Tomi on 10/3/2015 at 16:05
Oh, awesome! I didn't expect much from the first Hotline Miami when I bought it on Steam sales for like five dollars two years ago, but it turned out to be one of my favourite games of the last decade. It's one of those very few games where I've been bothered to get all the Steam achievements and stuff. And normally I don't really even care about those.
I hope that the sequel doesn't try too hard to be better in every area, the simplicity and the fluid gameplay of the original were what I loved the most about it. And the ridiculously over-the-top violence. :D And all the weirdness. Oh, and the soundtrack too, oh yes. It was really good.
Too bad that I haven't really got enough time to play this for a while, but please let us know how you get on with it. Have fun!
Judith on 10/3/2015 at 17:36
To me it's kind of like Bioshock 2, sequel of a game that doesn't really need one. I guess I'll grab it someday, but it's not on my priority list.
Tomi on 10/3/2015 at 18:22
Sequel of a game that doesn't need one? One of my only grudges with Hotline Miami was that it was way too short. If you don't care about getting good "grades" or having fun with trying out different kind of crazy ways to kill people, you can easily play the game from start to finish in a few hours.
From the story point of view I guess that Hotline Miami doesn't need a sequel, I agree with that. I don't even know if HM1 and HM2 are connected story-wise though. But did anyone play Hotline Miami because of its story? I certainly didn't. I played it for the fun and challenging maps and great gameplay - the story just gave me some kind of an excuse to be a psychotic mass murderer. :p Hotline Miami 2 will have new maps (= more fun) and apparently a level editor (= potentially a lot more fun!) so it's an essential purchase for me... when I have time to play games again.
henke on 10/3/2015 at 19:35
Quote Posted by Judith
To me it's kind of like Bioshock 2, sequel of a game that doesn't really need one.
You know what, I was kinda with you on that right up until when I started playing it. I wasn't especially looking forward to a new Hotline Miami, didn't think it needed it. When I saw RPS' positive review today I picked up on a whim and I'm not sorry I did. The sequel picks up a few years after the first game and shows what has happened to the world of Hotline Miami from the perspectives of several different characters. It feels both bigger and better than the original.
As for the gameplay, and the music? It's better if I show you. This is my first playthrough of the 3rd scene.
[video=youtube;qWmjKHe_Uhw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWmjKHe_Uhw[/video]
I really don't need to say anything else, do I?
Briareos H on 10/3/2015 at 21:46
Quote Posted by henke
It feels both bigger and better than the original.
So exactly like Bioshock 2 then.
nicked on 11/3/2015 at 07:19
I'm not sure I'll ever understand "It's just more of the first game but slightly improved" as a criticism. That's pretty much the dictionary definition of a good sequel if you ask me. I'm super hyped for HM2, just need to wait til I have a spare £12.
The first one is excellent.
Judith on 11/3/2015 at 08:48
Quote Posted by henke
You know what, I was kinda with you on that right up until when I started playing it. I wasn't especially looking forward to a new Hotline Miami, didn't think it needed it. When I saw RPS' positive review today I picked up on a whim and I'm not sorry I did. The sequel picks up a few years after the first game and shows what has happened to the world of Hotline Miami from the perspectives of several different characters. It feels both bigger and better than the original.
As for the gameplay, and the music? It's better if I show you. This is my first playthrough of the 3rd scene.
I really don't need to say anything else, do I?
It looks almost the same as first one, but the pacing is less frantic and more tactical. At least that's your playing style. I don't know how it plays, but judging from the video only it's just "more levels". If feels a bit like HM 1.3 or HM: Wrong Number DLC campaign.
And I don't think HM 1 was too short. Art style, screen flickering, frantic combat, and psychotic trance gameplay of repetition made those 3-4 hours really intensive, exhausting and complete experience. I'm glad they didn't add more levels just for the sake of game length, as it might cheapen the experience, water it down (as in Alien: Isolation). IMO, knowing when to stop is as important as when (and what) to start ;)
Sulphur on 11/3/2015 at 17:34
I think the most relevant - and important - question for HM2 is, really, whether the soundtrack is as full of totes amaze fuckballs tunes as last time.
