Okay, joke time. Justin Roiland, animator and famous creator of Rick and Mortywalks into a bar along with JB Smoove, a brave team of game developers and (presumably) enough recreational resources to explore the environment of Yellow Submarine passed several times. “Okay, guys, here’s an idea I’ve been working on,” Roiland declares, grinning gleefully and wiping beer from his mouth with the excess remaining money he’s earned from Mr. Meeseeks’ merchandise. “How about making a video game where you’re a guy who saves the world from aliens using weapons – except the humans are drugs, the aliens are drugs, and all the weapons are alive. You too have a part in it, JB.” And everyone present nods in agreement, without questioning anything.
Sounds like a setup for the most hysterical comedy in history, right? Well, that’s where I got you – this is in fact the very premise of High in life, an upcoming comedy shooter from Squanch Games, Roiland’s personal development studio. It certainly looks like an intriguing experience. So, in anticipation of the December launch, here’s everything we know: High in life so far!
Stoned by High in life
Revealed at this year’s Xbox gaming showcase, High in life looks like exactly the kind of crazy, technicolor outing you’d expect from Casa de Roiland. In an unusual future where humanity has been nicked by an alien cartel, you’re put in the shoes (well, advanced cybernetic mech suit) of a poor guy barely out of high school. You are, as is tradition, the last hope of the species, and you must fend off the alien destroyers for a very special reason. See, to these aliens, we humans are just as addictive as the contents of Charlie Sheen’s glove compartment, which puts a nice twist on things: they’re not trying to kill you for the sake of fact, they just want to get their fix.
So go ahead, destined to become the galaxy’s toughest bounty hunter – or at least someone pretending to be. To aid you in your venture, you have access to an arsenal of weapons so varied that a certain Lombax would be jealous. Goo guns, gravity guns, guns that stick mind-controlling parasites on the enemy’s heads… you know, the usual ones.
The smoking (talking, whining) gun
Which sets? High in life however, apart from its galaxy-hopping contemporaries, it’s these gadgets that talk to you. Yep: they’re described as ‘a cast of charismatic weapons’, and let me tell you that when Sony announced that the next generation of gaming would be about ‘giving more feedback’ to the player, they probably never thought it would be taken this literally.
Any weapon, which bears the faces of creatures not quite separated from the Rick and Morty art style, has a quip, no matter the situation. Miss a shot? They’ll let you know. Take a shot? They’ll let you know. Inactive for too long? Hitting walls? Picking your nose? She just. Will not. Shut up.
Of course, this will be a make-or-break for some players (are you willing to put up with Roiland’s nasal delivery for more than 20 hours?) Heaven. As you travel the worlds in search of Garmantuous, the ultimate crime boss, you are ambushed by a number of bounty hunters who want to defeat him first; but play your cards right, and these same NPCs can help you in the end. A little bribe never went wrong is all I’m saying. And yes, somewhere in there is a character voiced by the soft tones of JB Smoove, whose agent is probably still getting night sweats over the initial negotiations.
High in life pops out in December
Like most modern video games, High in life got its fair share of delays. As we reported, god of war and DutyThe much-hyped new releases were the culprit behind one of them. The Squanch Games executives didn’t want to put in their risky, frenzied efforts to compete with those leviathans. Personally, I could see it as counter-programming to capture the more jaded audience that is tired of such ubiquitous franchises, especially since the game is a shooter, but hey-ho.
Despite these setbacks, the game will be released on December 13 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. Owners of literally everything else, my sincere condolences. Pre-orders are currently live.
Are you checking out? High in life? Are you a fan of this particular type of comedy, or do you prefer to stay as far away as possible? Let us know!
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