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Stranglehold

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

7.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 59 critic reviews
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Based on 41 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: September 5, 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]

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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...

Kombo

As long as you go into this game expecting an intense John Woo thrill, you will not be disappointed.

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Play Magazine

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

Planet Xbox 360

After finishing up the single-player campaign for the second time I came away very happy and found that I wish there was more to play. Finding yourself smiling more than once while finding a new way to kill an enemy or blow up that dinosaur skeleton is a normal occurrence for this game. The gameplay is simply superb and it looks really good while doing it.

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Games Master UK

High-engergy action with some brilliant moments and touches. Shame it's so short. [Nov 2007, p.62]

GamingExcellence

Stranglehold accomplishes what it sets out to do: be a cinematic, flashy action experience that mirrors one of Woo's films. It does this with excellent, accessible controls, playful, simple features that dodge gimmicks, fun environments that crumble during combat and polished presentation to make the package work.

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Digital Entertainment News

The game is short, but it almost seems like a good thing, as too much more of it would have been too much. Again, the game is great fun (even given some frustrating camera issues that make it difficult to pinpoint an enemy causing Tequila damage), but it’s best in small doses.

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Worth Playing

The action-centric gameplay is as intense, over the top and engaging as any Woo work should be, and combined with the visuals of the Unreal 3 engine, the title is essentially what a next-gen Max Payne needed to be.

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Play.tm

Put aside such quibbles however and you're left with a fantastic action game that brings you as close to being the lead in a fully formed John Woo film as you're ever going to get, for his fans that alone will be enough, for the rest of you still left undecided go and watch 'Hard Boiled' with an Xbox controller in your hand and imagine how great it would be if it was interactive.

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AtomicGamer

While Stranglehold doesn't revolutionize action games, or even any one part of action games, it's a solid game with an authentic cinematic style, great use of Chow Yun-Fat, excellent action, and destructible environments.

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GamerNode

The ultimate guy and gun-enthusiast game. If you like shooting things, blowing things up, revenge, or cool action scenes, this is the perfect game for you.

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Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Despite the game's undoubted scope for replayability, it is decidedly low on play time. But in the cold light of day, we're not too bothered with all that - because Stranglehold offers something so raw and so hyper-energetic that the next game you play after it will feel positively tired and lethargic in comparison. Woo hoo.

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Pelit (Finland)

Plays like a John Woo movie. Although ”tequila time” is nothing new, it is still a great effect. Gameplay is solid and everything runs smoothly. Action tends to get a bit repetitive towards the end, however. [Oct 2007]

Cheat Code Central

Stranglehold will capture the hearts of anyone looking for an action game, period. It might even capture the hearts of anyone looking for a game. While there are problems with the game, you will quickly forget what those are as you continuously mow down your enemies with various execution techniques.

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ActionTrip

In a nutshell, it's safe to say that with Stranglehold, you will be getting exactly what you paid for: over-the-top arcade action with a Hong Kong twist and trademark Woo choreography.

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GameShark

The action-centric gameplay is as intense, over the top, and engaging as any John Woo work should be, and combined with the visuals of the Unreal 3 engine the game is essentially a next-gen Max Payne.

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XboxAddict

Overall, Stranglehold is a fun shooter to play, and an exciting indicator of the things to come if the borders between Hollywood and gaming continue to blur.

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IGN

This is the true sequel to "Hard Boiled," which means Stranglehold is more about style than substance. So, not surprisingly, the story is melodramatic and forgettable and the adrenaline-pumping action is the star of the show.

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GamePro

Stranglehold might stumble occasionally under its own ambitious weight, and might not quite deliver on all its promises and potential, but it's still a unique and absorbing 8-hour tour through a legendary action director's potent unfilmable dreams.

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GameDaily

The gunplay works great and the presentation definitely carries Woo's signature style. It's the quintessential action game experience, even with its weak multiplayer option.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

Short and sweet, a throwback to the old days when you can pick up a game, play it and engage in some brainless, mindless fun. As a videogame, it has its flaws but as an example of big, dumb fun, you won't find any game that does it better. [Oct 2007, p.74]

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GameSpy

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

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VideoGamer

The biggest complement that I can pay to Stranglehold is that when I'd finished it, I wanted to jump straight back in and play through again.

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ZTGameDomain

In a seemingly overcrowded genre it is nice to finally play something that feels great and delivers simple satisfaction from the outset.

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GameZone

Sure, the action can get repetitive in places and many of the moves seen here have been done before many times, but the cinematic feel is pure Woo and that’s definitely worth a look.

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Eurogamer

Simply put, it's exceptionally good at what it sets out to achieve, which is to distil the best bits of John Woo's cinematic vision and turn it into a crazed video game approximation that anyone can play - in that sense, you can't really fault it.

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GameTap

Everything that made Woo’s films remotely interesting make absolute sense in a videogame universe. If you’re still clinging to the notion that the silliness of Woo films couldn’t possibly be appreciated, not even in videogame form, loosen up. It’s not that bad. Actually, it’s pretty good.

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Armchair Empire

But as far as action games go, Stranglehold is about as flashy as they come, with enough slick gunplay to keep fans of the genre glued to their seats and having fun, even if they skip multiplayer altogether.

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PALGN

Stranglehold successfully merges the third person action game with John Woo's cinematic flair, with great, if short-lived results.

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GotNext

Stranglehold is a solid single player experience that deserves at least a second run in one of the higher difficulties, even if it does repeat itself a little too frequently.

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Thunderbolt

Even though it isn't a direct adaptation of a film, Stranglehold is probably the best example of a movie-based game to date.

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AceGamez

John Woo Presents Stranglehold may not exactly be what players were expecting, but it comes packed with a truly next generation look and presentation that makes it difficult to not enjoy, even if it is only for brief periods.

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VGPub

While I had a lot of fun with Stranglehold, this is one of those games you can easily get your money’s worth in a rental.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

What this game is about is mayhem, destruction and style, all of which it has in bag loads. It doesn’t have the most original gameplay, nor is it the most sophisticated game of this type, but it is essentially an officially licensed John Woo game, doing what a lot of wannabe John Woo games have been doing for a few years now.

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Gamer 2.0

Overall, Stranglehold offers bang for your buck akin to purchasing one large firework instead of a handful of smaller ones. Except that the large firework turns out to be only slightly larger than a mediocre one.

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GameTrailers

Stranglehold is trying to hijack a two-hour action movie and stretch it out into a seven-hour game. The concepts are great, the controls work, and there are plenty of cool things to do, over and over again as a bad ass cop. But keeping that sort of intensity is a challenge all its own, and throwing endless waves of enemies at the player isn’t the way to do it.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

But Stranglehold is choked by some mediocre level design, unreliable controls, and a point of view so tight on the creepy virtual Chow Yun-Fat that it feels almost claustrophobic. [Nov 2007, p.104]

TeamXbox

Like a blockbuster action movie, there are definitely moments when Stranglehold drags (the second level was tedious), but there’s no doubt that your heart will be pumping by the time you make your way through the later levels.

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Talk Xbox

If you're short on cash and waiting for the big blockbuster games this Holiday Season, you may want to skip over this game. Stranglehold probably best serves as a rental unless you're really into action games.

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GamingTrend

Stranglehold is a fun time for action gamers but the major problem is it's over way too quickly and there aren't many compelling reasons to come back to it. I liked it but I wish there were more to it.

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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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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Barely worthy of Woo, but well worth players' time.

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netjak

Going over this title as a whole, Stranglehold surely delivers in what it promises to bring; non-stop popcorn action. While some may see its length as inexcusable, I must give it credit for being a fun romp for the short time you’ll play it. I strongly suggest going the route I did by renting it and returning it when you beat it a few days later.

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MS Xbox World

It’s hard not to like Stranglehold, as anyone who has played and liked the Max Payne games will certainly thoroughly enjoy the action experience extravaganza that is Stranglehold.

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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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The New York Times

With its hackneyed story, stylish action and Hong Kong setting, Stranglehold is most reminiscent of the 2003 martial arts game "Rise to Honor," which is exactly the kind of game this new entry turns out to be: pleasant and forgettable.

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Game Informer

Stranglehold is not a disaster. If you desire nothing more than to kill criminals on a massive scale, turn nightclubs into a war zone, and look cool doing it – this is your game.

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Game Almighty

The game does get a little repetitive, though the increase in difficulty in later levels will keep you on your toes. Multiplayer is pretty much a joke that was better left untold. It's hollow, void of much point and has all the signs of something that was added at the last minute so the box could say “Multiplayer”.

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GameSpot

It's a short ride, but an amusing one while it lasts.

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Yahoo! Games

It's not the most sophisticated of offerings. There's not much here other than the destruction -- the levels are repetitive, and most encounters play out similarly. Little differentiates the game's weapons, and the plot is threadbare.

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Edge Magazine

The chemistry of control, animation, AI and environmental damage systems is absolutely spot on, both in finding Hard Boiled’s groove and providing coherent, rhythmic and unpredictable action. [Nov 2007, p.91]

Gamestyle

If you like destruction, shooting people and a game with a brain the size of a pea then there is no doubt that Stranglehold is the game for you. It’s not smart or clever, but despite the flaws it still managed to entertain us right to it’s conclusion.

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DarkStation

In the end, Stranglehold is a good solid action game that struggles from being too repetitive and lacking a lot of what you need to have a long lasting action experience.

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X360 Magazine UK

Apart from its brevity, it's damn good fun. [Issue#25, p.98]

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]

Deeko

In my opinion, this game is best as a rental. This may be the most stressful game I have ever had the chance to play.

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Official Xbox Magazine

So yeah, Stranglehold does a great job of aspiring to the qualities of Woo's movies, but unfortunately, it just doesn't aspire to be a truly great game. [Nov 2007, p.86]

games(TM)

Mindless fun and little else. [Nov 2007, p.106]

Game Revolution

Unfortunately, the gameplay breaks down fairly often, with enemies acting like idiots, getting stuck on objects, or becoming bulletproof from particular angles.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 41 User Votes

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

Mark W. gave it a3:
Tacky and boring. Couldn't bring myself to play more than a few levels.

Nick M. gave it an8:
I thought this was worth my purchase. the graphics are great, i dont mind the dumb AI, i think i prefer it in a game like this, and the mechanics are amazing. The bullet time...i mean tequila time is awsome, almost as much a presition aiming. very fun, 2 points of for the fact that it is a little more challenging than it should be.

Don R. gave it a9:
I thought this was a great game. A lot of fun, challenging and good graphics and story.

Gary W. gave it a7:
I was expecting this game to be tat, but its actually rather good. Very good graphics and gunplay ( although there will be time you're running around like a headless chicken surrounding by nasty types barraging you with bullets) I have the game on hard and it is certainly a challenge, forcing you to find cover and use the environments to your advantage. One major problem is that the interact and jump button are both the same, so if you wanted to jump over a handrail instead of climb it you cant, all too often i find myself suddenly 'stuck' to a rail getting slowly murdered. Considering the 'Y' button is completely unused it seems strange they didnt have seperate buttons. Some walls you can dive off, yet a wall right next to it you wont be able to , so the game doesnt lets you do ANYTHING with the jump button if your near said wall. Youll be getting slaughtered so youll want to dive but you cant because your near a non interactive wall that the game thinks you wan t to run up (its healess chikcen time agian !). same goes for getting cover behind walls, it seems random and unresponsive. The AI is also pretty much awful. These swines can spot you from a hundred feet away through a tiny gap and will slaughter you, yet if you find a good vantage point you can leisurely shoot them in the head while they just stand there acting gormless. The boss fights show this up the most, with the first big boss simply standing there while you attack him with a ridiculous amount of bullets. Lets put it this way, shooting directly at the first boss with a machine gun, on hard difficulty, 250 bullets takes off approx 1 tenth of his life, its ridiculous and unrealistic. I never thought Id beat him until he began to throw bombs at a wall which were bouncing back and killing him. I sat there for ten minutes while he killed himself ! Despite all the tatty things about it, at the end of the day its balls-out , all-action mass destruction tackle, the AI is awful but its doesnt matter (until you get to a boss) because its a bit of mindless action. If you go in to the game expecting to do lots of slow motion jumping and shotting morons in the face, you wont go far wrong.

Shawn O. gave it a7:
Its a fun game that gets a little repetative. I'll never get critics, I actualy had more fun beating this than beating the single player mode of Halo 3. Its short, but still longer than Halo3.

Michael B. gave it a7:
It is essentially Max Payne with updated graphics. The action is less like a traditional shooter and more like an arcade game. I recommend it for anyone who enjoys run-and-gun gameplay, but I would hold off on dishing out the $60. Make this one a renter or wait until that price gets cut in half.

Alan A. gave it a9:
I love Stranglehold yeah it might be repetative as hell but play it on hard-boiled difficulty and it will be a challenge I do wish it was longer but what the hell. It's a fun kick ass game and I say buy it or rent it if you like High Octane Non stop action games!

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