The original Hotline Miami was something of a sleeper hit: a top-down, 16-bit, hyper-violent, 80s-themed twitch-massacre-simulator with an awesome electronic soundtrack. The game looked simple but was packed with a variety of actions and tactics, all of which were necessary to tackle its twenty punishingly challenging “chapters.” Coupled with an insta-restart upon death, there was rarely any downtime for the player, allowing for each level to be a constant adrenaline rush. It was not until every single enemy was a corpse that you were given a moment of rest: the music would die abruptly, and you were left to navigate your way out of the level with nothing but an unsettling hum for audio and a violence-fueled guilt hangover.

That end-level moment (which is present in every level of the original game) plays into one of Hotline Miami’s strongest conceits: the idea that, maybe, there is something a little disturbing about finding enjoyment in such a game. There is the slightest framework of a story, but most of the interludes (featuring mysterious figures talking to you behind animal masks) just cast a spotlight on the fact that you are killing these people with no actual given reason. They ask the protagonist (and, given the “silent protagonist” treatment, the player) questions like “do you like hurting other people?” to his face. Even stranger, the phone calls that give your character the destinations for his massacres are perfectly innocuous, usually appointment meetings or marketing ploys. For all you know, you’re simply a lunatic. It all comes across as the gaming-equivalent of the movie “Funny Games,” providing bloodshed and thrills while asking its audience to consider why they are enjoying such things.

Unfortunately, a lot of this is lost with the sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number. From the start, Wrong Number is a far more narratively ambitious title than its predecessor. A lot of effort is spent putting the original game into perspective, fleshing out backstories and tying it up into a single, somewhat-convoluted package. There are roughly a dozen playable characters, all shedding more light on the original mystery: who is making these phone calls, and why?

While it is difficult to fault the developers for their ambition, filling in the narrative blanks actually weakens the tone of the game by giving reasons for your actions. Furthermore, while the original title eventually gave you control of a second character (a biker), it was after you had already “completed” the unnamed protagonist’s story. In Wrong Number, you’re constantly switching between different characters, severing the link between the player character and the actual player.

It is also unfortunate that the story itself just isn’t very good. The levels jump around in time and perspective in a haphazard, almost-random manner. While this at first seems like an attempt to bring all of these non-linear threads together in an interesting manner, it is ultimately just a puzzle, something for the player to try to piece together on his or her own. The developers are hoping that their convoluted explanation will seem more interesting if the player has to work for it, like narrative stockholm syndrome.

Anyway, all of this aside, is the game fun? Well, yeah, albeit in a different way than the original. While Hotline Miami 2 leaves the controls alone, for the most part, the different characters you play are decided by the narrative and feature different perks. So, while one character may dual-wield uzis and be capable of shooting to his side, another will kill people with his punches, or roll under gunfire. The first game had variety in the abilities given by different masks, but these were all player-selected. Hotline Miami 2 forces players to utilize different styles of play than they may be comfortable with, which is arguably a plus. There is less variety in how somebody can approach a single level, but simply completing the game requires being adept at all of its mechanics.

It is also worth noting that Hotline Miami 2 is a very difficult game. Nobody would have ever called Hotline Miami a cake-walk, but it feels like it after completing the sequel. Levels are much longer and “floors” can be sprawling. Multiple chapters take place outside during wartime operations, where there aren’t as many walls to protect you nor doors to knock enemies out. You have to frequently use your far-view to scout out potential threats and plan for them before they get to you. Wrong Number can be infuriating at times, but completing it is rewarding.

Dennaton Games, the developers behind the Hotline Miami series, have said that Hotline Miami 2 will be the last in the series, and the ending is certainly definitive. For that reason, if you enjoyed the original game, then it is worth checking out the sequel. Just be prepared for a demystified experience.