High Life

Unlocking Gameplay Secrets and Narrative Depth in Squanch Games’ Comedy Shooter

When Squanch Games launched High on Life in 2022, it redefined comedy shooters with its talking weapons and absurd alien landscapes. As someone who’s completed three playthroughs, I discovered the game’s hidden depth beneath its Rick and Morty-style humor. This guide reveals essential strategies for mastering bounty hunting while navigating the game’s unique Metroidvania elements and weapon upgrade systems.

Core Combat Mechanics and Weapon Dynamics

Mastering Gatling Gun Personalities in Battle

Let’s cut to the chase: your sentient weapon abilities aren’t just tools—they’re your chatty, opinionated squadmates. Imagine arguing with a gun about whether it’s “ethical” to blast space slugs. 🚀 That’s High on Life in a nutshell. Each of the five Gatlians (yes, they’re called that) has a wildly different personality and combat style. Take Kenny, your starter pistol with homing shots that feel like cheating. Then there’s Gus, the grenade launcher who sounds like your uncle after three beers, lobbing explosive charges that turn terrain into confetti.

Here’s the kicker: their Gatlian combat strategies matter as much as their damage output. During my first run, I ignored Sweezy’s freeze rays because, honestly, I thought her constant puns were annoying. Big mistake. Turns out, freezing enemies in the acid swamps of Blim City isn’t just handy—it’s essential for crowd control. 🧊

Pro Tip: Let your weapons argue mid-fight. Kenny’s homing shots work best against flying enemies, but Gus will literally yell at you to “stop being basic” if you don’t use his charges to collapse enemy cover.

Environmental Puzzle Solving Through Firepower

Ever tried solving a Rubik’s Cube while dodging laser fire? That’s environmental puzzle solutions in High on Life. Each biome’s puzzles demand specific sentient weapon abilities. In the lava-filled Zephyr Paradise, I wasted 20 minutes trying to melt ice walls with Gus’ explosions—until Kenny casually mentioned, “Uh, maybe use me?” 🧠 His plasma beams instantly vaporized the barriers.

The jungle-themed Nipulon’s Den is worse. You’ll face rotating platforms guarded by turrets. Solution? Use Creature’s poison clouds to corrode the turrets’ energy cores. It’s not just about shooting; it’s about thinking like your weapons.

Story Time: I once got stuck in a zero-gravity chamber because I forgot Knifey could slash through magnetic seals. His response? “You’re welcome… again.”

Upgrade Path Analysis for Maximum Efficiency

Let’s talk weapon upgrade paths. By late-game, your Gatlians become unstoppable gods—if you invest wisely. Kenny’s homing shots? Upgrade them to pierce armor, and suddenly, he’s deleting boss health bars. Gus’ explosions? Add a chain reaction mod, and watch entire squads evaporate. 💥

But here’s the tea: not all upgrades are equal. Sweezy’s freeze duration boost is meh compared to her “Frost Nova” perk, which shatters frozen enemies into shrapnel. And Creature? Prioritize his poison spread over damage—it trivializes shielded enemies in the final biome.

Boss fight tactics? Easy. Match the boss’ weakness to your weapon upgrade paths. The lava dragon Krillax melts to Sweezy’s ice, while the teleporting assassin Nipulon folds to Knifey’s dash strikes. And if all else fails? Let Gus yell insults while you spam explosives. It’s therapy. 🔥

Bottom line: Your Gatlians aren’t just guns—they’re your ride-or-die weirdos. Master their quirks, and you’ll dominate every firefight, puzzle, and existential crisis this galaxy throws at you. 🪐

High on Life’s blend of inventive combat and layered storytelling creates a uniquely memorable experience. While the humor might initially overshadow its substance, dedicated players discover surprising depth in both gameplay systems and character development. For those willing to experiment with weapon combinations and explore off-path areas, the game offers 20+ hours of content that rewards curiosity. Ready to become the galaxy’s most unconventional bounty hunter? Grab your talking pistol and start that new game+ save.