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One of the more entertaining games out there

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: September 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is great fun to play, simply because of the incredibly cool things you can pull off, and the amount of destruction you deal out. The character leaps around, bounces off walls, swings from chandeliers, slides down handrails, and all that while shooting two guns at the same time.

The overall look of the game is great. If def. has a cinematic feel to it. (Note: The game also has a pretty high level of gore and violence, so it def. isn't for everyone...)

It isn't all that realistic. More like "wire-fu but with guns". But heck this is fun. It really makes you feel good about yourself and the awesome moved "you" just pulled off.

The one negative about the game is the save system. It is the console-typical (although ot necessary) check-point system. Unfortunately, in the later parts of the game (especially the final sequence), you can go a long way (seems like close to half an hour) without hitting check-points. Especially after defeating a boss I would always expect a check-point...

I bought this game at about the same time as I got Gears of War and Bioshock. Both these games I had high expectations in and I ended up liking them pretty good. But as it turns out, I like this shooter better. It may even be ma favorite xbox 360 game to date...

Fast,frenetic,acrobatic gunplay on steroids...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

....can best describe Stranglehold. A third person shooter that looks and plays like a blockbuster asian themed action film. While the cutscenes at first are somewhat jaggy, they get better towards the 2nd 3rd levels. But really who cares about cutscenes, for me its about gameplay and Stranglehold is hitting the action dept. on all cylinders.Only tequila mode slows down the pace and you'll need to use it to stay alive. Luckily it automaticly refills so you'll be in constant use of it. The bullet trails are quite well done ,as you can dodge bullets (slow mo tequila time) in 'stand off' mode , its like wild west duel ONLY with 5-10 against you..simply awesome. And sniper tequila mode d-pad up aim fire and you follow the bullet like a bullet cam and wil get a unique cinematic kill or not if you missed ,which is unique every time, not the same cutscene over and over, Very cool. The graphics are quite nice and cinematicly done, not the best textures but still very very nicely drawn and detailed,lots of asian themed art, very visually stunning in some areas ,in short, a very pretty game. And you can destroy just about anything you shoot like stone carvings of chinese dragons 6+ feet high etc. Sometimes the action is so intense I have to take a break . While the constant shooting can get repetetive ..the tequila time and the acrobatic movement make up for the simple game mechanics, which is shoot everything and shoot it again. You'll slide across a counter while shooting,jump onto a push cart on your belly while shooting, hop up to a railing banister,slide down banister shooting, hop through a window shooting, kick over a table for cover while shooting,all in one continuous smooth motion. WOW simply stunning shooter gameplay. The controls are smooth and easy to master. The use of the LT is what causes you to do all those acrobatics..and tequila time (auto-enters) while aimimg at an enemy. Also you can manually turn it on with RB . Alternately in options menu you can turn off (auto-enter) tequila time while aiming at enemy, if you want complete manual control of tequila time. If your a fan of shooters ..or fan of Maxx Payne and Matrix games ... Stranglehold its simply awesome and much better IMO. Something to hold you over until HALO3 is out or if you need a change of pace from (equally awesome) Bioshock... Stranglehold's only (7) levels being the one negative thing, the levels are pretty big mostly linear , still Stranglehold is just so intense, what it lacks, it makes up for in fantastic shooter gameplay which it has in spades. Dont miss Stranglehold.

Be ready to bring it!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: September 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Intense is the best word to describe Stranglehold,yes it is like Max Payne I'm sure you've heard but its so much more to.Its row after row of bad guys and many different ways to put them down.They did a good job of using John Woo's action style into the game.The game is short about 7 hours but it sure is one crazy ride,enjoy.

A cinematic gaming experience not to be missed

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Not since Max Payne and Dead to Rights have I had this much fun with a 3rd person shooter. It's almost like living an action movie. It has Matrix style gun battles and plenty of downright absurd stunts as well as plenty of explosions and bullets flying. If your looking for some mindless violent fun, than pick this up right away.

Stranglehold

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is amazing - one of the few games where my wife actually sat down next to me and wanted a go at it. I had to pull myself away from it to go to work today, and 1 hour later my wife calls me to tell me she's playing it... aaarrghhhh!

Chow WOULD Be Proud ...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I discovered the films THE KILLER and HARD BOILED back in '93 and always admired the hypnotic gunplay and the charisma of Chow Yun Fat as he dispatched hordes of neverending thugs.
This title is the game equivelent of those movies and then some ! It's like a dream come true !
Can't wait for a sequel !

It's just a classic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I've never been a big Woo fan, and I've never seen Hard Boiled (though playing this game makes me want to). In any case, I've rented an onslaught of 360 games, all of which failed miserably at entertaining me. Am I just too picky of a player, or do these games just really stink? To name a few..Two Worlds (way too choppy), Star Trek Legacy (just too boring and confusing), The Outfit (boring and yes, choppy too), Blazing Angels, The History Channel Civil War...all of them complete wastes of time (imo). I rented Stranglehold thinking what the hell, I've rented so many garbage games, what's one more right? Well I admit, at first I wasn't THAT into it. Then you start to learn the controls a little bit, and start to actually gain skills..and it would even seem as though the environment is more destructable the further you go. Anyway, It's just great how you can dive, stay down after you dive, and waste like 10 guys laying on your back with two pistols out! I love it. And it took me awhile to figure it out, cause I thought it was one thing they left out and SHOULD have put in, but turns out it was already in there anyway; you can lean up against something and poke your head and gun out and blast. I mean you literally have complete control over your character. Anyway, I've rambled on much too far.. It's just a great game and if you give it a chance you'll be amazed (so long as you can get past the fact that your one character can kill a million baddies, a little unrealistic wouldn't you say?)

One of the Best Third Person Shooters on the 360

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Wonderful game! Strangehold without a doubt packs more shooting into one game than any game I've played to date. If you thought Minority Report had a lot of enemies, this game is bound to shock you. It's hilarious to see the end of level stats read (300+ Enemies Down.) Beyond this, the action all has to take place while you're accomplishing other goals (like setting bombs, protecting innocents, infiltrating mansions, casinos, etc.) The graphics in this game are also gorgeous, pushing the Xbox 360 to perform beautifuly. On top of all this, Chow Yun Fat's likeness is a huge plus, along with a great story line and wonderful cinematics and sound.
In the end, if you have a next gen console and love shooting and action games, this is a must have.

It's action movie in a box, baby!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: September 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Wow...what is there to say about Stranglehold?

If Bioshock was your lovemaking session, then Stranglehold would be the cigarette that you need afterwards to recovering while waiting to go another round (Halo 3).

Many comparisons have been made between this and Max Payne regarding the style in which this game is played but also I think a dash of Devil May Cry was added to this recipe.

This game also reminds me of Tomb Raider without all the puzzles.

But most of all the game is balls to the wall action.

Stranglehold is pretty much a straightforward action movie which you control, where you must simply mow down hordes of enemies but in the most stylish way possible; if it moves, kill it.

By doing so, you advance the story. And it so far is a decently told story, not a great blockbuster but if you have watched enough Hong Kong cops and robbers movie, this is what you are getting. The story is simple: Drug kingpins are killing cops....kill all the kingpings until you find head kingpin....does it need to be more complex than that? NO!

You will be too busy destroying everything in sight and I do mean everything. While you are making your merry romp thru the streets of Hong Kong, not only will you find that you can shoot up the set around you but also there are certain peices that you can shoot out to cause more destruction....properly placed baddies can be killed by exploding barrels, dropped air conditioning units, rocks and much more.

And of course as you proceed, you get power ups as you go to slow down time (Tequila Time), hit enemies in certain spots (Precision Aiming) and all out mass killing (Barrage)not to mention the signature Woo Mexican Standoff (which really is a mini game in and of itself).

there are also many weapons including the Golden Pistols which you ca get early on if you know where to look.

Does it get repitive after awhile? Sure...but it doesn't stop the fun. In fact there is one level that you play that lifts the idea from G.R.A.W. where you face attackers from a helicopter.

How well does it control? It handles itself pretty well once you get it down pat. There are no changes to controls once you are dual wielding guns and if you ask me, sticking yourself behind coverage in some aspects handles a lot better than Gears of War. One button push, look and fire and run when done.

Graphically speaking, the game looks pretty good. Tequila looks pretty well refined but the baddies look just like in the movies...a whole bunch of forgettable faces trying to kill you. The scenery also looks great but you won't have time to enjoy it as you are too busy shooting it all up and after you cleared it you get to see what's around you. There is a lot of attention paid to some of the details. You start wondering if these guys are gonna catch lung cancer from all the well rendered cigarettes smoked, the alleys look like some of the most unsafe places this side of New York.

Soundwise, this game is gorgeous. The ambient sound from the city scenes will make you feel that this is a crapmed city. Babies crying, TVs being watched...yeah...you are there....when the guns go off they sound like they are all around you and when things blow?

Well let's just say, turn down your subwoofer if you feel your neighbors paying a late visit if you wake them up. This is one of the most ambient sound sets I have heard since Call of Duty 2 interms of gunplay.

To a point, I think maybe a brief tutorial could have been added to give players a chance to learn and practice some of the moves but on the other hand it's really hard to pull out some fo the moves used when it's hard to exactly get an idea where your enemies are going to appear.

Also, some may complain that the game may be too 'railish' as you can't go everywhere in some sections but think of how much of a good thing that may be...while you are concentrating on trying to pull off a hard combo, you have to worry about sliding off a pier into the water. On the other hand, you can jump off a lot of objects and don't have to worry too muich about dying...whether it takes away from the realism....it's up to you...but then one man going up against 10+ enemies all shooting at him and not dying is a tiny bit absurd too hmm?

To sum it up, if you want some mindless gunplay to tide you over til Halo 3, this is the game to play. This is the closest you can get to being in a Hong Kong flick without having to sign on stunt man. Try it as a rental first but if you really like it, buy it.

Now if we can just get a decent Die Hard game......

8 out of 10

A hell of a ride!!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 06, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game has no real story depth, or gameplay depth, but it is a jam packed action shooter. It really feels like you are in a Hong Kong shooter with guns blazing everywhere. Want proof?? If you run out of ammo in a shoot-out then just walk around a bit and you are sure to pick up ammo from all the fallen enimies. You really see John Woo's presence in the game with the gun battles. Almost everything can be shot up and destroyed wich just causes mass debris to go flying. It was great to see Chow Yun Fat reprise his role as Inspector Tequila.
This game truly personifies a rollercoaster of a game. Nothing intellectually great, but A LOT OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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