Spread the word, Hotline Miami 2 is an ugly game. Deliberately ugly. Even in the highest resolutions the graphics remain excessively pixelated, while the faces of the characters (which appear close-up during the dialogues) are of a rare ugliness, and seem to have been made by a teenager in need of occupation during his philosophy classes. But this artistic direction (should we really call it that?) is fully assumed, and constantly reminds us that we are dealing with an indie title. Love it or hate it. One thing is certain: the success of the first episode around the world proves that there are many fans for pixelated slices of cake. As well as for the vulgarity and the ultra violence, which were essential components of Hotline Miami and which once again hold the star in this second part. From a visual point of view, we will notice all the same that the general packaging is a little easier to access than the graphics themselves. The headline uses garish and ultra-saturated fluorescent colors, while the menus take up the codes of the video recorders of yesteryear, down to the wear and tear artifacts of the magnetic tapes. All this smells good of the 80s and 90s, is rather well done, and indirectly proves that the bad taste of the developers in terms of graphics is indeed voluntary. Moreover, as far as the soundtrack is concerned, they show an undeniable talent. The various electronic music that supports the action are devilishly effective and are worth the detour on their own. Too bad on the other hand that no voice comes to double the dialogues. The transition to a second episode could have been an opportunity to improve this point, and to reinforce the dirty urban atmosphere of the adventure. Moreover, with regard to the gameplay, we are always entitled to a mixture between action and infiltration (with a cursor placed however much more on the first element than the second).
GTA MIAMI VICE
The overhead view paired with uninhibited sprays of blood and wanton kills are reminiscent of the first two GTAs, but the action here focuses on chain murders. With fists, baseball bats, iron bar or stick if you want to remain discreet and not round up the other enemies around. Or, on the contrary, with pistol shots, shotguns and machine guns if you want to play more nervously. Going into the crowd, multiplying the combos and chaining the kills in a fearless way while being carried by the devilishly catchy soundtrack is much riskier than patiently studying the rounds of the guards, but it is also much more rewarding. In any case, you will often die, the game being clearly based on the principle of "die and retry". Last essential component of a Hotline Miami: the animal masks that your character can wear. Top view and large pixels oblige, their aesthetic interest is very limited. On the other hand, each of them slightly modifies the gameplay, by offering a specific ability to the character (rolling, punches that kill in one blow...) and sometimes by removing another (the possibility of using the firearms, for example).
Only the swan mask, which gives control of two characters instead of one, is really innovative. Apart from that, Hotline Miami 2 could almost be summed up like this: new levels, new scenario.
Fans of the series will have noticed: most of the aspects mentioned above are directly inherited from the first episode and taken up almost identically in the second. We do note a few changes here and there with regard to the masks (some are new, others are modified, and there are far fewer than before) but none of this fundamentally changes the gameplay experience. Only the swan mask, which gives control of two characters instead of one, is really innovative. Apart from that, Hotline Miami 2 could almost be summed up like this: new levels, new scenario. This last point is also quite debatable since the game multiplies the points of view, the playable characters, the cross stories, the events which ultimately turn out to be simple scenes from films, and other flashbacks. The narration is therefore extremely disjointed, even downright confusing at times. We may also regret that artificial intelligence has not evolved in three years. The enemy passes by the corpses of their colleagues without flinching, while it is enough to stand near a door to attract one by one the surrounding guards and shoot them like rabbits. All this does not prevent the game from being an excellent stress reliever, but the developers could have taken advantage of this second episode to move up a gear, from a technical point of view (graphics, AI, voice, etc.) gameplay. In the end, they preferred to play it safe... which we can't completely blame them for, given the success of the first part. As a fan, you have been warned: if you just want to enjoy a few extra hours in Miami, this Wrong Number is a good number! On the other hand, if you were hoping for real novelties, it is better to go your way for the moment and wait for a price drop. As for those who do not yet know Hotline Miami, they will have every interest in immersing themselves in the first episode which, as a result, does not really take a hit against its successor.
