Hello, I’m Alec Robbins, head author on Squanch Video games’ High On Life and its High On Knife DLC (out right now!) It’s form of like a mini-sequel that bridges between the bottom recreation and no matter else we do subsequent. It’s not completely an epilogue, however we like to think about it as a bonus episode. It’s not completely a horror expertise, however it undoubtedly leans into the style in ways in which we didn’t totally discover with Excessive 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 accomplice loves them so I do watch them on a regular basis. My background is in comedy, and I at all times discuss how comedy and horror are precisely the identical to me, simply with totally different context. Should you’re constructing comedy, otherwise you’re constructing horror, you’re doing the very same labor. The entire idea of attempting to create a setup that flows right into a punchline that surprises individuals and makes them snigger – that’s equivalent to the construction and horror; you’re attempting to arrange some pressure that you simply then launch, however as a substitute of a punchline, it’s a scare.
![High on Knife Screenshot](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/HoK_DLC_BallFight_Screenshot-41c18af76ffcc3290221.jpg)
Hello, I’m Alec Robbins, head author on Squanch Video games’ High On Life and its High On Knife DLC (out right now!) It’s form of like a mini-sequel that bridges between the bottom recreation and no matter else we do subsequent. It’s not completely an epilogue, however we like to think about it as a bonus episode. It’s not completely a horror expertise, however it undoubtedly leans into the style in ways in which we didn’t totally discover with Excessive 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 accomplice loves them so I do watch them on a regular basis. My background is in comedy, and I at all times discuss how comedy and horror are precisely the identical to me, simply with totally different context. Should you’re constructing comedy, otherwise you’re constructing horror, you’re doing the very same labor. The entire idea of attempting to create a setup that flows right into a punchline that surprises individuals and makes them snigger – that’s equivalent to the construction and horror; you’re attempting to arrange some pressure that you simply then launch, however as a substitute of a punchline, it’s a scare.
![High on Knife Screenshot](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/UPDATED_HoK_DLC_PeroxisPoacherCombat_Screenshot_v2-1-d2fc624e2911ee452f32.jpg)
The primary half of the Excessive On Knife DLC is goofy, the place you’re exploring this shiny place referred to as Peroxis. You’re there as a result of Knifey (one in all Excessive 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 Metropolis, which is populated by a bunch of slug-like aliens. It’s filled with facet missions and humorous moments and bizarre issues to discover. After which that form of leads into the stark change midway by way of the DLC the place you’re all of the sudden 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.
Though horror and comedy are related, writing these particular horror moments was tough for me at first as a result of I come from comedy. I place confidence in which jokes are gonna land, however I used to be initially apprehensive concerning the horror. In each circumstances, you actually can’t inform for certain till it’s constructed up sufficient that you could really play by way of it when the voice performing is in and see if it’s timed appropriately. That’s when you possibly can actually inform if it’s gonna get fun. However 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 really the tougher factor for us to get proper this time round. However that’s fairly pure as a result of we’ve clearly perfected the artwork of comedy.
![High on Knife Screenshot](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/HoK_DLC_GusSpooked_Screenshot-7055c39e170895a1db4f.jpg)
In Excessive On Life, we’ve got characters which can be always making quips and that may form of break the vibe of horror. We even have this complete part the place the participant is first launched to the Muxxalon warehouse, filled with dialogue and jokes. However after enjoying by way of it, we ended up taking out all of the dialogue there simply to make it really feel a bit of 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 check for us as a result of we needed to make the actually powerful name to tug again. Even one out-of-place line would break that second.
I prefer it when comedy turns into horror and vice versa, the place it’s onerous to separate them. My premise for Muxxalon and the way it operates is actually “What in case your boss was at all times over your shoulder? What in the event that they have been actually connected to your shoulder?” What if as a substitute of like, simply having a boss in an workplace who comes by and walks the ground… they’re a parasite connected to your shoulder telling you to get again to work. It’s absurd and humorous but in addition? Possibly a bit of horrifying in observe? Possibly?
![High on Knife Screenshot](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/HoK_DLC_KnifeyChainsawMayhem_Screenshot-1-e827b43502874fde45d0.jpg)
A whole lot of the pure scares got here out of these fundamental concepts, and so they have been actually dropped at life by Gabourey Sidibe, who performs the boss of this operation, Mux. She was actually humorous, however she might 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.
However Excessive 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 an entire branching path, nearly dating-sim a part of the sport, the place most gamers are gonna undergo it a technique, however there’s like, in all probability 5 or 6 utterly totally different routes you possibly can take by way of 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 happy with our crew at Squanch and what we have been capable of accomplish with the DLC.
Excessive On Life’s Excessive On Knife DLC is now out there for $14.99 on PC and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The bottom recreation is obtainable to Xbox Sport Move subscribers, and we even have an exclusive Xbox Game Pass Bundle, which incorporates each Excessive On Life and Excessive On Knife for $19.99.
Excessive On Life: Excessive On Knife
Squanch Video games, Inc.
$14.99
Out there October third
It’s been 2 years for the reason that Bounty Hunter defeated the G3 cartel. Now Knifey wants assist monitoring down a mysterious package deal from his homeworld. Will they get blended up with a pleasant big, a pinball gun, poaching rings, and a terrifying intergalactic transport firm? Yeah. Certain.