John Woo presents Stranglehold

In 1992 John Woo released upon movie going audiences the movie masterpiece Hard Boiled. An explosive bullet-fest of a movie that first introduced us to inspector Tequila Yueg played by actor Chow Yun-Fat; a no nonsense police officer whose unconventional methods (for unconventional look under “shoot everything in sight”) certainly get the job done. This movie possibly became the fore father for gun fights in action movies since.

Now you may ask if this is a game review why am I talking about a movie from over a decade ago? Quite simply, JWP Stranglehold is the spiritual Sequel to Hard Boiled only this time it’s the player who is in control of the action.

This time the story sees Tequila in the middle of a power play from 3 rival street gangs with his family ties being pulled on from every direction.

So its another third person shooter? Big deal. What helps set this apart is a few key aspects, one of which being “Tequila Time”. Tequila time is not unlike the bullet time of Max Payne, in fact its practically identical but what makes Tequila Time more enjoyable is the style points you can rack up. You earn style points by performing more stylish kills, for example sliding down a banister shooting signs off of walls to land on criminals before landing on a trolley to roll across the floor to cap off some more criminals earns you substantially more style points than simply shooting off wildly in every direction. Style points also help increase your “tequila bomb” meter and as you progress through the game more tequila bomb skills are unlocked from precision aim (tequila vision?) to a deadly 360 degree attack (tequilas all round?)

Along with the tequila bombs add to the mix some amazingly destructible environments, like a shanty town that by the time the level is finished looks as if Godzilla passed through, and some enjoyable “stand off” moments where you find yourself surrounded by thugs dodging bullets while simultaneously put some of yours through their vital organs.

Graphically its great. Each level having its own distinct feel with some brilliant little touches that help set the mood, like insects buzzing round street lights. There are a couple of forgiveable glitches but nothing that would ruin the game.

The gameplay is immense. You get a great sense of satisfaction pulling off some ridiculously insane moves or just diving about in tequila time firing wildly.

My one complaint about the game would be that at times it’s a bit too environment-interactive. Like when you find yourself sliding over the table instead of kicking it over to take cover behind it (yes you can kick over tables), but it’s a small complaint that you soon forget when you are swinging from a chandelier firing an assault rifle at a helicopter.

Short review? JWP Stranglehold is a brilliant bullet-ridden, explosion of a game. Go buy it.

John Woo presents Stranglehold is out now on X-box 360 and PC

[Charlie Parker]

[AMillionScreams]

God damn it I want an X-Box 360 badly... Halo 3, Bioshock and now this.

[Densu]

Didnt like the demo seemed to suffer from weird slow downs. Possibly worth a rent but i dont think i'd ever buy it.

[AMillionScreams]

Originally Posted by Densu

Didnt like the demo seemed to suffer from weird slow downs. Possibly worth a rent but i dont think i'd ever buy it.

I think you'll find that's called "Tequila Time"

[Densu]

Tequila Time my arse. The game isnt properly coded and it's frame rate is pish!

[Jaemi]

This game looked gash to me.

[Fallenblackrose]

Ive had the demo downloaded for quite some time, still not got round to playing it though...seems a bit...meh

[AMillionScreams]

I absolutely loved the Mad Max games, many thought they were rotten. One little USP on any game is often enough to please me. Psi-Ops, another underated belter in my books!

[Sgt Craig]

Meh, played the demo, was pretty bored by the end of it, it has ruined the fun of slo-mo-dual-pistol diving around for me... something i never thought would happen.

[AMillionScreams]

Originally Posted by AMillionScreams

I absolutely loved the Mad Max games, many thought they were rotten. One little USP on any game is often enough to please me. Psi-Ops, another underated belter in my books!

I mean Max Payne...obviously.

So you saying the "bullet time" effect on this is pish? I quite fancied sliding down bannisters.

On the XBox note, is this Rock Band game only coming out on that console as well?

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by AMillionScreams

On the XBox note, is this Rock Band game only coming out on that console as well?

Xbox 360 and PS3 initially. Due on the 23rd of November.
PS2 release a month or so later.

[Ghostsuit]

Originally Posted by AMillionScreams

I mean Max Payne...obviously.

So you saying the "bullet time" effect on this is pish? I quite fancied sliding down bannisters.

Just finished this on the PC and I enjoyed it, wasn't as good as Max Payne though it didn't have the annoying drug part that Max Payne had so that was a bonus.

Bullet time is fairly decent but perhaps a tad over used. If your a gun junkie you'll probably be disappointed as theres not that many and they don't behave much different though you do get to jump around with twin MP5K's.

Worth a bash if your not looking for anything other than follow the corridor and shoot people type game.

PS. if you want a PC copy you can have mine for a £10

[AMillionScreams]

Aye the fucked up dream sequences in Max Payne did my tits in. The greetin baby was pretty frwaky though...

Alas, I'm gonna need to wait until I can afford an Xbox for this. My PC can barely run Lemmings.

[Ghostsuit]

Originally Posted by AMillionScreams

Aye the fucked up dream sequences in Max Payne did my tits in. The greetin baby was pretty frwaky though...

Alas, I'm gonna need to wait until I can afford an Xbox for this. My PC can barely run Lemmings.

Probably be quite a few in the trade in sections soon as it's not overly long and I reckon replay value is minimal.