In action history, few things can compare to the iconography of Chow Yun-Fat wielding two Beretta 92 pistols and grimacing in the face of imminent threat from gangsters. VRESKI Hong Kong massacre wholeheartedly carries the influence of John Woo, Sammo Hung and other legendary filmmakers, I might add Miami Hotlineit is also a brand of top-down chaos. Despite becoming a great addition to any Nintendo Switch library and even inspiring Hollywood blockbusters, I long for another VRESKA adventure.
The Hong Kong Massacre originally debuted in 2019, before landing on Nintendo’s humble handheld the following December. The plot is basic: take revenge on the Hong Kong gangs for the death of their partner in the police. However, the simplistic premise of this action game is perfect, as VRESKI amplifies the game’s maximalist elements with certified balletic bullet barrage at every possible moment. Shootouts are invigorating cat-and-mouse games that encourage you to carefully kill your enemies – often in the most brutal ways. Just like in Hotline Miami, one hit and we go back to the beginning of the level.
VRESKI is a two-man band hailing from Sweden, but the cinematic feel present in the lush sets, original art direction and satisfying gunplay would never let you know it. The Hong Kong Massacre has also gained a unique legacy, with John Wick director Chad Stahelski crediting the astonishing apartment shooting in Chapter Four as a major influence. In addition to the game’s release on Xbox Series X|S consoles last year, five years have passed since The Hong Kong Massacre first debuted.
We’re quickly approaching 2025, and as the Earth continues to spin, I’m excited to see what games – whether fresh Switch games or free mobile games – will be on the horizon. Will there be a sequel to the Hong Kong Massacre? Is VRESKI making another game?
Although Hong Kong Massacre 2 is not on the cards, we know that VRESKI is preparing something fresh, despite its own website biography claiming that they are still “currently working on our first game called The Hong Kong Massacre.”
Not a week goes by that I don’t periodically check in on games I’m looking forward to, whether it’s IO Interactive’s Project 007, the release date of The Division: Resurgence, or VRESKI’s currently untitled FPS game. On May 4, 2021, VRESKI published “Untitled FPS – Bridge Explosion” on YouTube. The footage shows a shooter in development with the same penchant for bloodshed, this time on a seemingly much larger scale.
More clips will continue to be released, with the developer’s last upload taking place in March 2024. Each clip boasts dazzling particle effects and crunchy sound, but the highlight is the two-handed spectacle that I can’t stop talking about think.
This is Max Payne in bullet-time mode amplified to the max, and if there’s one thing this world needs more of, in my opinion, it’s Max Payne-inspired media. Unfortunately, further information about the upcoming VRESKA shooter has gone quiet on the radio. Understandably, with a two-person team, this type of project will take time. However, with the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2 and many of the best Steam Deck alternatives evolving into higher spec models, I’m hoping VRESKI will join the fun in the near future.
