Dennaton Games' flashy Hotline Miami sequel may bear the subtitle Wrong Number, but there's clearly nothing wrong with the follow-up's review scores. Indeed, while March is packed to the brim with blockbusters, it's the indie titles that are taking all of the plaudits, as the murder-'em-up attracts a bevy of big scores. We've been put on hold by the title's publisher of late, but got our code earlier today, so you can look forward to a review imminently.
Eurogamer.net - Recommended
Hotline Miami 2 leaves me conflicted. There's lots to love here, but the structure makes it difficult to explore and exploit. It's still an absolute riot to play, and the urge to press on remains compulsive, despite the narrative hi-jinx. Its failings are never enough to truly spoil things - Hotline Miami 2 is definitely to be recommended. It's the sequel that everyone expected, perhaps. But I'm not sure it's the sequel the original truly deserved.
GameSpot - 9/10
In almost every way, Hotline Miami 2 is a marked improvement on an already tremendous formula. This is a game that had me pumping my fists and laughing with joy throughout my time with it, and I was left despondent by the time it drew to a close. A gutsy, refined game that isn't scared to force you into corners and watch you battle out of them, as well as an audiovisual joy that marries graphics, music, and gameplay so well that even the pause screen is a work of art.
IGN - 8.8/10
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is a great game and a worthy sequel. It's more confident in its style, storytelling ability, and level design than the first game. It has enough depth to stand on its own, but also manages to nail a balanced variety of new and old Hotline Miami goodness for fans who want both.
Polygon - 8.5/10
Hotline Miami 2 may look like its predecessor, but it's a completely different beast. The original was a drug; a pulsating, hypnotic thing. Hotline Miami 2 consciously makes it slightly harder to get lost in that flow, but trades that trance for a story that I'm still rapturously unpacking. It gives you the tools and freedom you need to execute unbelievable killing combos, and then gives you ample time to consider the consequences.
VideoGamer - 7/10
Hotline Miami 2 improves upon its predecessor in a way that is pleasing, but non-essential. And to get there, it undercut the one thing that made the original great. Hotline Miami was nasty, brutish, and short. Hotline Miami 2, sadly, is not.
Will you be giving Hotline Miami 2 a call, or do you intend to set your cell to silent this week? Phone home in the comments section below.
Comments 19
Sounds like it's maybe lacking the 'surprise' element of the original, which was probably to be expected. Still, I'm pumped for this!
This can't reach PSN soon enough.
It's never going to be as good as the first as it was damn near perfect. Even though I don't think there should be a sequel I can't wait to get my hands on it.
@get2sammyb Do we know the price (preferably in here in Blighty) yet?
@rastamadeus ...and fear of sounding like a pleb, is it coming out tomorrow or the 15th?
@rastamadeus I don't know man, I really enjoyed the first game once I got to grips with it, but I still left it feeling like the story side of things could have been handled slightly better. The gameplay was brilliant, no argument there, but there were definitely aspects of the game that left room for improvement. Eager to see what this brings to the table!
Personally I could never be bothered with 1, just didn't click with me, I'll be giving it a second chance in the vita at some point.
First Hotline was very bad game with broken gameplay, outdated visuals and very boring story. I really have no idea why people like it.
@SteveButler2210 Story didn't bother me, never do in that type of game. It was a great game because of how fun it was. Story, visuals, audio, etc are the cream on top of a cake, the game play is the cake itself. Did my advice help you in the end then?
@AhabSpampurse If you're American it is out today, but for us Europeans we have to wait Yurok 3pm(ish) tomorrow. And it is taking forever to get to that time.
@Gemuarto Maybe as - newsflash! - what you found bad others found great. Story, as I say above, really isn't important in a game like that. It's like watching an Expendables film for the story. Outdated visuals and broken I have to take issue with though as no part of the game is broken and the visuals are deliberately that way, as if footage of an 8-bit game on an old VHS tape. You can call it bad or whatever, your opinion, but you can't just make crap up to suit your argument. At least you tried it though, all you can ask. Can't stand people who have an opinion on something when they haven't tried it.
So pumped for this!
So ready for this, will try to platinum this one too like the first.
Im not sure what it is (im thinking that the "novelty" factor) but im not as in love with this one asi was with the original
playing it on Steam, theres something... i dont know what it is, i havent play the original in quite some time (maybe theres something there), but i FEEL they focus on what wasnt exactly stellar in the first game
Its a good game, still
So hyped! Tomorrow can't come quick enough...
Didn't play the first one, not gunna play the second one either Noooo love for indies here.
The game is already up on EU psn. Downloading now...
Edit: Also Revelations Episode 3 and DMC are up.
@Gemuarto because you are gemuarto
@rastamadeus I don't think that visuals are outdated for purpose. Developers just don't have money for a good painter. And gameplay in this game is like qte in Resident Evil 6. One mistake and you need to start it over. Boring. And when you play this game on vita or ps3 or whatever console you have, you feel that it is a pc game, because controls on consoles are just awful. I think I beat this game once, so I know what I'm talking about. Oh and story is just dumb. And I really hated that food fetish between missions. It felt like I've becoe a hipster. Violance and good soundtrack are the only things that hold this game together. Without them, it's just total ***t. Boring QTE game... Very short campaign. Story is not engaging and trying to be smart, but still looks stupid. Design is very poor, no real diversity in levels, they look all the same, to me.
@rastamadeus yeah that's fair enough. I think for me it was more the fact that the story had so much potential it was a shame to see it get fumbled slightly. Either way it didn't really hurt the experience. And yeah thanks for that buddy, between your pointers and a couple more tips online I improved significantly and was able to make it through most of the rest of the game without any real issues!
First game was awesome, imo. I'll get this eventually but want to get through DmC first.
It's $14.99 so that's under a tenner here. Fully expect this to be £15 though because Sony.
@Gemuarto Like I said, least you tried it. The QTE comparison I do t get but oh well. The game is like an old style shooter (R-Type, Gradius, Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga), you need to learn routines to survive - once that clicks in your head the game flows much better and you understand what you're doing more. Not for everyone, seems to be a you hate it or love it game. The graphics though are deliberately bleached/faded/whatever (I'm no expert). You can tell that right from the off.
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