10 Hilariously Awkward Times Video Games Tried To Be Mature

3. Hotline Miami 2's 'Rape' Sequence

Both Hotline Miami games are easily some of the most stylish, fun and imminently replayable titles of all time, and although I personally adore the sequel and how it expanded every idea of how the darkest parts of the human psyche can be unbelievably appealing, the opening attempted rape scene ends up feeling like shock factor for the sake of it. The first indication that developers Dennaton weren't entirely sure on its inclusion comes from the option to skip the scene entirely. Second, it doesn't serve the plot. Both games are about how we can lose ourselves in a mentality of killing for necessity and later for fun - that embrace of thematically dark subject matter being represented in the sequel through a police officer who you can choose to let kill for an easier trip through levels, or a set of 'fans' who glorify the the original title's gore-happy killer. As a tone-setter it works to some degree, but the very nature of rape should never be callously included as such a thing. Where the first Hotline had a woman you rescue slowly restoring normalcy to Jacket's life through ever-changing homestead level design, Wrong Number connotes the same idea of rescuing someone, only to play with the idea of raping them as a 'we're edgy, get it?!' setup instead.