Hotline Miami is a top-down shooter developed by Dennaton Games and published by Devolver Digital in 2012. The action of the game takes place in an alternative reality set in 1989 Miami. Every day, an unnamed protagonist receives mysterious messages that urge him to commit acts of cruel violence. Progress through complex missions and slaughter everyone and everything standing in your way.
The game is a retro classic and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both players and critics. It is praised for its unforgettable soundtrack, devastating story, and addictive gameplay with a fresh look at action games.
Plot
Control a muscular assassin nicknamed 'Jacket' who receives cryptic messages on his answering machine from an unknown persona. Those messages urge the player to commit brutal murders referred to as 'taking care of a pest infestation'. One day, a strange package arrives at your door. There is an animal mask inside. You take the mask and go on a rampage against the Russian mafia. 'Jacket' will progress through levels and eventually face bosses. There are several locations to visit and hundreds of enemies to slaughter. But what about your conscience? Confront three masked figures: rooster-masked Richard, owl-masked Rasmus, and horse-masked Don Juan, and answer them about your actions.
Gameplay
As 'Jacket' you will visit many locations and take part in multi-level missions. Your task is to get through those levels and slaughter everyone standing in your way. Confront your enemies directly or eliminate them quietly. Sometimes you will have to face an entire group of enemies. The fight will be difficult as our character can be killed with just one fatal hit.
Variety of different weapons
Hotline Miami 1 offers us 35 types of weapons. Use deadly pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Melee weapons are also an option, defeat your enemies using baseball bats, crowbars, and knives. If necessary, you can also take down your enemies using your bare hands. Sometimes, you will need to quickly change your weapon in the heat of the battle. Be quick, think strategically, and slaughter everyone!
Animal masks
The game features yet another interesting element of gameplay—animal masks. There are 25 of them and each provides the player with unique abilities. Some will affect your movement speed or give a starting weapon. You will have to look for them. Their whereabouts are unknown and will often be found by the bodies of other assassins who tried to do the same job as 'Jacket'.
Key features:
- Breakneck gunplay in bloodstained neon corridors combined with an intense, pumping soundtrack
- A surreal and gritty storyline panned out over 20 brutal multi-level maps
- Heart-stopping battles against a bizarre cast of bosses from Miami's underground
- Wield 35 different weapons - from shotguns and assault rifles to katanas and lead pipes - everything is at your disposal
- Over 1,000 different sprites for a fantastic variety of environments, weapons, items, and enemy death animations to keep the killing fresh
- Slip on one of 25 unlockable animal masks to conceal your identity and tweak the gameplay in your favor or crank up the challenge
- Driving beats and brooding sounds by Sun Araw, Coconuts, M.O.O.N., Jasper Byrne, El Huervo, Perturbator, Scattle, Elliott Berlin and Eirik Suhrke
- Tough as nails Achievements that test your limits and leaderboards to prove your worth
