Stranglehold [X360]

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Although countless video games have been influenced by John Woo's classic blood opera Hard-Boiled, it's never received a video game treatment it could call its own. That's no longer the case -- while Stranglehold doesn't actually carry the Hard-Boiled moniker, it's a sequel to the movie in all but name, right down to the involvement of both the movie's star Chow Yun-Fat, and John Woo himself.

For once, Woo's involvement isn't limited to putting his name on the game's box. His trademarks are stamped all over Stranglehold. Flocks of doves? Check. Slow motion? Check. One way or another, much of the game takes place in slo-mo. Dual pistols? You bet. Tense armed standoffs? Tons of them. The man even stars in the game, manning the bar in the opening level.

Stranglehold sees Hard-Boiled star Chow Yun-Fat reprise his role as Inspector Tequila, the renegade Hong Kong cop with a chip on his shoulder and a pistol in each hand. His task: To shoot his way through eight hours of levels heavily inspired by Hard-Boiled's action, motivated by a suitably unlikely and overdone plot, and produce a mountain of bodies that'd shame a perfectly good natural disaster. Forget floods, earthquakes and tsunamis -- Tequila's in town.

To help him along his way, he's armed with four special moves, most of which involve almost supernatural slo-mo death-dealing and/or invulnerability. Why exactly he should have these is not explained, nor is his ability to never reload and capability to withstand a few point-blank shotgun blasts. It's just one of those things you'll have to take on trust.

Inspector Tequila comes with four of these "Tequila Bombs," fueled by pulling off stylish kills. One gives you a little health boost, another slows down time and gives you a "precision shot" that'll kill an enemy in one hit, the third gives you unlimited ammo and invulnerability for a short time, and the last works like a smart bomb.

For once, all of these extras are invaluable. Precision Shot's our favorite, thanks to the almost loving way it shows the unfortunate target reacting in shock to his new piercing before crumpling to the ground. But all three of the combat Bombs are implemented with attractive visual effects, and although three doesn't sound like many, it'll be a long time before you tire of them.