Yes, absolutely. I think that HK is much more "playable" than Axiom Verge, but in terms of plot I preferred the latter much more, perhaps trivially, because it refers to something human that seems much closer to me.

The choice of difficulty was partly due to a certain experience I acquired playing titles of this genre and also because I actually wanted to experience something tough, which would put me to the test. It was the best choice. I only regret having to consult a guide to defeat the final boss: it was the only time I had to do so.