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Stranglehold

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7.1 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
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Based on 12 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Midway

Developer: Midway Chicago

Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 29, 2007

Summary

Acclaimed action director John Woo presents Stranglehold, a stunning 3rd-person action adventure videogame and "spiritual sequel" to Woo's action masterpiece "Hard Boiled." Stranglehold redefines the action gaming experience with its acrobatic gunplay, thrilling cinematography, frenetic combat and incredible Massive Destructibility (Massive D). Chow Yun-Fat reprises his signature role as Inspector Tequila, pitting gamers as a take no-prisoners cop waging a personal war with Hong Kong crime lords. Tequila's loyalties to the force are tested when his ex-wife is kidnapped by the Russian mob in Chicago. Tequila struggles to balance his duty to uphold the law with doing what it takes to save his family. [Midway]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Play Magazine

Stranglehold is fun. It's fun in a "God hand" way. [Oct 2007, p.81]

Cheat Code Central

It delivers on its tagline of being a true John Woo experience and then some. While the game may have suffered several delays, I can honestly say that all of the push-backs have been well worth the wait, and it easily strangles all competitors.

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GameZone

Like a true action-packed cinematic spectacle, Stranglehold delivers a number of spectacular moments that will not fail to dazzle hardcore fans of the genre.

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IGN

There are a lot of mindless shooters on the market, but none of them immerse you in John Woo's world. And that's where Stranglehold stands out. This is the true sequel to Hard Boiled, which means Stranglehold is more about style than substance.

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GameDaily

It's a quintessential PS3 action game, even with its weak multiplayer option.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

Stranglehold has a cool-as-anything hero, a strong story, a great pick-up-and-play vibe and - later on - a genuinely taxing tactical side. It is, in short,one of the most exciting games of any genre on PS3. [Oct 2007, p.84]

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

An exhilarating shooter brushed with John Woo's genius, Stranglehold plays like Max Payne in a bag of snakes. [Oct 2007, p.8]

GameSpy

The game is short, explosive and downright slick and it's everything we hoped it was going to be.

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AceGamez

The promises of fully destructible environments and John Woo signature shootouts just seemed too good to be true. But Midway stepped up to the plate and proved all the skepticism dead wrong, producing one of the most viscerally appealing videogames to be released in years.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

The gunplay is astonishingly entertaining, but Stranglehold sorely lacks any variety. [Nov 2007, p.70]

PSX Extreme

It presents a nice visual package, but an even better adrenaline-rushing gameplay experience that really has you engrossed all throughout the game. The controls take some time to get used to, and the graphics aren't super hot, but they do the job well enough.

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Game Over Online

Taken as a whole, Stranglehold is a well-made, but short and shallow gaming experience that ends up being best suited for a rental and not worth its asking price for anyone expecting a game with a lot of depth to it.

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Gaming Age

Brainless shooters are one thing, but with an interesting storyline and the world of John Woo controllable in the palm of your hands, action fans should flock around this one as it offers much “bang” for the buck.

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1UP

While the story and writing are reasonably solid, they're not nearly riveting enough to outweigh the too-simple, occasionally glitchy nature of the fundamental game.

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Worth Playing

Stranglehold is the poster child for the creation of a new category of very short, lower-priced games that hold together over their abbreviated length.

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PTGamers

Stranglehold is a good action game that could have been much better. The story should be more compelling, way beyond a basic excuse to shoot everything that moves.

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Gamers' Temple

If you’re interested in checking out a game that plays differently from most of the action shooters out there, then Stranglehold is worth a look. However, don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting a bit tired of the whole thing before you reach the end despite the game’s short length.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

There are those who would call a game such as this "shallow", and with good reason: most games like this are. However, most games that subscribe to this concept don't allow you the freedom of movement or tactics that Stranglehold does. [Nov 2007, p.56]

GameSpot

For as long as it lasts, Stranglehold delivers a satisfying, if somewhat derivative action game experience.

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DarkStation

Just like I said in my review of the Xbox 360 version of Stranglehold, I truly believe this is a game that is worth checking out, it doesn't take itself to seriously and makes for a good experience.

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Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

Still, the single-player is entertaining enough, with a lot off the fun of John Woo's original movie. [Jan 2008, p.83]

Play UK

Balletic it ain't. There are plenty of shoot-outs, though, but these see you jumping about like a loon while you wish they would just end. If anything should ever have 'Rental' stamped on it, then this is it. [Issue#159, p.72]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.1 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mas J. gave it an8:
So fun, definitely worth the rental. Its the closest game I played to the feel of an action movie. Nice locations to play in and gameplay is good.

M. K. gave it a7:
It could've been better. Overall inferior to max payne... Shoot first, think later gameplay... The opening chapter really captures the John Woo experience. Sadly, dialogue in this game is laughable like all John Woo english dub films. Watching the collector's edition Hard Boiled and playing the game makes you want more than what the game offers. With games like Max Payne around, this game offers nothing. Just John Woo settings and Chow Fat. It does have "awesome" moments, like the first time you are in a stand off or shooting a bad guy in the crouch with pin-point accuracy.

Randy S. gave it a0:
Bottom line the story is hot but, the game play is wack...you should just get a John Woo movie and watch that....Face off any oneb

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
The story revels in how ridiculous John Woo cinema is. Within the first two minutes your role as the renegade cop on the EDGE is established. How does the gameplay hold up? The game's emphasis on using the environment makes it feel rather imersive. Using the environment to kill enemies instead of just shooting them gets bonus points and requires you to think differently than the usual FPS. Killing guys in a stylish manner rewards far more than efficiency. In fact crazy stylish bullshit becomes the most efficient. This is such a breath of fresh air for the FPS scene.

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What The Critics Said

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