Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

Game Info

When I sat down to play Dennaton Games’ 2012 indie smash Hotline Miami, I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d love it. The blood-soaked, acid trip, knee-jerk gameplay and soundtrack created a world that was hard to ignore, and for top-down 2D sprites, the graphical style fit in with the mayhem perfectly.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number follows in this tradition, but literally improves in every single category. Instead of the singular, non-speaking protagonist Jacket, you have a cast of twelve different characters spanning three time periods from 1985 to 1991. Due to the sizable roster, the mask system from the first game is gone. Some of the levels do feature selectable characters that do still wear masks with different perks, with returning ones such as lethal punches or lethal weapon throws, combined with new ones like being able to roll under gunfire or being able to dual wield machine guns, or starting with chainsaws, nunchaku, nailguns, etc.

The story unfolds in a much more direct manner than the last game, albeit hopping around in time. Some of the characters and factions’ stories intersect leading to some of the coolest moments in the game. The story is well written enough that questions are answered both directly and indirectly about both games, rewarding the player for making their way through the neon haze of the first game’s story.

The gameplay is fast and frenetic. The different characters and their differing play styles are a great way to evolve the mask mechanic and keep the action fresh. It’s done so well I actually didn’t mind the departure of the system at all. Movement and action are largely unchanged, except for a few characters who are either unable to pick up weapons at all, or switch between two held weapons. The gunplay seems tighter as well.

The graphics have improved. Yes, obviously 2D, but the sprites and environments are much more detailed, and the blood effects have also gotten a boost. If you’ve ever used the Jones mask in the first game, that’s what we’re dealing with. The level design is great too. If you study some areas well enough, you can run around corners and through doors effectively and hastily enough that you could dispatch an entire floor’s worth of criminals with relative ease.

The soundtrack this time around is incredible, and keeps pace with the action, driving you to keep playing no matter how frustrated you are after dying forty times in the same level, a hallmark of this series for sure. The first game’s soundtrack had about six or seven really good tracks. This one doubles that at least. I found it boosted replay value since I wanted to hear a particular track again whilst readjusting mobsters’ attitudes and spinal columns.

The inclusion of a hard mode is a welcome addition as well. In case you found the normal campaign to not be a insurmountable challenge, you can try again with the level layout flipped upside down and quicker responding, harder to kill enemies. Oh, and the lock-on mechanic is gone, so get as good as you can on aiming with that right stick before attempting.

The first Hotline Miami had some bugs here or there, and this one is no different. Sometimes pesky henchmen can get invincibly stuck in doorways and magically get unstuck long enough to land a killing blow when you approach, which can really take the wind out of your sails if you’ve got a great streak going. Then there’s the spinning dogs, but then again, it could just be argued that they’re chasing their tails.

The Recommendation

All in all, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is a fantastic sequel that expands on the first game’s crazy story and premise while building on its gameplay foundations to deliver a solid and addictive experience. If you can stomach it, then this game is definitely worth a try.