The 2022 game High on Life wondered what would happen if the quirky, often dark humor of Rick and Morty was applied to video games instead of science fiction. The result was a fast-paced shooter featuring guns that constantly talk – and swear!
While it was amusing, the game felt more like an early experiment than a complete product. Its quirky humor and the fun idea of talking guns made it stand out, but the combat and exploration quickly became repetitive.
Okay, so it wasn’t an instant hit with everyone, but as a huge Adult Swim fan, I totally loved it! You could just tell it had a lot of potential, and those of us who really get Adult Swim were completely into it.
This sequel successfully builds on the original, improving in all areas. It doesn’t just maintain the humor, it enhances a truly excellent experience.
What is High on Life 2 about?
Okay, so High on Life 2 basically picks up right after the first game ended. You’re still playing as that same silent bounty hunter, and things are crazy! After you took down the G3 Cartel – those aliens who were totally addicted to humans – you’ve become a huge celebrity all over the universe. It’s awesome, but I’m sure more trouble is brewing!
Things get complicated when your sister, Lizzie, joins a terrorist group and a large reward is offered for her capture. You’re forced to betray your fellow bounty hunters to protect her, instantly making you a wanted fugitive. To make matters even stranger, Lizzie uncovers a disturbing plot by a major drug company: they plan to capture people and turn them into pills for recreational use. It’s as unbelievable as it sounds.
You, Lizzie, along with your mentor Gene and the Gatlians—aliens that strangely resemble guns—team up to uncover the conspiracy and, once again, save the world.
The premise is as silly as it seems, and the film’s obvious jabs at pharmaceutical companies aren’t exactly brilliant storytelling. However, it’s fun enough to keep you watching as the action jumps from one violent scene to the next.
Funnier than ever
It’s tough to make a good sequel, especially a funny one when the original surprise is gone. But High on Life 2 still manages to be hilarious. The game constantly rewards you with new jokes, whether you’re meeting strange characters, buying improvements, or finding hidden collectibles.
Honestly, the writing is full of awesome moments I don’t want to ruin for anyone. It goes from laugh-out-loud crude jokes to really smart stuff where the characters acknowledge they are in a game. If you’re a Rick and Morty fan – you know, that blend of goofy and dark humor – you’re gonna love it.
Things aren’t perfect, and some chats drag on, but you’ll find yourself laughing a lot more than you’ll be annoyed.
Talking guns are anything but nerfed
The guns are the real stars of the show, each with a unique personality that shines through in both how they talk and how they fight.
Returning favorites include the laid-back Gus (J.B. Smoove), who pulls enemies in before destroying them, and Knifey (Michael Cusack), your close-combat weapon and grappling hook, who’s always eager to eliminate anyone nearby.
The game also introduces new characters, like Travis, a down-on-his-luck husband, and his separated wife, Jan. Together, they’re a powerful duo who can send opponents flying.
Sheath, brilliantly voiced by Ralph Ineson, is a real highlight. His overly enthusiastic approach to combat is consistently funny. He’s also a powerful burst-fire rifle with a unique ability: he fires a harpoon that impales an enemy, then lets you pull them into another, essentially turning your opponents into a chain of screaming bodies.
Each character is fun to play by itself, but the battles become truly exciting when you start combining their abilities. With a little practice, you can freeze enemies with Sweezy’s Time Bubble, then use Creature to soften them up with his attacking offspring, and finally deliver a stylish finishing blow with Knifey. It’s both completely over-the-top and incredibly awesome!
The world is your skatepark
Okay, so the coolest new thing in this update is definitely the skateboard! Forget sprinting – now you can just hop on your board to get around. It’s awesome because you save stamina while you roll, jump, and even grind on rails to get where you need to go. It’s a total game changer!
High on Life 2’s levels are larger and more open than those in the first game, requiring more exploration. Each level is like a complex maze of ramps and grindrails, designed to help you reach your goals quickly, but also to reward skilled players with hidden areas and collectibles.
It’s satisfying when it functions correctly, but it always feels a bit awkward. I frequently experienced unintended collisions with the environment – bumping into things at bad times or getting snagged, which sometimes sent me flying off the edge.
Campaign keeps things fresh
A key criticism of the original High on Life was that the shooting sequences, while fun initially, became repetitive. The new game addresses this by offering a wider variety of activities and challenges between combat encounters.
The game features light puzzle elements again, but the missions are now much more diverse, offering fun and unexpected breaks from the main action.
Get ready for a wild time on Con-con, a planet dedicated entirely to conventions! You’ll be battling for parking, sharing drinks with a struggling alien, and even solving a complicated murder mystery – all before the night is over.
It’s disappointing that the game’s inventive approach doesn’t extend to all of the boss battles. One early fight against a corrupt senator, who shrinks and attacks you within the game’s menus, is a standout, but the other bosses aren’t quite as imaginative.
Verdict
Okay, as a huge fan of the first High on Life, I can tell you High on Life 2 absolutely delivers! It takes everything I loved about the original and just cranks it up to eleven. It’s bigger, way funnier, and honestly, it feels like it finally fulfills the potential I always saw in the first game. If you’re looking for a wild, over-the-top first-person shooter with genuinely hilarious moments, this is it!
Characters like Sheath and Travis show that the hilarious talking guns concept from the beginning wasn’t a one-time success. They consistently make you laugh while also taking down your opponents.
This game is delightfully strange and genuinely funny, making it a blast to play. While improved skateboarding and more diverse boss fights would make it perfect, the series still has a lot to offer, and we’d welcome a third installment.
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2026-02-12 18:20