Why Play the PlayStation Vita?
There are a few quality games to play on the almost extinct handheld. And because I recently came into possession of the console, I figured I had better take advantage of some of the titles. Also, a 1000 + mile drive from Phoenix to Saint Louis has made the handheld a necessity for me–especially with some long Illinois drives on the horizon for Thanksgiving.
The game in question is Hotline Miami. And relatively shortly, I questioned my gaming abilities. I died so many times, I figured the game to be a 2-d Dark Souls with guns.
But after many, many respawns and the very addictive, “just one more try,” mentality that the developers have masterfully infused, I quickly found my rhythm and beat the game a few hours later.
Yes, it is short. And yes, there isn’t much more to the game than bloodily wiping the floor with the corpses of the Miami Mob; but, there is just something inexplicably satisfying about beating a chapter or clearing a stage. The difficulty really does give you a feeling of accomplishment. And because the game doesn’t punish you for dying, but rather is built around the phenomenon, you won’t be rage quitting. Because, after all, you only had one guy left that time. And although it was frustrating as fucking fuck to get blasted so close to sweet victory, you now know the shotgun-wielder’s location near the elevator and you will be ready the next attempt. Just focus on one guy at a time.
Why is it so Damn Addicting?
I rarely feel this way about games. Is it the convenience factor? The handheld is compact, light, and easily inserted into any boring situation with aplomb; that might be most of the answer. But the game is just so flashy and bloody and at the same time drenched in minimalism that it seems clear the writers certainly wanted to advertise how little they gave a fuck about crafting a traditional video game narrative. I liked it. I wasn’t engaged with the story, but I don’t even think the writers were either. It is what it was. Nothing more than a hallucinogenic nightmare covered in a bomber jacket soaked with pixelated blood. And because they choose to focus more on the gameplay than the story, I think the game was stronger because of it. I have played it non-stop for 3 days and I am about to end this post to go play again.
4.5 out of 5.
Bibliotropism 