After reading the description and watching the trailer for "Hotline Miami", I began to wonder why GOG decided this game was a good match for the spirit and ethos of the GOG. From everything I've seen and read on the web, it is nothing more than an ultra-violent slaughter-fest that glorifies (and rewards) unnecessary brutality. If it were a "Good Old Game" that had historical relevance to computer gaming, then I could understand its inclusion. But it's not.

Sure there are plenty of pixel games from the 80s and 90s that included intense graphic violence, but none of them rewarded players by mutilating bodies on the ground by blowing off their head, beating their brains out, slicing the jugular, etc. Violence (and sex) have their place in video games, but there is a line between extreme content and indulging in a fetish.

This is not a retro-style video game; it is 16 bit snuff-film. I hope GOG seriously reconsiders hosting this title and thinks more thoughtfully about how the video games it endorses impacts the mission/values of GOG and the culture of the GOG community.

GOG has been releasing brand-new, non-retro titles for months now.

And while I personally dislike Rockstar's Manhunt series for similar reasons, Hotline Miami's pixelly graphics and Robotron-style overhead presentation keeps it very far from a snuff film. After all the praise from RPS, I'm very interested in trying it out.

Thanks for the respectful response. However, I still think describing it as a 16 bit snuff is still valid; it glorifies extreme violence or the sake of extreme violence (similar to Manhunt). I do not think that the pixel resolution or top-down perspective mitigates the content.

Well I'm looking forward to this game and I actually enjoyed Manhunt and Manhunt 2. There are ratings for a reason. It just sounds like it's not your style. There's something to be said for the phrase "to each is own".

So because you don't like the premise of this game you think it shouldn't be on here? I cannot wait to get my hands on this game, but not because it is brutal and bloody. I want it because this appears to be extremely difficult. I love battle-puzzle games like this, where you need to make every move count, or you are out. Packing it into a hyper-violent setting like this makes sense in a way. And when this hyper-violence is done in such a retro style, I really don't have any problem with it whatsoever.

I am glad GOG is branching out like this, as it makes it more and more viable to buy games like this. Sadly they didn't get this or announced it early enough, as I already have it pre-ordered somewhere else. But I might just buy it here as well someday, just to have a fully DRM free version as well, to support GOG and the developer of the game.

I usually don't care much for newer games. But this I am looking forward to, considering Cactus' output and the 80 vibe, I think it is a good fit.
But more importantly: WHY IS THE NO WAY TO ORDER IT INCLUDING THE BRILLIANT OST?

The devs said that the violence was made unpleasantly gory so that the player doesn't get to feel too good about doing it. This might work for some people and for some it might not, but anyway that's the reason for making the violence so detailed and extreme.

One of the things that intrigues me about this game (besides the action and the awesome soundtrack) is the plot, so I think it's a bit unfair to say that there is no other point in this game than senseless violence.

Why is the player's character committing these horrible acts of violence upon receiving cryptic orders on the phone? After finishing the first mission he gets attacked by a homeless man, kills him in self-defence, falls on his knees and pukes on the ground. Is he insane, hallucinating or maybe even hypnotized?

Who is that red-haired guy who seems to work everywhere and gives the player free stuff after each mission? And what about those shady characters wearing animal masks? Are they even real?

I don't mind if people just want to kill some dudes and not care about the plot, but at least for me the game is more than just an "ultra-violent slaughter-fest". I'd say Postal is more about violence with no real reason behind it.

Because the OST is made of songs created by various artists. Because of this if a OST would be released, all the artists would have to get paid, which would increase the price of the game.

Cactus did state however, that he plans to create an official tracklist with the possibility of adding links to sources where the songs cane be bought/downloaded for free.

I didn't like manhunt or postal... I still bought postal 2 for some reason I can't recall... probably because it was cheap... however I'm looking forward to this game because of it's trippy design and theme.

Here is a link to the soundtrack (or parts of it): http://venuspatrol.com/2012/10/listen-stream-a-bit-of-the-soundtrack-for-dennatons-hotline-miami/

Because it's a good game.

And the funny thing is, what makes you object to the game actually makes it ok to me: the violence in this game is not easy, not trivialized. It's gruesome, and several reviewers have mentioned that the game actually makes you reflect on this as you walk back after completing a level. In my book, a game that makes you realize how horrible violence can be is a lot more OK than warshooter X, trivializing violence and glorifying war.

Also, your comment on the game giving you points for violence is neither here nor there; many games give you points for violence and the way you deal it out. It's fine if you don't like it, but violence is rewarded in many games. I'm not too happy about it either (playing Thief at the moment, and it's just so lovely how you can complete missions without hurting anyone), but as I said, because of its honesty, Hotline Miami is pretty low on my dislike list.

I think you missed the nuance of my point, which was it rewards you for gruesome violence inflicted upon an enemy that is already "down" and on the ground. Awarding points for shooting or "taking out" any enemy is fine in my opinion, but rewarding points for extreme and unnecessary violence crosses the line IMO.

Actually, that's not a gratuitous violence for the sake of violence (or points) thing in this game, it's a well thought out game mechanic. Downed but not dead mooks will quickly get back up if you don't finish them, which is something you have to keep in mind when taking on multiple enemies.

Hm. You are certain that the enemies are down but not dead and able to recover and become a threat again? If this is true, then my judgement and points about the game need to be reconsidered.

Absolutely. An enemy who's down but has no visible injuries needs to be finished off else he gets up within seconds.