High on Life 2 Reviews
High On Life 2 is a fun sequel that expands on the original’s best ideas, but an underwhelming story and even sloppier gunplay means it also takes a step backward in plenty of areas.
In a genre crowded with self-serious shooters, there is something refreshing about a series so deeply committed to its own identity. Even when the bit falters, even when it reaches for the lowest-hanging fruit, High on Life 2 never feels timid. It is garish and intermittently incisive. At its best, it makes the threat of human extinction feel like an open mic night you’re moderately glad you attended.
Just like its predecessor, High on Life 2 is an imperfect game that, despite its rough edges, manages to entertain and amuse from start to finish. The bounty hunter's escapades in this new guise as a fugitive are even crazier than those seen in the fight against the G3 cartel, the new Gatlians are hilarious, and there's no shortage of plot twists that, on more than one occasion, shake up the narrative. So, as long as you can overlook the sub-par technical aspects and a certain repetitiveness of the gameplay, Squanch Games' offering is highly recommended.
Review in Italian | Read full review
An extreme shooter with a narrative as crazy as it is well-thought-out, refusing to bow to the conventions of a genre that seems to push everything toward the dark side of seriousness . High on Life 2 continues to prove that you can make an FPS with humor and mix in other gameplay mechanics without fear of ridicule.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Did you enjoy the unhinged toilety humour of the first High on Life? Then, chances are, you'll probably get a kick out of the same brand of madc...
High on Life 2's biggest issue outside of technical issues, is that the new additions to the game feel so counter intuitive and work against what made the first game such a cult hit.
Three years after Roilad left Squanch Games, the studio is now showing what it's capable of. High on Life 2 offers a narrative shooter that mixes elements of all kinds to create a unique and highly satisfying product. The frenetic combat on skateboards, the hilarious dialogue, and the thousand crazy situations we'll experience make this sequel a great game that hooks you and works well for all kinds of shooter genre lovers. A 90s-style space opera that you'll love to have in your game library.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
High On Life 2 presents such a constant barrage of ridiculous humour and memorable gameplay scenarios that it can be a great deal of fun. At the same time, its core gameplay is quite simple and not everyone will appreciate its world's cynical albeit colourful lens. 🔫
The gameplay itself is just okay, but it feels like Squanch Games knows that. Outside the big set-piece moments, everything else mostly exists to set up more jokes. If you were a fan of the first High on Life, High on Life 2 is an easy game to recommend.
Fans of the original will feel right at home, and newcomers should consider starting with the first game for the best experience. If you are looking for a polished technical showcase or cutting edge combat systems, this is not that game. However, if you want a bold, funny, and unforgettable single player experience, High on Life 2 delivers.
High on Life 2 is everything you could want from a sequel to the first High on Life. It’s bigger, better, and funnier, finally delivering on what the original promised – a fantastic, over-the-top FPS where the jokes are as sharp as your knife. New companions like Sheath and Travis prove that the talking guns shtick that worked so well the first time was no fluke, and they constantly leave you in stitches and your enemies needing them. If you can give in to the weirdness, this is a goofy shooter that’s genuinely hilarious and a hell of a lot of fun to play. With smoother skateboarding and more varied boss battles, it would be perfection, but there’s a lot of life left in this emergent series – we wouldn’t say no to a threequel.
High on Life 2 delivers more talking guns, outrageous satire, and wildly inventive boss fights, but plays things a bit too safe to truly surpass its predecessor.
Overall I had a blast with High On Life 2 from start to finish. With improved gameplay and in my opinion improved writing as well, fans of the first game and maybe even some detractors will find a lot to like here. Although the reduced metroidvania elements are disappointing and some tech issues can be annoying, it wasn’t nearly enough to bring the overall experience down. If Squanch decides to go with High On Life 3, I await it greatly.
Four years after High on Life, Squanch Games returns with High on Life 2—an adventure even crazier, sillier, funnier, and more creative.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
High on Life 2 is bolder and more hilarious. Parkour is enjoyable, gunplay feels faster and more refined. This is a good game. If only it was a bit more polished.
If the previous game didn’t grab you, I do think High On Life 2 is superior in every way that makes it worth playing. Squanch Games largely plays it safe, but still manages to introduce new ideas never before seen in other games. Comedy is very subjective, but I think the humor in this game is right up your alley if you enjoy the likes of Tim Robinson. High On Life 2 is more High On Life, but in a more polished, focused, and refined space adventure where it’s crass humor is befitting the universe it exists in.
High on Life 2 improves on everything from its predecessor. The game skillfully combines clever satire with surreal, meta-humor and numerous pop culture references. Gameplay, story and jokes are tightly intertwined, creating a unique and incredibly funny symbiosis. The game offers enough ideas for a dozen titles. The mission design is full of variety, and the gunplay has received a significant upgrade. Particularly noteworthy are the brilliant skateboard mechanics, which shake up both the level design and the shooter gameplay. Unfortunately, poor technical implementation and visual issues accompany this otherwise thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi package.
Review in German | Read full review
High On Life 2 is bigger, louder and completely unhinged - it's the perfect sequel.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
High On Life 2 is bigger yet smaller. It’s both bold and more reserved in how it dishes out gameplay mechanics and story beats. I loved my 15 hours with it