Overview
How to do it
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
- Notepad++[notepad-plus-plus.org] (Not needed, but recommended for advanced editing/configuration.)
- HLMWadExplorer[github.com] (Not needed unless you plan on only using the default sprite and music assets from the game.)
Otherwise, you’re pretty much ready to roll without these two programs if you’re okay with the default assets available.
Step 1: Start the level editor
Select the “Level Editor” option in the main menu.
Step 2: The Level Editor Menu
Press “C” to create a new level. This will bring up a prompt concerning what character you will play as, the level title, and the track that will play while the level is being played.
If you want to view the level’s files, such as floor files, press “O” on the highlighted level.
If you want to upload a level/campaign, press “P” on the highlighted level/campaign. You must complete the level/campaign to prove it is possible to beat, so don’t try and make impossible levels.
If you want to edit an existing level, press “E” on the highlighted level.
Press the spacebar to filter levels, either alphabetically, by rating, or the author.
If you want to open the Workshop, press “L”. Pressing “L” on a level/campaign you downloaded off of the Workshop will display the Workshop page for that level/campaign.
Press the Escape key to switch between individual levels and campaigns. Press the Arrow Keys to alternate between the two, and press Enter to select a level/campaign.
Press the “TAB” key to sort through local, downloaded and uploaded levels/campaigns.
Step 3: Tips
- To compile levels into a campaign, press the escape key once at the Level Editor menu, press the left arrow key, and press enter. Then, Press C and create a new campaign. Like the default Hotline Miami 2 campaign, you can customize the intro and outro, as well as the level start graphics, like a city scene or the jungle scenes from Beard’s levels.
- You cannot start a level unless you have both the player and their respective vehicle placed on the first floor. There are workarounds for this to allow you to play without a car on the first floor, but it requires Notepad++ and knowledge of certain ID numbers.
- To change the music track after you’ve started making a level, press Alt+Shift+L to bring up the level settings menu. On the track list, if you move your mouse towards the bottom of the list, it should scroll through the rest of the track options for you to choose from.
- You can have a maximum of 7 floors total, by default. I’m sure there are workarounds using Notepad++ to increase the limit further.
- Music mods cannot be included with Workshop uploads. You need to make a separate upload on a file-sharing website with any music mods the player needs and put the link in the description. Sprite mods, however, can be included. Find out how to include sprite mods here.
- Having long cutscenes on levels with enemies tend to have glitches/errors (The cutscene may crash the game, or may disappear entirely.) Maybe that’s just me, but it’s what I’ve noticed over time.
- You can rotate props by holding Ctrl+Mousewheel (scroll to adjust rotation.) To rotate props that were already placed, hold Ctrl+Shift and then use the mousewheel to adjust rotation.
- You can hold shift while placing props to ensure they don’t clip with walls. (Only works when the prop is near a wall.)
- You can cycle through the different variants of a prop by using the mousewheel while the prop is highlighted.
- Hold shift and right-click to rotate a prop by 90°.
- Press Ctrl+alt+D to apply a darkness effect. You can place multiple layers of darkness to make areas even darker, even pitch black, or you can use layers to make a gradient effect.
- Press Ctrl+alt+R to apply rain. Make sure that you place the red squares over areas that are meant to be indoors.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+I to add a daylight effect.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+S to add a sunset effect.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+B to set the background effect.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+L to set the level borders. (I prefer to use the invisible walls, as the level borders aren’t always that reliable.)
- Press Ctrl+P to start your level instead of going through the menu and starting it.
- Press Ctrl+Alt+C to open the cutscene menu. I made a guide on how cutscenes work, you can see it here if you want to.
- There are different walls for you to choose from using the editor. Each has it’s unique appearance and traits. Some walls can be shot through. Windows can be both shot through and enemies can see you through them. Try different wall setups to give players cover or to force them to engage enemies.
- To scroll the camera view around while editing a level, hold down the middle mouse button (scroll wheel) and move your cursor around.
- To set a VHS cover for your level, read up on it here.
- Save your levels often using Ctrl+S, just in case of crashing.
- It is possible to replace tracks from the game using custom music mods. You can figure out how to create one here, and how to install them here. (Thanks, HUD!)
- It is important to make sure your levels are possible to beat, as you cannot upload an impossible level. You can still make it difficult as hell to beat, though. Just make sure to playtest your level every now and then to make sure it can be beaten. Maybe share the level with a friend who owns the game and get feedback on your level design before making your levels public.
- There are many hidden sprites that are not available by default in the level editor. You can access objects using the IDs in this link[www.dropbox.com]. You can also find all the sprite IDs here[www.dropbox.com].
- Using Notepad++, you can do more with your levels, like opening up the factions and be able to fight all factions, adding special effects and hidden NPCs, adding characters and special vehicles and adding multiple vehicles to a floor. (Shoutout to Yossarian the Assyrian, they’re much better at modding than I ever will be. If you’ve got any questions on advanced modding/configuration, they’re the guy to ask.)