The Hong Kong Massacre

About

The Hong Kong Massacre is a single player arcade shooter game. It was developed by VRESKI and was released on January 21, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

The Hong Kong Massacre is a top-down shooter game inspired by classic action movies, where you play as a vengeful ex-police detective in Hong Kong. Utilize gunplay, slow-motion, and dive/dodge mechanics to take down criminals in frenetic, cinematic shootouts. Exploit the environment and plan your moves strategically to survive, as every shot is lethal and your time-slowing ability is limited. Experience intense levels filled with hard-boiled action and vivid underworld locations.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,442 reviews

gameplay138 positive mentions

story55 negative mentions

The game features satisfying gunplay and stylish visuals, reminiscent of classic Hong Kong action films.
The slow-motion and dodge mechanics add a unique layer of gameplay, allowing for thrilling and cinematic moments.
Despite some bugs and repetitive elements, the game provides an enjoyable experience for fans of top-down shooters.

The game suffers from a lack of variety in weapons and enemy types, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Boss fights are uninspired and follow the same pattern, making them feel tedious.
The challenge system penalizes players for using core mechanics like slow-motion, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
496 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The gameplay of "The Hong Kong Massacre" is characterized by fast-paced, top-down shooting mechanics that blend elements from "Hotline Miami" and John Woo films, featuring a bullet time and dodge mechanic that enhances the action. However, players have noted significant issues with balance and repetition, as the game often penalizes the use of its core mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience that can feel unrefined and tedious over time. While the initial gameplay is engaging and visually appealing, the lack of variety in challenges and level design detracts from its long-term enjoyment.
- “The Hong Kong Massacre is a fun, fast-paced top-down indie shooter with bullet time/dodging mechanics where one bullet kills anyone (including you!), giving mixed vibes of Hotline Miami, Max Payne, and John Woo action films all in one.”
- “The heart of The Hong Kong Massacre lies in its intense gunplay, offering a satisfying combination of precision aiming and slow-motion mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is pretty nice, one of the shining points of the game, due to its non-stop action and mechanically it is pretty simple to catch up and it plays really well.”
- “While that is certainly true, the longer you play and progress, the more repetitive the gameplay begins to feel.”
- “The challenges in the game handicap how you play so much that if you want to upgrade any weapon meaningfully, you don't get to use the core mechanic of the game - slow motion.”
- “There is so much guesswork going on at the core of this game it's almost funny, but it just makes the gameplay loop an annoying series of trial & error instead of being a skill- and strategy-based game like Hotline Miami.”
story
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
18%
The story in "The Hong Kong Massacre" is largely considered weak and forgettable, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Players describe it as generic, poorly written, and filled with unengaging cutscenes, with many noting that the focus is on fast-paced action rather than storytelling. Overall, while the game offers a basic revenge plot, it fails to deliver a meaningful or immersive narrative experience.
- “Has a strong 70s/80s exploitation/revenge plot vibe (think: Bronson in Death Wish, but going HK style).”
- “The story of our protagonist will unfold eventually by showing us these short cutscenes between the missions and telling us what happened on the previous few days until the present day.”
- “I enjoyed this journey of one man vs the whole crime syndicate story.”
- “The story is generally not that engaging other than its initial premise, as it is told through some mildly interesting but very short cutscenes, and rather lackluster text reading sequences.”
- “The plot is just a rehash of every revenge thriller/action film ever made, and doesn't even do it to any emotional or resonating impact.”
- “The story is incredibly weak and poorly delivered, the boss fights are extremely repetitive, and there's very little in the way of gameplay variety.”
music
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and fitting soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Some players noted that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it doesn't reach the iconic status of titles like Hotline Miami. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “The music and general atmosphere created within The Hong Kong Massacre are certainly positives that complement the gameplay along with the narrative, as they are not only both dark and gritty in their own rights, but also upbeat and chaotic, fortifying the whole 'rampage vibe' gameplay.”
- “With its slick visuals, intense gunplay, and adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, the game delivers an enjoyable and thrilling experience.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the game looks really good, especially with bullets and smoke flying everywhere.”
- “The music also is laughably bad.”
- “The 'music' consists of maybe 2-3 very similar and monotone tracks and gets muted after 5 minutes.”
- “It's very tinny, repetitive, and the music is very lackluster, uninspired, and frankly, unfitting.”
graphics
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stylish and atmospheric design, drawing inspiration from classic Hong Kong action films and offering a vibrant aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. While many reviewers noted the impressive visuals and particle effects, some pointed out issues with optimization and occasional glitches that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, often compared favorably to the visuals of "Hotline Miami," though some felt that the gameplay did not fully capitalize on this visual strength.
- “Graphics are superb as bullets, shrapnel and bodies go flying.”
- “The Hong Kong Massacre impresses with its stylish and atmospheric visuals, reminiscent of classic Hong Kong action films.”
- “With its slick visuals, intense gunplay, and adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, the game delivers an enjoyable and thrilling experience.”
- “Excessive lighting and bloom don't actually set a tone here, they only excuse otherwise generic visuals, straight from an Unreal Engine template.”
- “How on earth do you manage to make a game with such impactful graphics feel boring?”
- “The graphics are pretty much WYSIWYG, don't expect to be blown away in that department.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
59%
19%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the ability to revisit levels with new weapons and complete various challenges, others find the overall replay value lacking due to a limited scoring system and repetitive enemy placements. The game offers opportunities for speedruns and improving scores, but many feel that it doesn't reach the heights of similar titles like Hotline Miami, leaving some players feeling that replayability is more of an afterthought. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the execution leaves room for improvement.
- “Replayability is great, especially revisiting past levels with new/better weapons.”
- “Finally, the game encourages replayability by keeping track of deaths and offering three challenges applicable to each level: beating the level within a par time, beating it without using slow-mo, and beating it with 100% accuracy (read: every shot lands on an enemy).”
- “Games like this, Spider-Man, Max Payne, they just have nigh-on-infinite replayability because the moment-to-moment action is so damn addictive.”
- “8 hours of gameplay for $20 with not much replayability is terrible.”
- “The annoyance ruins whatever bit of replayability there could have been.”
- “It feels less like a full-fledged replayability feature and more like an afterthought, as if the developers didn't think players would naturally develop challenges for themselves and come back to the game.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The atmosphere in "The Hong Kong Massacre" is widely praised for its stylish visuals and immersive soundtrack, effectively capturing the gritty essence of classic Hong Kong action films. Reviewers highlight the game's dark and chaotic ambiance, which enhances the gameplay experience, although some note a failure to fully realize the Hong Kong environment. Overall, the combination of detailed aesthetics, engaging music, and dynamic effects contributes to a compelling and atmospheric setting.
- “The music and general atmosphere created within The Hong Kong Massacre are certainly positives that complement the gameplay along with the narrative, as they are not only both dark and gritty in their own rights, but also upbeat and chaotic, fortifying the whole 'rampage vibe' gameplay.”
- “The Hong Kong Massacre impresses with its stylish and atmospheric visuals, reminiscent of classic Hong Kong action films.”
- “Set in the early 90s and with a mesmerizing atmosphere and beautiful detail, it is a game worth trying out if you have an itch for going against the odds with nothing but whatever you can get and looking good while fighting.”
- “Failed to create the Hong Kong environment atmosphere.”
- “Destroying environment, rag-doll physics, cut-scenes create a dark atmosphere!”
- “This rather obvious downside is somewhat less blatant thanks to the actually impressive and tense soundtrack, and the dark atmosphere subtly cultivated.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly, players report occasional performance issues, minor bugs, and significant FPS drops during cutscenes. Many reviewers highlight the need for further fine-tuning to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly in terms of controls and AI behavior. Despite these shortcomings, some players still find the game enjoyable, appreciating its fast-paced action and aesthetic.
- “It is fast-paced, runs smoothly and captures the whole gritty 90's revenge action trope really well.”
- “Game runs smoothly.”
- “[*] beautiful optimization”
- “Fix the bad game optimization (clunky controls and doors phasing through the player character) and the game is still garbage, because there's no melee mechanics, barest of bare-bones enemy AI, only 4 weapon variations (akimbo pistols, micro Uzi, AK47, and shotgun) that all function in more or less the same way.”
- “Graphics: looks good but optimization is very bad.”
- “Fine-tuning the game's optimization, addressing performance hiccups, and ensuring a polished and bug-free experience would greatly enhance the overall enjoyment for players.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent bugs affecting menus, gameplay, and controls. Players report choppy performance, audio inconsistencies, and game-breaking glitches that often require restarting the game. Overall, the experience is marred by clunky mechanics and collision problems, making it frustrating for users.
- “The game felt buggy - the music would suddenly become too loud or too soft, gameplay was choppy regardless of what resolution or graphics quality or fullscreen toggle.”
- “Every second game launch I press the 'continue story' button but it freezes at some info screen and you can't press anything, forcing you to restart the whole game.”
- “I'm really sorry, but the game's controls are so bugged that it is completely game-breaking; you can't technically upgrade your weapons because the controls don't react, and if they do, it completely glitches the game.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its trial-and-error gameplay, which can lead to amusing situations, especially when characters die in unexpected ways. While some players find the off-screen enemy mechanics frustrating, others appreciate the comedic value in the chaos, making it a potentially entertaining choice for party play. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, with many finding the endless dying more funny than frustrating.
- “Not a bad game, but I found the endless dying more funny than frustrating since you never really lose much progress.”
- “I could even recommend it as a party game since it's fun to watch and characters can die in unexpected hilarious ways.”
- “But if you're like me and always crack up laughing when this happens, that shouldn't be a problem.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the requirement of achieving 10,000 kills and completing early chapters without dying. Many feel that the unpredictable enemy behavior detracts from the challenge, leading to a sense of unfairness rather than rewarding gameplay, especially in the latter half of the game. Overall, while the mechanics are generally functional, the grind becomes a significant chore that diminishes enjoyment.
- “This game is pretty janky and to 100% it requires a couple of tedious grind achievements, notably getting 10,000 kills and beating the first two chapters without dying.”
- “It's hard to know what enemies are going to do, but dying to them never felt like a challenge; rather, it felt unfair and tedious.”
- “Though the mechanics all work quite well most of the time (stressing *most*, random enemy dodge rolls and clipping are quite big problems), I found the game was getting really tedious toward the end.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a significant lack of emotional depth in many games, criticizing their reliance on clichéd plots and underdeveloped characters that fail to resonate with players. There is a strong sentiment that developers prioritize profit over genuine emotional engagement, leading to a disconnection between the game's narrative and the player's experience. Overall, the emotional impact of these games is often perceived as shallow, resulting in frustration and disappointment among players.
- “Expanding on the story, character development, and providing more context for the protagonist's motivations would give players a stronger emotional connection to the game's world.”
- “The plot is just a rehash of every revenge thriller/action film ever made, and doesn't even do it to any emotional or resonating impact.”
- “So... the Hong Kong Massacre: a heartfelt, but overall dull attempt to rekindle the experience of John Woo's Stranglehold.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its poor user interface, which complicates navigation and detracts from the overall experience. While the game is well marketed and aligns with its promotional content, players find it challenging to achieve the fluidity showcased in trailers, leading to frustration. Additionally, performance issues on mid-range processors further exacerbate the negative perception of its monetization strategy.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers emphasize that enhancing character development and providing deeper context for the protagonist's motivations would significantly strengthen players' emotional connection to the game's narrative.
- “Expanding on the story, character development, and providing more context for the protagonist's motivations would give players a stronger emotional connection to the game's world.”

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57%Critics’ scoreBased on 20 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

10h Average play time

5-22h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Hong Kong Massacre is a arcade shooter game.

The Hong Kong Massacre is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing The Hong Kong Massacre.

The Hong Kong Massacre was released on January 21, 2019.

The Hong Kong Massacre was developed by VRESKI.

The Hong Kong Massacre has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

The Hong Kong Massacre is a single player game.

Similar games include OTXO, Mr. Shifty, 12 is Better Than 6, GARAGE: Bad Trip, God's Trigger and others.

The Hong Kong Massacre

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