I'm on the fence about these two but I'm thinking about picking them up. Looking at the trailers and reading about them they look like they could be a lot of fun but...

I wonder if they'll be too hard for me and just frustrate me. FTL looks like a game you could improve at and win sometimes over time as you gained experience playing it. Hotline Miami looks very cool but it seems like fast reflexes may be pretty important there and I'm not sure this old gamer would be up to the challenge.

I didn't last too long with Binding of Issac when I played that but I don't think I really gave it a fair enough shot either. I've been meaning to revisit that game and see if practice would help me do better.

How do you guys who've played these games feel about them? Should I not worry too much and dive in and just accept it takes time to gain skill with them?

I bought FTL when it went on sale recently and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time wit it. It is a very hard game, but if you put the time into it, luck becomes less of a factor. The replayability is very good, there are nine ships to unlock and each is very different in its playstyle than the others. Also for each ship there are two variants which really shake things up. So yes I would encourage you to get FTL and just dive-in to the space madness.

Unfortunately I have not played Hotline miami(though I will be purchasing it soon) so I cannot say anything concerning that title

I think I'll be getting both for the Christmas sale, I like Star Trek and I like absurd violence

Hotline Miami is a very strange game. I haven't beat it yet, but have played through quite a number of missions. There are a lot of tense moments, mainly timing your running out from a corner to bash someone's skull before they blast you with a shotgun.

Mostly, you get through with trial and error, but it isn't too annoying in this respect. It is a great way to blow off steam after a particularly bad day at work or whatever. Also, you unlock new masks which add attributes and unlock new weapons for future missions as well.

So yeah, get both games when you can, both tend to hold your attention for quite a while.

Buy them both. It's not like they'll get cheaper in 2 weeks, both released very recently and this is the highest discount you'll get for them for a while.

I just finished Hotline Miami today and had a lot of fun with it. Bought FTL tonight and so far lovin' every minute of it.

Hotline Miami is a shorter game, and definitely more intense. If it hooks you, you will not let it go until you are done. It can e finished in a couple of sessions, but those will be among the most intense gaming experiences you have.

FTL is more chill, and less tense. It will last you longer, and has a lot of content that you won't see in many sessions. Iti s an excellent title.

If you want something intense, get Hotline. If you want something more relaxing, get FTL.

Hotline Miami is very hard. Requires fast moving, reacting etc. You can get used to it pretty fast, but you will die dozens of times on later levels. But fast pacing of the game prevents frustration. At least for me.

But murdering people was never that fun before. I strongly recommend that game.

I think Hotline Miami is pretentious, overrated crap.

FTL is a what indie gaming is all about. Highly recommended.

I totally want to play both of them... but I'm a tad too poor right now to pick up either one.

The level 'Assault' was amazing.

FTL is an awesome game and you definitely improve yourself each time you die, its hard, rewarding and satisfying.

Hotline miami as brilliant too but if you're too low on reflex you have only two choices : either get them back by practising cursing all the hells in front of your PC, or end up begin very frustrated as it's far more reflex intensive than the binding of Isaac.

If I'd where you, I'd also give a look at Dungeons of Dredmor, one of the best roguelikes available with actual graphics, it's also very hard yet you learn a lot each time, alas it's not (yet ?) on GOG.

I'm also more of an "old gamer". Also not very skilled, but I like having fun with games.
+ Can't really stand this new and fancy 3d graphics.

I own FTL and Hotline Miami and I love them both. Very different games, both easy to understand but "hard" to master.
But it's also true that I like being frustrated. I just keep pushing and pushing until I get to the next step. Still better than finish a game in one sitting :)

All in all, I recommend both games.

Luckily, Hotline Miami has a pretty dumb AI, so if you can't beat a level otherwise, you can take a knife or something, put it on the ground next to a door, then use a shotgun to get the enemies' attention, pick up the knife and swing it at the air behind the door (just hold the attack button down) and the enemies will run into the shredder in an orderly line.

Got both on Steam weekend sale
Hotline Miami is crazy fun but sometimes the AI turning round and 1 shotting you in a second can be annoying
FTL is fun and addicting but sometimes luck is too much of a factor, for example one time my first fight was against a enemy ship with missle, laser and beam as well as a drone
Both are well worth it though