HOTLINE MIAMI 2 REVIEW

Hot Line Miami 2: Wrong Number differs very slightly from its previous game. However this isn't a bad thing, and the game utilizes flawless controls melded with perfect gameplay to create an outstanding experience.



Story - 6/10



Story is where this game suffers the most. Though at first it's story may intrude you, soon you'll get bored of reading text and walking over to answer the phone, entering a car, or performing some other monotonous task. I found myself often skipping through the lines of text as they appeared on the screen, ignoring a majority of the story. This obviously isn't a good thing, though the playable parts in the story are still better than just a normal cutscene interrupting your experience.



Gameplay - 10/10



Playing the actual game is just as fun as it is difficult, and boy is it hard! There is a large volume of levels, and playing through all of them should last you a while (considering how brutal some of them are). The entirety of the game consists of you going from building to building, clearing each one of the floors. This is done through the use of weapons (or fists), which are often obtained through killing their wielder. Switching out weapons is the name of the game, and doing so is how you'll stay alive. Without proper management of your ammo, you'll most likely find yourself surrounded, and with no weapons in sight. Everything in the game really feels like it has a weight to it, making the entirety of the game



Graphics - 9/10



This entire game looks very similar to that of a Super Nintendo game, which is that with 16-bit like graphics. This graphical style is carried throughout the entirety of the game, and never breaks from it. All of the game's sprites and backgrounds are somewhat cartoony, and yet incredibly gory and violent. Every time you attack someone, blood spurts out of them at a high velocity, creating many a blood spattering on the walls and floor. The contrast of the seemingly innocent graphics, and the gory nature of the game, creates a perfectly ominous atmosphere.



Sound - 9/10



Music in Hotline Miami 2 blew me away. Coming in with no expectations on the soundtrack, I was unexpectedly delighted to have such good music play as I tried to get through each stage. Because the stages are so difficult (and you'll be playing them over and over many times), when you hear the intense music playing, it'll always get you in the mood to just try one more time. The exciting, up beat sound of the music playoff works almost perfectly for this, and it's honestly one of my favorite video game soundtracks, ever.



Control - 10/10



Controlling your character is pretty basic, though the dual analog stick control scheme perfectly fits the game. The touchpad can be utilized to look around and select a target to aim at. However I found that I used this very little, since the same thing can simply be done using the triggers. Other than that, everything is just as one might expect: pick up and fire/attack using shoulder buttons, and that's just about it. So everything is relatively simple, and you'll (hopefully) soon master these controls in order to become a professional. Everything just feels good, all because the controls are completely perfect.



Replay Value - 9/10



To help and spice up gameplay, before each level you are able to select between a total of five masks, which not only change how you play, but also how you approach certain situations. A hard mode is present in the game as well, which will lengthen the game, though the difficulty is... well... let's just say it'll take some time to get through. Overall the game itself is quite long, and with these added features coupled with the actual difficulty that's presented, playing Hotline Miami 2 will not just be an enjoyable experience, but a lengthy one too.



OVERALL - 9/10



Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is an outstanding sequel to an already amazing game. Story wise, Hotline Miami 2 is a bit lackluster, and doesn't contain the great story one might hope for. Actually playing the game is not only entertaining, but also intensely brutal. The graphics are certainly beautiful, and definitely visually appealing. The music featured throughout the game keeps you constantly pumped, helping to keep you playing until the very end. Controlling your character is relatively simple, but more importantly everything just feels amazing. Playing the entirety of the game and all of the levels once more on hard, together with the different masks, creates a long lasting experience. If you have some money to spare, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is an outstanding game that is well worth it to pick up, and is hard not to enjoy.

Rating: 9

Product Release: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (US, 03/10/15)