High on Life

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of High on Life are quite varied. Some critics, such as Game Informer and EGM, express disappointment in the execution and lack of compelling storytelling. They mention that the humor in the game is relentless and over-the-top, but it falls flat and fails to create a strong emotional connection with the characters. Similarly, WellPlayed criticizes the story for being insufferably smug and self-conscious, with inane writing and lengthy dialogue sequences. But Why Tho? also finds the writing annoying and repetitive. On the other hand, there are critics who appreciate the zany and irreverent nature of the story. Games.cz and Xbox Achievements mention that the game features a zany storyline with talking weapons and a protagonist on a journey of revenge against an alien invasion. TierraGamer and IGN highlight the humorous and chaotic nature of the story, with constant jokes, absurdity, and references to popular culture. They compare the game's style to that of Justin Roiland, known for his work on Rick and Morty. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of High on Life is a mixed bag. While some critics appreciate the humor and absurdity, others find it lacking depth and originality. The story is often described as cliché, generic, or lacking a compelling narrative. However, there are positive aspects mentioned, such as the witty dialogue, creative combat options, and visually distinct planets. It seems that the game's story and humor are subjective, appealing to some but leaving others unimpressed.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of High on Life, it is evident that there are both positive and negative aspects to consider. Starting with the positives, several critics praised the shooting mechanics and combat experience in High on Life. Critics such as TierraGamer, New Game Network, and Generación Xbox highlighted the satisfying shooting mechanics and solid core gameplay experience. They appreciated the variety of weapons and abilities, as well as the engaging boss fights. The inclusion of unique weapons with distinct personalities and secondary functions was also mentioned positively by GamersRD and Games.cz. The exploration aspect of the game, with maze-like structures, puzzles, and platforming segments, was enjoyed by Screen Rant and SomosXbox. The incorporation of Metroidvania elements, such as exploration and logical upgrades, was also appreciated by Gaming Age and GameSpot. Moving on to the negatives, the most common criticism regarding the gameplay of High on Life was the lack of enemy variety and repetitive encounters. Critics like Metro GameCentral, TheGamer, and SpazioGames mentioned that the combat felt monotonous due to the limited enemy types and simplistic AI. The combat was further criticized for being lackluster, weak, and underpowered, with enemies feeling like bullet sponges, as stated by The Jimquisition and Metro GameCentral. The boss fights, although engaging for some critics like GamersRD, were criticized by Xbox Achievements and But Why Tho? for lacking strategy, balance, and interest. Some critics, such as GamingTrend and WellPlayed, also pointed out issues with controls, animations, and overall clunkiness in the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the gameplay of High on Life is mixed. While there are positive aspects such as satisfying shooting mechanics, engaging boss fights, and exploration elements, the game falls short in terms of enemy variety, combat depth, and overall execution. The gameplay is described as functional and serviceable by Destructoid and GameWatcher, respectively, but lacks innovation and fails to provide anything truly new or interesting, as mentioned by GameSkinny. The gameplay is often criticized for being repetitive, with uninspired level variation and janky moments, as noted by TheGamer and Destructoid. Despite these criticisms, there are still some critics who find enjoyment in the gameplay experience, appreciating its solid core mechanics and the fun, over-the-top nature of the combat, as mentioned by KeenGamer and Noisy Pixel. Overall, the gameplay of High on Life receives mixed reviews, with some positive elements such as satisfying shooting mechanics and engaging boss fights, but also negative aspects including lack of enemy variety and repetitive encounters. The game's exploration and Metroidvania elements are appreciated by some critics, while others criticize the combat for feeling monotonous and lacking depth. Despite these shortcomings, there are still critics who find enjoyment in the gameplay experience, highlighting its solid core mechanics and fun nature.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of High on Life are quite varied. Several critics praise the game for its vibrant and colorful visuals, with unique and imaginative designs. The environments are described as visually stunning, bursting with color and detail, and the art style is often commended for its creativity and distinctiveness. Critics such as Twinfinite and SpazioGames highlight the game's beautiful world design, with each location beautifully crafted and showcasing attention to detail. The game's visual style is also compared to the aesthetics of the popular TV show "Rick and Morty," with slimy, gross, and weird alien aesthetics that add to the game's charm. The graphics are often described as cartoonish and welcoming, with a rubbery aesthetic that adds kineticism to gunfights, as mentioned by Launcher (The Washington Post). The game's art direction and graphics are praised for their vibrant and colorful environments, eccentric character designs, and visually pleasing aesthetics, according to Vandal. On the other hand, there are several criticisms regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of High on Life. Some critics mention that the graphics are unimpressive, with outdated or generic alien environments. The environments are described as visually uninteresting, lacking cohesion or intentional tension between different elements, as criticized by WellPlayed. The game is also criticized for its low-resolution graphics, flat textures, and occasional frame rate problems, as mentioned by Metro GameCentral and GameMAG. Some character models and animations are also considered poorly done, with cartoony models and low-quality environments, according to Multiplayer.it. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that High on Life features a unique and vibrant visual design, with colorful and wacky graphics that provide a break from the trend of dark third-person adventures. The game's art style is often praised for its creativity and distinctiveness, resembling the aesthetics of the popular TV show "Rick and Morty." The environments are described as visually stunning, bursting with color and detail, showcasing attention to detail and imaginative designs. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of art direction, generic alien environments, and occasional technical issues such as low-resolution graphics and frame rate problems. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment is positive, with many critics appreciating the game's visual style and unique world design.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of High on Life are varied. Several critics praised the game's voice acting and soundtrack. Atomix commended the atmospheric compositions and Justin Roiland's performance as the protagonist. BaziCenter also highlighted Roiland's comedic performance and the hilarious moments it brings to the adventure. COGconnected praised the soundtrack by TOBACCO, describing it as a fitting blend of ambient electronic lo-fi noise. MondoXbox appreciated the inclusion of original voice actors from Rick and Morty, further enhancing the game's audio experience. GameSpace mentioned the excellent voice acting, with actors clearly enjoying their roles and providing diverse and humorous performances. However, there were also negative opinions regarding the Sound Design and Music of High on Life. But Why Tho? criticized the game's constant chatter and the annoyance it can cause. CGMagazine mentioned that while there are catchy combat and mood tracks, the music can be repetitive and sleep-inducing. Game Informer found the voice acting grating and the humor tiresome, with the weapon chatter being a particular issue. Press Start Australia described the background music as routinely dull and unremarkable. Worth Playing, while praising the overall sound design, noted that the soundtrack oscillates between forgettable and frustrating, with some grating combat tracks. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that High on Life has strengths and weaknesses in its Sound Design and Music. The voice acting, particularly the performances by Justin Roiland and other recognizable voices, received widespread praise for adding humor and enjoyment to the game. The inclusion of original voice actors from Rick and Morty was also seen as a positive aspect. The soundtrack was described as atmospheric and fitting, with some critics appreciating the blend of ambient electronic lo-fi noise. However, there were criticisms of the game's constant chatter and repetitive music tracks, which some found annoying or sleep-inducing. Despite the mixed opinions, it is evident that the voice acting and soundtrack play a significant role in enhancing the overall experience of High on Life.

The voice acting in High on Life receives mostly positive feedback from the critics. Justin Roiland's performance as the protagonist and the voice of the weapon 'Kenny' is widely praised for its comedic style and delivery. Critics such as Atomix and BaziCenter highlight Roiland's contribution as a standout feature, with BaziCenter specifically mentioning the hilarious and comedic moments he brings to the adventure. The rest of the voice cast is also commended for their excellent job in bringing the characters to life, as mentioned by Atomix and CGMagazine. The game features a star-studded voice cast, including notable comedy actors, which adds to the overall quality of the voice acting, as noted by EGM and Gaming Age. The voice acting is described as well done and outstanding by Gamer.no, Generación Xbox, and GameSpace. These positive opinions highlight the strong performances and the ability of the voice actors to enhance the comedic atmosphere of the game. However, there are some negative opinions regarding the voice acting in High on Life. But Why Tho? mentions that the constant chatter can be annoying, and Game Informer and Metro GameCentral describe the voice acting as grating and annoying. Metro GameCentral specifically mentions that the relentless swearing starts to feel forced. PC Gamer criticizes the voice acting for being excessive and obnoxious, with characters constantly talking and delivering dialogue that lacks jokes or depth. These negative opinions suggest that while the voice acting has its strengths, there are instances where it becomes repetitive or irritating, potentially impacting the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in High on Life is well done and adds to the comedic tone of the game. Positive feedback from critics such as Game Informer, GameSpace, and KeenGamer emphasizes the excellent performances of the voice cast, with notable mentions of Justin Roiland's comedic style. The diverse and distinct personalities of the characters, as well as the humorous dialogue, are also highlighted as positives by IGN and GamesRadar+. However, there are also critics, like PC Gamer and Metro GameCentral, who find the voice acting excessive or annoying, pointing out repetitive dialogue and forced humor. Despite these mixed opinions, the overall sentiment leans towards the positive, with the voice acting being recognized as a strong aspect of the game that contributes to its comedic atmosphere.

In terms of the technical performance on Xbox Series X, the overall sentiment among the critics is mixed. Some reviewers, such as MondoXbox and XboxAddict, had positive experiences with minimal bugs and stable framerates. They praised the smooth gameplay and limited frame drops. Additionally, NME commended the game for running smoothly with a rock-solid framerate. However, there were also several critics who mentioned technical issues. BaziCenter noted that while many technical issues were resolved with a patch, there were still various bugs and minor issues present in different parts of the game. Game Informer and Guardian both mentioned technical shortcomings, including hitchiness, frozen enemies, broken prompts, and other glitches. Despite a post-launch patch improving some issues, problems still persisted. Overall, the technical performance on Xbox Series X is a mixed bag, with some positive experiences and notable technical issues mentioned by multiple critics. On the PC platform, the technical performance of High on Life received more positive feedback. Critics like Everyeye.it and Twinfinite reported that the game ran smoothly at 60 fps after patches were deployed. They mentioned occasional bugs and glitches, but these did not significantly impact the overall enjoyment of the game. PlaySense also highlighted that while there were instances of bugs and glitches, they did not greatly affect the gameplay experience on a high-end PC setup. However, there were still some critics who experienced technical issues. PCGamesN mentioned constant crashes and soft locks, which had a negative impact on the overall experience. GameSpace commented on the game's simple technical performance, with basic textures and lighting, but praised the well-designed guns, enemies, and locations. Despite the positive feedback on PC, there were still some technical deficiencies and bugs mentioned, although they were often acknowledged to have improved with patches. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the technical performance of High on Life is that it has its share of both positive and negative aspects across different gaming platforms. While some platforms, such as Xbox Series X, received mixed feedback with both positive and negative experiences, PC generally had a more positive reception. The game's technical issues ranged from minor bugs and occasional frame drops to more significant problems like crashes and soft locks. However, it is worth noting that patches were often mentioned as improving some of these issues. Despite the technical shortcomings, many critics still found the game enjoyable and engaging, highlighting its smooth framerates, forgiving checkpoint autosave system, and well-optimized experience on certain platforms.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of High on Life are varied. Some critics, such as Generación Xbox and MondoXbox, highlight the game's potential for extended gameplay through exploration and collectibles. These critics mention that players who enjoy thorough exploration will find value in the large levels and the ability to achieve 100% completion. Additionally, MondoXbox emphasizes the inclusion of 4 complete B-movies, which adds to the overall replay value and may appeal to fans of a certain type of cinema. However, several critics express concerns about the game's replay value. Critics like Checkpoint Gaming and Game Informer note the lack of variety in the game's second half and repetitive gameplay as factors that may limit replayability. GamersRD also mentions the lack of variety in combat as a potential drawback for replay value. Furthermore, critics like LevelUp and Vandal mention that once all the chests have been found, there is no significant reason to replay the game, which may discourage players from revisiting the game after completion. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a mixed opinion on the replay value of High on Life. While some critics highlight the potential for extended gameplay through exploration and collectibles, others express concerns about the lack of variety in gameplay and the limited incentives to replay the game. Critics like GameSpace and GamingTrend mention the lack of depth in combat and repetitive humor as factors that may limit the game's replay value. However, critics like TheXboxHub and PlaySense mention the enjoyable exploration aspects and light RPG elements as positives that contribute to the game's replay value. Ultimately, players who appreciate thorough exploration and collecting may find more replay value in High on Life, while those seeking varied gameplay experiences may be less inclined to revisit the game.