The brain sneezing powder, also known as "super sneezing powder", is a refined powder that causes the inhaler to literally sneeze out their brain. It is yellow in color. It is ineffective on people who are unable to smell it, for example due to having contracted the common cold[1].
Background[]
The first chronological appearance of Super Sneezing Powder is in the battle of the Psychic Six against Maligula. Hurled into the sea by Maligula's hydrokinesis, wounded, and with the lake rapidly freezing over due to Otto Mentallis' Hyperglaciator, Helmut Fullbear used Super Sneezing Powder to "blow his brains out" in a last-ditch attempt to save himself. A memory vault shows that he succeeded, his brain riding the super sneeze out of the lake, landing right next to Ford Cruller. This implies that Super Sneezing Powder is an early invention of Psychonauts, or already existed when the original team formed. Consequently, Dr. Loboto may have independently developed it, or been given access by Coach Oleander.
Aftermath[]
Detachment of the human brain is not fatal in the Psychonauts universe. The body is able to survive without it, complete with basic motor functions and limited speech. Once the brain is removed from the body, the person's entire consciousness is trapped inside, whilst the brainless body falls into a zombie-like state. The brain can move itself through the use of telekinesis[2], or calling for help using telepathy; abilities only psychics are able to use.
Re-braining[]
Brains can be reconnected to the body. The body need not be its original one.
Psychonauts[]
The powder is first used by Dr. Loboto, stealing Dogen's brain in a vision in the Brain Tumbler Experiment. Ford Cruller uses Super Sneezing Powder in a surprise attack against Coach Oleander, whose disembodied brain makes its way into the full-size Brain Tank. Finally, once Raz approaches the defeated Brain Tank, it turns out to be armed with Super Sneezing Powder as a last-ditch defense mechanism. The cloud of powder causes Raz to temporarily lose his brain as well.
Psychonauts 2[]
Helmut Fullbear used Super Sneezing Powder to save his brain after the battle against Maligula, when his body was lost at the bottom of the frozen lake. Nick Johnsmith's brainless body is also discovered, presumably de-brained by super sneezing powder.
Trivia[]
- Loboto's robotic arm has a dispenser made specifically to deploy the Brain Sneezing Powder, which resembles a pepper grinder.