sp5der Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Review

Hotline Miami 2 is the sequel to the popular indie project known for its dynamic gameplay and iconic music. The game features a unique narrative structure, serving as both a sequel and a prequel — something that wasn't present in the original. This time, the developers focused heavily on the story, while unfortunately making everything else worse. The gameplay remains mostly the same, with only minor additions like new weapons. Now, let’s move on to the downsides: The maps have become noticeably larger — so large, in fact, that even using the Shift key to look around doesn’t help you see everything. This often leads to frustrating deaths from NPCs with guns lurking at the far end of the screen. Constantly replaying levels because of this can get really annoying. The music is also significantly worse. Across the entire game, there are only about three memorable tracks, which is disappointing compared to the first game’s legendary soundtrack. The length of the game has increased due to its story, but when combined with mediocre music and oversized maps, it ends up feeling exhausting to play through. Conclusion: While this installment expands the lore of Hotline Miami, it plays out rather sluggishly. Score: 3/10 & Tier: C