Stranglehold

 Xbox 360
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 59
  3. Negative: 1 out of 59
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  1. Game Informer
    73
    Stranglehold is not a disaster. If you desire nothing more than to kill criminals on a massive scale, turn nightclubs into a war zone, and look cool doing it – this is your game.
  2. Game Almighty
    73
    The game does get a little repetitive, though the increase in difficulty in later levels will keep you on your toes. Multiplayer is pretty much a joke that was better left untold. It's hollow, void of much point and has all the signs of something that was added at the last minute so the box could say “Multiplayer”.
  3. GameSpot
    70
    It's a short ride, but an amusing one while it lasts.
  5. Yahoo!
    70
    It's not the most sophisticated of offerings. There's not much here other than the destruction -- the levels are repetitive, and most encounters play out similarly. Little differentiates the game's weapons, and the plot is threadbare.
  6. Deeko
    70
    In my opinion, this game is best as a rental. This may be the most stressful game I have ever had the chance to play.
  7. Edge Magazine
    70
    The chemistry of control, animation, AI and environmental damage systems is absolutely spot on, both in finding Hard Boiled’s groove and providing coherent, rhythmic and unpredictable action. [Nov 2007, p.91]
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  8. Gamestyle
    70
    If you like destruction, shooting people and a game with a brain the size of a pea then there is no doubt that Stranglehold is the game for you. It’s not smart or clever, but despite the flaws it still managed to entertain us right to it’s conclusion.
  9. Official Xbox Magazine
    70
    So yeah, Stranglehold does a great job of aspiring to the qualities of Woo's movies, but unfortunately, it just doesn't aspire to be a truly great game. [Nov 2007, p.86]
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  10. Hardcore Gamer
    70
    There are those who would call a game such as this "shallow", and with good reason: most games like this are. However, most games that subscribe to this concept don't allow you the freedom of movement or tactics that Stranglehold does. [Nov 2007, p.56]
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  11. DarkStation
    70
    In the end, Stranglehold is a good solid action game that struggles from being too repetitive and lacking a lot of what you need to have a long lasting action experience.
  12. X-ONE Magazine UK
    70
    Apart from its brevity, it's damn good fun. [Issue#25, p.98]
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  13. games(TM)
    50
    Mindless fun and little else. [Nov 2007, p.106]
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Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
28
#28 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
43
#43 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 105
  3. Negative: 9 out of 105
  1. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Mar 6, 2022
    7
    This bombastic video game based on John Woo's "Hard Boiled" should please the filmmaker's fans. It's a third person shooter similar to "MaxThis bombastic video game based on John Woo's "Hard Boiled" should please the filmmaker's fans. It's a third person shooter similar to "Max Payne", but with a lot of big explosions. The game feels more like a Hollywood movie than a Hong Kong action flick. It features Chow Yun Fat's Tequila character, but never seems like "Hard Boiled 2". But it's still great and action fans will a blast with it. Overall, I would rate this with a 7.7 out of 10.… Full Review »
  2. adrenilinmatt
    Mar 9, 2021
    0
    Clunky, terrible, should have been so much more. Possibly one of the most unintuitive action games i have ever played and it just so happensClunky, terrible, should have been so much more. Possibly one of the most unintuitive action games i have ever played and it just so happens to be the one official john woo game we get. damn, atleast we always will have max payne 2… Full Review »
  3. Broyax
    Apr 11, 2017
    5
    Inspiré par le meilleur film d'action du monde (A Toute Epreuve) réalisé par John Woo au faîte de son art avec la star Chow Yun Fat,Inspiré par le meilleur film d'action du monde (A Toute Epreuve) réalisé par John Woo au faîte de son art avec la star Chow Yun Fat, Stranglehold a du être un défi en soi pour les développeurs... défi qu'ils n'ont pu hélas relever qu'à moitié... L'esprit du film est plutôt préservé (sauf la musique qui ne ressemble vraiment à rien dans le jeu) et quelques bonnes idées fonctionnent très bien, notamment les compétences spéciales hilarantes à utiliser (déluge de feu sur les adversaires, tourbillon, tir précis...) et dans le même registre, les "confrontations" bien pensées également.

    Tout le jeu repose sur les "bullet times" activables comme dans les 3 Max Payne, mais qui tirent profit dans Stranglehold des éléments du décor. L'interface est bien conçue et le maniement adéquat sauf qu'à l'instar des jeux du même genre, l'erreur est d'en avoir fait des TPS, une vue totalement inadaptée aux ralentis. L'angle de vision est ici assez limité et devoir gérer le personnage qui prend la moitié de l'écran, bouchant trop souvent la vue sur les ennemis qu'on canarde, c'est vite insupportable d'autant que la dite vue est trop rapprochée du personnage par défaut.

    Le système de couverture est correct mais pas exempt de défaillances non plus. Quant au caractère lassant de l'ensemble (dégommage ce centaines de blaireaux au ralenti, des boss coriaces et increvables -mais qui éventuellement finissent par crever au bout de dizaines de milliers de balles dans la tronche), le caractère lassant disais-je, est patent.

    Graphiquement, c'est correct sans plus mais ce n'est pas vraiment là où Stranglehold brille : ce serait plutôt du côté des effets de particules et des débris, de la destructibilité des décors sous l'impact des balles qu'il se distingue.

    Ah j'allais oublier la VF bien faite malgré la synchro à l'ouest ! il faut pourtant le souligner. Moins chiant que les Max Payne, Stranglehold leur est supérieur mais reste maladroit et bancal.    … Full Review »
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