Rape Scene in Hotline Miami 2 Draws Controversy

Here we go again.

Posted By | On 15th, Aug. 2013

hotline_miami_2

Hotline Miami 2, the sequel to the celebrated indie hit from last year, has a rape scene, and scenes of other sexual violence, to reinforce its message; as always, this has drawn the ire of critics, who flat out oppose its inclusion in the game.

PCGamer, when previewing the game, was attacking an unnamed female enemy on screen; the words ‘FINISH HER’ flashed on the screen, and so he proceeded to attack her, at which point the character undid his trousers and pinned her, the implication being that he was raping her.

Of course, even within the game, the rape is purely fictional, as it is a scene being shot on the sets of a movie (in fact, the director shouts ‘CUT’ shortly after the rape scene). However, that hasn’t stopped many from criticizing what is an uncharacteristically bold scene to include in a video game.

“I stroll up to finish the job. Instead, the control is taken from me by the game, and my character, the Pig Butcher, pins her down and drops his trousers,” said Cara Ellision, the previewer of the original build. “This is it, I think. I am feeling betrayal. I feel betrayed by something I love”.

Whereas no one condones rape, and I certainly do not, there is something to be said about the hypocrisy that lets rape scenes in other mediums, such as books, movies, and television (including the much celebrated Breaking Bad in the case of the latter, which includes repeated instances of spousal rape in its fifth season) slide for artistic integrity, but not video games. If critics are serious about video games growing as a legitimate medium of storytelling and an artform, then the same concessions need to be made to them that are made to other mediums as well.

The developers of Hotline Miami 2 remained unavailable for comment. We’ll keep you posted on how this story develops.

[Thanks, CVG]


Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Share Your Thoughts Below  (Always follow our comments policy!)



Keep On Reading!

Helldivers 2 Patch Fixes Freezes From Arc-Based Weapons and Stratagems

Helldivers 2 Patch Fixes Freezes From Arc-Based Weapons and Stratagems

The new patch ensures the Arc-12 Blitzer, Arc Thrower, and Tesla Tower will no longer cause players' games to ...

Like a Dragon, Judgment Developer is Seemingly Teasing an “Important Announcement” for Monday

Like a Dragon, Judgment Developer is Seemingly Teasing an “Important Announcement” for Monday

But Monday is April Fool's Day, so it could be a whole lot of nothing. Then again, it could be Judgment 3.

Princess Peach: Showtime! Beats Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Rise of the Ronin to Top Weekly Japanese Charts

Princess Peach: Showtime! Beats Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Rise of the Ronin to Top Weekly Japanese Charts

Princess Peach steals the spotlight from both massive, new open world action RPGs in the latest sales charts f...

Monster Hunter Wilds is Fully Open World, Capcom’s “Biggest Game by Far” – Rumour [UPDATE]

Monster Hunter Wilds is Fully Open World, Capcom’s “Biggest Game by Far” – Rumour [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Leaker Dusk Golem has said the screenshot of their supposed leaked details on Monster Hunter Wilds is...

Spyro 4 in Active Development Since January 2024 – Rumor

Spyro 4 in Active Development Since January 2024 – Rumor

YouTuber Canadian Guy Eh heard "whispers" of its development over the past few months, with some individuals a...

Overwatch 2 Season 10 Starts April 16th, New Gameplay Highlights Venture’s Skills

Overwatch 2 Season 10 Starts April 16th, New Gameplay Highlights Venture’s Skills

A limited-time trial kicks off from today till March 31st, allowing players on all platforms to try out the ne...