Second Sight is a science fiction action-adventure video game, developed by Free Radical Design, and published by Codemasters for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox in 2004, and Windows in 2005. The game's story sees players assume the role of an American parapsychology researcher who seeks to uncover their past through the use of psychic powers they possess, finding events in the present are linked to a military mission they undertook with a taskforce of U.S. Marines.
The game's action is divided between traditional gun combat and stealth, with emphasis on players making the most of the protagonist's different psychic abilities to survive against hostile opponents, as well as overcoming different obstacles in each level. The game received mostly favourable reviews, with the exception of the PC version which received mixed feedback. The game has sold one million copies worldwide and was nominated for "Originality" and "Best Game on GameCube" at 2nd British Academy Games Awards.
Gameplay
In Second Sight, players explore levels primarily with a third-person perspective which by default is in free-roam but can be switched to a fixed perspective though at times the camera switches to a first-person viewpoint either by switching it through the camera controls, or when moving through a crawlspace. Each level features a set of tasks that culminate in the player reaching a goal to complete the level, with a different range of situations to overcome, including hostile enemies that either must be killed or avoided with stealth, as well as minor puzzles and obstacles to overcome.
Second Sights most unique aspect of gameplay is the protagonist's ability to use a variety of psychic powers, which can be used either to aid the player in combat, heal themselves or others, avoid detection, and help to solve some puzzles. At the start of the game, the player begins with only a few powers, but unlock new ones and upgrades to those they possess as the story progresses. These powers drain the player's psychic energy either in a set amount or over time; if the player is drained of psychic energy, they are momentarily stunned for a few seconds, leaving them vulnerable.
For the most part, several levels emphasis the use of stealth to make progress, including watching the movement of hostiles, and making use of hiding places like closets. To assist in stealth, some levels provide a player with a silenced tranquilliser gun which can be used to silently knock out enemies. If the player is spotted by an enemy or a security camera, the alarm is raised, causing more hostiles to arrive within the area the protagonist is within. The alarm can only be cancelled if the player hides from enemies until they lose sight of them; when they do, enemies will return to their routines, with reinforcements replacing those who were taken out by the player before the alarm was raised. The deal gives THQ Nordic the rights to republish the game, in addition to making new games, if they want. In April 2021, THQ Nordic relisted the game on Steam.
Soundtrack
In 2006, Free Radical Design made the Second Sight soundtrack available for download on the company website, including printable album artwork.
In 2012, Graeme Norgate made the soundtrack available on his personal Bandcamp page.
Reception
Second Sight received "favorable" reviews on all platforms except the PC version, which received "average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.