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High on Life (Metroidvania FPS from "Rick and Morty" creator Justin Roiland - PC/Xbox consoles/Game Pass, 13 December 2022) - reviews from OpenCritic posted

Commissar SFLUFAN

By Commissar SFLUFAN
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stepee

stepee

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Maybe, because Polygon is pretty bleh. Eurogamer is pretty decent, but it’s just one writer. There’s a couple other negative reviews now if you check OC though but it’s still a 72.

 

I think it’s just probably a pretty mid game that leans either more or less favorable depending on if the humor connects with you or not.

 

Im still playing Trover in vr and that’s been fun so I’ll check this out at some point.

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Greatoneshere

Greatoneshere

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23 minutes ago, Spork3245 said:

 

Eurogamer kinda consistently sucks, though. :p 

 

17 minutes ago, Commissar SFLUFAN said:

 

Eurogamer is BY FAR my most-preferred review outlet!

 

Yeah I like Eurogamer's reviews generally speaking. They try at least.

 

15 minutes ago, Spork3245 said:

 

Maybe I'm thinking of Polygon :confused:

 

You could be - Polygon's not bad but their problem is they are way too focused on story and characters and stuff. I get it was a divisive game but their The Last of Us: Part II review, for example, it was all they could focus on and they tend to do that frequently. I get different websites emphasize certain things given the nature of there content generally but there's more to a game than just story, plot, and characters. Still, they do try to cover a lot in their reviews at least, they tend to be lengthier.

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Bloodporne

Bloodporne

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12 minutes ago, Greatoneshere said:

You could be - Polygon's not bad but their problem is they are way too focused on story and characters and stuff. I get it was a divisive game but their The Last of Us: Part II review, for example, it was all they could focus on and they tend to do that frequently. I get different websites emphasize certain things given the nature of there content generally but there's more to a game than just story, plot, and characters. Still, they do try to cover a lot in their reviews at least, they tend to be lengthier.

Their RDR2 review was absurd in that regard. It's like they're reviewing a movie and if the game involves any "heavy drama", it's an instant win. One of the worst review outlets for my tastes. I usually check Eurogamer and SkillUp these days. Not because I want someone to agree with me but because I already know they seem to value aspects I value the most. In general, I think SkillUp has some of the best gaming reviews I've ever seen in terms of being well-rounded, well-articulated and really detailed. 

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BloodyHell

BloodyHell

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26 minutes ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

 

Yeah I like Eurogamer's reviews generally speaking. They try at least.

 

 

You could be - Polygon's not bad but their problem is they are way too focused on story and characters and stuff. I get it was a divisive game but their The Last of Us: Part II review, for example, it was all they could focus on and they tend to do that frequently. I get different websites emphasize certain things given the nature of there content generally but there's more to a game than just story, plot, and characters. Still, they do try to cover a lot in their reviews at least, they tend to be lengthier.

I mean, I think it was a polygon reviewer who claimed the use of the word “xenos” in returnal was basically hate speech against immigrants. Then when the reviewer got called out by another journalist, she freaked, started blaming Greg Miller and Colin Moriarty (neither of whom had ever met her, tweeted to her, mentioned her, or talked about her review) for everything wrong, and threatened to quit the industry. When mostly everyone bid her farewell instead of begging her to stay, she got even more toxic before closing her twitter. It was a sight to behold. That’s the kind of people who write for Polygon.

 

but yeah, about 90 minutes in, and it’s a blast. Like a perfect lighthearted cartoon shooter with adult humor. The only thing I can see is the reviewer never wanted to like it.

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BloodyHell

BloodyHell

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14 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

Their RDR2 review was absurd in that regard. It's like they're reviewing a movie and if the game involves any "heavy drama", it's an instant win. One of the worst review outlets for my tastes. I usually check Eurogamer and SkillUp these days. Not because I want someone to agree with me but because I already know they seem to value aspects I value the most. In general, I think SkillUp has some of the best gaming reviews I've ever seen in terms of being well-rounded, well-articulated and really detailed. 

Those are mine, along with Last Stand, who doesn’t do actual reviews but more in depth discussions.

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Bloodporne

Bloodporne

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10 minutes ago, BloodyHell said:

I mean, I think it was a polygon reviewer who claimed the use of the word “xenos” in returnal was basically hate speech against immigrants.

As an immigrant, that's the dumbest shit I ever read. How much harder can you possibly try. 

 

Edit: I meant as in I read it when that was posted and thought it satire, that's how stupid it was. 

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BloodyHell

BloodyHell

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6 minutes ago, Bloodporne said:

As an immigrant, that's the dumbest shit I ever read. How much harder can you possibly try. 

 

Edit: I meant as in I read it when that was posted and thought it satire, that's how stupid it was. 

Yeah, it is literally trying to create outrage for attention. Attacking real issues is fine, but these guys just want to be in the middle of drama. But then pretend to be upset at the drama.

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Spork3245

Spork3245

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1 hour ago, Greatoneshere said:

 

 

Yeah I like Eurogamer's reviews generally speaking. They try at least.

 

 

You could be - Polygon's not bad but their problem is they are way too focused on story and characters and stuff. I get it was a divisive game but their The Last of Us: Part II review, for example, it was all they could focus on and they tend to do that frequently. I get different websites emphasize certain things given the nature of there content generally but there's more to a game than just story, plot, and characters. Still, they do try to cover a lot in their reviews at least, they tend to be lengthier.

 

I'm pretty sure Polygon was the one with the Shadow of Mordor review where the tutorial teaches you the stealth kill mechanic by having you sneak up on your wife and give her a flower, and the reviewer said "they had to put the game down, turn it off, and walk away for several hours"... like... wut

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Greatoneshere

Greatoneshere

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1 hour ago, Spork3245 said:

 

I'm pretty sure Polygon was the one with the Shadow of Mordor review where the tutorial teaches you the stealth kill mechanic by having you sneak up on your wife and give her a flower, and the reviewer said "they had to put the game down, turn it off, and walk away for several hours"... like... wut

 

WUT

 

Same in the TLOU: Part II review, all they could talk about is going on and on about how themtically depressing and violent the game is. I'm like: "okay, I get you don't like it, but that's the point of the game - note you don't like it and move on to other parts/aspects of the game" but they just went on and on about how in current society we don't need stories like Part II anymore and I was like WTF? Just a review going on and on with some person on a soapbox about how their feelings couldn't handle the game. Like c'mon, the game isn't Birth of a Nation or some Dinesh D'Souza film production it's trying to at least say shit about stuff (quote me: "say shit about stuff" lol) and you just don't like how direct and aggressive the content is, but there's also, ya know, a video game with gameplay in there that needs to be reviewed.

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BloodyHell

BloodyHell

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1 hour ago, Spork3245 said:

 

I'm pretty sure Polygon was the one with the Shadow of Mordor review where the tutorial teaches you the stealth kill mechanic by having you sneak up on your wife and give her a flower, and the reviewer said "they had to put the game down, turn it off, and walk away for several hours"... like... wut

 

archive.vn

ARCHIVE.TODAY


 

for those looking for the now deleted article. (I think this is the one).

 

Fanbyte was much the same, that’s why I wasn’t really upset when it shut down (though still felt bad for those losing their jobs). They worked for tencent, a party that often works, and is partly owned by members of the ccp, but would preach at others about the problems in gaming. 

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Xbob42

Xbob42

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Shit's on Game Pass so I tried it out. Been pretty entertaining so far, but seems largely average in terms of actual gameplay. Still trying to get a grasp on what it's trying to be, gameplay-wise. It's typical Justin Roiland humor so you should already know whether you'll be entertained or annoyed in that regard. It certainly seems much higher quality than previous Roiland games which often felt like tech demos.

 

It's also got fake forums, something I always love but almost never see, think the last time I saw fake video game forums was one of the .hack games.

 

fNZg8MD.png

 

It's just like a real forum!

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Commissar SFLUFAN

Commissar SFLUFAN

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The reviews are coming in so slowly that I'm getting the impression that the media outlets are drawing straws to see who gets to review the game :lol:

 

Game Information

Game Title: High on Life

 

Platforms:

  • PC (Dec 13, 2022)

 

Publisher:  Squanch Games, Inc.

 

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 69 average - 42% recommended

 

Critic Reviews

Try Hard Guides - 10 / 10

Quote

High on Life is a surprise hit, blowing away all of my expectations and showing what Squanch Games can really do. Fans of Rick and Morty, Smiling Friends or Oneyplays are going to be drawn to this game because of the names attached to it, but will really be blown away by the fantastic gameplay this title really didn’t need to have.


MonsterVine - 4.5 / 5

Quote

High On Life is easily one of the funniest games I’ve played in a while and is a great game to close the year out with.


XboxEra - 9 / 10

Quote

High On Life is absolutely fantastic, and you should play it.


ZTGD - 9 / 10

Quote

High on Life is a fantastic experience hindered by some technical shortcomings. The world and characters are simply fantastic and it is genuinely hilarious, which is one of the hardest things in gaming to achieve. This game shot up my list of the best of 2022 from the outset and it didn’t disappoint by the end. I really enjoyed my time with it and look forward to what the team works on next. The fact that it is available on Game Pass is just icing on the cake. I can’t recommend this game enough, it is a wonderful way to end the year and more than worth playing through.


GameGrin - 8.5 / 10

Quote

High On Life is a fun and humorous FPS that, while not innovating on the genre, is a joy to play all throughout its main story. However, it lacks a little technical polish and optional goals.


Multiplayer First - 8.5 / 10

Quote

The game serves as an excellent foundation for (what is hopefully) the start of a franchise. The gameplay is fun, though with flaws, and the writing and story are hilarious, despite overstaying in some parts. And visually speaking, I think this might be one of the best-looking games I’ve played all year, thanks to its unique art direction. As a title that is part of this month’s Game Pass offering, I cannot recommend this anymore. And if you aren’t a subscriber and fancy the dark humor Rolland is known for, it’s well worth the price of admission.


Game Rant - 4 / 5

Quote

High on Life is a fun first-person shooter game with a memorable and hilarious story as well as a couple of serious bugs that need addressing.


God is a Geek - 8 / 10

Quote

High on Life is filled with some fun mechanics and great writing, and while it doesn't reinvent the genre, it makes it more enjoyable.


IGN - 8 / 10

Quote

High on Life is a laugh-out-loud funny space odyssey that’s chaotic, bizarre, and a ton of fun.


Saving Content - 4 / 5

Quote

The best way I could describe this game in a concise way that this is Chex Quest meets Halo with the writing of Rick and Morty. Now, if Justin Roiland’s voice and comedy doesn’t normally do anything for you, what you’ll find in High On Life isn’t going to change that. While the number of bugs and crashes weren’t that many or that big of a deal, it did impact my overall enjoyment. I was immersed in the world built here by Squanch Games, completing it in just a few sittings. High On Life is a great adventure with quality shooting and a filthy mouth to be one of the best and funniest games I’ve played all year.


TechRaptor - 8 / 10

Quote

Though High on Life takes a bit of time to get the ball rolling and lacks some enemy variety, it's a comical adventure with an excellent opening and finale, and promises plenty of other surprises in store for players.


Gamerheadquarters - 7.6 / 10

Quote

High on Life is a quirky, straight up bizarre shooter that provides a relaxing and at times comedic experience.


Checkpoint Gaming - 7.5 / 10

Quote

I had a good time with High on Life, but I can't promise that everyone else will. Although the basic first-person shooter gameplay is hardly a revolution in game design, its certainly more than competent and accomplishes what it needs to, even with its significant lack of variety in the game's second half. Where High on Life is likely to be polarising is its dialogue and humour, which are prevalent enough that they are hard to ignore. If you're looking for a decent FPS that doesn't overstay its welcome and can accept that not every joke is likely to land, then High on Life is certainly worth checking out.


ComingSoon.net - 7.5 / 10

Quote

With a vivid and extraterrestrial setting, combat that uses its bizarre tools well, and a straightforward campaign that doesn’t demand to be played eternally, Squanch Games’ first shooter is impressively able to claim its own space within the genre.


Hobby Consolas - Spanish - 75 / 100

Quote

An entertaining first-person shooter that gets better with every new talking gun you get. Crazy situations, constant dialogues and a sense of humor can be his strengths... or weak, depending on your tastes. But if you like Rick & Morty, you're going to enjoy it for sure.


Press Start - 7.5 / 10

Quote

High On Life is the most video game-like video game to come from the minds of Squanch and Justin Roiland to date, and it shows the studio is capable of more than just lightly-interactive experiences packed with fart and cum jokes. Though it has plenty of those, too.


Worth Playing - 7.5 / 10

Quote

Overall, High on Life is a solid first-person shooter/adventure game. The action is exciting, and the boss fights are frustrating in their difficulty but satisfying once you take down someone. The exploration portions make you want to return to each area to suss out secrets, and you'd just wish there were more environments to explore. All of this is done at a good length, but only if you're a fan of the humor. If you are a fan, add an extra point to the score. Even if you're not a fan of the humor, the adventure is worth experiencing at least once.


Everyeye.it - Italian - 7.2 / 10

Quote

The new game by Squanch Games is a product that moves between ups and downs, an oscillatory trend that concerns in particular a gaming sector with evident roughness.


Digital Trends - 3.5 / 5

Quote

High on Life takes the right design cues from Metroid Prime, though uneven comedy makes for a hit-and-miss adventure.


GameSpot - 7 / 10

Quote

Squanch Games' trademark humor mixes with solid shooting and traversal in this goofy space romp.


GameWatcher - 7 / 10

Quote

A pretty funny romp that never quite finds its speed both as a shooter and as a comedic story. It's unlikely you'll be bored with High on Life.


GamesRadar+ - 3.5 / 5

Quote

There's an Achievement permanently tied to my account now that claims I spent "15 hours at the very real in-game alien strip club." To all my friends and family who may one day read this: I promise that isn't true.


Paste Magazine - 7 / 10

Quote

Nonetheless, High On Life is a rock-solid shooter and a great way to idly spend a weekend's worth of time blasting aliens. More than anything, I see the mold of a game that could really break the surface if Squanch Games and company decided they want to revisit this world and series. Just please, less holes next time, y'all.


Shacknews - 7 / 10

Quote

There’s combat and light puzzle-solving, but at its core, High on Life is a narrative sandbox adventure that requires little more than your time and attention. As someone who’s been feeling a little stressed and seasonally depressed lately, I sincerely appreciated that (and the ability to watch Tammy and the T-Rex, that’s also pretty rad).


Spaziogames - Italian - 7 / 10

Quote

Despite being often repetitive, High On Life manages to impress with off-the-wall humor from the creator of Rick and Morty.


TheSixthAxis - 7 / 10

Quote

High on Life is a conflicted game. On the one hand it's a solid shooter that often feels like more than the sum of its parts, and comes with an engaging art style and ideas, but the sense of humour is just so subjective that it's hard to recommend to anyone that isn't a die hard Rick and Morty fan.


Twinfinite - 3.5 / 5

Quote

Ultimately, I would recommend High on Life, but if you do, go into it with the mind that it’s a video game with a sense of humor that may fall short on you. Despite feeling a bit dated and some jokes missing their mark, I’m looking at you alien “fluids” seller, the game works despite how dated the actual gameplay is.


EGM - 3 / 5

Quote

High on Life continues Squanch Games' propensity for skewering video game tropes, this time in the form of a first-person shooter. Unfortunately, a lot of the game plays like a first draft, and armor of detached irony doesn't do enough to protect it from its many, many kinks. Roiland's personal brand of gross-out parody and "oh, geez" improvisational humor is already starting to feel routine in video game form, but there are a few standout bits. Thankfully, there's a pretty fun shooter underneath all the alien semen, though stiff animations and some buggy moments can make it look slightly underbaked. If you're a fan of Rick and Morty (or, more appropriately, "Doc and Mharti"), then High on Life might just be the pickup you need-but it never fully develops any of its really good ideas into a satisfying final draft.


Game Informer - 5.8 / 10

Quote

Despite multiple shortcomings and my general aversion to the game’s writing, High on Life has occasional glimmers of potential. I’d like to see a sequel polish and improve upon this foundation. I’m always itching for more creative takes on shooters, but High on Life is a reminder that “different” doesn’t always mean “good.”


Destructoid - 5.5 / 10

Quote

As-is, High on Life is great weekend Game Pass pickup, and something to go into with caution if you’re a fan of Roiland’s work.


Metro GameCentral - 5 / 10

Quote

A colourful, silly and deliberately over-the-top first person shooter, with severely undercooked gunplay and a sense of humour that will test the patience of even Rick and Morty fans.


Guardian - 2 / 5

Quote

This first-person shooter from Rick and Morty's co-creator pairs a barrage of nihilistic jokes with flimsy gameplay


PC Gamer - 40 / 100

Quote

Lacking the sharpness needed by both shooters and comedy, High on Life is a low point in the gaming calendar.


But Why Tho? - 3 / 10

Quote

Anyone who isn’t thrilled at the idea of having Roiland constantly chattering in their ear for a dozen hours straight will likely find the game’s incessant need to force itself on the player annoying. With the addition of uncompelling combat, frustrating exploration, and a lack of anything else to offer players, High on Life is one of the most annoying, derivative, and slogging experiences in years.


Eurogamer - Avoid

Quote

A miserable cocktail of ideas from other action-platformers and the worst parts of Rick and Morty.


GameXplain - Liked-a-lot

Quote

Video Review - Quote not available


Kotaku - Unscored

Quote

High On Life, like Rick and Morty, walks up the precipice of revelation, opens its fly, and pisses into the chasm. It’s fucking funny to almost do something different in form and function just to pull away at the last second, isn’t it? You thought we really gave a fuck, didn’t you? Fucking idiot. Here’s a fart.


PCGamesN - 5 / 10

Quote

I’ve not had all that long to take in High on Life’s wacky universe, so there’s not much else we can say other than it’s a love letter to fans of Roiland’s previous work. High on Life shows signs of being a good shooter now and then with some creative boss battles and powerful weapons, but other than that, it’s been rather run-of-the-mill so far.


Washington Post - Unscored

Quote

This uneven mix of humor and design keeps “High on Life” from ever feeling like a natural combination of video game and traditional comedy, even if there are plenty of moments where glimpses of some better blend of the two elements appears. What’s here is worthwhile for audiences curious about the concept of a comedy shooter, but it’s too uneven and stiflingly desperate to please to recommend beyond that.

 

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  • Commissar SFLUFAN changed the title to High on Life (Metroidvania FPS from "Rick and Morty" creator Justin Roiland - PC/Xbox consoles/Game Pass, 13 December 2022) - reviews from OpenCritic posted
BloodyHell

BloodyHell

Posted
Posted
On 12/13/2022 at 11:57 AM, BloodyHell said:

Those are mine, along with Last Stand, who doesn’t do actual reviews but more in depth discussions.

 

3 hours ago, Commissar SFLUFAN said:

The reviews are coming in so slowly that I'm getting the impression that the media outlets are drawing straws to see who gets to review the game :lol:

 

Game Information

Game Title: High on Life

 

Platforms:

  • PC (Dec 13, 2022)


Publisher:  Squanch Games, Inc.

 

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 75 average - 53% recommended

 

Critic Reviews

Try Hard Guides - 10 / 10


MonsterVine - 4.5 / 5


XboxEra - 9 / 10


ZTGD - 9 / 10


Game Rant - 4 / 5


God is a Geek - 8 / 10


Saving Content - 4 / 5


TechRaptor - 8 / 10


Gamerheadquarters - 7.6 / 10


ComingSoon.net - 7.5 / 10


Worth Playing - 7.5 / 10


Digital Trends - 3.5 / 5


GamesRadar+ - 3.5 / 5


Paste Magazine - 7 / 10


Shacknews - 7 / 10


Destructoid - 5.5 / 10


But Why Tho? - 3 / 10


Eurogamer - Avoid


GameXplain - Liked-a-lot


Kotaku - Unscored


PCGamesN - Unscored

Apparently most outlets weren't given preview codes, or so some have said.

 

I beat it tonight, its a solid game. The mechanics are good, the platforming is fun, and the characters are interesting. Movement has a lot of variety. 7.5 seems very fair, 3's are ridiculous, as are 10's.

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Ghost_MH

Ghost_MH

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On 12/16/2022 at 6:52 AM, Spork3245 said:

This game has the 1990 movie “Demon Wind” watchable in it’s entirety that you can watch via the movie theater in the world… complete with 3 aliens who sit in the front row and comment like Mystery Science Theater 3000 throughout the movie :rofl:

 

The game also has 1994's Tammy and the T-Rex that you can watch in its entirety in your living room.

 

This game is weird. I really appreciate the humor and presentation. The shooting is above average, maybe. Same goes for the platforming. This game feels like it was probably designed to be played with a gamepad and not a mouse and keyboard, but that hasn't really stopped me. Still, I'm enjoying myself. I was in the mood for something fun and funny and that's what I got. Even better that I didn't have to spend a cent since it was on Gamepass.

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Xbob42

Xbob42

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Posted
1 hour ago, stepee said:

User impressions have me wanting to move this up my list, people seem to be really enjoying it and it’s somewhat of a surprise hit apparently.

I'm not too surprised, it's about what I had hoped for. A solid game with a lot of humor. Unfortunately Justin Roiland humor is met with abject disdain (to the point where it's over-the-top like the couple of 3s this got) so there's not really much to talk about, but I like it!

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Ghost_MH

Ghost_MH

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I find the difficulty curve in this game to be a bit off. Making my way through Port Terrence and I found the lead up to the Douglas fight WAY more difficult than the actual fight. Not only that, but that final recruitment enemy rush was a serious step up in difficulty versus anything before it.

 

This game really wants you to be mobile. That's fine, though I still find the platforming to be weird with a mouse and keyboard. Still, I don't know how people would handle the actual shooting with a gamepad.

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