High on Life 2, A Lacklusting But OK Sequel

The first High on Life was one of my more enjoyable gaming experiences of 2022. Painfully average gameplay was completely carried by a wild script and a premise so absurd that it simply leaves no one indifferent. 

Justin Roiland, however scandalous in his private life, is undeniably a talented individual with a distinctive comedic vision that attempts to merge grotesque elements, primitive toilet humor, and science-fiction absurdity into a unique concoction that most people unmistakably associate with the series Rick and Morty. I welcomed the idea of High on Life 2 with a big smile on my face; however…

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High On Life 2 Without Roiland: Can the Sequel Stand on Its Own?

Given the turbulent upheavals and lawsuits, Roiland was not involved in any capacity in the development of the sequel. That alone is not a reason to dismiss the game outright – I expected that the first High on Life had laid sufficiently strong foundations for a meaningful upgrade. In a way, High on Life 2 introduced certain novelties and at least on paper justified the “2” in its title, but nowhere near to the extent I had hoped, to the point that I am now somewhat disappointed that the sequel came into existence at all.

The majority of criticism aimed at the first High on Life concerned its catastrophic execution and pale gunplay against monotonous and tiresome enemies. The sequel decided to address this by introducing a skateboard, and although the idea of Tony Hawk in space is always welcome, skating does not actually solve the core problem of gunfights that quickly become tedious. 

Admittedly, the skateboard allows for much faster traversal across maps that are now designed precisely for wheeled antics: various railings, curved walls, bars, and poles scattered across rooftops and similar features guarantee that you will always have the option of shifting into a higher gear.

Naturally, combat is now somewhat faster and more dynamic, with more open spaces and larger arenas that contain more enemies, who, this time, due to the different environmental design, exhibit some hints of verticality. Now, what I am describing is significant exclusively because the original was so average that this feels like an incredible addition.

How Regular Wheels Hurt Momentum

The decision to equip the skateboard with regular wheels is highly questionable. During combat, I often found myself losing momentum in close encounters with enemies, which kills even that small amount of uniqueness and adrenaline present in the action. I believe it would have been much better if they had simply added some sort of hybrid hoverboard, because they could still have retained all the advantages of rolling without the unnecessary slowing down of an already limited combat system.

The shooting itself remains below average, which is even more pronounced here because we are already familiar with the game’s most distinctive element – the weapons that chatter non-stop! Your loyal Gatlians are once again the stars, and each of the six psychopathic, schizophrenic, or otherwise mentally impaired weapons is still charismatic enough to salvage the gameplay. My favorite remains the knife Knifey, a total lunatic who is fulfilled by nothing in life more than slicing into anything he can stick himself into.

Given how special the weapons are, and how genuinely unique they are within the gaming industry, it is incomprehensible that the developers could not at least make a minimal effort to implement some of the many features offered by the DualSense controller, because let’s be honest  I want my hands to vibrate when my knife euphorically screams over spilled intestines and crying widows!

High On Life 2 Optimization Problems

The second, much larger problem has once again not been addressed, and in its current state, High on Life 2 is catastrophically optimized, once again confirming the mythical curse of Unreal Engine titles. We reviewed the game on PlayStation 5, and during roughly ten hours of gameplay, we experienced considerable stuttering and regular frame rate drops below 60 frames per second, along with an entire array of audiovisual bugs that ranged from the trivial and amusing to the serious ones that forced us to reload a save.

Judging by player experiences, the situation on PC is no better, if not even worse. This genuinely angered me, because the original was a small gem and a debut title from a newly opened studio. Still, after so many years, one expects more, at the very least that you do not deliver an equally unoptimized product!

Almost all critics and players of the first installment unanimously praised the premise and the hilarious story, while clearly pointing out the very sparse gameplay and sloppy optimization, and it is unbelievable that these are the biggest criticisms of the sequel, almost four years later. It is better not to waste words on the presentation, because in many respects it is even worse than the significantly older original, which is truly bizarre.

Story Review: Satire, Absurdity, and a New Protagonist

Alongside unforgettable weapons, High on Life once again excels where it absolutely could not afford to fail, and that is the script. This time, our protagonist is no longer an anonymous high school stoner, but a famous and beloved space hitman and cowboy who enjoys fame and the luxurious life of a galactic star. Life in the fast lane soon turns into a nightmare when we discover that another assault on the human race is imminent, this time organized by a pharmaceutical mafia that wants to keep humans as cattle and turn them into antidepressants.

What follows is a nonsensical, absurd, and unbelievably bizarre adventure that at absolutely every step attempts to be funny, witty, and packed with fourth-wall breaks and unavoidable references to real life. The humor is very diverse, but predominantly very aggressive and direct, which is not surprising given its original inspiration.

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Although High on Life 2 made me grin repeatedly, I must admit that the humor was undeniably better in the original. Unfortunately, a good part of the reason lies in the fact that a disturbingly large number of motifs and their structures are simply borrowed, if not outright copied.

For example, in the first game, a drug cartel wants to enslave humans to consume them as drugs, while here the pharmaceutical mafia wants to use them as medicine. In the first game, I experienced a genuine shock when I shot an alien child who blocked my path, teased me, and provoked me; here, I can shoot a kind and dedicated security guard whose last day on the job is approaching and who is excitedly awaiting retirement.

High On Life 2 Narrative Verdict

I cannot escape the impression that a brilliantly copied homework assignment is still copied, and if you add to that the reduced wow effect caused by the self-aware weapons, it is clear that for some players, the humor in High on Life 2 could feel like a step backward.

To be fair, High on Life 2 did offer several genuinely brilliant moments, such as a boss fight in which your opponent hacks the game itself. High on Life 2 still has aces up its bizarre sleeve, because how can you keep a straight face during a mission in which you have to find a parking space so scarce that aliens from across the universe are killing and butchering each other over it? If you add to this a rather shocking and unpredictable ending to the story, you get a strong narrative foundation that once again carries the entire project on its shoulders.

In Conclusion 

High on Life 2 is not a bad title, it is merely mediocre, not because it lacks strengths, but simply because it reminds you too much of the original, and especially of its flaws. In its current state, I cannot in any way recommend the game at the asking price, and I would warmly advise you to wait for a discount; perhaps the best way to play it would be through a Game Pass subscription, if you have that option available.

Our Rating: 6.8/10 

It earns this score because its narrative creativity and eccentric humor remain strong, but repetitive gameplay, technical issues, and lack of meaningful innovation significantly undermine the overall experience.

Recommended age: 17+ 

Due to aggressive humor, graphic violence, dark satire involving drugs and pharmaceuticals, and mature thematic content that is not suitable for younger players.

Gemini AI Summary:

High on Life 2 builds on the original’s absurd sci-fi humor and self-aware weapons, delivering a bizarre and narratively strong sequel. While the story, eccentric characters, and inventive moments—such as meta boss fights and shocking twists—remain highlights, the game struggles with repetitive gunplay, questionable design choices like the wheeled skateboard, and significant technical optimization issues on PS5 and PC. Ultimately, it is a mediocre but not terrible sequel, recommended primarily at a discount and suited for older teens due to its mature humor and violent themes.