The second iteration of Dennaton's over-the-top shooter, Hotline Miami 2 follows in the pure footsteps of its predecessor. Three years after the wisecracking Jacket, the 1991-era protagonists cheat their boredom with ever more ferocious violence, resulting in some very unsavoury scenes. The narrative choices are experimental and the character development is decently thought out. However, what made Hotline Miami so charming – psychedelic shootouts carried by adrenaline shots – only punctuate the game. The level-design, never bad, is more directional and offers less freedom in the way you can approach situations (enemies taking cover, specific corridors). This little deviation is perhaps already too much and turns the game into a sometimes aberrant grind (Beard II and III, damn it!). Not a bad experience, but perhaps a slightly disappointing sequel from a user experience perspective.