Level Analysis- Psychonauts: Sasha's Shooting Gallery (Part Three)

The next sublevel Raz traverses is nicknamed the “Cobbler Shop.” Similar to the Nursery, Raz has shrunk down again, although slightly less so, signifying that this level represents a later point in Sasha’s life. The layout of this level, as the name suggests, resembles a cobbler’s workshop.

There are stacks of shoeboxes with Sasha’s surname, Nein, printed on them for Raz to jump over. Measuring tapes that act as grinding rails, sewing machines, and utensils, and leather and cloth materials. There are even shoe horns, the device that inspired Sasha’s codename in the Psychonauts: “Shoehorn.”

The figments of imagination in this level also reflect the craft of shoe-making and repair. Tools of the trade, like needles and threads, measuring tools, nails, laces, and shoe polish, can be found here.

There are many things to interpret from the level’s layout that are further explored in the second memory vault, but for now, let's see what there is to go off.

As a teenager, Sasha worked as an apprentice cobbler under his father. Sasha’s father was proud of his work and was eager to teach his son the trade. Although Sasha did not have much interest in cobbling. For him, it was an excuse to be close to his father and finally receive acknowledgement.

This is the only sublevel of the cube that tells us of Sasha’s past as a cobbler. Given that shoe repair, much like his childhood, isn’t a subject he is keen to talk about, it’s more likely that this is a subject he has little to no interest in rather than something painful to remember. We already know from the previous layer that Sasha was starved for validation from his father, making this the logical next step in his childhood.

It was at this time that Sasha also began to develop his psychic powers, practicing them on shoe repairs. Although his dad was too distracted with everything to even notice his son’s incredible powers. We are given hints at Sasha’s psychic development in the first memory vault when Sasha sees what looks like his mother’s spirit leaving her body after her death, angel wings and all.

This leads us easily into the second and last memory vault in Sasha’s mind, titled: “Sasha’s Second Sight.” This eight-slide film shows us Sasha’s short time as a cobbler and how his psychic abilities led him to leave home and eventually become a Psychonaut.

The first slide shows Sasha and his father at the cobbler shop, Sasha looking pensively at his father while they work. The next slide is of Sasha pointing at a portrait of his mother, looking hopefully at his dad, but he just waved him off.

Sasha tries asking his father about his mother, wanting to know more about her since he didn’t get to know her for very long. Obviously, this is still a subject his father refuses to acknowledge, so he is ignored. It is then that Sasha attempts to delve into his father’s mind to see for himself what his father cannot put into words.

The next few slides depict this. Sasha sees memories of his mother from the perspective of his father, first of her holding him as a baby. Next shows his father viewing her as an angel, watching over him and her son from heaven. Encouraged by the beautiful memories and feelings his father has for his mother, Sasha probes deeper.

Unfortunately, the next memory he sees would traumatize him for the rest of his life.

He witnessed the lewd act between his father and mother that resulted in his conception.

Of course, this is the truth, but still, Sasha, as I’m sure everyone would also agree, would rather NOT see the act of their creation. The idea of this figure, his mother, so perfect and pure in his mind, engaging in such a strange and intimate act, shakes him to his core and shatters his perception of his parents.

Shortly after this, Sasha leaves home, unable to face his father.

If the Nursery reflected Sasha’s relationship with his mother, the Cobbler Shop reflects his relationship with his father. Both layers are complemented by their respective memory vaults, which further explore Sasha’s relationship with his parents.

Understanding Sasha’s relationship with his father also adds a whole new level of complexity to his relationship with Raz as his mentor. Similar to Sasha, Raz’s relationship with his father is strained, something Sasha learns firsthand during his psychoanalysis in the Brain Tumbler.

Sasha expects a lot from his pupil and always pushes him to do his best. Despite his prickly demeanor, he is still fair to Raz, even comforting and understanding at times.

Granted, he isn’t very good at it, especially compared to his partner, Milla, but he still tries, which is more than can be said about Sasha’s own father.

If Raz uses clairvoyance on Sasha after acquiring the ability later in the game, it reveals that Sasha sees Raz as a younger version of himself, who, just like him, is in need of direction and understanding, something he was gravely missing at his age.

It makes his interactions with Raz all the more heartwarming when you realize he is trying to be a good guardian figure to him in the absence of his father.

With that, let’s move on to the final stage of Sasha’s Shooting Gallery, the factory.