It’s been a scorching minute since we’ve spent a while with the Gatlians, hasn’t it? Ten months after the discharge of Excessive On Life, Squanch Video games is again with an growth to Excessive On Life fittingly titled Excessive on Knife. This horror-inspired growth options two new ranges, a model new pinball-inspired Gatlian gun, and an expanded function for the breakout character Knifey.
As it’s possible you’ll recall from my evaluate of Excessive On Life (don’t fear, this isn’t a pop quiz), I stated that Excessive On Life had some characters who had been “not given as a lot consideration as I’d have favored. Least of all of the scene-stealing Knifey who’s woefully underutilized.” So, to see an entire growth devoted to the bloodthirsty Aussie knife with no filter got here as a really nice shock and a a lot overdue correction. However, does Excessive On Knife work in addition to Life did… therein lies the query.
To start with the positives, the gameplay right here is as soon as once more rock stable. The Doom-inspired capturing is as tight, fluid and enjoyable as ever. The brand new pinball-themed gun might even be my favorite to make use of within the sport thus far. You’ll be exploring, sliding and wall-crawling (not fairly like Spiderman, extra like a bike in a spherical cage) your means by means of intricately designed ranges with a hefty quantity of secrets and techniques.
The story for this growth can also be rock-solid, telling a easy however efficient story about Knifey attempting to trace down his dwelling planet. Throw in a couple of out-of-nowhere references to traditional American TV staples, some pointed critique at Muxxalon, an Amazon parody whose title may be learn as “Musk, Elon” and moments of Knifey’s signature rage and what’s right here is kind of entertaining.
What it is also, surprisingly, is frightening. The second half of the growth is nearer in tone to a horror sport like Useless Area or The Callisto Protocol with some surprisingly efficient scares and a few robust ambiance. That is nonetheless Excessive On Life, it’s not as if it’s gonna scare you badly at any level, however this can be a enjoyable comedic horror tone evocative of a number of the style’s greats.
To the touch upon the aesthetics, as soon as once more, Excessive On Knife is a title that’s punching above its weight. The graphics are vibrant and vibrant, but additionally appropriately horror-tinged after they must be. The animation work is as soon as once more on level, with some extremely detailed actions and a few gnarly takedowns with Knifey. The soundtrack is top-notch and atmospheric, simply because it was within the first sport. Higher but, even with these additional prospers within the presentation, the efficiency has been extremely easy in a means it merely wasn’t in my playthrough of the bottom sport.
The place the growth is a little more blended, nonetheless, is within the comedy. The oneliners, delivered by the identical solid as earlier than (one notable exception) and with some model new hyper-funny additions like SNL’s Sarah Sherman, don’t hit as persistently as they did within the base sport of Excessive On Life. That stated, if Excessive On Life was one snort a minute, Excessive On Knife is nearer to at least one chuckle a minute. The exceptions are available two hilariously humorous set-pieces. The primary takes place in a bar and the second over the sport’s remaining credit. I don’t wish to reveal an excessive amount of however, evidently, I used to be near bothering the neighbours with how arduous I laughed there.
As for the elephant within the room, Justin Roiland shouldn’t be part of this sport, after having stepped down as CEO of Squanch for well-documented causes. As such, Kenny is written out of the sport, with a functionally similar Gatlian, Harper (voiced by the aforementioned Sarah Sherman) taking his place. Harper makes for a likeable presence, and the shortage of Kenny is addressed in appropriately humorous style. However I used to be admittedly stunned to see that the sport didn’t go together with a soundalike to take over the function. In any case, Knifey is the actual star of this growth with way more to say and do, and the opposite Gatlians all have a lot of new traces to play with.
Lastly, to the touch upon the worth of the growth, the worth of the Sport Cross bundle is extremely honest and I imagine well worth the cash. Nonetheless, the worth of the growth by itself is a little more contact and go. You possibly can full this in round two hours, because it runs round a couple of fourth the scale of the unique sport. If you keep in mind that it’s round a fourth of the launch worth, it’s fairly honest, however not a must-buy worth.
All in all, I loved my time with Excessive On Knife. Excessive On Life: Excessive On Knife shouldn’t be as humorous as the bottom sport, however it’s nearly nearly as good in each different means. Truthfully, I can’t wait to see what this crew does subsequent.
