"Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number" improves on its predecessor in a number of ways, but were some of those improvements really necessary? In developer, Dennaton Game's sequel, you are now playing as multiple characters, experiencing multiple, intersecting views of the story through their eyes. The events in "Hotline Miami 2" take place before and after those of the previous game. I have to be honest, when I played the first game, I was so befuddled with the story that by the end of it, I had to have someone explain it to me. With the sequel containing thirteen playable characters, it was much harder to get a good read on the story. Most of these new characters have masks and their own special abilities for dispatching enemies. The masks were always a huge favorite of mine from the original and it's awesome to see new ones in the sequel.
Dennaton Games definitely stepped it up with "Hotline Miami 2". The levels are bigger, the violence is as brutal as ever and the soundtrack will have your heart pumping and your head rocking. Levels take you to new areas such as a shipping yard, office building, sewers, etc. More to explore is usually a good thing, but sometimes it can backfire. Often times, even stretching your view to far sides of the levels does nothing for you as you can't see all the way across. You'll think you're in the clear, when out of nowhere, an enemy or some damn rabid dog will come charging at you out of your line of sight. Instead of a positive, these larger levels feel like a negative, impacting "Hotline Miami's" original formula of tight, but still deeply enjoyable levels. I'm not saying that developers should always stick to the same format, but sometimes, improvements are made where they aren't needed.
Let's talk about the masks. Some masks have returned, while others make a new, violent entrance. One set of characters who both wear swan masks are controlled at the same time using the two triggers on the controller. One has a chainsaw and the other uses guns. This makes for an extremely interesting dynamic as if one of them dies, you fail a level. The zebra mask allows you to avoid enemy attacks by rolling. Tony the Tiger makes a return with his fatal fists, but this time lacks the ability to pick up weapons. While there is an abundance of playable characters in "Hotline Miami 2", there are unfortunately, fewer masks.
"Hotline Miami 2's" overall art design is still here, but better than ever. The game's pause screen is like a VHS tape when you pause it, showing a white static line across the middle of the screen. The level selection screen has the levels depicted as VHS tapes as well. Even quitting to the main menu is called "Eject." Bright colors pierce your eyes from every direction and the violence is taken to new heights. Suck it Australia. Everything is deadlier in "Hotline Miami 2." Bullets cause fearsome carnage leaving intestines exposed or body parts blown off. Sharper weapons such as knives or machetes can decapitate enemies or slit their throats as an execution technique. Even decapitated heads can be kicked around if you walk over them. More blunt weapons such as the baseball bat can be equally brutal allowing you to pulverize your enemies' heads into bloody pulps. Also, the quick restart button obviously makes its return, keeping you playing for hours until you finally realize that you need a break.
Remember that soundtrack from the original that blew your mind? Well, it's back, with all new tracks that will make your heart pump blood at the speed of light and keep your eyes frantically scanning your screen for enemies. Now, instead of having to scour the internet for the songs/artists, the level selection screen lists the track used for each level. Some previous artists make a return, while new ones make their debut. There are over 40 tracks in "Hotline Miami 2", all of which will make you glad you bought this game. Sidenote, get excited for a level editor that will also be coming to the game in the form of a later update.
All in all, "Hotline Miami 2" is an ambitious sequel with changes that made it a better game overall than its predecessor and changes that will make you wish were never changed. Make no mistake, if you play this game, you will probably end up punching walls out of frustration until your knuckles bleed.
PROS:
- Multiple playable characters
- New masks
- Intriguing, varied locations
- Incredible art design
- More brutal than ever before
- Soundtrack will blow your mind
CONS:
- Hard to follow story
- Overwhelmingly large levels
- Fewer masks
Final Score: 8.5/10
Dennaton Games definitely stepped it up with "Hotline Miami 2". The levels are bigger, the violence is as brutal as ever and the soundtrack will have your heart pumping and your head rocking. Levels take you to new areas such as a shipping yard, office building, sewers, etc. More to explore is usually a good thing, but sometimes it can backfire. Often times, even stretching your view to far sides of the levels does nothing for you as you can't see all the way across. You'll think you're in the clear, when out of nowhere, an enemy or some damn rabid dog will come charging at you out of your line of sight. Instead of a positive, these larger levels feel like a negative, impacting "Hotline Miami's" original formula of tight, but still deeply enjoyable levels. I'm not saying that developers should always stick to the same format, but sometimes, improvements are made where they aren't needed.
Let's talk about the masks. Some masks have returned, while others make a new, violent entrance. One set of characters who both wear swan masks are controlled at the same time using the two triggers on the controller. One has a chainsaw and the other uses guns. This makes for an extremely interesting dynamic as if one of them dies, you fail a level. The zebra mask allows you to avoid enemy attacks by rolling. Tony the Tiger makes a return with his fatal fists, but this time lacks the ability to pick up weapons. While there is an abundance of playable characters in "Hotline Miami 2", there are unfortunately, fewer masks.
"Hotline Miami 2's" overall art design is still here, but better than ever. The game's pause screen is like a VHS tape when you pause it, showing a white static line across the middle of the screen. The level selection screen has the levels depicted as VHS tapes as well. Even quitting to the main menu is called "Eject." Bright colors pierce your eyes from every direction and the violence is taken to new heights. Suck it Australia. Everything is deadlier in "Hotline Miami 2." Bullets cause fearsome carnage leaving intestines exposed or body parts blown off. Sharper weapons such as knives or machetes can decapitate enemies or slit their throats as an execution technique. Even decapitated heads can be kicked around if you walk over them. More blunt weapons such as the baseball bat can be equally brutal allowing you to pulverize your enemies' heads into bloody pulps. Also, the quick restart button obviously makes its return, keeping you playing for hours until you finally realize that you need a break.All in all, "Hotline Miami 2" is an ambitious sequel with changes that made it a better game overall than its predecessor and changes that will make you wish were never changed. Make no mistake, if you play this game, you will probably end up punching walls out of frustration until your knuckles bleed.
PROS:
- Multiple playable characters
- New masks
- Intriguing, varied locations
- Incredible art design
- More brutal than ever before
- Soundtrack will blow your mind
CONS:
- Hard to follow story
- Overwhelmingly large levels
- Fewer masks
Final Score: 8.5/10
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number" continues the gorish, heart-pounding legacy of the series, much like the iconic Hotline Miami jacket, leaving players immersed in its chaotic, neon-drenched world.
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