by When I first started High On Life, I knew what I was getting myself into. I’m familiar with the work of not only Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites) but also his game studio Squanch Games (Trover Saves The Universe, Accounting+), so I had an idea of what kind of comedy would be coming my way . What I didn’t expect though was a 3D shooter with Metroidvania vibes that echoes some of the best games of my youth and more importantly does them justice.
High On Life tells the story of an unnamed protagonist – who everyone calls the Bounty Hunter, even their own sister – who fights an alien drug cartel that has invaded Earth. The cartel wants to collect every human on the planet and sell them as the drug, which other aliens can consume via elaborate machines. Our bounty hunter hero is armed with Gatlians, a race of talking weapons, each Gatlian possessing their own attacks and abilities. Admittedly, the concept is very strange, but it’s a well-told story that kept me guessing until the very end.