Hotline Miami has played like a dream since day one, so Hotline Miami 2 is giving the blood red spotlight over to story. Between multiple characters and scenarios, a running meta-commentary on the series’ fans, and ruminations on The End, Dennaton clearly wants to make a statement with this one. The blink-and-you’re-mincemeat murder masterstroke has never been a thing of restraint, however, and it may well have finally crossed a line. As Cara pointed out in a recent preview for PC Someone Or Whoever I Guess, the game nearly depicts violent sexual assault and then casually moves on without giving the event context or meaning. For many, it was a deeply troubling moment in an otherwise excellent demo – one that prompted more horror and revulsion than contemplation. I spoke with Dennaton’s Dennis Wedin about the scene’s purpose, plans to retool it, and the possibility of scrapping it altogether.

(more…)