This review contains spoilers
Though I love the first Hotline Miami, the second makes me even more excited.
This game feels much more like a well-executed story than the first. Every player character has their own secrets and their plots are played out subtly with exaggerated moments always happening at the right time. I have no hesitation in saying that the concepts explored in this game are potentially life-changing.
I will note that some players take issue with the limited control and open level design found in this sequel. In my experience, this didn't detract from the game due to the fact that I view Hotline 2 as a game about being an observer in the lives of the characters. These moments, if at all noticeable, help to pull the player out of immersion and remember that the lives of the characters are not their own.
While I would like to recommend this game to anyone who has played the first, I wouldn't recommend it for those who value the pace and difficulty of the original more than the feeling and message.
This game feels much more like a well-executed story than the first. Every player character has their own secrets and their plots are played out subtly with exaggerated moments always happening at the right time. I have no hesitation in saying that the concepts explored in this game are potentially life-changing.
I will note that some players take issue with the limited control and open level design found in this sequel. In my experience, this didn't detract from the game due to the fact that I view Hotline 2 as a game about being an observer in the lives of the characters. These moments, if at all noticeable, help to pull the player out of immersion and remember that the lives of the characters are not their own.
While I would like to recommend this game to anyone who has played the first, I wouldn't recommend it for those who value the pace and difficulty of the original more than the feeling and message.