You forgot something. Maligula's name. Like most of (possibly all) the character's names in Psychonauts are puns. In Maligula's case, it's a play on the amygdala: one of two almond-shaped neural clusters in the brain found deep in the temporal lobes of the cerebrum. Their primary function is to process memories, decision-making, and emotional response.
This channel is so underrated, I didn't know that there was all this wonderful inspiration for the series, esp. the upcoming sequel (ahhh thank you for this knowledgeeee and wonderful pixel art!). This channel is definitely worth everyone subscribing to
Thanks for the positive words, and I'm glad you like the pixel art. This is a fairly new format I’m experimenting with, so it’s nice to know it’s being appreciated. And many thanks for the sub.
Having seen most of psychonauts 2 now, it's amazing how close this is, yet how it can't grasp the true answer, due to it never being teased or leaked. The mole is not any one of the psychonauts, it ends up being one of the new characters, one never even implied within the first game. The gollocios are actually a fabrication. Most of raz's past is. The figure with the drowning children is most likely a representation of what Raz imagined his family's curser to be. Maligula is revealed to be the name of her persona as maligula. Who ends up being only a part of her original self. Maligula itself, playing on malicious or malignent, is likely due to it originating as a given title.
I think you might be onto something there. I have a sneaky suspicion it was inspired by the Whomping Willow scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as the film was released during the game’s development. But I suppose you’d have to pry it out of the artists.
Lots of interesting stuff here to unpack! I love the allusions from history and fantasy alike related to Psychonauts's story and characters. Many possible references I never even thought of, and even if I did, were expanded in more detail. Great video!
Thanks for the feedback. The audio issues have not gone unnoticed. I hope to iron them out in the process of making more of these videos. Feel free to update me on your thoughts. And I’m glad you’re still enjoying the content :-)
Makes me wonder how you know for sure what inspired the obscure stuff… some examples are beyond doubt and i commend you, like the GPC being MK ultra and that mad man john zubeck, but others im not so sure about, how do you go about your research? Or do you just have an ecclectic encyclopaedic knowledge of spy fiction? Anyways whatever i believe your vids are great and you do your due dilligence
Thanks for the comment. These findings are by no means conclusive. It's true. This video is based on quite a bit of investigative guesswork. For research, I began by looking into specific works mentioned by the creator. Then I branched off into more "obscure stuff", so possible sources of inspiration, based more on speculation and deduction than concrete evidence. Tim Schafer has mentioned MKUltra, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and James Bond as having inspired Psychonauts. The "mole" stuff was about getting into the head of a double agent, thinking about how he/she might operate. Le Carré's Tinker Tailor seemed an obvious starting point. It's the book that made the term famous. And, being grounded in real-life examples, it helps us dig into the psychological makeup of such a person. Other bits of research came from a more observational approach. The Maligula section is based on two main observations. First that Schafer likes to draw inspiration from ancient mythology. Second that, so far, there have been no clear-cut "villains" in Psychonauts. In films and TV shows, a tunnel of love is often used to reveal some dark deed or secret. So the poster seems like a tip-off, a subtle hint to the identity of the shadowed man.
I really liked this speculation of the game, I also have a theory, and it is about the yellow eyes, it must mean something, maybe it is even a clue to know who the mole is, and I have noticed that Norma and Lizzie have yellow eyes, and since it seems they are sisters, it is very likely that they are part of the Galochio family and are also the mole or just one of them
You forgot something. Maligula's name. Like most of (possibly all) the character's names in Psychonauts are puns. In Maligula's case, it's a play on the amygdala: one of two almond-shaped neural clusters in the brain found deep in the temporal lobes of the cerebrum. Their primary function is to process memories, decision-making, and emotional response.
This channel is so underrated, I didn't know that there was all this wonderful inspiration for the series, esp. the upcoming sequel (ahhh thank you for this knowledgeeee and wonderful pixel art!). This channel is definitely worth everyone subscribing to
Thanks for the positive words, and I'm glad you like the pixel art. This is a fairly new format I’m experimenting with, so it’s nice to know it’s being appreciated. And many thanks for the sub.
Finally some good Psychonauts 2 speculation! Great video!
So after playing the game and witnessing the ending, I gotta say: spot on
Having seen most of psychonauts 2 now, it's amazing how close this is, yet how it can't grasp the true answer, due to it never being teased or leaked.
The mole is not any one of the psychonauts, it ends up being one of the new characters, one never even implied within the first game.
The gollocios are actually a fabrication. Most of raz's past is. The figure with the drowning children is most likely a representation of what Raz imagined his family's curser to be.
Maligula is revealed to be the name of her persona as maligula. Who ends up being only a part of her original self. Maligula itself, playing on malicious or malignent, is likely due to it originating as a given title.
I still wish I knew what's up with that rusted truck in the toothy maw of that tree in the forest.
Does Psitanium warp nature as well as animals?
I think you might be onto something there. I have a sneaky suspicion it was inspired by the Whomping Willow scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as the film was released during the game’s development. But I suppose you’d have to pry it out of the artists.
@@curiousarcade According to the current dev playthrough stream, that truck was Ford's. And yes the psitanium can warp wildlife.
Lots of interesting stuff here to unpack! I love the allusions from history and fantasy alike related to Psychonauts's story and characters. Many possible references I never even thought of, and even if I did, were expanded in more detail. Great video!
Your mic is a little rough, and I'm not sure how I like the whispery delivery
BUT this content is always top notch.
Thanks for the feedback. The audio issues have not gone unnoticed. I hope to iron them out in the process of making more of these videos. Feel free to update me on your thoughts. And I’m glad you’re still enjoying the content :-)
@@curiousarcade Honestly it really is the level of research and thought that keeps me going, even when the first video had no voice over whatsoever
Came here looking for fun facts, and now I leave knowing what's going to happen in the sequel xd
You have become the #1 Psychonauts channel after this and the last Psychonauts video
Thanks. That's nice of you to say. Hope you enjoy the future content.
This is my first time watching any of your videos, I shall watch you grow. You have my support.
My second, so I shall also watch him
Glad you came across the video. And thanks for your support. It’s very much appreciated.
I'm so happy I got this reccomended
Wow! Thanks for the cool analysis!
Makes me wonder how you know for sure what inspired the obscure stuff… some examples are beyond doubt and i commend you, like the GPC being MK ultra and that mad man john zubeck, but others im not so sure about, how do you go about your research? Or do you just have an ecclectic encyclopaedic knowledge of spy fiction? Anyways whatever i believe your vids are great and you do your due dilligence
Thanks for the comment.
These findings are by no means conclusive. It's true. This video is based on quite a bit of investigative guesswork.
For research, I began by looking into specific works mentioned by the creator. Then I branched off into more "obscure stuff", so possible sources of inspiration, based more on speculation and deduction than concrete evidence.
Tim Schafer has mentioned MKUltra, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and James Bond as having inspired Psychonauts. The "mole" stuff was about getting into the head of a double agent, thinking about how he/she might operate. Le Carré's Tinker Tailor seemed an obvious starting point. It's the book that made the term famous. And, being grounded in real-life examples, it helps us dig into the psychological makeup of such a person. Other bits of research came from a more observational approach. The Maligula section is based on two main observations. First that Schafer likes to draw inspiration from ancient mythology. Second that, so far, there have been no clear-cut "villains" in Psychonauts. In films and TV shows, a tunnel of love is often used to reveal some dark deed or secret. So the poster seems like a tip-off, a subtle hint to the identity of the shadowed man.
im just seeing this now, having played the game. man your content is AWESOME this vid is gold! thanks for sharing your work, keep it up mate
It did end up being a brain swap, too!
I really liked this speculation of the game, I also have a theory, and it is about the yellow eyes, it must mean something, maybe it is even a clue to know who the mole is, and I have noticed that Norma and Lizzie have yellow eyes, and since it seems they are sisters, it is very likely that they are part of the Galochio family and are also the mole or just one of them
OH GOD
YES another psychonauts vid! thank you
You’re welcome. Enjoy :-)
Wonderful video!
If Maligula is the mother of those drowned children, is there a chance she may draw from la lorone? From Mexican folklore
You make a very interesting observation. Thanks for sharing.
14:18 And perhaps ties to Song Ra Ra Rasputin get It
very intersting! and Maligula is canonically male, for you to know
Wait, what? When is that ever stated?