Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 808 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 551 out of 808
  2. Mixed: 168 out of 808
  3. Negative: 89 out of 808

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  1. Fabokitas
    Aug 5, 2015
    9
    This game isn´t just a fun game. It reminds me of the some videogames back in the day, when they were difficult, and you had to struggle and actually THINK to succeed.
  2. Kingdemise
    Jul 12, 2015
    4
    The first game is still one of my most favorite game of all time, Hotline Miami is clearly in my top five of the games I most enjoyed in my life. But this sequel is boring, no offense to the creators but you really screwed it up. I do not even think a sequel was needed, the one was a masterpiece and a clearly beloved game. So why did the creators of the game felt like it was necessary toThe first game is still one of my most favorite game of all time, Hotline Miami is clearly in my top five of the games I most enjoyed in my life. But this sequel is boring, no offense to the creators but you really screwed it up. I do not even think a sequel was needed, the one was a masterpiece and a clearly beloved game. So why did the creators of the game felt like it was necessary to take the risk of a sequel in the first place ?

    The soundtrack and the art direction are still very good, but everything else is dull and boring. The level design make you lure your ennemies most of the time into you, you can't rush and rely on your reflex/instinct to clear out levels like in the first one. This time, you'll have to find good spot on the map and play very carefully if you do not want an off-screen ennemy to kill you. Believe me, there is a lot of Off-screen enemies in the game. Plus, this time the game make you play the way the creators want you to play. You almost can not choose masks, you have to play with characters and their stupid abilities. The roll is useless, the "twin brothers" are random and the bear's ability clearly make him more vulnerable. There is some nice idea, like the reporter who can not harm people or the fact that tony mask can not pick weapon (tony's mask was clearly broken in the first game) but everything else feel really forced.

    Plus, you have no good new weapons to use. Knives are still the most useful melee weapon and they thought a Sniper could be a good idea. It is not, you can not aim past ten meters with it thanks to the core mechanics of the game. Seriousely...

    I did not had enough with the first game, I spent almost 80 hours into it. But this time, the game was so boring that I felt that it was too long, it was like the game never ended. The game IS longer than the first one, but you will felt like it is way longer than it should have been. Plus, there's a lot of dialogue and the story is really unintersting. At least, the one did not make you focus on the story, but this one heavliy insist on it and it is really bad.

    Really, stick out with the first one. Do not touch the sequel, it is not worth it at all.    … Expand
  3. azgoodaz
    Jun 13, 2015
    10
    If you played the first Hotline Miami, then this is a no brainier. Just like the first one, this has to be one of the most addictive games that is under $20 dollars. If you get hit or get shot at, you will die. Once dead you have restart the level or checkpoint and its really stressful if you do. And thats what I truly like about this game. Even though its a great game, I'm sadly not oneIf you played the first Hotline Miami, then this is a no brainier. Just like the first one, this has to be one of the most addictive games that is under $20 dollars. If you get hit or get shot at, you will die. Once dead you have restart the level or checkpoint and its really stressful if you do. And thats what I truly like about this game. Even though its a great game, I'm sadly not one of those gamers that can read non-speakable text boxes so I normally skip all of that.

    If you liked Hotline Miami and wanted a longer storyline, more death, more killing, more blood and more weapons. You wont regret Hotline Miami 2. It might be a cheap game but its highly addictive and you wont stop playing it.    … Expand
  4. ToxicHumor
    May 7, 2015
    8
    I am going to be honest. This game is not the first Hotline Miami. In many ways it does not try to be, the lack of a single protagonist stands out as the most obvious and affects game play significantly.
    I loved the original so much and that love creeps into my assessment of the sequel as well. It is not as good plain and simple I think you could argue 6-8 is honestly a fair review, 0 is    I am going to be honest. This game is not the first Hotline Miami. In many ways it does not try to be, the lack of a single protagonist stands out as the most obvious and affects game play significantly.
    I loved the original so much and that love creeps into my assessment of the sequel as well. It is not as good plain and simple I think you could argue 6-8 is honestly a fair review, 0 is not however the game still has wonderful visuals, music, and gun play, by giving a game a review of a zero I can only hope that you are doing it in an attempt to lower the average user score and are not implying that they somehow managed to not accomplish or even half accomplish one thing.    … Expand
  5. Number213
    May 4, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Instead of polishing the original game's hand-to-hand combat, HM2 became more gun-oriented.
    Instead of making the game harder, HM2 became more unfair to player.
    Instead of focusing on one character and developing him, HM2 introduces 7+ characters and kills them off quicker than you can start to sympathize with any of them.
    Instead of sandbox-like ability to play any level with any mask, HM2 forces player to play a specific level with specific character.
    Instead of fixing previous game's bugs, HM2 contains new ones.
    Instead of being a great sequel, HM2 is an utter disappointment.    … Expand
  6. Marick
    May 3, 2015
    7
    In my opinion, the continuation of Hotline Miami, is not it interesting that the first feld. He manages to take some new elements to the game, but first one is a better story, a better level design. What I really like in this game is the soundtrack.
  7. Boggybean
    Apr 28, 2015
    8
    Completed this game in about 11 hours, and oh my god I loved it the whole way through.

    Level design has apparently been a major issue for people, and with a heavy heart, I agree. It's simply too open in some areas, as opposed to the first game where you felt amazing when you charged in and racked up huge combos by beating in heads and gunning down mobsters. This game simply feels like a    Completed this game in about 11 hours, and oh my god I loved it the whole way through.

    Level design has apparently been a major issue for people, and with a heavy heart, I agree. It's simply too open in some areas, as opposed to the first game where you felt amazing when you charged in and racked up huge combos by beating in heads and gunning down mobsters. This game simply feels like a cover shooter at times, especially with certain Hawaii missions (that damn power plant), with people shooting you through windows off-screen, so you're forced to move sparsely and poke your head out of cover. I personally feel it's all in context, however. Many levels are still taking place indoors in small places, like clubs, apartments, drug hideouts. But many of the larger levels are office buildings and skyrises, or huge power plants, which seemed to infuriate players.

    So many good things. The soundtrack is spot-on, if not better, with over 50 songs featured throughout. Every level has a different song. Every level. The gameplay, aside from some shoddy level design, is also brilliant. In the original, you had one character with different masks (and Biker I guess). This game has a huge array of characters and playstyles that are completely fresh and new. For example, Corey lets you dodge and roll through areas to avoid gunfire and look like a badass, while Mark lets you dual-wield submachine guns and shoot enemies side-on. Unfortunately some characters feel the same, like the Writer, who doesn't have any abilities aside from... not being able to kill people? There are characters without masks now, and simply have different abilities.

    But the main thing to comment on here is the story. The story is what's been focused on the most in this game, tying up loose ends with the story of the original, as well as providing explanations and making you gasp with realisation and shock at many points. The game bounces back between many characters, where stories may intertwine, with characters seeing or killing each other through missions. The story is incredibly surreal in the first as well as its sequel, but makes a surprising amount of sense by the end of the game, each character being important or serving a role. The ending hits you like a train when it all comes together as well.

    So overall, while gameplay is slightly slower-paced than its original, it still stands as an amazing game, worthy of being a sequel, with everything you could expect out of it and more.    … Expand
  8. BoneyMfan
    Apr 20, 2015
    7
    I cant say that this game is better than original Hotline Miami, but it is still a good game. Story is cool, gameplay is kinda boring after original, so i will give it 7/10
  9. DogManStar
    Apr 14, 2015
    7
    Not my kind of game, but I really enjoyed the first part, so I had to buy this one. Combats, fire weapons, hectic action... The game is trivial, and amazingly fun!
  10. floppykid
    Apr 3, 2015
    5
    Felt compelled to create an account to write this review because of all the sock puppet accounts spring up, giving ten star reviews.

    A horribly disappointing sequel to a great game. Hotline Miami 1 was at once rhythmic and spontaneous in its gameplay. It was a succinct shot of adrenaline, bleeding neon visuals and pulsing synth. Hotline Miami 2 retains the superb visuals and arguably    Felt compelled to create an account to write this review because of all the sock puppet accounts spring up, giving ten star reviews.

    A horribly disappointing sequel to a great game. Hotline Miami 1 was at once rhythmic and spontaneous in its gameplay. It was a succinct shot of adrenaline, bleeding neon visuals and pulsing synth. Hotline Miami 2 retains the superb visuals and arguably has a superior soundtrack. But those are the only two facets where it either matches or surpasses its predecessor.

    The story is a bloated and confused mess. It's written by people who are not in any way capable enough to devise a plot to hang all the pointless ultra-violence on. That doesn't stop them trying manfully though, for far too long. They should have just done what they did with the first game, negligible plot.

    The gameplay, unfortunately, often surpasses the plot for tedium and frustration. Gone are the level runs where you'd actually.......well run. In stead, an all to wide and empty vista of a map is spammed with mobs holding guns, mobs behind windows holding guns, special big characters holding guns and dogs holding guns that shoot windows. So you're forced to find a shotgun, a suitable room corner and lure the enemies in to mow them down in a doorway. You have to become a camper. It's awful and a massive backward stumble for the game.

    The game is somewhat saved by the levels where you can use the Tony mask and the Writer's levels. The Writer can't use guns at all because he's a non-lethal character. You even get extra combo-chains and points for picking up weapons and unloading them. It's a calculated risk, but it's a good and clever change. If only the rest of the game could've followed suit.

    The Soundtrack is superb, well worth listening to all the way through. Much better than the first's, which is also kickin'. The graphic work for the level intros, and levels themselves, is also excellent. A combination of the pros I've mentioned here save the game from being a 3.5 (not that metacritic would allow me to post that score) and bring it to a 5.

    My advice to PC gamers is to wait for a steam sale and/or the level editor to be released.    … Expand
  11. RoccoSalvetti
    Mar 28, 2015
    5
    It is like the first one but with an awful level design and a not interesting plot.You will die a lot, these days it seems fun but 9 out of 10 times here will be because of something shooting from outside of the screen. Where the first game could praise being reckless, here you will hide, lure the enemies toward you and then kill them. It is boring and frustrating in the way that skillIt is like the first one but with an awful level design and a not interesting plot.You will die a lot, these days it seems fun but 9 out of 10 times here will be because of something shooting from outside of the screen. Where the first game could praise being reckless, here you will hide, lure the enemies toward you and then kill them. It is boring and frustrating in the way that skill doesn't count much.… Expand
  12. Da_Metz
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    Hotline Miami 2 is a game that was created due to popular demand however this being said Hotline Miami 2 is an amazing game on virtually the same par of Hotline Miami! With a more detailed and added story explaining the chronicles of events that took place before the first game, during the first game and finally directly following the ending of the first game, with added comics thisHotline Miami 2 is a game that was created due to popular demand however this being said Hotline Miami 2 is an amazing game on virtually the same par of Hotline Miami! With a more detailed and added story explaining the chronicles of events that took place before the first game, during the first game and finally directly following the ending of the first game, with added comics this poured gas on the fire for a plethora of fans who where already donning their animal masks ready for the next edition to the games two part series. Keeping the soundtrack in the same violent/neon colored overtone Hotline Miami 2 saw returning artists such as Perturbator, Moon and many others as well as some new coming artists to the series such as Mega Drive and El Tig3r adds to the unforgiving nature of the game and the feeling of pure satisfaction after completing such a seemingly impossible task.

    This game is one to remember!    … Expand
  13. dannyharrington
    Mar 23, 2015
    6
    A decent game. It's much longer than the previous version, arguably out-staying it's welcome with it's gameplay getting a little stale by the end of this game, whereas, with the original, I was desperately cramming for more gameplay by the end. The gameplay is similar to the last but with a few differences. The main one being that the levels are bigger than HM1. This seems like a positiveA decent game. It's much longer than the previous version, arguably out-staying it's welcome with it's gameplay getting a little stale by the end of this game, whereas, with the original, I was desperately cramming for more gameplay by the end. The gameplay is similar to the last but with a few differences. The main one being that the levels are bigger than HM1. This seems like a positive but ends up being a downside. It's difficulty is ramped up because of this, and the small issues in the gameplay of HM1 are exemplified because of the expanded level design. The trial and error nature of the gameplay becomes quite annoying in this version with you finally beating part of a stage after tons of trial and error, only to have you die to something you couldn't have predicted or reacted to, bringing in even more trial and error. This wasn't nearly as much of an issue in the original as the levels were smaller. There also is a few times were it isn't clear if something is actually there, or simply drawn into the background. For example, there are some 2d objects that you cannot be seen or shot through, but some that are and aren't actually there, it's just what the floor looks like. In a game with split-second decisions, this can easily lead to unfair deaths and redoing a retardedly long level. Same thing with off-screen enemies shooting you before you have a chance to react. The targeting is also very inaccurate with it being virtually impossible to consistently target who you want unless they're very close to you and nowhere near other enemies. Also, as with any 2d game, you'll find that an enemy will occasionally occupy the same space that you do, in which even if you react first, you'll likely die. The masks were also changed for the better IMO with almost all the masks being relevant and separate for different character. Unlike in HM1 where 90%+ of the masks were pointless. Still, it is the same core gameplay as the previous iteration so it is still incredibly fun and rewarding trying to find the best route to victory.

    The story has much more emphasis on it this time around. It's actually not that complicated but with the way it's presented, you'll likely have no idea what's going on unless you look it up presented in a simpler form after you completed it. It constantly switches from past to present with various different characters more than Lost. It's difficult to tell who's who due to the 2d top-down nature of the game (and the ridiculous number of characters, making it difficult to remember them all). A simple reference from earlier in the game or HM1 that you may not get because the game throws so many different stories and information at you, will cause a ripple effect of you not having a f*cking clue of what is going on. The number of characters doesn't help this with many just being filler to the story and making it needlessly more complicated. Despite it's downsides, I was intrigued and didn't particularly feel massively let down at any single point unlike HM1's ending.

    The soundtrack is still great but not as good as the original IMO. But this is so subjective that it's difficult to criticise this as they're both considered to be great soundtracks.

    I will say I haven't experienced many bugs and I played it a couple weeks after release but your experience may differ.

    Overall, it's still a solid game, but arguably out stays its welcome which exemplifies the small issues of the previous game, but the changing of the masks (upgrades) bringing a new dynamic. The story whilst intriguing is also confusing with it's needlessly complicated presentation and irrelevant characters. The soundtrack is solid and the core gameplay is still highly fun and equally infuriating which is what makes HM what it is.    … Expand
  14. Beepglob
    Mar 23, 2015
    9
    Hotline Miami 2 is one of the best games I have ever played! Imagine Hotline Miami, only longer (in a good way), more weapons, a better hud, and better overall controls. That is Hotline Miami.
  15. Underpants158
    Mar 22, 2015
    6
    What is this game?!?!: A top down retro action game that is best approached slow and methodical. Then toss in 80s inspired music and ultra violence and you got Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.
    Pros:
    -People rave about the music and it is a part of creating a unique atmosphere that is distinguishably Hotline Miami. -A lot of people say there is a lack of variety in dealing with levels.    What is this game?!?!: A top down retro action game that is best approached slow and methodical. Then toss in 80s inspired music and ultra violence and you got Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.
    Pros:
    -People rave about the music and it is a part of creating a unique atmosphere that is distinguishably Hotline Miami.
    -A lot of people say there is a lack of variety in dealing with levels. Though what they mean is that a lot of times that variety is imposed on you by the game and not your own choice which I think is fine. Sometimes you'll play a scene with a fisticuffs reporter and sometimes you'll be a Rambo esque shotgun and knife wielding jungle commando.

    Cons:
    -Pretty atrocious AI respond nonsensically at times. For instance when you shoot a gun a select few enemies (seemingly regardless of distance) charge at you and others stay. After you shoot a gun and go into a room the enemies pile into the doorway where you easily slaughter them. But to make up for all the bad AI they have amazing accuracy.
    -Offscreen enemies see you before you see them. This is a problem more so in this game due to the bigger levels and longer hallways. And when they do see you apparently they have an auto lock function because they snipe you dead. Not to mention dogs. Run at you from offscreen and bam. Dead. Auto lock jaw on your neck.
    -Story has many different characters that is jumps back and forth between and years that it also jumps back and forth between making it very hard to keep up with but honestly it could have no story and that'd sort of be fine.

    Conclusion: I feel like to play this game is to play around it's inefficiencies. Exploiting the bad AI and avoiding hallways when possible. It is a frustrating experience whereas the first wasn't even though it pretty much had the same cons. A lot of times when I died I felt it was because of the faults of the game (AI/autolock/offscreen enemies) and not myself. Though that is not to say that every time I died I felt I had been cheated by the game. A lot of times it was a misplay, I didn't react quickly enough, didn't time my stab right, etc. And that's fine. That's great even. But to me I was too overwhelmed by the other times when I felt the game was ****    … Expand
  16. lakin777
    Mar 22, 2015
    4
    The sequel has better story and better variety in well everything. however thats where the cons end.
    The first one had awesome puzzle like melee combat and awful gun play, well this time melee is completely useless since from first mission almost everybody has guns and oh they will shoot you since theres plenty of giant maps so you cant even see whos got you.
    the variety in masks    The sequel has better story and better variety in well everything. however thats where the cons end.
    The first one had awesome puzzle like melee combat and awful gun play, well this time melee is completely useless since from first mission almost everybody has guns and oh they will shoot you since theres plenty of giant maps so you cant even see whos got you.
    the variety in masks actually screw you over since 75% of them i found making the game harder and the 25% had some useless effect,
    protip: try taking no weapons mask and all missions are hell.
    Like i said the missions are harder and actually way longer then they used to be, still checkpoints are only every map and saves are only per mission, leading to an hour of gameplay and then ragequit, after which u realise u have to do even the easy bits of that mission again.
    4/10 truly disappointed as i truly enjoyed first one. :(    … Expand
  17. Stealthgear
    Mar 21, 2015
    6
    The story and dialogue is skippable. The music is a little derivative. The graphics aren't too bad. The only way to play it is to lure enemys into a hall one at a time. The AI seems to be the same and the only thing keeping you in the game is how lucky you are or how fast you fire back. The weapons do not have a very good spread to make it fun. The content of the game is kinda gross. IThe story and dialogue is skippable. The music is a little derivative. The graphics aren't too bad. The only way to play it is to lure enemys into a hall one at a time. The AI seems to be the same and the only thing keeping you in the game is how lucky you are or how fast you fire back. The weapons do not have a very good spread to make it fun. The content of the game is kinda gross. I can't think of a reason to buy it unless you want to test your reflexes. Its a flashy package that needs more variety. They could have taken many directions to make it more fun for the player but did not.… Expand
  18. SixIsMyName
    Mar 20, 2015
    10
    There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that this game is a step up from its predecessor. With more weapons, a better story, and more masks. I definitely recommend picking this one up! Also, as a bonus, people with Payday 2, you get a free mask! (At least when I bought it it gave it to me, although this might be different to you.)

    Definitely worth picking up, and playing over and over    There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that this game is a step up from its predecessor. With more weapons, a better story, and more masks. I definitely recommend picking this one up! Also, as a bonus, people with Payday 2, you get a free mask! (At least when I bought it it gave it to me, although this might be different to you.)

    Definitely worth picking up, and playing over and over again!
    10/10    … Expand
  19. Merebimur
    Mar 20, 2015
    1
    Where do I start?! I loved the first Hotline Miami which felt fresh, unpredictable and pumped full of adrenaline. Clocked up well over 200 hours on that title as the replayability was just superb.

    This sad excuse for a sequel is an abortion of game - incredibly erratic AI, frustratingly terrible level design and a storyline that feels it was written during a game of consequences! I    Where do I start?! I loved the first Hotline Miami which felt fresh, unpredictable and pumped full of adrenaline. Clocked up well over 200 hours on that title as the replayability was just superb.

    This sad excuse for a sequel is an abortion of game - incredibly erratic AI, frustratingly terrible level design and a storyline that feels it was written during a game of consequences! I cannot believe that Devolver have anything to do with this game or, more depressingly, that they take gamers to be a gullible sack of tw@ts who are happy to part readily with cash for a rushed, half-baked buggy follow ups. Steer well clear of this mess!    … Expand
  20. Walter_Stardude
    Mar 19, 2015
    9
    I'll try to keep it short, I like it a lot. Almost as much the first one.

    This story of this game tries to answer a lot of questions Hotline Miami 1 made us ask, though a lot of it is up for interpretation. The gameplay is a lot like the first one, but this time you play with a lot of different characters who al play slightly different. This differentiates this game from the first one,    I'll try to keep it short, I like it a lot. Almost as much the first one.

    This story of this game tries to answer a lot of questions Hotline Miami 1 made us ask, though a lot of it is up for interpretation.
    The gameplay is a lot like the first one, but this time you play with a lot of different characters who al play slightly different. This differentiates this game from the first one, and also makes for a nice change of pace. There are a lot more levels in this one, and the difficulty on some of them is a lot higher than the first game. There's also a hard mode after you complete the game if you still feel the game's too easy.
    The soundtrack is even better than the first one and there are a lot more songs to enjoy.
    Overall it's a worthy sequel to one of my favorite games of all time.    … Expand
  21. Alkatraz
    Mar 18, 2015
    6
    My goal here is to weigh this game up reasonably, so here it is:

    Pro's - More of the same game style. - Interesting new characters. - Interesting new masks. - Interesting level design, more challenging. Con's - Quite a slow pace. - Level design is interesting but frustrating at times; being shot of screen after an amazing run is simply disappointing and an unfair advantage. -    My goal here is to weigh this game up reasonably, so here it is:

    Pro's
    - More of the same game style.
    - Interesting new characters.
    - Interesting new masks.
    - Interesting level design, more challenging.

    Con's
    - Quite a slow pace.
    - Level design is interesting but frustrating at times; being shot of screen after an amazing run is simply disappointing and an unfair advantage.
    - New masks...are disappointingly bland.
    - Limited new masks, no where near the same amount of masks and unique traits as the original.
    - Story...is...extremely confusing, and outlandish. Not in a good way.

    Quick snapshot:
    I felt this game was confused, in many ways, in direction, music, story, and just overall narration of what was going on. I may be missing something but from a game mechanic point of view, I must say there are VERY few masks, and none of which really inspire me as Hotline Miami 1 had. The ending left me a bit sour also.

    The 6/10 is really because I respect game design, and this is still a good game...compare this to the original however and I would never have played this. The original has amazing music, masks, gameplay mechanics, and excellent pacing. Play that instead of this to be frank, or play it to see what I mean. I hope this review has helped, and I have purposely included ZERO spoilers.

    -Alkatraz    … Expand
  22. stako
    Mar 16, 2015
    8
    The long awaited sequel to the superb Hotline Miami can best be described with one word - more. Ain't enough? Well here's a phrase - it ties up all ends nicely.
    Filled with violence, gore and provocative showcasing, this is indeed a successor to the original. The disturbingly jagged art style is back, it's even displayed at times in new and more creative ways. It still retains it's    The long awaited sequel to the superb Hotline Miami can best be described with one word - more. Ain't enough? Well here's a phrase - it ties up all ends nicely.
    Filled with violence, gore and provocative showcasing, this is indeed a successor to the original. The disturbingly jagged art style is back, it's even displayed at times in new and more creative ways. It still retains it's grotesque feel and it uses it well to it's advantage.
    Getting the other obvious thing out of the way - the soundtrack is stellar, again. It will be thumping in your heads long after you complete the game, and for good reason. Some new artists, some recurring ones and loads of MP3-player-worthy material make this OST worth owning.
    But let's get to the core - gameplay. This is where Hotline Miami was at it's finest, even making a point how important gameplay is as a narrative, not alongside one. Hotline Miami 2, in this aspect, offers more - more weapons, more ways to slay, more levels and they are bigger. And, worst of all - it's way, way harder. And I do mean this as a negative point. Coming from someone who loves the first game and has beaten it 5 times, never taking more than 6 tries at any level, in any of those playthroughs, the sequel goes to the extreme. Some levels are borderline insane, which sadly makes me say that they are very poorly designed. You can't expand on level scale and leave everything else as it is! That's madness! At times I felt as if the game had no QA testing at all! I had to resort to bugs and exploits to get out of some tight spots, simply because the game gave me options that would ultimately always lead to my doom. Some combinations I found to be absolutely impossible. And speaking of bugs, this game has it's fair share, and the fact that I was searching for them to complete some stages says a lot. And to top it all off - the game crashed on me twice, which is unforgivable when you have to restart the whole damn stage again, from the start (and you were, say, at the last room). Which again brings up the point - if you are gonna have bigger stages, you are gonna need a slightly different save system, because your game crashes. Or just have it not crash. Your choice. Overall, technically, the game feels a bit unfinished. But to be honest - I kept coming back, because it was brutally fun and ... intriguing.
    Speaking of intriguing, I, as a defender of art and narrative-driven games, think that Hotline Miami was one of the finest examples of storytelling and art in gaming to ever be crafted. So naturally, Hotline Miami 2 had to do it's damn best to impress me. To be honest, I didn't get what I wanted. But I won't turn back what is offered either. Without spoiling anything, the story answers all questions left unanswered by the first game. The events have come full circle and now we know the absolute and final chronology of everything (for now) and that was pretty sweet to see. Dennation obviously tried to do something different with multiple protagonists and plotlines, and in terms of story - that is cool, but in terms of storytelling - it is convoluted. Very convoluted. Getting things in the right order is a pain, because they are not served in the right order. Piecing the puzzle is, once again, left to the player and it is no easy task, rather an annoying one. But it is worth it in the end. To get back once more to the multiple protagonists - this goes a bit against the game itself, because it often limits the player to playing a level in a certain way, which surely is challenging, but some of us don't want to use guns, because they make things harder. And making a insanely hard game harder by taking away player choice isn't the most clever thing I've seen lately.
    To top this all off - the game isn't finished yet. The level editor isn't out, you can't download custom levels and once again - there is nothing to do after the story is finished, other than hunt achievements and find the few secrets present. I am very eager to build levels and download new ones, so I hope this feature releases soon. If it successfully does and it's everything that it should be (as in - loads of assets, all previous masks, new additions, the ability to tie levels into custom campaigns, unlimited downloads and - the update being free of charge), I would up the score on this. That would be a very worthy and valuable addition to the game, making it virtually infinite to us Hotline Miami Crackheads. But untill then... I will continue playing the story on hard mode. Because I'm hooked. Again.
    Because I like hurting people. And I'm not yet sure why. All I know is that Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number makes it very fun, enjoyable and intriguing. And while it doesn't do anything outstandingly better than the original, it is at the very least as equally as good and is well worth the requested price. Do you like hurting people?    … Expand
  23. Reconhope
    Mar 15, 2015
    10
    Game is extremely addictive and fun more so than the first one because it is more challenging. Thank god the developers didn't **** out and make it easy when ppl complained the first one was hard. The story is interesting in the classic Dennation Games fashion.
  24. Zzgashi
    Mar 15, 2015
    8
    The music is fantastic and the graphics great. The story is continuously interesting and the focus on multiple characters also forces the player to try multiple play styles. Variety is the game's greatest improvement, yet also it's weakest aspect. The game starts with lots of characters, and lots of masks, however later in the game everything degrades into a repetitive game of peekaboo.
  25. johnnymnec
    Mar 14, 2015
    8
    I've been playing for a couple of hours now and wanted to share my first impression. Hotline Miami 2 is undoubtedly a solid game. But as it's a sequel, the important thing is to consider what this game adds to the franchise - being released after the indie blockbuster Hotline Miami 1.

    First things first. Read the comic before starting the game. It's nice and ties some points between two    I've been playing for a couple of hours now and wanted to share my first impression. Hotline Miami 2 is undoubtedly a solid game. But as it's a sequel, the important thing is to consider what this game adds to the franchise - being released after the indie blockbuster Hotline Miami 1.

    First things first. Read the comic before starting the game. It's nice and ties some points between two games. Music: again awesome. Some people may like more as it is more darker now. But, the soundtrack is expensive - it has the same price tag with the game.

    Now, gameplay. Top-down f*ck'em up style didn't wear up, so it is still very entertaining. As I saw, enemies are more active. There are some questionable points though. Wide rooms make it harder to spot enemies so you will definitely get some cheap deaths. Sometimes, the enemies get stuck during their patrol. I don't know if it happens to everyone, but when you kill the last enemy on a floor, there is a chance that the game freezes momentarily. I didn't encounter any stability issues however.

    The plot leads from multiple points. You play as multiple characters, who have different perks and style, replacing mask perks in the first game - and I think that's a fine change. As I said, I played for a couple of hours so I don't know if the story ties up well, hope it does.

    Finally, does Hotline Miami 2 suffer from Call of Duty syndrome: no, considering that this is the last Hotline Miami entry and it has some new features. Making a sequel for the first game was undoubtedly hard, trying to reach the sensation it created as it was very unique. There aren't many substantial changes, so it is understandable that there are some disappointed people.

    Hotline Miami 2 is a fine addition to a fantastic franchise. If you liked the first game, you should definitely get it. If you are new to the series, try the first game, then consider for yourself.    … Expand
  26. Kamamura
    Mar 14, 2015
    4
    Unfortunately, this sequel of the awesome Hotline Miami 1 is quite bad. Almost in all aspects, I have to say.

    How is that possible? The developer has apparently decided to emphasize the weak points of the game while neglecting the strong points. First of all, the control scheme is mediocre. You can either play with mouse and keyboard, getting better precision, but the problem is that    Unfortunately, this sequel of the awesome Hotline Miami 1 is quite bad. Almost in all aspects, I have to say.

    How is that possible? The developer has apparently decided to emphasize the weak points of the game while neglecting the strong points.

    First of all, the control scheme is mediocre. You can either play with mouse and keyboard, getting better precision, but the problem is that you aim via a near-invisible cursor that easy to lose sight off. Because mouse aiming is relative, you must know which direction you are aiming - and with twitch aiming, this just does not work. Gamepad has the "lock nearest enemy" function that almost feels like cheating, and the analog stick aiming is absolute, but the precision is far worse.

    Another problem is that the game is horribly pixelated and thus the artificially low resolution can cover only a small part of the battlefield. The solution is to SHIFT - peek out of your normal vision range in a given direction that is both clunky and unfit for a fast-paced, twitchy game.

    That all is less of a problem in small, close quarters map, where stealth, melee and careful planning is most important. That's why the developer has decided to go for large maps with tons of automatic guns, where you get shot from beyond your visual range most of the time, so you must carefully shift-creep through the levels. Frustrating, slow, bad.

    The prevailing theme of the sequel is the prevalent American "MORE" - more player characters, more guns, more enemies, bigger levels, more story threads. Unfortunately, it all results in a worse game - big levels are tedious to play, ranged gun play emphasizes poor controls, too many story-lines shatter the focus of the game narrative without really going anywhere. The gruesome acts of violence get exhausted fast as a shocker.

    4/10 - Disappointing.    … Expand
  27. scarab5Q
    Mar 14, 2015
    9
    This game isn't technically better than the original but I like it more. Sure the level design isn't as good and you will be killed by enemies off the screen that you couldn't have seen coming and some levels are just flat out unfair . But why do I like this more than the first game ? Firstly the story is firstly easier to follow is more interesting and more importantly means it forces youThis game isn't technically better than the original but I like it more. Sure the level design isn't as good and you will be killed by enemies off the screen that you couldn't have seen coming and some levels are just flat out unfair . But why do I like this more than the first game ? Firstly the story is firstly easier to follow is more interesting and more importantly means it forces you to play the game in a different way for every level (did anyone else just use tony the tiger for the entirety of the first game?) . Secondly the soundtrack is absolutely incredible . It is really varied and prefer it to the first one (which is one of my favourite game soundtracks ever so this is really saying something). Finally this game takes longer to beat and has way more replay value as the unlock able hard mode is just punishing and I love it. All in all did you like the first one and are you okay with it being quite a bit harder? Then just get it… Expand
  28. Sergeant_MarkIV
    Mar 13, 2015
    6
    This game is a huge letdown. It's an inferior sequel in every single aspect. The level design is terrible, the plot is a pointless mess, the gameplay was completely destroyed, the AI is bugged, the levels are poorly decorated almost like if the game was made in a rush. This game not just doesn't live up the hype, but also fails even on it's own. If you don't believe me and think I am someThis game is a huge letdown. It's an inferior sequel in every single aspect. The level design is terrible, the plot is a pointless mess, the gameplay was completely destroyed, the AI is bugged, the levels are poorly decorated almost like if the game was made in a rush. This game not just doesn't live up the hype, but also fails even on it's own. If you don't believe me and think I am some kind of brainless hater, okay, then I invite you to try playing the original game right after you finish playing this one, so you can testify with your own eyes how the gameplay, the level design, the plot, the graphics, the mechanics, the attention to details, and absolutely everything else (exept the soundtrack maybe) feels like a downgrade over the original game. For me, this is the biggest deception of the year so far. Do not buy it unless the devs come up with a huge update.… Expand
  29. dohgeh
    Mar 13, 2015
    2
    There is no doubt that Hotline Miami 2 isn't a fun game, but it's a major disappointment.

    Hotline Miami 1 was so fast paced and fluid, Hotline Miami 2 is fast paced, but it's different. You no longer charge enemies at beat their head in. You now have to basically hide behind corners and lure enemies to you. It's just not as fun as Hotline Miami. It feels boring and just has zero    There is no doubt that Hotline Miami 2 isn't a fun game, but it's a major disappointment.

    Hotline Miami 1 was so fast paced and fluid, Hotline Miami 2 is fast paced, but it's different. You no longer charge enemies at beat their head in. You now have to basically hide behind corners and lure enemies to you. It's just not as fun as Hotline Miami. It feels boring and just has zero replayability.

    The level design has also been pumped down WAY too much. Through the entire game, you will feel like you've been through here 5 times already. It's so disappointing to see that what made the first game stand out and what made it good was completely ripped out and traded for a more focused story. Honestly the story doesn't interest me at all! That's not what made me like Hotline Miami 1! I liked Hotline Miami 1 for it's unique levels and awesome gameplay. The story is okay. It touches up queasy subjects like rape and torture.

    Overall, Hotline Miami is not a bad game if you've never played the first one, but it is a HUGE disappointment if you have played the first one. If you haven't played either and you are interested, buy the first once. You most likely won't regret it.    … Expand
  30. Chronykle
    Mar 13, 2015
    4
    Graphics are weak, gameplay is borish. Its an extremely violent game which is made to hook kids. I dont like those marketing ploys. Now if it were guided towards adults I would give it a 7 that is not the case though.
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Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 67
  3. Negative: 4 out of 67
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    May 13, 2015
    84
    Dark, violent, thought-provoking and powerful. Although satisfying, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is not the masterpiece its predecessor was. [Apr 2015]
  2. Gaming Age
    May 8, 2015
    42
    Dennation had a hit. It was dumb, it was violent, it was addictive. What it wasn’t, was mean. It wasn’t punishing. It wasn’t gross. By trying to go further, and bigger, and better, Dennation spoiled a winning recipe
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  3. Games Master UK
    May 6, 2015
    83
    '80s style and sociopathic stealth return in the bitingly hard, brilliant-but-unfocused sequel. [May 2015, p.56]
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