Hotline Miami - Who Richard (The Rooster) REALLY Is

[@yellow_jacket3260]

Happy to help out! Hotline Miami is one of the most profound pieces of media I think I have ever consumed, and I am glad that other people are now seeing why!

[@davidcrimson3768]

Only interactions I had with Jacket from Hotline Miami Is Payday 2. Jacket, Follow my lead! UuuuuAaagghHH I NEED A MEDIC BAG

[@dariosanchez8637]

@@davidcrimson3768 hahaha

[@EchoingEmptiness]

Yep!

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@taylereasdon4765]

Thank you for your video. hotline miami is a very special game and im glad theres people like you out there to break it down so others can learn how brilliant the narrative of this masterpiece is.

[@thestralner6335]

with this theory, pardo becomes quite interesting. richard never appears to pardo, and says he doesnt understand pardo. this implies that pardo doesnt do what he does for his heart of darkness. perhaps he is the only true psychopathic character, and his heart of darkness never had to take over. (could be that the puppet that appears to him is his animalistic voice, taking richards place)

[@livelife4928]

That's the thing with Pardo, Unlike every other person in the story, the reasons behind his actions are so contradictory that not even Richard can understand it. Manny, as seen across the story, craves attention beyond anything else. With each level he's in, the stakes get progressively increased [ Store Shootout > One-Man Shootout in The Colombian Ship > His Dream Of being hunted down by the police ]. It's Even made clear when he constantly mentions his alter ego. However, Manny is also heavily critical of this behaviour and shows disdain for it multiple times in the story. To top it off, unlike the other characters that Richard interacts with , there's no catalyst behind his actions. Jacket and Jake does what they does due to their disdain for Russians The fans do what they do not only because of Jacket's previous actions but because they also served in the war and share similar disdain for Russians. The Son is trying to live up to his father's Image. The Henchman is desperately trying to walk out of his current life to one that's a lot more satisfying and relatively peaceful. Evan's is trying to survive the economic situation of Miami and provide for his family as well as himself. Beard wanted a relatively simple and peaceful life. Richter is trying to help his mother [ although, I believe he signed up for 50B because his father was killed off in the San Fran Nuke which he was only talked out of his rage by his mother's condition thus prompting 50B to intimidate him back into the deal] Manny doesn't even have any excuse and so it can be concluded that he's always been this way deep down.

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@jarlboof]

Yeah, every character in the game has a "goal" or a reason to do all that except pardo, he just wanted the attention and fame that jacket had. You could argue that the fans had similar intentions, but i think their goal was to continue jackets legacy as he was seen as a hero by a lot of people. Instead of just being famous.

[@zitzbtoads6151]

Pardo is based on a real life psycho cop so...yes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Pardo_(serial_killer)

[@hafizo_kurosaki]

​@@livelife4928what about Biker's motivation?

[@bruhe_moment]

I always understood the games to be about the human instinct towards violence, but you've put my vague ideas surrounding the game into words. Great video!

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@russian_knight]

Richard doesn't just address the characters to try and help them, he talks directly to the player, which is what makes him so interesting

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@spy000]

Verdade

[@zvndmvn]

My heart of darkness didn't even notice there was a coherent story in this game. Being blinded by bloodlust only enhances this theory!

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@giovlms]

oh MY GOD YES, PLEASE YES. MORE HOTLINE MIAMI CONTENT, MAX. Your take on these subjects is absolutely AMAZING. There is so much to be analyzed there.

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@awsumpchits]

HOLY SHIT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!

[@kseniav586]

Love the game and I think you offer a great interpretation. However, the whole "civilisation lets us control our dark murderous nature" seems a bit old-fashioned to me. Behavioural psychologists like Conrad Lorenz believed this, but more recent studies show that people are not inherently murderous or violent. Neither are animals, especially social species. We are wired for collaboration (which does not imply selflessness, mind you). So to my mind, a trauma does not "uncover" a tendency to kill and destroy. Rather, it can create such tendencies as mechanisms for survival. An abused dog that's aggressive is not revealing it's "true nature", it is simply adapting to protect itself, however bad it may seem.

[@dasuero7489]

Thus, those 'tribalistic', beastly tendencies are amoral functions. It is in our program, our nature to preserve ourselves and in some cases thrive. What you said may be more so appropriate in regard to actual tribesmen or a psychopath who has exposed themselves to violence and animalism

[@silver1340]

Power or absolute power doesn't corrupt or corrupt absolutely. It merely reveals.

[@levonsb2170]

See if you agree. Isn't it very similar to Far Cry 3 and Jason Brody, when Ubi still made games with meaning? The guy was rich, pirates take his friends and now he has to save them, but the game doesn't stop when you save them, you can keep going, keep killing for the sake of killing, succumbing once again to the Heart of Darkness. Or I understood things very wrongly lol

[@blakebramley9171]

No. Far Cry 3 is the epitome of the heart of darkness. You’re even in a jungle to top it off. It’s a perfect example

[@danielgeronimo5538]

Interestingly, those who have accepted their heart of darkness in Hotline Miami, somewhat got the most peaceful endings in an arguable way. Richter accepted his fate, and his NG+ scene has him apologizing for what he did, but did not protest that he got it coming. Beard always let things naturally play out, he wishes that things could have been different but, well, the reality is obvious. Finally, Jacket, who pretty much realized the same thing after all the killings, hence he is content.

[@whdphd7116]

the hotline miami series is one of my favorites analysis-wise, best notifications ive gotten in quite a while

[@fobo3361]

I feel like it taking the form of richard could also be tied to jacket himself, given every character whose seen him has some sort of affiliation with jacket, let it be the fans who look up to jacket, the reporter whose writing a book on the killings, even the henchmen who must've heard of jackets rampage and the rooster mask he'd wear during then, given he's in the russian mob it'd he kinda strange if nobody told him about the hundreds of other men who've been murdered

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!11

[@smileyjojo4913]

Holy shit I literally just watched your eva theory video after days of doing my own research and then I immediately see an upload about one of my fave games ever

[@kohgon]

All I can say is this - thank you. Again you have shown us all how deep games like Hotline Miami can go.

[@cereskerrigan]

“Do you enjoy hurting other people?” No, I enjoy hurting pixels on my PC screen, blaring DOOM ost. Best dopamine intake I’ve ever took.

[@themessagegames4901]

Hi! I'm doing Hotline Miami from the first person in Russia ! You can see the game on my channel!5

[@thebigbentius8979]

Im so glad you made this video, i love both your content and hotline miami

[@JakeTvisterOfficial]

A video I didn't expect, but appreciate more than you know.

[@ishmaelcamillo]

The irony to me is the janitors missing from the new game plus cutscene as well as never getting a visit from Richard, or at least as far as the player is aware. With that in mind who's to say the Colonel has or hasn't seen Richard? Janitors are my favorite characters for the few scenes we get with them.

[@CrashNSplash]

One of my favorite games being analyzed by my favorite KZbinr!

[@maxderrat]

Stop it, I'm blushing! :P

[@abrahamjimenez1957]

I hope that one day, one Max video hit the 1 million, i really want this channel to success 🤜🤛

[@benedict6962]

These videos are only making me more and more relieved that in the very first scene of Specs Ops my reaction was to pull back and try to go home.

[@55starstruck]

Ayyy here it is. Loved hotline Miami really underrated

[@nebs6888]

Woah- Just watched the Leadhead video. Really want to play Hotline Miami now-

[@stevensigl]

Oh.. .my dude you are plucking on my heart strings once again. Thank you.

[@PhilFromTheAbyss]

Great video as always, Max

[@jpf338]

"you may know my video series about the heart of darkness" May? My dude I watch it every month or so xD

[@maxderrat]

Wow. Really? Dude, you just put the biggest smile on my face. :D

[@jpf338]

@@maxderrat yep, for real. It helped me more than I can explain. When I feeling down I use it as catarsis, when I need to find my way I watch to make me reflect about human nature and set my mind in a more "focused way". And also it was the first time I heard about Jung and the colective unconscious, so it also open my mind in that regard. Glad that my comment make you smile, cheers.

[@oopsalldrip1376]

same here, really good videos

[@DragosDreamer1989]

MAN, that end line gave me goose-bumps! Awesome video essay.

[@happer4535]

im glad your making a video richard from hotline Miami, this game is a huge thing to me i even climbed up to top 100 on one of the levels so you can tell i love this game and appreciate it very much.

[@thestralner6335]

the line "i am the opposite of why you are writing your book" intrigues me. idk what to make of it, but richards role has always seemed to be to confuse and to make you ask questions.

[@leonardoreyes1697]

This is one of my favorite games of all time, this game broke me at the end of Hotline Miami 2, is really powerful.

[@vinslungur]

Oh baby! This is gonna be good :D Love u Max

[@kevinmc3252]

Great Videos. Best channel on here. Will become a patreon member when I can.

[@maxderrat]

Thanks man.

[@boxylemons7961]

Thanks Max, didn't expect you to make this video but glad you did. Hotline Miami (and arguably tied with it's Sequel, Wrong Number) is my favorite game of all time, I always interpreted the message of the game to be something along the lines of this (A Comment I made actually got featured in one of Squatch Gaming's videos, particularly one analyzing the motivations for why The Colonel created 50 Blessings, as he is heavily implied to do so). I've never been the best at wording things out, and I think you for the most part "took the words right out my mouth" as it is. You explained it all in a pretty good way, and probably still in ways I couldn't think of before.

[@ogpizgar917]

your videos are always bangers

[@ciroaldorisio8034]

that's exactly what i think, all the characters of mh2 either look up to jacket or are aware of his actions, so richard became an avatar of violence, animalistic tendencies and savagery, merely because they recognize jacket -and by extension his trademark, the rooster mask- as the ideal savage

[@danteyy7831]

Max thank you for all the videos you make!

[@slipkerit128]

Oh my god, hearing Dust at the end of the video was a hit out of the blue, but it was amazing

[@LoveSickWorld]

Yes! Always down for Hotline Miami content!

[@_kishken_1595]

Brilliant video dude. I live for this content

[@mitchellkresge9446]

*sees new upload from Max* Oh, my Richard has certainly been activated

[@redcell2852]

My goodness I cannot stop watching your videos! Your videos is certainly not a waste of time, but rather crammed with truths that questions our reality and our perspective of the human psyche and ourselves as a whole. This dude is definitely a mold breaker!!!"

[@RossOfRoni]

The Panther mask you can equip in HLM1 is called "Brandon" which I always assumed was a reference to "Brando," who played Kurtz.

[@byoutifulmonster]

Another video, another video game to connect to the collective unconscious. I love to see it^^

[@SeptemberManHey]

Very nice Max, thank you for your work.

[@clamantstone]

I wish there was a story where the character was able to fight back against the heart of darkness

[@mewsiul]

Fighting against it would mean recovering mentally and emotionally in this case, but if you want an RPG battle there's Persona 2, where the Final Boss is basically The Heart Of Darkness as a lovecraftian monster.

[@lordofPockets]

Hot-line, one of the most amazing top-camera game i had play 1 and 2, and to se a max video about it, this improve my day!

[@Lonequacker]

When I clicked on a Hotline Miami video I didn't expect to learn of a theory that Deja Vu is an experience of our body briefly seeing something that will happen to us outside of time and space but due to our human limitations can't comprehend it until it already happens.... But I'm damn glad that I did, this video was fantastic.

[@sobeksrecviem7275]

Awesome video. I'll look into the heart of darkness now.

[@TheAsylumCat]

Ooh that closing line sent chills up my spine.

[@tomonomo6786]

you are amazing max i love hotline miami... wish there was a movie or book like it

[@Boggybean123]

👏👏👏 Amazing analysis here

[@rosettastoned5002]

Ah yes! I’ve been waiting on this one

[@greengarnish1711]

Richard has essentially become something "more" thanks to his actions. In the eyes of the characters that we see and play as, they all have heard/seen what he's done. He's sort of like a boogeyman who strikes vengeance and is one scary individual, even with Richard behind bars his influence can be felt all over.

[@danielgeronimo5538]

That is actually a very interesting way to put it, as imo, Richard and Jacket are nearly one and the same. Of course Jacket "speaking" to himself is only natural, hence Richard's very much neutral stance towards Jacket in the animal room. If he would ever be given a voice, it would only be natural that Jacket will speak like such to the protagonists of Hotline Miami 2. And since Don Juan and Rasmus are much closer and more unique to Jacket, Richard takes form, because those outside of Jacket's mind would likely see him as Richard.

[@greengarnish1711]

@@danielgeronimo5538 And to simplify things Jacket was the name people gave him before HM2 came out but through his mask we know what his real name his Richard. The Chicken mask that speaks through him is of course his true self talking back to him, it's his conscience trying to warn Richard throughout the first game.

[@danielgeronimo5538]

@@greengarnish1711 It's also logical to only assume considering much of the masks names take them after their owners. But while Richard does not have a specific perk as a mask per se, I believe his ability to influence those outside of his own mind means he's likely the most powerful mask of all. Nothing sends the message better than actions, but if Richard's examples can't be heard, then truly, everyone is doomed, and that's exactly what happened.

[@DarksteelHeart]

Looking back through my old music, Alice in Chains made a song called "Rooster" and its definitely about war and death. I think it's talking about the Vietnam war, but I just put this together today.

[@hugo11819]

I must check this game, if you recommend this so much. I've heard about it many times, but... but now i think i am covninced that it's very much worth to try. thanks max for your lovely work( in all your fields expertise) from poland. :) I was drawn to your channel when i saw your mgs profoundness examination, and later when i saw your video about hepburn and i had litterally very bad day that day and i cried a little bit watching this. I think it was some day to celebrate women.

[@jadak100]

Another astounding video, great job man, I'm so glad I subbed to your channel

[@Camarada_Cao]

"you enjoy all the killing that's why" Liquid Snake.

[@aceknowledgable9403]

Hey, Max Derrat, did you ever cover the game Drowned God? I'd highly recommend it as it is a creepy point and click game from 1996 by Harry Horse whose backstory is quite intriguing but dark. It is surprising its sequel CULT was never realized because of Harry's troubled private life and untimely death in 2007.

[@danielgaxiolalugo7414]

If James Sunderland and Pyramid Head (or Maria) from Sh2 can be their own personas but also an extension of the same individual, Could this be the same with Jacket and Richard? the final dialogue between Richard and Beard in the secret intro makes me think that, about how "they knew eachother before" and Richard "wishing to meet him in other circumstances" saying it like in a regretful manner.

[@praisemeheathens2265]

Speaking of the heart of darkness, perhaps Far Cry 3 falls within it. Maybe not majorly, but I think it could make for a fun video. Vaas, for instance, is a great villain and I know people have made videos on him and Jason but I think you could make a great take on it! After watching this, it made me think about how a lot of what you said correlates well with Jason's descent, and even Vaas'. Also, I'd like to say that your discussion of Alchemy within games (Dark Souls mainly) has inspired me quite a lot! As a DM you help me a lot. Your videos are fun to watch and I'd like to thank you for making this awesome stuff for us.

[@asneakylawngnome5792]

Whoa. I just got done replaying hotline Miami for the umpteenth time

[@a1saucin221]

YESS HE FINALY COVERD IT!

[@gildonario]

I always wanted to play hotline Miami 1 & 2, but this video was the trigger for me to finale do it, and now i have finished the game, thank max, bcs these are amazing games

[@Chris-cf1hs]

I've never played hotline Miami but now I have to play it

[@Kainlarsen]

That's a loaded question at the end, Max. Playing a game is not an affirmation of a love of violence. It never has been.

[@tydendurler9574]

That depends on the game

[@ivanristic5512]

Girls sleepover: omg, let's do each others nails! Boys sleepover:

[@ScrapRabbit]

These violent delights have violent ends

[@onionheadguy7094]

Its about time somebody talks about this game again!

[@georgesinadinov8667]

Scary stuff. Also i would like to see you doing video on Portal 1&2 and Half Life franchise as they are also interesting subjects especially Glados AI behavior

[@TazmilyGum]

So you’re a Metal Gear fan AND a Hotline Miami fan? That’s so cool!

[@NANGIE2020]

near the end there, is that 13 people and a snake around a table ? some sort of last supper ?

[@NANGIE2020]

you are a very clever man! man!

[@MentatGibraltar]

Maybe the rooster face is an allusion to the Gnostic god Abraxas

[@NachozMan]

Muisc in this game is legendary, but it's a damn shame its all people usually bring up when they talk about it, thanks for shedding more light on the awesome philosophical and psychological topics that are inside the game.

[@oopsalldrip1376]

First time I've ever seen anyone try and do deeper analysis of Hotline Miami. Edit: That's not deja vu, it's deja reve.

[@009_Ghostly_Systematic]

Its like Richard is some sort of super ego of the person lies within.

[@evgeniykotov471]

братишка Макс никогда не разочаровывает.

[@agnel47]

That ad on the top right. Bruh.

[@tydendurler9574]

Wow...just wow I really liked these games, but...i honestly understood nothing. Didn't really try to as one doesn't expect...THAT in a game looking and playing like this. Always wanted to play them again, now i know i have to. Thanks for videos like this and keep it up!

[@DaCrazyHand]

Plot twist, Max WAS Richard the whole time!

[@RallyTheTally]

Yo I think a lot of what you said was really really stupid, but I like the video you made! Very well done and thoughtful.

[@vladimirstojanovic4710]

Well Richard is Abraxas or Gullinkambi - one of 3 roosters that signifies Ragnarok, which happens at the end of the second game.

[@sombraarthur]

Masterpiece. That is what this game is. Why? Because the deep, fundamental question is not INSIDE the game, but outside. When you indulge in it, you are validating the Heart of Darkness, and the further you are blinded by this truth, the further deep in the Heart of Darkness you already are. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

[@TheSquidPro]

"You enjoy hurting other people don't you?" Aye what of it?

[@maxmatthews2463]

Respect.

[@dibkle]

Yes, yes I do, I was just waiting for someone to ask.

[@tehcarlzor]

Instead of reflecting on themselves they blamed the beasts instead.

[@forestgiest1380]

Richard is literally Abraxas.

[@DedHedZed]

This game changed the way I think about alot of things.

[@victoriousf.i.g.3311]

Wait... is this yet another challenging game with complex lore? I don't mean to get too excited, but my physical reaction to this is the same one Bruce the shark had when he was introduced in Finding Nemo.

[@BobelPop]

Hey Max I enjoy the commentary as usual. I was wondering if you were familiar with the villain Kefka Palazzo? Since the subject on the Heart of Darkness was the theme I thought about how those two could be related. What do you think?

[@Dirtnap90]

I always thought Richard in 2 was mocking each character for their senseless chase toward whatever. A meta commentary. Each of their folly only bringing them toward a faster death. Watch the table scene with Richard with this in mind. Beard is the only one not chasing something (leaving a wake), but he essentially gets killed first in the crossfire of their folly with the nukes.

[@GamerSupper]

What a very polished video but a bit convoluted for the unconscious mind in control but alas, good vid subd.

[@seeker11]

We are puppets yes. Thing is we have to find the strings to cut them.

[@richardrebrean8209]

????? You made a video about miami. This is why you are my favourite youtuber

[@tretasedamtungpong2027]

I know that someday Max will talk about Richard And he really did

[@devpashupati9168]

Is it me or the dark room in Hotline Miami 1 is Jacket's psyche? horse is the super ego, rooster is the ego and the owl is the id?

[@K9unit37]

Honestly. I didn't understand 90% of this game's story or timeline. It wasn't until squanch gaming's entire chronological order video that I got the full picture. Despite that I played each game about 3 times. I guess I do like violence. Violence and sick beats.

[@hannibalcase1100]

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I've been conflating this game with Party Hard for years. I should try Hotline Miami, shouldn't I? Edit: I'm kinda surprised that it didn't cross my mind back when you were doing the Heart of Darkness series, but Far Cry 3 seems to have a similar kind of arc.

[@danielgaxiolalugo7414]

The final part of the video remind me a "joke" that everyone were saying when Spec Ops The Line came out: "The only way to win that game is not playing it at all..."