scheme. Then I also had to invert horizontal camera axis in game for my XB1 controller.
.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile 1 - Edit the last lines of Profile 1- Raz.ini to contain the following:
Jump_Alt=Joy1
Attack_Alt=Joy4
Use_Alt=Joy3
Cancel_Alt=Joy2
Journal_Alt=Joy10
Stats_Alt=Joy9
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX
Would not give this game Steams "playable" tag in it's current state. With some tinkering it might work for you ...until it doesn't
This is one of my favorite games in my Steam library, and overall it seems to run really well on Steamdeck, but in it's current state it's not a great experience on the deck due to random controller issues and incorrect controller icons. I encountered the commonly reported spinning camera issue, tried a few suggested fixes and different community controller layouts. No luck until I tried reinstalling the game, then it worked okay with default controls. However, after exiting to the main menu, the game randomly switched keyboard bindings giving me a different key prompt and I could't bring up the menu or start the game. Not recommended for a casual user
After tinkering a great experience. Wish the devs would make it a perfect out of the box experience
https://steamcommunity.com/app/3830/discussions/0/864979455204750928/ Fix is referenced from https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Psychonauts Solves controller camera spin bug
Camera spin but solved in tinkering section
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8.dll=n,b" %command%
Followed this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977194916
TDP 6W
Had to bind controls in game.
You have to bring up the Keyboard to type your profile name on your first playthrough, but doing that works fine. (Though you could just leave it as Raz if you want.)
Graphics: Switch to full screen. Controller: apply "Wraith's Better Controls".
If you change the game's resolution without setting it to full screen first, then the mouse cursur is not displayed at the position that the game thinks it is. So: first set the game to full screen, then change the resolution.
Native game runs great, but only with changed controller config. Otherwise it can't be controlled due to spinning camera.
Savegames and profiles are located in:
~/.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/
Controls are defined in an ini file, in my case:
~/.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile 1/Profile 1- Raz.ini
Look out for the following values:
`Jump_Alt=Joy2
Attack_Alt=Joy1
Use_Alt=Joy4
Cancel_Alt=Joy3
Journal_Alt=Joy9
Stats_Alt=Joy11
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotZ
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotZ
LookLeft_Alt=JoyZ
LookRight_Alt=JoyZ`
... and change them into:
`Jump_Alt=Joy1
Attack_Alt=Joy4
Use_Alt=Joy3
Cancel_Alt=Joy2
Journal_Alt=Joy10
Stats_Alt=Joy9
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX`
This puts the buttons in the right places and maps the camera to the right joystick instead of the triggers.
In the steam game properties, I disabled Steam Input at Controller.
Got the widescreen fix to work. Works really great, only other fix would be to make controller prompts show up.
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8.dll=n,b" %command%
Installed the Psychonauts Widescreen Fix https://github.com/ThirteenAG/WidescreenFixesPack/releases/tag/psychonauts and changed the Psychonauts.WidescreenFix.ini's offset from 100 to 111.111
Had to bind controls in-game and edited the layout to make it play better. Better Controls was a great starting point though.
TDP 6W
Had to rebind a bunch of stuff to get the game to play well. Also inputs don't show controller buttons as a result of having to bind keyboard buttons.
Had to bind controls in-game and edited the layout to make it play better. Better Controls was a great starting point though.
TDP 6W
Had to rebind a bunch of stuff to get the game to play well. Also inputs don't show controller buttons as a result of having to bind keyboard buttons.
changed the basic buttons because in my case the basic layout of the game was on other buttons than in the selected layout, but this layout is a great starting point
30 fps lock, TDP limit on 6 watts
Proton version to go: Proton 7.0-6
without comptablity, the game just won't run, if you try to run the game on GE-Proton7-53, you get an error screen from the game that it needs DirectX9 to run, and only when I chose Proton 7.0-6, the game ran smoothly and I had no problems in the process. Default layout is not adapted to the game, as the game assumes keyboard buttons, so it's very convenient to choose Wraith's Better Controls layout to start with, then if anything is not comfortable to change. I couldn't repeat the spinning camera issue, as well as the problem with the controller icons
spinning camera
Game lacks ingame settings.
Moved DisplaySettings.ini from game folder to .local/share/Psychonauts in your home folder, then set resolution in there.
Do not use fullscreen if you have multiple monitors, it will try to use them all.
If you want to use a Dualshock 4 PS4 controller and your camera isn't properly configured for the second joycon, go to .local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile X/Profile X- Name.ini and change the last four entries like this:
LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX
Multiple monitors break fullscreen support.
This frankly a terrible experience and I refunded the game. It is a shame that developers have not come back and fixed some of these issues.
I moved the DisplaySettings.ini from the game directory to home/local/share/Psychonauts. Then I changed the resolution to 1440p for my monitor and fullscreen to true.
The game starts up in a small box and when I did the configuration changes due to have two monitors it tries to stretch it across both screens instead of just one. I.e. not an enjoyable playing experience.
If you do not put the game in fullscreen mode even though it may still visibly be in a window, you cannot select options in the settings properly.
This game could use a remaster because even on windows it frankly has lots of issues adapting to new hardware such as if you don't cap the framerate which you cannot do in game especially if you have a high refresh rate monitor then the physics are buggy.
Works out the box
Native and Proton behaved almost identically
Inputs are extremely broken and there is a spinning camera issue
This game should not be verified whatsoever as the official description by Valve straight up lies an describes incorrect information about the game. Controls do not work and prompts do not show up. By default steam ops to use the Linux version but it is extremely broken. Not that windows is any better with proton but it's a shame valve half assed it and slapped a playable badge. Even with community layouts I was not able to resolve the spinning issue and my personal layout for resolving this no longer works.
Smooth gameplay with no stutters, and good on battery life during gameplay. I highly recommend using "Wraith's Better Controls" community controller layout as it resolved camera spinning issues and avoids time having to manually re-map all controls and keybinds.
Disable FXAA
Need to reset controls to default everytime, and the controller icons aren't showin up
I had previously tried to install the game, and ended up spending about an hour banging my head against the wall. But for some reason, uninstalling and reinstalling fixed all my major issues.
Switching to older versions, just gives graphical glitches and doesn't even accep input.
Install the Native Linux Runtime from the Compatability tab to enable cloud saves - before playing the first time.
If you have already played on the Proton version, make sure you backup your save files from /.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/ and move them to the /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Psychonauts/profiles directory. Notice, the directory names are in lower-case.
Original Resolution had to be changed.
Poor precicion before resolution was set to native display resolution.
Install the Native Linux Runtime from the Compatability tab to enable cloud saves - before playing the first time.
If you have already played on the Proton version, make sure you backup your save files from /.local/share/Psychonauts/Profiles/ and move them to the /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Psychonauts/profiles directory. Notice, the directory names are in lower-case.
Some configuration changes needed.
Controls didn't work or show buttons on screen, instead showing keyboard prompts.
Cloud saves didn't work.
PROTON_USE_WINE3D=1 WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b" %command%
Installed widescreen fix. Launch options are needed to enable it.
Native: Mouse clicks didn't register or were inaccurate. Controller wasn't recognized.
Proton: Controller analog sticks work, but buttons not mapped. Changing bindings in game is glitchy.
This game requires Proton 5.x. With Proton 6.3 and 7.0, widescreen fix doesn't work and prominent warning is displayed.
Even when setting the resolution via Steam Home, initial aspect radio is 4:3
Camera would continuing spinning even after changing to a community layout; buttons were working but couldn't pause or turn the camera
As many others have mentioned, this is one of THE tinkering games that isn't unsupported by Valve; if you work at it, it will work perfectly.
PROTON_USE_WINE3D=1 WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b" %command%
For me, the old Proton (5.13) wouldn't launch the game until I changed the resolution first in a newer version. I used the widescreen fix and played with the default controller mapping, which can be always restored with a few clicks. With that, everything worked perfectly. Here are my steps:
- Install the game. Right-click -> Properties -> Compatibility -> Force Proton -> Select your usual version (mine was GE 7.17)
- Launch the game, go to Options -> Graphics and choose your desired resolution
- Download the widescreen fix https://github.com/ThirteenAG/WidescreenFixesPack/releases/tag/psychonauts, unzip it and put the .dll and .ini files into
~/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps/common/Psychonauts - Again, Right-click -> Properties -> Compatibility and change Proton version to 5.13
- Still in Properties, go to the General tab and put this into launch options:
PROTON_USE_WINE3D=1 WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b" %command% - Run the game. After you choose you gain control in a new game or load a savefile, go to Options -> Controls -> Bindings and click Defaults. Now your controller will work just fine.
When you start the game for the first time, it is in windowed mode. On this one, the entries are all shifted and it is a bit difficult to modify the game options. You have to set it as fullscreen.
Every time I run the game, the input options are all changed. I have to go into the options and reset the default values. Also, with the default layout, the camera doesn't stop to spin. It is fixed by using the official layout or a community one.
With the default configuration used by steam, the game stores the save files in a weird place and does not sync them with the cloud. By changing the proton version, the game uses the game folder for the save files and the sync with the cloud works again. Beware, you have to manually move your save file if you change the default configuration after playing the game. With the default configuration, the save files are stored in your .local/share folder.
On the default configuration used by steam, the game kept crashing in a cinematic. No problem with Proton 5.13.
