Hotline Miami 2

[Gamerforlife]

Hotline Miami is basically Drive the Game

This Drive:



Not this other, equally awesome one:



Watch this, then imagine a whole game that is basically moments like that:

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I have some problems with Hotline Miami 2. I don't think the level design so far is nearly as tight as the first and it isn't nearly as surreal which was part of the appeal for me.

But the original was something of a miracle.

2 is still very very good.

The soundtrack is still on point holy crap.

Vinyl copy on the way.

[noiseredux]

I did watch Dave play a bit last night. I don't (necessarily) think that Dave is bad at video games. So the game just looked frustrating to me.

Dave starts.
He goes 1 room up.
Dies.
Starts over.
Goes 1 room up.
Shoots guys.
Gets snuck up from behind.
Dies.
Starts over.
Goes 1 room up.
Shoots guys.
Shoots guys behind him.
Inches towards next room.
Dies.
Starts over.

Meh. It looked like a ton of repetition to me which isn't super appealing. And moving w/ one stick and shooting with another (in a 2D game) is something I've never been a fan of. I think Smash TV is a lot cooler in theory than it is fun to actually play. I'm actually not sure why several of you seem to think I'd like this so much, but it definitely looks like the sort of game I'd only try if someone gifted it to me. And honestly, I'm not saying that to get a gift. It just doesn't look all that appealing to me.

[dsheinem]

Dave was on the last pint from his growler and barely recalls streaming

I did clear the level this morning and a few more since. There are 25 stages to the game, each one takes me about 10-15 min on average (with some much better/some much worse) to get through.

[Exhuminator]

It looked like a ton of repetition to me which isn't super appealing.

That's what this game is, and what the first one was. One dimenionsal trial and error gameplay combined with turbo extreme violence and a retro kitsch schtick. I believe the only reason the first game gained traction was the wacky story presentation (especially the kooky masks). To an extent I can understand why people like these games, but they're far too shallow and repetitive for me.

[Ack]

I did watch Dave play a bit last night. I don't (necessarily) think that Dave is bad at video games.

No, no, Dave is just bad at video games.

But yes, this is a game of trial and error, taking a minute to observe the stage and figure out its layout, figure out the best way to kill everyone who moves around inside of it as fast as possible, hoping your plan plays out and your luck holds as you run in for a rush of carnage and mayhem. There's a lot of risk/reward, where you sometimes go for something and end up successful or get your face blown open. But the thumping of the music gets the pulse to racing as you make these split-second decisions and rapid reactions. And you die. A lot. But you always respawn at the start of the floor you were on, so you don't get too frustrated because all it takes is one good run to clear it, which will only take a minute.

Yeah, it's repetitive. All games are. But this is twitch gameplay at its most simplest(and effectively at its finest). This is the same thing you get when you play a fast-paced FPS or a shmup which wants you to react as opposed to just raw memorization.

[dsheinem]

Yeah, it's repetitive. All games are. But this is twitch gameplay at its most simplest(and effectively at its finest). This is the same thing you get when you play a fast-paced FPS or a shmup which wants you to react as opposed to just raw memorization.

Well put. I get that adrenaline pump from this game when everything is going right just like I do from a shmup.

I also curse a lot when I play this game.

[Ack]

So how far did you get last night, Ds?

I picked it up but only got to play for a bit, so I only made it to Act 2 and the first of my levels(I'm sure I'll meet a terrible fate later in the game). It feels like this game provides a surrounding buffer to the plot of the first, and I'm having trouble figuring out where in the timeline things take place and exactly what is reality versus fantasy here.

But the biggest thing I noticed immediately is that this game is probably meant to be played right after the first, as it starts where the first left off in terms of difficulty. That's both a blessing and a curse, as I'm rusty as hell, but that rust was already starting to give way after a couple of levels last night. Also, the levels are a lot bigger and more complex, like many of the later levels in the first, and all of the windows and long corridors with guys on the far side armed with guns...not making things easy, that's for sure.

[dsheinem]

So how far did you get last night, Ds?

I am currently on scene 15 or 16. There are 25 scenes in total according to this wiki about the game. I hope to finish it up going into the weekend.

It has been some time since I played the original, but this one does seem a little bit harder than what I remember the first one being. I think I played the first game in one long 7-8 hour binge, but I probably played for 6 hours yesterday to make it about half way in this one (some of those hours were inebriated, however). That could be rust, or it could be the larger levels, etc. I agree with Ryan that the game is slightly less surreal, but to be honest the "plot" of the first game and the "plot" of the second game are (to me) little more than odd vignettes of insanity + pulp fiction tropes. This one is slightly different in tone, but I still think it stands out as unique and interesting for what it is.

I do like that you are tasked with playing a variety of different characters and styles across the first ~2/3 of the game I've seen so far. I quite like the military dude's levels and the single weapon gimmick, even if they are some of the tougher ones so far.

[Ack]

Cool beans. I'm wondering, do I only unlock masks by beating levels, or are there going to be some special requirements for certain characters? I've unlocked the Tiger fan and the second Snake mask, but again, I only got to Scene 5 in the 45 minutes I played last night.