Hotline Miami

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1873 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,580 out of 1873
  2. Mixed: 208 out of 1873
  3. Negative: 85 out of 1873

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  1. warrenbbnov
    Nov 5, 2014
    10
    Really really fun game, good mechanics and music. I love the idea of the masks. If you haven't checked this game out yet do so!

    The game is brutally hard, if your not into that there is no way to make it easier but this is the intention.
  2. Wergez
    Nov 2, 2014
    10
    First of all you can't tell whether you like or not by just watching it. It's about the felling - such a great feeling.
    I have with this game more fun than I had with some AAA games. The music and the atmosphere are really great. It really makes an immersion. I'm curious about the story. I want more and more. But the game is challenging. I want more masks! But there are some difficult to    First of all you can't tell whether you like or not by just watching it. It's about the felling - such a great feeling.
    I have with this game more fun than I had with some AAA games. The music and the atmosphere are really great. It really makes an immersion. I'm curious about the story. I want more and more. But the game is challenging. I want more masks! But there are some difficult to get. Some masks make you better and some worse. A genius system.    … Expand
  3. SirJoseph
    Nov 2, 2014
    8
    Origin
    Hotline Miami is one of many in a wave of indie games that has risen to new gaming heights thanks to vociferous support from its community and general all round brilliance. Unlike most indie games though, it had an art style befitting of the date and setting - 1989 - that just gelled perfectly with the in-game antics and of course, engrossing soundtrack. A 2D, top down, violent,    Origin
    Hotline Miami is one of many in a wave of indie games that has risen to new gaming heights thanks to vociferous support from its community and general all round brilliance. Unlike most indie games though, it had an art style befitting of the date and setting - 1989 - that just gelled perfectly with the in-game antics and of course, engrossing soundtrack. A 2D, top down, violent, shooter, head f***, Hotline was designed by just 2 people (Jonatan Söderström & Dennis Wedin) and has since spawned various merchandise including artworks, figurines, outfits, masks and in more recently, a DLC collaboration with PAYDAY2 and later this year, the sequel - Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, which I was lucky enough to play a level of it at EuroGamer, London.. there was some guy playing it before me, couldn't get past the level... heh heh heh

    Gameplay & Story
    The beginning of each level is reason enough to believe how insane the game can be. You chose and don a mask of many - each with their own specific trait - e.g. my favourite, Don Juan, a horse head mask, has the ability to kill enemies by opening a door on them. Add to that, a rooster, owl, pig, mole, a load of other common variety animals! The significance? Hell if I know.. but 3 of the masks are worn by some random people who occasionally show up in your apartment and indulge in random conversation - from explanations, accusations and plain and simple hostility. After each level, you retreat to your apartment where you await a phone-call telling you something along the lines of 'I need some laundry picked up' or 'kids kicked a football through my window' - code for drugs and murder usually.

    Using a standard Xbox controller, Hotline has a fairly tough initiation into the game. One analogue stick to move, the other circling your character for aiming, triggers for shooting & throwing discarded weaponry, bumpers for scouting the map along with various other standard buttons to finish kills and grab goods. What makes it so addictive? the rush, the speed of the levels - risk and rash decisions are met with rewards - paraphrasing from the loading screen advice - the more you rack up multi-kills and get creative with your exterminations, the more points you get - which in turn applies to your grade at the end of each level (an A+, F- basis). I tend to go back and try and improve my scores afterwards, to unlock more masks, secrets etc, but also to find and use more weapons - Pipes, knives, shotguns and machine-guns are commonplace, but as you delve deeper into the murky underbelly of Miami, you'll encounter rifles, pool cues, katanas and drills.. What are you fighting? The Ruskies of course! all wielding a variety of different objects designed to take you out in one, along with a battalion of guard dogs that patrol the hallways.

    Soundtrack
    The 23 music tracks alone take over a whopping hour and a half of your head-bobbing, shoulder jiving pleasure. From several different artists, Sun Araw, M|O|O|N, Perturbator, Jasper Byrne, Scattle, Elliott Berlin, Eirik Suhrke, CoConuts, El Huervo & Shelby Cinca - some of which, career's took off after the success of HM and have returned for a second offering in the games sequel. But what is that makes the soundtrack stand out so much? Matched only by the brutal nature of the game itself, the drum loops, bass lines and other miscellaneous funk provide an extremely satisfying mood for caving in Russian Mafia skull. It manages to get the blood pumping and fuel your desire for bloodshed - virtually that is :p. Upon listening only, it may seem like a repetitive throwback to the late 80s with it's techno beats, however it is the accompaniment with this game that makes it a perfect fit.

    Overall
    It will put off most people with its combination of retro design/graphics and ultra-violence. Give it a chance however, you'll likely end up a cold, hard killer, fixated on spilling some red pixels. You don't need to be that skilled with a controller either, once you've got it down anyway. HM is often on sale too, around the £1.50 mark - so it's hardly gunna break the bank! You'll also find it on the Playstation store for PS3&4. The concept of the game is a simple one, but the way it is executed - colour, music, gameplay, - just makes for all round awesome fun. Waiting for no.2: Wrong Number    … Expand
  4. chuckkle8
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    I can only play one or two stages at a time before rage quitting, but it's a fun game when you're on a killing streak. :) It is silly how you die instantly while others must be bludgeoned, punched, then stabbed...
  5. Masterhummel
    Oct 2, 2014
    6
    Theme, art direction and adio are very well done and i like them. Sadly, the controls are horrible. Absolutly dreadful. Most of the time, deads are caused by the controls being unresponsive or the painsickingly bad mouse aiming.
  6. DoUEvnLft
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    Hotline Miami is one of the two only games in the world that I consider 'perfect'. The gameplay is perfect, satisfying and unbelievably fun. The visual are great, and while they aren't your general high-polygon AAA graphics, the art style they went for is truly the best they could have chosen in my opinion.

    I love this game. Hotline Miami 2 needs to hurry up and come out, but don't rush    Hotline Miami is one of the two only games in the world that I consider 'perfect'. The gameplay is perfect, satisfying and unbelievably fun. The visual are great, and while they aren't your general high-polygon AAA graphics, the art style they went for is truly the best they could have chosen in my opinion.

    I love this game. Hotline Miami 2 needs to hurry up and come out, but don't rush it. My wallet is waiting, Dennaton.    … Expand
  7. Jankovic
    Sep 21, 2014
    9
    I felt compelled to write a review on this game after I completed the short, but well done campaign, simply to spread the message of the game's creative risks and potential for deeper explored concepts. With Hotline Miami 2 on the way, I think its about time.

    The visuals are designed to re-create the nostalgic retro design of the 1980s, but to call them a "re-creation" does it no    I felt compelled to write a review on this game after I completed the short, but well done campaign, simply to spread the message of the game's creative risks and potential for deeper explored concepts. With Hotline Miami 2 on the way, I think its about time.

    The visuals are designed to re-create the nostalgic retro design of the 1980s, but to call them a "re-creation" does it no justice. The pixel art is detailed, yet simple, and has an unmissable style. The music is inspired by the psychedelic vibes, of the 80s, an has a ominous feel to it. It goes from dubstep to reggae. Many people forget to mention the sound effects, which aren't so good. They are generally repetition of the same sound repeat, until you get to the guns, where the bullet sounds so realistic it makes me feel like Im right there.

    The game's gameplay is harsh and unforgiving, but can be learned quickly. There are no fancy game mechanics, that make it unique, besides the hyper-realistic difficulty. I think that themes in the story like the characters morale were not explored enough, to make my actions feel like they have any cause, or consequence, but the devs could argue, thats the point.

    This is by far my fave game. I feel that a sequel is much needed. Congratulation to Dennaton.    … Expand
  8. ChoicestGames
    Sep 20, 2014
    8
    The over-the-top violence in Hotline Miami might turn those of you away who don't like violent games but if you're able to stomach it, you'll notice there's actually more to the game than meets the eye thanks to its stealth/puzzle elements. You'll need a combination of wits and lightning reflexes, and you'll often find yourself cursing at how frustrating the game is at times, but withThe over-the-top violence in Hotline Miami might turn those of you away who don't like violent games but if you're able to stomach it, you'll notice there's actually more to the game than meets the eye thanks to its stealth/puzzle elements. You'll need a combination of wits and lightning reflexes, and you'll often find yourself cursing at how frustrating the game is at times, but with great difficulty comes a great sense of achievement when completing the levels. Combine these qualities with an awesome soundtrack inspired by music from the 80s and 90s and you'll want to keep playing this game to the end.… Expand
  9. badbd518
    Jul 31, 2014
    10
    were do i start with this game
    1. very fun retro inspired gameplay
    2. simple to pick up & play hard to master
    3. a story that will keep you saying what the hell is going to happen next
    4. art visuals that impress a lot this game is 2d eye candy
    5. gameplay that runs very smooth and has no issues at all
    6. this game just works
    My Review Score Is A Prefect
    100 / 100
  10. WinkOrDie
    Jun 26, 2014
    9
    Yes, I am late to this game. I feel quite foolish for ignoring this game for this long and is one of the few regrets in my life.

    MUST HAVE GAME!!!!! This game is stunning, just stunning. Extremely colorful and each level is carefully crafted to allow you to have a different experience with each play through. Seemingly a gore fest for a story actually is creative and unique story.    Yes, I am late to this game. I feel quite foolish for ignoring this game for this long and is one of the few regrets in my life.

    MUST HAVE GAME!!!!!

    This game is stunning, just stunning. Extremely colorful and each level is carefully crafted to allow you to have a different experience with each play through.

    Seemingly a gore fest for a story actually is creative and unique story. Something truly amazing!

    The soundtrack... Oh my. Best Soundtrack of the Decade. Addicting and you will replay certain levels and parts just to hear the song.

    Difficulty, quite brutal, but it only adds to the gameplay. It's also a plus because you will get to hear the amazing soundtrack... so its a win-win!

    Really though, amazing game. Literally an almost perfect game! The only thing it needs is just a change of pace with a puzzle type section or something to just switch it up more. MUST HAVE GAME!    … Expand
  11. xSALT
    Jun 18, 2014
    9
    This game is different. It is reminiscent of an old arcade game with a top-down view and classic joystick, button combination. With a hi-def bit design (pixelated, but the lines are sharp and contrast is perfect. Think minecraft, terreria, fez, etc..) but with a style of its own.

    Music: 10/10 It fits perfectly with the gameplay. It takes very general elements from older music in games    This game is different. It is reminiscent of an old arcade game with a top-down view and classic joystick, button combination. With a hi-def bit design (pixelated, but the lines are sharp and contrast is perfect. Think minecraft, terreria, fez, etc..) but with a style of its own.

    Music: 10/10
    It fits perfectly with the gameplay. It takes very general elements from older music in games like pokemon, megaman, metroid.. etc.. but with a modern twist. It does this well, the pairing of the music with the visuals and gameplay create a truly immersive environment. There is variety within the areas you travel in-game to the point where you actually hear it. It is catchy as hell, loops, and best of all, it doesn't get annoying.

    Gameplay:
    Very good mechanics and responsive gameplay make controlling the player avatar efficient. It can be fast or slow paced depending on your style which makes this a deeper game than I originally thought. It is strategy meets reflexes and stealth. Do you like sneak around with melee weapons to avoid alarms as in splinter cell? Do you like the badass loose cannon that gets **** done by rushing in guns blazing? This game can satisfy your need for planning what you will do next as well as the need to shoot everything. However, the in-between in lacking. By that, I mean you will always do one or the other. You may plan as much as you want, but the rooms will always loop. The enemies in the rooms have a plan to follow [code]. They will patrol what they are programmed to patrol until you give them reason to attack you. This is fine, but feels as if the situations become very similar. Weapon choice is also limited with either a selection of [ranged] guns or [melee] weapons. You may also perform executions which, while a nice touch and nice way to make sure you got the kill, does not add or subtract from the overall gameplay. There are also [stat/effect] modifiers in the form of various masks your character may use while playing through the story, such as the ability to add lethality to opening a door, or increased walking speed.

    Overall: 8.7
    Hell of a good game. Difficult enough to keep you interested and playing with good tunes to listen to. You will be mad after a getting killed a few times, but you have to realize that is part of the game. Error is met with a restart of your last checkpoint, so it is somewhat forgiving. Great Indie game, would recommend.    … Expand
  12. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    9
    Exigente pero visual y conceptualmente interesante juego que nos retrotrae a cuando probamos por primera vez el GTA1. Sin duda uno de los juegos indies de 2012 y una fantástica compra.
  13. tipobaha
    May 29, 2014
    8
    I don't think even a little bit before i've played this game that massacre can be really funny and enjoyable. You don't afraid to die and this is the whole game's idea.
    Not a brilliant story, no good graphics(maybe this made the game original) but really amazing soundtracks with tasty game play. You need to give a try.
  14. bone-eazy
    May 6, 2014
    10
    Относительно недавно я "подсел" на инди-игрушки, и первой игрой, по совету моих друзей, из этого жанра стала именно Hotline Miami. Я уже с детства любил электронную музыку и стиль "retro wave", именно это и послужило поводом сыграть в эту игру.
    В первую очередь, что бросилось мне в глаза - это 16-32 битная графика и яркие цвета, которые придают свое настроение и навеивают дух 80-ых.    Относительно недавно я "подсел" на инди-игрушки, и первой игрой, по совету моих друзей, из этого жанра стала именно Hotline Miami. Я уже с детства любил электронную музыку и стиль "retro wave", именно это и послужило поводом сыграть в эту игру.
    В первую очередь, что бросилось мне в глаза - это 16-32 битная графика и яркие цвета, которые придают свое настроение и навеивают дух 80-ых. Немалую роль для атмосферы здесь сыграл и саундтрек, который написали небезызвестные Pertrurbator и Scattle (об остальных я узнал именно благодаря игре, и за это разработчикам отдельное спасибо)
    Сюжет у игры есть, но лично он мне показался немного несвзяным, либо просто дело во мне. Честного говоря,я даже не знаю.
    Так же, на что меня подтолкнула эта игра - это на просмотр фильма "Драйв", и он мне понравился не меньше "Hotline Miami"
    Хочу выразить просто ОГРОМНУЮ благодарность Джонатану Сёдерстрёму и Деннису Уэдину, а так же Pertrurbator, M|O|O|N, Scattle, Sun Arraw, Coconuts, Jasper Byrne, El Huervo, Eirik Suhrke, Elliott Berlin. Я просто с нетерпением жду новую часть, и мне кажется, она выйдет не менее удачней, чем первая часть. Лишь для завершения процитирую известного блогера русской игровой комьюнити "10 из 10, госпаде! 10 из 10!":)
    Мое первое ревью на подобного рода сайте, прошу строго не пинать ^_^    … Expand
  15. mickaelm
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    An amazing indie game made by peoples who have a lot of talent. But, what an experience...
    In this game, we as a player kill a lot, I is done in an incredible 8-bit style and a great catchy soundtrack, make the game a superb and fun every instant we play it.
    A must play for players looking with no real purpose the killing, but rewarded in the fun and addicting in gameplay. I give this    An amazing indie game made by peoples who have a lot of talent. But, what an experience...
    In this game, we as a player kill a lot, I is done in an incredible 8-bit style and a great catchy soundtrack, make the game a superb and fun every instant we play it.
    A must play for players looking with no real purpose the killing, but rewarded in the fun and addicting in gameplay.

    I give this game an 8.5/10 for its retro era visuals and fun but simple gameplay.    … Expand
  16. VoxPaladin
    Apr 9, 2014
    0
    Hotline Miami is a poor game that suffers from a long drag of trial and error approach. This game presents itself as a gritty, top down, action arcade game, but the game forces players to play exactly the way the game was supposed to be designed and leaves no room for spontaneity, experimentation or replay value.

    It's only a matter of minutes before you understand the A.I. pathways and    Hotline Miami is a poor game that suffers from a long drag of trial and error approach. This game presents itself as a gritty, top down, action arcade game, but the game forces players to play exactly the way the game was supposed to be designed and leaves no room for spontaneity, experimentation or replay value.

    It's only a matter of minutes before you understand the A.I. pathways and exploit it to reach the objective. Every level is exactly the same with no variation.

    The story is juvenile at best. The music is mundane. And the trippy art style that constantly flashes colors at you and swerves the screen is literally sickening.

    So much for a game made using 'Game Maker'... *sigh*    … Expand
  17. OneGamerMore
    Apr 6, 2014
    10
    Al principio parece que es un juego Indie cualquiera, pero a unos 15 minutos te vas dando cuenta que es Lo máximo.
    Tiene una buena trama y excelente historia, jamás me había divertido tanto con un juego como este.
    Y del soundtrack ni hablar es el mejor que he escuchado en harto tiempo, tiene una musica demasiado excelente que se adapta a cada misión haciendo sentir cada nivel y matanza    Al principio parece que es un juego Indie cualquiera, pero a unos 15 minutos te vas dando cuenta que es Lo máximo.
    Tiene una buena trama y excelente historia, jamás me había divertido tanto con un juego como este.

    Y del soundtrack ni hablar es el mejor que he escuchado en harto tiempo, tiene una musica demasiado excelente que se adapta a cada misión haciendo sentir cada nivel y matanza como si fueras tu el que asesinaras .

    Si te adaptas a la historia vas a sumiendo la vida del personaje, como entra a la locura y como piensa en matar, poco a poco la dificultad se aumenta, tienes que pensar mucho más para pasar un nivel, para tener un excelente combo alto y mejorar tu puntuación.

    Lo que más me sorprendió al final fue que me entere que tan solo 2 personas desarrollaron esta maravilla de juego, y solo con eso se puede ver que su trabajo valió la pena.

    Sinceramente este juego lo recomiendo al 100 % y su calificación es de 100/100

    At first it seems that either is an Indie game, but about 15 minutes you begin to realize that it's the maximum.
    It has a good plot and great story, I had never had so much fun with a game like this.

    And not to mention the soundtrack is the best I've heard in sick time, he has too great music that fits each mission by killing each level and feel like you're the one who will murder.

    If you adapt the story're plunging the character's life, as hard to madness and how you plan to kill slowly the difficulty increases, you have to think much to pass a level, to have an excellent high combo and improve your score.

    What surprised me was that at the end I found out that only 2 people developed this wonderful game, and that alone can see his work paid off.

    I honestly recommend this game 100% and its rating is 10/10    … Expand
  18. ns0l
    Mar 18, 2014
    8
    Mad game, I love it. The animals masks, bloody idea. The characters are psychos. The dialogues at the start: "I'm here to show you how to kill people". I recommend this game. It feels dangerous and It's completely insane.
  19. IcecreamSnowman
    Mar 11, 2014
    9
    It's got the Kill Bill style bloody weaponised mass murder expertly merged with the very up close, personal, drug-fueled ultra violence from A Clockwork Orange.
  20. mateusnroll
    Mar 6, 2014
    10
    One of the best games I've every played, be it indie or not. Breathtaking soundtrack, amazing level design, mind-f*ing story line (still not sure if I've understood it).

    I hope they can create a couple more leves of this. I would be eager to buy it.
  21. pet-wussy
    Feb 24, 2014
    10
    For a rich game company the graphics was so bad i thought it was pong. The gameplay sucks as bricks bounce about 4 times and nail people in the ass. Such a bad gamee, 10/10. Im going to go now because this game made me want to chop my big hairy willy off and eat my ball sacks.
  22. Rolento
    Feb 20, 2014
    9
    This thing hit all the right spots. It's retro and it's new, it's challenging and it's fun, it's serious and it's not, it's linear and it's subversive, it's atmospheric to the point of mysticism and it's actually crude reality. All the elements of the game from the graphics to the music to the plot to the gameplay mix together so well it's, pardon the pun, criminal. Plus, for an indie 2dThis thing hit all the right spots. It's retro and it's new, it's challenging and it's fun, it's serious and it's not, it's linear and it's subversive, it's atmospheric to the point of mysticism and it's actually crude reality. All the elements of the game from the graphics to the music to the plot to the gameplay mix together so well it's, pardon the pun, criminal. Plus, for an indie 2d game this has some shockingly realistic combat mechanics! Think about it: this is exactly what would happen if you burst into a building full of mafia thugs.

    ...minus the retry button.    … Expand
  23. PloppySon
    Feb 17, 2014
    0
    I had this game gifted to me on Steam and I thought it would keep me amused for a while, it didn't though it's the most overrated game I have played in a while.

    The graphics style and music are good but it stops there. At first glance looking at the steam page you might think this is an action game like Smash TV or Zombie Shooter, it's nowhere near as good as those and nowhere near    I had this game gifted to me on Steam and I thought it would keep me amused for a while, it didn't though it's the most overrated game I have played in a while.

    The graphics style and music are good but it stops there.

    At first glance looking at the steam page you might think this is an action game like Smash TV or Zombie Shooter, it's nowhere near as good as those and nowhere near as much fun, you basically have limited ways to kill the enemy who rush and one hit kill you all the time.

    The aim of the game is to die non stop and keep trying until you win and feel rewarded - just a shame the devs and all the fanboys forgot that games are supposed to be fun to play.

    In short - an overhyped game with a high difficulty to hide a shallow game underneath.    … Expand
  24. periquayo
    Feb 11, 2014
    8
    Worth playing. Very entertaining. Amaaazing music. For an indie game is a big ten, no doubt. The gameplay it's very addictive. It also has a catchy storyline I would say. Hoping for more games of these guys!!
  25. RealGameReviews
    Feb 8, 2014
    10
    Many of my reviews are just for jokes and fun, but I want to be serious with this. This game is amazing. Simply stunning. The music, art and game play all combine and what it produces is spectacular. The story is very deep, and may require several breakthroughs to fully understand.

    Phenomenal, Ten out of Ten. Utterly amazing, this is a must buy.
  26. Jimbro84
    Jan 27, 2014
    4
    This game is so frustrating and empty. It's beyond me that it got such a high score.

    - To begin with, Hotline Miami has no customization beyond ''masks'' that give special abilities, no cinematics and no story whatsoever. I know it's not a 60$ game but it looks cooler than it is. - Devoid of a godmode, the game requires to start over a zillion times. It sucks. There is no    This game is so frustrating and empty. It's beyond me that it got such a high score.

    - To begin with, Hotline Miami has no customization beyond ''masks'' that give special abilities, no cinematics and no story whatsoever. I know it's not a 60$ game but it looks cooler than it is.

    - Devoid of a godmode, the game requires to start over a zillion times. It sucks. There is no justification to this.

    - Excluding the restart annoyance, the game is very short.

    Really beyond cool sounds and soundtrack, you will not find much in this one.    … Expand
  27. silversurfpunk
    Jan 22, 2014
    10
    This harsh gritty top down arcade style shoot'em up, is one of the greatest indie games ever made. Everything in this game is flawless, the art, the music, the controls, and the story. Let's start with the art style, the game has an interesting mix of retro pixel art mixed with some bright colors and trippy visuals later on in the game. The its hard not to keep looking at the screenThis harsh gritty top down arcade style shoot'em up, is one of the greatest indie games ever made. Everything in this game is flawless, the art, the music, the controls, and the story. Let's start with the art style, the game has an interesting mix of retro pixel art mixed with some bright colors and trippy visuals later on in the game. The its hard not to keep looking at the screen because the art just has you so mystified. Next is the music. The music is so wonderful, its a mix of 8-bit old school video game style music, with techno and its so dark and catchy. The music matches the game perfectly. Third the controls. Not much to say, easy, simple , fluid. But most importantly fun, they get really fun really fast. The fast pace of the game perfectly match the fast controls, and easy learning curve but longer mastery curve. Last the story. The plot is given in bits and pieces, and very cryptic. But when its all over all the pieces come together and you loose your mind. You really feel like YOU the player just witnessed some one loose their mind. Everything about this game adds not only great replayability value its so much fun for under ten dollars (even cheaper if you wait for a sale on steam). All in all this is a great game.… Expand
  28. JoaoRodarte
    Jan 21, 2014
    9
    Let me break it all to you guys, this game is for those who enjoy: 1) GTA I & II, 2) Psychodelic/Progressive Music, 3) Arcade rush, 4) Arcade Graphics

    Pure 80's/90's awesome.
  29. hpr320
    Jan 17, 2014
    10
    Hotline Miami is the type of game that you sit down, play, and figure out three hours later that you are still playing it. The game's replay-ability, story, and fantastic gameplay are wonderful to experience, but the reason Hotline Miami deserves a ten instead of a nine is the music. The soundtrack alone gets a ten.
  30. Evman
    Jan 16, 2014
    10
    A gaming masterpiece.

    I picked this bad boy up on Steam yesterday for $2.49 but even at its full price of $10 I wouldn't have been disappointed. A brutally tough and gory retro romp through a psychedelic 80's Miami. What's not to love? The audio is sensational. The various weapons and sound effects are crisp and as for the musical score? It's available as a standalone purchase if    A gaming masterpiece.

    I picked this bad boy up on Steam yesterday for $2.49 but even at its full price of $10 I wouldn't have been disappointed. A brutally tough and gory retro romp through a psychedelic 80's Miami. What's not to love?

    The audio is sensational. The various weapons and sound effects are crisp and as for the musical score? It's available as a standalone purchase if that's any indication of the quality ;)

    The graphical style is a tip-of-the-hat to yesteryear gaming - there's even a pixelated NES hooked up in the protagonist's, bedroom. When you consider this game was developed by a team of two men and the finished product we have is a refresh of an old game concept put on a 'maybe pile,' any commenters that suggest this game is merely a 'hipster' money grab have made their opinion null and void.

    Gameplay wise, I couldn't help but be reminded of True Lies for the SNES, but the unforgiving enemies and one-hit (for the most part) kills have a Smash TV vibe to them. But this game is unique. You can approach a stage a number of ways, by perhaps either stealthily knifing everyone as their back is turned, or trying to funnel enemies through a choke point with 6 shotgun rounds at the ready. In later levels you'll need every trick in the book to make through alive.

    In summary, if you like a challenge and some good old fashioned violence, buy this game!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best PC Game of 2012
23
#23 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
24
#24 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 51
  3. Negative: 1 out of 51
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 6, 2013
    87
    From the get-go, Miami’s presentation has a unique style, with vivid colors, generous amounts of post-process filtering and a stunning soundtrack (you will just let the game play on, only to hear the tracks). But at the same time, all notions of continuous fast-paced action gameplay disappear. Hotline Miami is essentially a top-down stealth game, that rewards the player with imaginative (and quite violent) kill animations. [January 2013]
  2. Games Master UK
    Dec 18, 2012
    88
    A stylish slice of retro carnage. This is the bloodiest, least forgiving game of the year. [Jan 2013, p.85]
  3. Hyper Magazine
    Dec 17, 2012
    90
    A drug-induced coma of violence, strategy, death and rebirth. [Jan 2013, p.67]
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