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Midway Games Ltd
Posted: December 14th, 2007.
Companies are always going on about the synergy between movies and video games, but all this really ever seemsto mean is lots of dreadful movie tie-ins where all the money has been spent on celebrity voiceovers. Strangleholdis different though, in that its essentially a sequel to 1992s classic movie Hard Boiled, made purely for videogames. This time Inspector “Tequila” Yuen is unleashing his unorthodox policing methods on Russian crime bosses inboth Hong Kong and Chicago.
It stars the likeness of original lead Chow Yun Fat and has been developed with hands-on help from director JohnWoo who it turns out does seem to know a thing or two about video games.
Of course video games have been ripping off John Woo for years, particularly his trademark slow motion shots oftwo-handed pistol action. As a result this initially seems dangerously similar to Max Payne et al., but thegraphical power of the next generation consoles and PC ensures that this is a far more dynamic and interactiveaffair.
Not only can you make use of a bullet time effect (call “Tequila time” here) to slow down time aroundyou but almost all of the scenery can be used too, from sliding down banisters guns firing to scooting acrossthe room on top of a waiters trolley. The damage done as you go is truly impressive, with tiles shattering offthe walls, chandeliers impaling bad guys as they fall and electric wires and water mains unhinging themselveseverywhere. Making a mess has never been so much fun.
Features:
- Dual-wielding, stung-laden gunplay combined with massive destructible environments ensures that Stranglehold is a true tour-de-force. The environmental interactivity and two-fisted gunplay all come online, bringing the experience to a whole new level
- Experience flowing gameplay, such as running up railings, swinging on chandeliers, and leaping onto moving objects, all without interrupting intense gun battles
- Featuring the cinematic flare of action director John Woo, Stranglehold also benefits from Woos direction on storyline, camera placement, and cut-scenes. Starring international action-star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Yuen, the games cast is comprised of other A-list Hollywood talent
- Using the Massive D physics engine, bring the world down on your enemies, carve your own realistic path of destruction through environments, and maneuver through unique piles of debris which persist in the environment
- Engage the enemy in Tequila Time by targeting and firing in real-time while the world dramatically slows down, and enjoy the exhilaration of running up railings, swinging from chandeliers, and leaping onto moving objects all without complex controls
- Using a highly modified version of the Unreal 3.0 engine integrated with the Havok physics system, Stranglehold breathes new life into game environments and characters with stunning graphics. Incredible physics make it possible for everything in the world to be destructible and interactive, allowing for an ever-changing battleground depending on how players approach different situations
The game retails on the following formats at: Xbox 360 £49.99, PS3 £49.99 and PC £34.99,and a full review will follow early in the new year.
Click on the formats above to purchase the title.
News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2007.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.