Second Sight

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 Sight's 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.

Second Sight takes place in a world in which parapsychology exists, and where secret research on its power after World War II uncovered evidence that psychic abilities could be genetically transferred into other human beings. The story's events take place across locations within the United States and Siberia, during the late 1990s.

John Vattic, an American parapsychology researcher, awakens in a medical facility in Virginia with no recollection of his past, only the knowledge that he possesses powerful psychic abilities of unknown origin. Using these to escape his cell and explore the facility, he later experiences a flashback that reveals to him that six months ago, he was recruited by the Pentagon to join up with WinterICE - a special taskforce of U.S. Marines led by Colonel Joshua Starke, and his psychic adviser Jayne Wilde. The taskforce had been given orders to travel to Siberia to recover Victor Grienko, a renowned Russian scientist who had conducted extensive research into parapsychology, and was now seeking political asylum in the United States.

THQ Nordic have acquired the rights to the game in August 2018. 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.

In 2006, Free Radical Design made the Second Sight soundtrack available for download on the company website, including printable album artwork.

Second Sight received "favorable" reviews on all platforms except the PC version, which received "average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

In 2010, the game was included as one of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.