IFS: Reading, Writing, and Speaking in the Digital Age

Hotline Miami: Questioning the Rationale Behind the Madness

The hyper-violence presented in Hotline Miami sharply contrasts the pixelated manifestations of people and blood. It perfectly demonstrates the theme of murder in new media being so trivialized, and integrates the obedience the player feels when playing such a game into its themes.  The title reminds us that at the end of it all, we are the reason that violent media is created.  With a masterful marriage of visuals and the story at hand, Hotline Miami is a fine demonstration of a game as an essay.  It goes behind the scenes of the mentality of the player, and delivers a sucker punch of realization for those who dig deep to understand the meaning behind it all.  By utilizing violence as a gameplay mechanic and a story hook, Hotline Miami makes a bold statement about how we perceive the horror in media as opposed to reality, and why we criticize violent culture while simultaneously embracing it.