Hi, I’m Alec Robbins, head author on Squanch Games’ High On Life and its High On Knife DLC (out as we speak!) It’s sort of like a mini-sequel that bridges between the bottom sport and no matter else we do subsequent. It’s not solely an epilogue, however we like to think about it as a bonus episode. It’s not solely a horror expertise, but it surely undoubtedly leans into the style in ways in which we didn’t absolutely discover with High On Life. So let’s discuss horror!
I’ve some aversions to horror films and I nearly by no means search them out – however my associate loves them so I do watch them on a regular basis. My background is in comedy, and I all the time discuss how comedy and horror are precisely the identical to me, simply with completely different context. If you’re constructing comedy, otherwise you’re constructing horror, you’re doing the very same labor. The complete idea of making an attempt to create a setup that flows right into a punchline that surprises individuals and makes them snort – that’s an identical to the construction and horror; you’re making an attempt to arrange some stress that you simply then launch, however as an alternative of a punchline, it’s a scare.
Hi, I’m Alec Robbins, head author on Squanch Games’ High On Life and its High On Knife DLC (out as we speak!) It’s sort of like a mini-sequel that bridges between the bottom sport and no matter else we do subsequent. It’s not solely an epilogue, however we like to think about it as a bonus episode. It’s not solely a horror expertise, but it surely undoubtedly leans into the style in ways in which we didn’t absolutely discover with High On Life. So let’s discuss horror!
I’ve some aversions to horror films and I nearly by no means search them out – however my associate loves them so I do watch them on a regular basis. My background is in comedy, and I all the time discuss how comedy and horror are precisely the identical to me, simply with completely different context. If you’re constructing comedy, otherwise you’re constructing horror, you’re doing the very same labor. The complete idea of making an attempt to create a setup that flows right into a punchline that surprises individuals and makes them snort – that’s an identical to the construction and horror; you’re making an attempt to arrange some stress that you simply then launch, however as an alternative of a punchline, it’s a scare.
The first half of the High On Knife DLC is goofy, the place you’re exploring this vibrant place referred to as Peroxis. You’re there as a result of Knifey (one in every of High On Life’s speaking weapons) obtained a missed-package slip, and he convinces you to journey there to choose it up your self. You go to this place referred to as Salt Lick City, which is populated by a bunch of slug-like aliens. It’s filled with aspect missions and humorous moments and peculiar issues to discover. And then that sort of leads into the stark change midway via the DLC the place you’re instantly in what we describe internally as a haunted transport warehouse, Muxxalon, which was completely not impressed by any real-life corporations. We made issues darker and added a flashlight, that are clearly slam-dunk horror tropes.
Even although horror and comedy are comparable, writing these particular horror moments was difficult for me at first as a result of I come from comedy. I think about which jokes are gonna land, however I used to be initially fearful in regards to the horror. In each circumstances, you actually can’t inform for positive till it’s constructed up sufficient you can truly play via it when the voice appearing is in and see if it’s timed accurately. That’s when you may actually inform if it’s gonna get amusing. But there was horror stuff the place the lighting wasn’t in but and the sound design wasn’t fairly there so generally we couldn’t inform if it was going to be scary till a lot later within the course of. So I really feel like horror was truly the tougher factor for us to get proper this time round. But that’s fairly pure as a result of we’ve clearly perfected the artwork of comedy.
In High On Life, we now have characters which might be continually making quips and that may sort of damage the vibe of horror. We even have this whole part the place the participant is first launched to the Muxxalon warehouse, stuffed with dialogue and jokes. But after enjoying via it, we ended up taking out all of the dialogue there simply to make it really feel just a little scarier. With the dialogue it simply didn’t really feel scary. It wasn’t working. If the characters are speaking and making jokes then they’re not scared so why ought to I be scared as a participant? That first intro space within the second half of the DLC was the largest take a look at for us as a result of we needed to make the actually powerful name to drag again. Even one out-of-place line would damage that second.
I prefer it when comedy turns into horror and vice versa, the place it’s arduous to separate them. My premise for Muxxalon and the way it operates is actually “What in case your boss was all the time over your shoulder? What in the event that they have been actually hooked up to your shoulder?” What if as an alternative of like, simply having a boss in an workplace who comes by and walks the ground… they’re a parasite hooked up to your shoulder telling you to get again to work. It’s absurd and humorous but in addition? Maybe just a little horrifying in observe? Maybe?
Quite a lot of the pure scares got here out of these primary concepts, they usually have been actually dropped at life by Gabourey Sidibe, who performs the boss of this operation, Mux. She was actually humorous, however she may get REALLY menacing. So it’s the truth of like, what in case your boss was this evil glob that has taken over each sq. inch of this facility and will seem at any second from any wall? It’s the final word surveillance.
But High On Knife is tremendous humorous, even with these horrific components. I’m an enormous fan of Ken Marino, and he performs your parasite. And we did a lot with him. There’s a complete branching path, nearly dating-sim a part of the sport, the place most gamers are gonna undergo it a method, however there’s like, most likely 5 – 6 utterly completely different routes you may take via this. And the recording session for that alone was like a full session. There’s a lot extra to speak about, however I solely have a lot area. It’s humorous and spooky, and I’m actually pleased with our crew at Squanch and what we have been capable of accomplish with the DLC.
High On Life’s High On Knife DLC is now out there for $14.99 on PC and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The base sport is out there to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and we even have an unique Xbox Game Pass Bundle, which incorporates each High On Life and High On Knife for $19.99.
High On Life: High On Knife
Squanch Games, Inc.
$14.99
Available October third
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