I confess that I'm a lousy player, but I don't remember the first game being this difficult. I spent forever getting out of the first two missions and they only have like 2 floors each to clear. For some reason I find the busy graphics to be kind of distracting. I'm finding it difficult to stay focused on enemy attacks. Maybe I'm rusty and just need to get more practice in. Any Hotline fans? Oh, and the music is really bitchin' and kick-ass! Turn up the volume on this one guys!
-asreal
Honestly, I found the first one got a bit too hard too fast. So I will definitely stay away from 2, because you are the second person to complain about this.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a challenging game. I was just comparing challenge to the first game.
I've heard the music is good in these but otherwise I don't think they're my cup of tea.
It is. Just go on youtube and look for the Hotline 2 soundtrack. I listen to it quite often. It is totally rad! 
Im on Act 6 Scene 23rd. It is harder than the last. There are numerous more enemies everywhere that makes it easier to make mistakes. Its awesome though. Love the game and yeah, great music like the last one. They have some huge talent in that department.
Thats what I noticed too--more enemies. I think I've cleared a level when suddenly someone jumps out at me with a shotgun blast to the face, and oh dammit--try again! 
I haven't gotten the 2nd one yet but I remember the first one being a challenge. I'm glad they made 2 a challenge, I would be disappointed if it was easy.
I feel like going back and playing through the first one again, or at least jump back and forth to compare maybe.
I don't mind Hotline Miami's difficulty because it minimises frustration. The second you die you restart, and the levels are generally small enough that you're not losing too much progress.
But do you think it's more difficult than the last game? That's what my post was about. I remember the last being challenging, but not like this one. It reminds me of sequels that used to be made tougher than their predecessor, like in the old days. Anyway, that's my take. The game is great, but I was just saying.
I think it expects more of you to begin with. The beginning is about on par with the halfway point of the first game, plus there are more wide open areas that can get you killed more. It's more consistently difficult, but I feel like the difficulty of some of the first games areas outweigh this one.
Haven't gotten the second one since i'm hoping to finish the first one. That said, I love the first game. It's stylish, intense, the best kind of challenging, cathartic and man is that soundtrack amazing.
Since we both like the first one, I recommend not to check Julian's review of it. Let's say he wasn't so kind with it.
and I'm not saying the game is bad. Hard can be fun and what I notice is that I really have to think about how I clear each level and not just running around like an idiot, although sometimes running like an idiot helped. Those missions where you can only punch things though, oh my! 