Hotline Miami 2

[jfrost]

Goddammit, I've been so swamped the last few months I didn't even know this had come out.

Gonna have to buy it now.

[Gamerforlife]

Yet another sequel that proves the old adage, "It ain't broke, don't fix it"

So many unnecessary changes in this one, rather than actual IMPROVEMENTS.

I happen to think the new ideas are "actual IMPROVEMENTS" over the original formula in that they offer greater challenge and force the player into more adaptive playstyles.

Translation:

Make game more annoying and frustrating when the original already had the perfect level of challenge

ToMAEto toMAHto

[Ack]

Yet another sequel that proves the old adage, "It ain't broke, don't fix it"

So many unnecessary changes in this one, rather than actual IMPROVEMENTS.

I happen to think the new ideas are "actual IMPROVEMENTS" over the original formula in that they offer greater challenge and force the player into more adaptive playstyles.

Translation:

Make game more annoying and frustrating when the original already had the perfect level of challenge

ToMAEto toMAHto

Not necessarily. I feel more like Dennaton Games wanted to push the envelope as far as they could go with this game, and they did, to its utmost limit. That's why we have the massive levels, the varying styles of gameplay for different characters, the challenging layouts and enemy arrangements, a Hard Mode rendition of the game, and so on. Dennaton knew this would be the last game in the series, there was a limit to how far they could go with the base controls and the style, so they said "To hell with it!" and went nuts with characters and layouts.

The issue here is that, in pushing that envelope, they made a game that was harder and less accessible than the first, even for fans of the previous one. It is still possible to get a massive score multiplier and do really well in the game, but it's not easy and it takes probably a bigger commitment to the game and studying each level than the previous release did. Those who really want to dedicate themselves to that new level of challenge can, but I don't expect most will want to.

[Gunstar Green]

I think I'll be passing on this given all I've read here and around the web. I thought the first was a good game but not something I loved enough to want to revisit. I'm pretty sure I'd just find the experience frustrating.

Though for bigger fans of the original I can see this game being pure brain candy.

[Pulsar_t]

[Opa Opa]

2 > 1. Both numerically and in the case of the two games.

2 has more variety and a better story. I think the level design is a bit more fair as well. There seemed to be fewer 'dead zones' that would instakill you from enemies off screen.

[Gamerforlife]

2 > 1. Both numerically and in the case of the two games.

2 has more variety and a better story. I think the level design is a bit more fair as well. There seemed to be fewer 'dead zones' that would instakill you from enemies off screen.

Huh, interesting. I thought the level design was less fair, with more cheap instakill scenarios

Nobody ever said the first game was easy, but I thought it had a level of challenge that pushed you without pissing you off. Hotline Miami 2 really steps over that line though. I like a challenge, but once it's gets frustrating I start to feel like I could be doing something better with my time (i.e. something fun). I'm at a point in my life where I value my time more, and if a game pisses me off, that's time I could be making better use of...so I move on.

[Opa Opa]

I thought 2 was easier than 1... Don't really know what to say. Guess we had different experiences.