Stranglehold - ZTGameDomain.com Preview

Stranglehold - Preview

System: Xbox 360

Publisher: Midway

Developer: Tiger Hill

Release Date: 09/05/2007

Players: 1-6

Words By: ZeroTolerance

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In the realm of action cinema there is one name that easily puts a smile on the faces of fans everywhere. That name is of course John Woo and his fixation with doves and slow motion bullet diving. If you have been privileged enough to see any of his films (Hard Boiled and The Killer are among the finest) then you know the style, and with Midway’s latest action game you can really feel all the influence from this acclaimed director when you assume the role of Inspector Tequila played by Chow Yun-Fat. Today we finally got to sit down with the first level of the game via the demo currently available on Xbox Live Marketplace and from our initial encounter it appears gamers are in for one hell of a good time.

If you are not familiar with developer Tiger Hill’s previous effort Psi-Ops then you should definitely give yourself a history lesson and check out this hidden treasure. With Stranglehold Tiger Hill has crafted another top-notch action game that captures the spirit of the source material perfectly, and also manages to be incredibly fun to play. The demo gives you access to the first level of the final game and a couple play-throughs will also net you access to the harder difficulties and some of Tequila’s other powers that you will acquire later in the game.

For this initial sampling the developers have given you access to the interactive environments and surprisingly addictive gunplay that are really the heart and soul of the game. Controlling Tequila is simple and performing the special moves is as easy as pulling the left trigger next to environmental objects or simply to perform a slow-mo dive as you take out multiple enemies before even hitting the ground. It is really the small details that make the game stand out, such as being able to leap from a set of stairs onto a rolling cart all while taking out multiple enemies in one smooth action.

In addition to the standard action the demo will also give you a small taste of the standoff action that has Inspector Tequila facing off against multiple enemies in a stationary position where you dodge bullets and take them down at the same time. It definitely breaks up the action while still retaining the same visceral feel of the core game. Both sections play almost flawlessly and if the final version can clean up a few issues could easily redefine the genre.

In your first run through of the game you will gain access to two of Tequila’s special powers. The first is called Heal and is pretty self-explanatory and can save your life in situations where health packs are scarce. The second is called Trueshot which gives you a long-range shot that you can target anywhere on the enemy for varied results. For instance aim for the jugular and watch your foe choke and gasp for a final word, aim for the cranium and watch them drop like a rock, or go the subtle route and aim for the hand for a quick disarming. The results are always visceral and of course satisfying.

As a bonus the developers have given players who complete the demo a bonus in the form of unlocking Hard mode as well as a third power called Barrage. This mode basically gives you rapid fire on any weapon. Beat it a second time and you will unlock the fourth and final power appropriately titled “When Doves Cry” which is basically a smart bomb for your immediate vicinity. Activate this power and every shot landed is a fatal blow all while Tequila spins in slow motion with doves circling him; classic Woo action at it’s finest. This also unlocks Hard Boiled difficulty which is truly a test for even the most skilled action gamers. Needless to say this is one of the most well-rounded and feature-filled demos in recent memory.

There are a few nagging issues with the demo that will hopefully be fixed before release. The first is targeting; while the game is certainly based around firing endless rounds of ammunition it can be frustrating to actually get your reticule over enemies sometimes. The environment also plays a role in this as there is so much going on around you with boxes busting and watermelons exploding it can get hectic. This leads to the second issue which is the speed of the camera. With action this fast you would hope for quicker turn speed. I am positive that this will be adjustable in the final release, but even if it isn’t none of these issues are enough to discourage anyone from picking up this extremely entertaining action title.

The last thing I want to touch on are the visuals. Anyone who has seen video footage of this game will tell you it is truly a gorgeous game. Facial details are amazing and the animations are incredible. Environmental details are also some of the best I have ever seen with boxes splintering and fruits being demolished. The lighting is gorgeous and the explosions are incredible, especially in slow motion. There are some hiccups in the frame rate from time to time, but nothing even worth complaining about.

The demo ends right at the end of the first level and every time I play through all I want to do is keep playing. The action is intense and the gunplay sweeter than Kung-Pow Chicken. Midway has an amazing game on their hands and with the developer’s track record the release couldn’t come any sooner. If you are a fan of action titles or John Woo movies you will not want to miss this when it ships in just a couple of weeks.

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