Hotline Miami 2

[SamuraiMegas]

A lot of it was extremely easy if can remember a simple pattern or placement.

[Gamerforlife]

This one's noticeably less polished than the first one. Gameplay's not as tight (enemies walking through shot gun blasts) and the levels feels sloppy

Over emphasis on guns this time around too.

[dsheinem]

This one's noticeably less polished than the first one. Gameplay's not as tight (enemies walking through shot gun blasts) and the levels feels sloppy

WHAT?!?! YOU CRAZY! Game seems tougher, but not unfair or "less tight".

[Blu]

I beat the first game last night. I didn't quite get the same immersive experience that you all got. I liked the soundtrack, but beyond that, it was Trial and Error: The Game.

I have a few issues with the game. It goes from feeling scripted with guard paths and behaviors, only to change paths for no logical reason. Is it just a programming element to make it more twitch? Because I think that's where the game stutters, there's moments where you're memorizing patterns, then it all goes out the window in a few moments of panic. I would like the strategy elements and find they play out great sometimes, but then are extremely cheap -- getting mobbed by numerous enemies: IE big dudes who need to be gunned down, when I only have a knife, etc.

The lock on mechanisms have varying consistency. Sometimes it will lock on a dude that's advancing towards you, sometimes it will lock on the guy further away. Makes it truly difficult to kill the targets you've prioritized.

The samurai sword is strangely my favorite weapon though. The reach and takedown power is something to be feared.

[dsheinem]

It goes from feeling scripted with guard paths and behaviors, only to change paths for no logical reason. Is it just a programming element to make it more twitch? Because I think that's where the game stutters, there's moments where you're memorizing patterns, then it all goes out the window in a few moments of panic.

To my mind you've described a big part of what makes the games great. Memorization will only get you so far, as there are a variety of small but important variables in the AI patterns that will change with every reload. The game makes you be both good at twitch play AND good at learning tendencies and patterns, studying level layouts, etc. Like a great shmup, it has a well-designed twitch/strategy duality that rewards thoughtful repetition and makes each restart a chance to learn something new.

[Ack]

I noticed the sequel is a bit glitchier than the first. Nothing gamebreaking, though enemies spaz out in doorways, and the second twin has a real issue with getting stuck on corners.

The weirdest glitch I encountered was while playing one of the Fans levels as Tony. I got attacked by dogs from both sides while killing a guy with a gun. Tony's body got knocked out to the left. BUT the dog on the right hit at the same time and caused Corey's corpse to spawn as well, so I had both Tony and Corey's corpses being mauled by dogs. It was...odd.

[Stark]

Bought this last night!

...

And then my Vita died while installing it! And my charger is at work! So ... I'll play at lunch!

[Ack]

Well, I got a little further last night. I finally sat down and played through the tutorial level for that achievement and unlocked the alternate scene where I meet the Jacket. I am missing one newspaper out of 10 and one weapon out of 33. I think it's the AK, because I don't recall ever picking one up to use.

I also got my first S rank, but it's on Hard mode. I actually find Hard mode a bit easier to rack up scores in because there are so many enemies, you can easily rush through killing folks in a chain. I've only beaten a couple of levels in it though, so I have a lot more to do.

[Ack]

Well...not sure people care to hear me continuing on, as I may be the only person who is still playing this at the moment, but what the hell, I'll talk anyway.

I got the last of the pages I was missing, got a 19x combo(which pisses me off, as I thought I had gotten a 20x, but I had hesitated for just a second too long because the achievement for 15x popped up and I looked at it), and I used all three of the Son's techniques to beat a level(the night club. I got an A+ too, thank God. Now I just have to play it in Hard and never go back to it ever again).

So up next...I guess I need to unlock the Abyss so I can get that achievement and then get the one for beating the Writer's levels without killing anyone. And I need to find an AK and see if that is the last weapon I need to use. Beyond that, I need to get a 20x combo, kill 50,000 enemies, beat all levels on Hard, and get an A+ or better on all levels on Normal, and then I will have done everything.

Also, I watched a sick video recently of a guy getting a 90x combo in Hotline Miami 2...

[Stark]

I'm reading it! I played some yesterday and really enjoyed it, but either I've lost all my Hotline Miami skillz since the last time I played it or it's harder as I died quite a bit in Scene 1. Scene 2 went much better for me though, so maybe it's the former and I just need practice.