The Element Of High On Life That Has Critics Divided
"High on Life," the latest madcap title from Squanch Games/"Rick and Morty" co-creator Justin Roiland, is a game with a unique take on a classic genre. "High on Life" is a first-person shooter in which weapons are more than just tools of destruction. Every weapon the player comes across in "High on Life" is sentient and frequently converses with the player. This concept may sound a bit too silly at first, but it fits right into Squanch Games' imaginative sci-fi sensibilities.
It sounds like fans of Squanch's "Trover Saves the Universe" will find a lot to enjoy here. But ahead of the game's December 13 launch, gamers should be warned that early reactions to the new game from Justin Roiland have been a bit all over the place. Specifically, one element of "High on Life" has critics split: Some folks just do not find it to be as funny as it's intended to be.
Not everyone is a fan of the humor
According to the "High on Life" Metacritic score, there is a lot to love about this first-person shooter. However, some critics have argued that the comedy in "High on Life" isn't for everyone. And because comedy is such an integral part of the game, some have determined that it may be worth skipping for many gamers.
For example, Chris Carter at Destructoid wasn't very impressed with "High on Life" overall, awarding it a 5.5 out of 10. Although Carter wrote that the shooter packs in some fun gameplay and a sizable list of unique weapons and gameplay options, he noted that "the humor [in 'High on Life'] will be hit and miss for many." This wasn't a case of not enjoying Squanch's sensibilities, either, as Carter noted that he thought "Trover Saves the Universe" was much more successful in the comedy department. Carter also reported stumbling upon multiple glitches, such as a few instances where doors that should have been open were closed, thereby preventing him from progressing.
Edwin Evans-Thirlwell at Eurogamer was another critic who didn't enjoy the humor of "High on Life," calling it a "botched attempt to rebottle 'Rick and Morty' as a first-person shooter." Evans-Thirlwell felt that the game was full of "toxic meta-comedy" that often missed its mark, and that the comedy often devolved into "weakly 'provocative' jokes about killing kids."
Some critics were charmed by High on Life
Game Rant's Dalton Cooper, on the other hand, was much more entertained by "High on Life," thus awarding it a 4 out of 5. Although he noted the humor wasn't for everyone, Cooper wrote that they thought "High on Life" was a lot of fun, explaining that the complete package made for an "amusing, well-written, surprising, and genuinely hilarious experience." However, Cooper did mention that the game features a fair bit of backtracking and an abundance of glitches that keep the game just shy of perfection.
Josh West at GamesRadar echoed similar praise in his review, awarding "High on Life" a 3.5 out of 5. West praised the game's visual style and world-building and found the game to be undeniably funny. West wrote that some of the funniest jokes in "High on Life" were simply thrown in as "off-hand contextual comments made as you strafe and shoot your way through frantic firefights," which should encourage fans to pay close attention. West did, however, find the game's combat repetitive at times due to a lack of enemy variety. He also felt the game's story stumbled toward the end.
It sounds like players' mileage may vary when it comes to the humor in "High on Life."