The Hotline Miami Story covers the making of this trippy series

Cocaine Cowboys and Neon Lights

I still remember how the original Hotline Miami suddenly came out of nowhere and left an incredible impression on those who took a chance on it. It was such an unusual title. Its bright, vivid visuals, along with the overhead view of the extreme violence gave it a very distinct look. And the music? I still hum Jasper Bryne’s “Miami” theme on occasion. Since 2012, the Hotline Miami games have had quite a big following, with many fans even coming up with their own interpretations for the surprisingly bizarre and cerebral storyline.

Just two months after the release of Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, the developer duo at Dennaton Games, Jonathan Söderström and Dennis Wedin, have opened up about the creation of their surreal, and ultra-violent action series. In a newly released half-hour-long documentary, the folks at Complex have interviewed friends, colleagues, and associates of the talent behind Hotline Miami to discuss the origins, influences, and impact these two indie titles have had on gaming.

During their interview, they discuss their initial work on simple shoot-’em-up and zombie titles, before transitioning over to what would be Hotline Miami after watching the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. With other inspiration from the era, including shows like Miami Vice and even recent films such as Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive fueling their passion for the project, they eventually caught the attention of indie publisher Devolver Digital.

Of course, that’s only the beginning. As we all know, it really blew up after the release of the original, and it’s interesting to see their thoughts on how fans and critics alike accepted their title. If you’re a fan of the Hotline Miami series, or just generally curious about how development works, then I highly recommend checking it out.