Psychology of Psychonauts | Ford's Fractured Mind

Good day everyone!
Psychonauts 2 delves deep into the backstory of Ford Crueller. Acting as the one to give Raz guidance throughout the first game, here he is developed as a character.
After summoning him back to the Mother Lobe at the behest of Truman, Raz briefly jumps into the mind of the Psychonaut's founder. The shattered mindscape hints at a dark past. One that the Psychic 6 attempted to keep buried. Our task for Act 2 of the game is to repair the broken pieces of his mind.
In this episode of Psychology of Psychonauts, we will explore the mind of Hollis more and the methods used to get her mind to fix itself.
As always, free discussion is encouraged in the comments!
If you enjoy and would like to support the channel, come check out the Gaming University Patreon!
Episode: Psychology of Psychonauts | Ford's Fractured Mind
/ membership
Facebook: / gaminguniversity06
Twitter: / gaminguniversi6
Discord: / discord
#psychonauts2 #doublefine #GamingUniversity #fordcrueller

[@RedGunnerguy]

The most mind bending part of this first ford level wasnt the trippy physics when rowing the boat, or learning Ford still lives in Raz head, or how broken Ford mind is..... it was when Raz said "Whispering Rock! I havent been here in....days" . Days for you, Raz. 16 years for us.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I loves that too lmao. We waited for so long and it has only been days. Really a nod to the old fans in that line of dialogue.

[@RedGunnerguy]

@@GamingUniversityUoG It really gives you a feeling that they are living in a different reality, with a completely different time frame. How different would a mind be, coming out of a 15 or so-year coma. Actually, I'm probably overthinking this but this is what youtube is all about!

[@lkotro21]

I hope... that if Psychonauts 3 comes out, it won't be another 16 years =(

[@maxleroux]

Fun fact about Ford. The "Admiral Cruller" persona and his obsession with the canoes is tied to his repressed love for Lucrecia.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I could see that

[@maxleroux]

@@GamingUniversityUoG Yeah, there's a line in the post game that kind of gives it away.

[@shaneens1547]

What about his Farmer and Park Ranger personas?

[@maxleroux]

@@shaneens1547 We learned from Adam that Ford used to be a Park Ranger before he formed the Psychic Six, so maybe that persona stems from his past? The other two alter egos (Chef Cruller and Janitor Cruller) are a little tricky to narrow down due to lack of context, but like the others, they're probably related to Ford's experiences with the Psychonauts.

[@shaneens1547]

​@@maxlerouxOoooooooooh

[@ajerjavec4723]

When you get to several members of the psychic six there is an over arcing theme with them PST, and how different people deal with it in different ways

[@twistedmyth5860]

PTSD is what I think you mean, but yes.

[@ajerjavec4723]

@@twistedmyth5860 yes, that’s what I was thinking of and of the minds raz is going to visit the only ones that had doesn’t have to do with post traumatic stress disorder or helmet and Lucy’s and that’s only because helmet was in a jar too long for Ptsd to truly develop and with Lucy, the only part that I can think of that has to do with PTSD is the damn area

[@mackthisarrowhearth295]

Lucy was one of the best examples of PTSD, she was in total lockdown, stuck in a survival mechanism. And Helmut also surpressed everything to reach his safe inner space (Dear universe, please shut up)

[@karsten69]

Even Otto Mentalis, who you don't get to visit, is dealing with PTSD. He gives off a new age hippie kind of vibe, and it could be that he turned to spirituality, just like Bob turned to his bottles.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Absolutely! Getting all prepped now to begin working on the first of the psychic 6 worlds.

[@astral_ragtime5365]

One thing I really like is how Raz uncovers the totem of Lucrecia and starts to delve into Ford's mind-- the first power Ford taught him WAS Pyrokinesis! It's literally Raz's connection with Ford (and another member of the Psychic Six cough cough) that is able to bring these thoughts to the surface!

[@AliawooYT]

...Shit that- I never thought of that one. Helluva catch.

[@Nazo-kage]

A very nice bit of continuity in Psychonauts 1 and 2, is that all of the posts are there in the campfire area of whispering rock. In fact, the post for Lucretia, including her name and face are still present, in fact, the only post damaged is Ford’s. Although I noticed that, even though the order of the post placements had not changed their exact position in relation to each other has been altered slightly.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I remember trying to theorize about them before the sequel came out. I noticed these at the time too.

[@ginsengaddict]

A short one, but a good intro of what's to come. Bowing alley first it seems; I assume the order'll be mailroom, then salon, to get the full tragedy of Ford's relationship with Lucy?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Yeah it took me a but to decide what order I wanted to go in. But showing their relationship, his regret over her leaving, then how she turned full oppressor seems like a good enough progression for the relationship

[@adiksaff]

4:29 - That was such a beautiful reading of the moon and water imagery!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Thank you! This series hasn't given me much opportunity to look at these old symbols so I jumped on them.

[@mewsingsbynatk]

It immediately made me think of The Moon tarot card! 🌙

[@NicolasDominique]

Glad to see another Psychonauts analysis.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

More coming up soon! Just sitting down to write Compton.

[@JoseF420]

My personal interpretation of the lake is Ford's memories of Lucrecia/Maligula, representing her hydrokinesis abilities, as well as the Aquatos' curse to die in water. The moon represents the light and truth behind this curse and Lucy herself that Ford does not want Razputin to know.

[@RawCauliflower]

Ford reminds me of someone who survived suicide by gunshot wound, had some regrets over it but now is stuck with permanent brain damage.

[@hatashi1239]

I’m so excited! Psychonauts 2 was my first full experience of the game (I went back after). Besides the Sensorium, Compton’s cook off was so my favourite level! The extra detail that the timer was never relevant is really cool

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

That's the coolest detail of the cook off for me. Make you stress about something that's ultimately meaningless

[@hatashi1239]

When I played, I actually quit out and restarted when I made too many mistakes 😂 didn’t realise till I did my 100% playthrough

[@YouMayNotHyde]

This is an incredible series and I love it so much. Thanks for making it

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

My absolute pleasure! I'm glad you enjoy these.

[@jesternario]

I want to thank you. I was in a very angry mood before watching this and, even though you didn't do anything consciously to help, the calming demeanor you use helped calm me down, so thanks for that.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Glad to be able to help in my little way. Hope everything works out for you friend.

[@j.hawkins8779]

i guess you could say you were in a _bad mood?_ eeeeeyyyyhhhh I'll just see myself out the door

[@rngwrldngnr]

You go into Ford's mind so often in 2 I actually forgot that you don't go into his mind as any of the aspects from 1.

[@willisrose9756]

Another great timing for me happy to see a new video for Psychonauts!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Another one coming in the next couple weeks!

[@TooRudeProductions]

This was such a fascinating and satisfying game and I'm so glad that double fine released it on the game pass for Xbox

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

That's good they for it on other consoles so everyone can experience it.

[@borek92]

Microsoft released it on game pass. Double fine isn't independent anymore, Microsoft purchased it, that includes their IPs

[@EmoDKTsuchiya]

Action packed 6 minute video!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I almost skipped this entire excursion into Ford's mind because of how little time was spent there. But hey I'll find a way to make it work!

[@arrowacep]

I actually like to think that the "complete" version of Ford in his sanctum is a larger, more agreeable alter of Ford's: Agent Ford Cruller. Yes, it seems as though he's more aware of himself and he PROBABLY is, but it's not all of Ford. All of Ford isn't around until the end of Psychonauts 2. But thats just me :>

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Oh the one we see at the end of Psychonauts 2 is absolutely more complete than the one in P1.

[@LinkSeasonMaster]

The whole bit about suppression vs. repression reminded me of something from my own past. When I was four, I had a neighbor the same age as me. The two of us regularly chased each other around on each other’s front lawns since there was nothing separating them like bushes or fences. One day, she invited me inside her house. I remember walking inside, going into another and meeting her older brother. Then her mom walks in with an utterly shocked look on her face, and literally the next thing I know is that I’m outside on my neighbors’ doorstep with no idea how I got there. Ten years later, my parents informed me of why I was thrown out (I’ll go into detail if people are curious, but the short of it is that my parents made an unintentionally poor first impression when we first moved into that neighborhood when I was two and the mother told my parents she didn’t want me corrupting her little girl), but to this day, I can’t recall what happened between the mother walking in and me winding up outside. A part of me is morbidly curious, but another part responds with how even if I could recall what my four year old brain deemed harmful to retain, I would have nothing to gain from doing so. Either way, I’ve made it a point to use that whole incident as motivation to be as welcoming to others as possible, especially guests in my own home.

[@codyboise9989]

Wasn't expecting this until after helmut, but it's awesome to see all the same, editing work is phenomenal.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Definitely going to be doing these in order. Compton, Ford, Helmut, Ford, etc.

[@codyboise9989]

@@GamingUniversityUoG atleast it's professional in you're approach.

[@shinraset]

I was wondering how you were going to handle the unusual mental structure of Ford. I believe that you chose a good method.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Going to be seeing Ford 5 different times in this series in shorter dives. Seems easier since it goes into different ideas for each. Had to split up Hollis and Loboto for the same reason.

[@zombiehippo9477]

Never fail to enlighten me. thanks dude

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

You got it buddy!

[@Springtime562]

So suppression is basically telling your mind to shut up about something?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Basically. Something you can think about but choose to ignore it for whatever reason.

[@wingdingfontbro]

Seeing your videos on Psychonauts I think you would find Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina interest ing as they also deal with the visualization of emotions.

[@Mr.Anderson9323]

I’ve been real excited about this one!

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Good to hear! Ford is going to be a fun one to work on.

[@Mr.Anderson9323]

Oh absolutely. He’s easily my favorite character for a number of reasons.

[@BonesPower]

I've been so excited for your next one!!!! 😁

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Another new one coming soon!

[@edward002gaming]

I find it funny that you summon Ford Cruller using a bacon.

[@AntonMonster]

Can’t wait for the next episode

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

It's the next thing I'm working on. Scripting it this weekend.

[@AntonMonster]

@@GamingUniversityUoG been loving your content very much. It’s interesting to listen to your thoughts, even if English is my second language and some terms are new to me, but I get it through the context.

[@dawsonhelf7922]

It’s weird how you started with Compton Boole, because the way the personalities were buried, mail was dealt with first, barber was dealt with second, and lastly, Bowling was dealt, you know what I mean?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'm working on these from a chronological sense on my end. Them dating, Lucy going away, then seeing the end point of her actions. So Bowling, Mail, Barber.

[@FerreTrip]

@@GamingUniversityUoG Ah. I was wondering why you weren't going barber first because he's probably the first one most explore, given there's no level in the way of him. (At least he's who I got to first.) That all said, I highly recommend watching _The Beatles Yellow Submarine_ before doing Psi King.

[@tomcurl8034]

Otto mentalis seems unbothered by the tragedies of the past to the point that I question his ability to feel empathy for his friends and colleagues

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

He always comes off like he cares more for machines than people. He may have a small degree of sociopathy.

[@coyote16able]

hmm I think and this is just a guess but that most of the issues will have to deal with Work related issues like with Holis all her problems can be explained from her time at the Hospital.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Since we spend a huge amount of our life at work or school in our younger years, I'd imagine these two are responsible for most of our problems.

[@ozimandias9863]

That's a rather good segway

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I almost skipped this entirely. Happy I didn't. I agree it is a good pivot to the next act of the game.

[@insertclevernamehere6607]

It’s kinda crazy that Lucrecia’s totem by the campfire was in the first game

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I always looked at these before the sequel came out. Never thought we would get to see those characters but here we are. It's pretty cool

[@blackdemonknight]

Honestly with Otto Mantalis being the only one of the Psychic 6 we never enter the mind of makes me think he is the only one that sort of got out uneffected

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I still somewhat think Otto is a sociopath. He just seems so aloof all the time. Indifferent to everyone else's suffering.

[@roberttew6073]

@@GamingUniversityUoG If I may add? Otto is an inventor. A tinker. Remember some of the inventions he showed when we go to his workshop? Notice how he pointed out some of his inventions? One he made when he was angry. Another made when he was sad. Maybe he simply chose to channel his emotions or potential trauma into his work. And some of his inventions reflect his internal thoughts. Though, his thoughts on the Astrolathe are.....concerning.

[@robomuffin1386]

@@GamingUniversityUoG yeah that would fit him rather well... the only person he seems to care about is Ford. Plus after the Battle of Grulovia and the founding psychonauts he seemed to have become a workaholic. I do hope we see his mind in a Psychonauts 3 but he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't really want help from anyone at least not any more. I do hope you make a video about him.

[@blackdemonknight]

@@robomuffin1386 Him only caring about Ford may relate to the fact he was the fist to join him founding the Psychonauts meaning he was the closest to Ford after Lucricia

[@jeffcarroll1990shock]

helmut fullbear is the only one in the entire series that actively hate his sensors. He doesn't like how they interrupt his free-flowing ideas such as expressing emotions through the senses and homosexuality. Well I know a lot of the commentary was just Jack Black ad-libbing a lot of the quotes, it really does show his hatred for the word no.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'm definitely going to keep this in mind when I work on that level.

[@kiayaplews8593]

I can't wait for Compton's cook-off! How long until it is revealed? As a person with autism, I'd like to point out the concept of emotional maturity when it comes to Compton and the fear of judgement that led him to psychic solitary confinement... without his lady love, he is terrified of what the other Psychonauts think of him, but the only versions of them actually judging him are just oversized goat-themed sock puppets. He's only scaring himself! Also, I wonder if there's a theme in each of those dishes.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I'm finalizing the script this week and it will be out next Monday. Had to help a buddy move this weekend so I didn't get the chance to finish it. And yes, self judgment is one aspect of Compton. He absolutely has some relatable aspects

[@FerreTrip]

I don't think he sees Cassie as a love interest, perhaps more as a close friend, someone who understands him, his rock.

[@codyboise9989]

Can I assume by this video you'll do future videos on: the history of green needle gulch & the Astrolathe? Also: if you had access to such a device capable of making alterations to one's psych, would you and what would you change?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I am usually against the idea of altering someone's mind. Our trauma and pain make us who we are as people and frankly I wouldn't be the same person without it. However, some memories and trauma end of leading people to dive into dangerous and criminal behavior. Depending on the type of dangerous behavior it might be a good idea to remove that trauma. With serial killers for example. But then the counterargument is that if these terrible things never happened would us as a culture even recognize the warning signs anymore? Bad people act as an example of what can go wrong with the human experience so that we can avoid it. Would there be more of this popping up if we didn't know how bad people can get? A warning for us on what NOT to do. It is a complicated topic to be sure. One for the philosophers to hammer out.

[@codyboise9989]

@@GamingUniversityUoG agreed, we're all fighting our own demons in some form or another

[@codyboise9989]

@@GamingUniversityUoG it's better to remember bad times and learn from them then go crazy trying to forget. Because we've seen first hand what happens when someone develops maladaptive coping mechanisms down the road.

[@pigeonpigeon7404]

I stumbled across a condition in real life that reflects what we see in ford, albeit a little inaccurate called dissociative identity disorder (DID) thats similar in the sense that multiple personalities inhabit one mind, but also different considering how it is less spontaneous in the nature of said personalities. If i may expand, it also seems to succeed a traumatic event. Although not entirely the same, i think it might have similar mechanism.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Yeah I find it hard to say specifically this is D.I.D. since the personalities are not really a self defense mechanism. While it doesnt fit exactly it reminds me of Geovannini Mirror Syndrome. Where Ford's environment dictated his personality. He picks up on things around him then through loose associations develops a personality around it. Granted this syndrome isn't believed to be real. Just theoretical as far as I know.

[@codyboise9989]

Speaking of psychonauts 1: what do you think became of the former inmates of thorny towers? What do you like became of Boyd, Gloria, Fred & Edgar?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I wish I knew. I'd love to follow up with these characters. Granted only a week has passed at most so they couldn't have gotten up to much.

[@codyboise9989]

@@GamingUniversityUoG alot can happen in such a short space of time.

[@katietaylor8314]

I really hope that a) They will appear in Psychonauts 3, and that b) There will be a Psychonauts 3.

[@codyboise9989]

@@katietaylor8314 agreed

[@ChimeratAlpha]

I thought Otto was the founder, not Ford? Ford and Lucie were brought on by Otto, at least.

[@Chimeragui]

Otto was likely one of the first to join Cruller, presumably as the co-founder of the Psychic Six with Compton, Bob and Helmut being recruited by Ford and Lucrecia being recruited by Otto while the circumstances of Cassie’s recruitment are currently unknown.

[@ChimeratAlpha]

@@Chimeragui Ah. That would make sense too.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Ford is the original founder but Otto was the first to be recruited I believe. Based on the dialogue from Otto saying Lucrecia would be the third.

[@ohmhasmeaning7292]

is Compton Bool's name a joke about the bloods gang? cuz that's morbidly hilarious

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I never thought about that lol. I can see the memes already.

[@ohmhasmeaning7292]

@@GamingUniversityUoG Big Bombpton Bool, turn a camper into a convertible ☠

[@mitchellalexander9162]

I didn't expect it to come up like this but now that we're here might as well comment this: It's Minor Spoilers for the Game but: If You Arranged the Entire Battle of Grulovia conflict and rearranged each of the Individual Memory Vaults to make them address the Build-Up, the Battle and the Aftermath it would be an EPIC Memory Vault beyond Memory Vaults. It would take a lot of editing though,

[@passingsynonym6951]

amazing vid🤩

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

Thank you!

[@VinceMouse]

"We're not here to fix people."

[@victormontes7007]

You know this reminds me of the doctor from star trek voyager and him wanting to forget a memory of his life but because he is basically a computer those memories are deleted outright so is that both suppression and repression or something different entirely?

[@digidrveKJ]

Yeah boy another Psychonauts Psychoanalysis

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

More coming shortly!

[@radleytadong]

I have a question, can repression also be caused by amnesia or is that a different thing?

[@victormontes7007]

Repression is sometimes done by the mind in order to protect itself so if it is presented with a shortcut its going to take it. With the amnesia event that is usually cause by great trauma whether physical a knock to the head or mental and physiological intense stress when the brain in rebooting itself the basics breathing walking using your hands come back first and when memories are coming back when the brain does not want to remember it's going to ignore those memories they are still there the brain is just ignoring them however considering that they study of conditions like these is always evolving this is just one example when the brain wants to protect itself and just do day-to-day things it will do it whether you want to or not.

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

I havent looked into this particular connection but it 100% seems reasonable to link them to me.

[@Festru534]

in the first game there are all effigy of psychic seven including lucrecia'sv

[@Headlessgenie]

Btw for others who havent played Those effigies are all 7 in the first game

[@LukeAps]

The greatest missed opportunity of this game, was to have Maligula, literally trapped INSIDE Ford's mind. Shattered to prevent her escape. And upon deshattering, she is released. That is honestly where I thought this story was going, and was so hyped for it because the concept is hinted at multiple times.

[@chahuncoller]

I suggest you a video. Watch this video to get rid of psychiatric illness. Your meaning and emotions will reach their natural state without any artificial influence. The name of the video is "THE ONLY WAY OUT OF DEPRESSION Anxiety, bipolar, obsession, apathy, panic attack treatment".

[@-Commit-arson-]

Ford doughnut

[@boiitbespamtongspamton4518]

This is how I play the game watch a psychological look into all the characters which is so interesting here

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

This game almost basically asks the players to dive deeper to get the full story

[@CSM100MK2]

Do I smell Bacon?

[@GamingUniversityUoG]

There's always room for bacon