Wednesday 23 Jul 2008

Ever played Max Payne and wished for even more bullet time action with the chance to destroy anything, and I mean “anything,” in your path with a game that could not really care much for the story? You’ve got it!

Over and above Max Payne there is nothing like Stranglehold in this generation. Some have tried of course, but when it comes to the simple act of bullets hitting things really hard – be it furniture or faces, Stranglehold reigns supreme – and for one simple reason: everything in this game can be blown to smithereens. The right trigger on your Xbox 360 has its best use since keeping it down to accelerate in Project Gotham Racing. It’s exceptionally satisfying and some nice extra features make it well worth a purchase.

Take the law into your own hands

This is your typical Hollywood fare where you have a cop out to avenge his family with his captain wanting to take away his badge. The only way to make things right is by taking the law into your own hands and blowing the crap out of anything that moves…or that doesn’t.

Third person games have come and gone and but this title seems to be doing something right. Instead of just blasting your way through everything for the pure love of bullets flying, you have to pull off all your tricks in style. Activate Tequila Time (which is slow motion/bullet time), run off a rail, jump across to the chandelier, swing across to land on a trolley and do all this while shooting away. You can literally dodge bullets, there are even some set points in the game that have the enemies surrounding you and you have to dodge them and the bullets at the same time. All and all you’re doing this to receive some “Star Bonus.” In return this gives you access to Tequila Bombs.

Tequila Bombs are your chance of survival

These Tequila Bombs are unique skills that prove to be your life-blood, letting you heal yourself, take down enemies faster and much, much more – giving you a chance of survival.

Only problem with this game really is that it is a bit short in this day and age and that the acting is pathetic, unless Chinese actors speaking Chinese English does it for you. Other than that it’s a decent title. It is also quite nice to see a Hollywood movie director directing a game and actually pulling it off.

Pros: Destructible environments; satisfying gun fights; clever points system.

Cons: Some animation is a bit rubbish; very short.

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Contributor:	Dawid

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