Stranglehold

 Xbox 360
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
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  1. RobertK.
    Sep 8, 2007
    10
    This is a fun game. It is just all out fun. You have the guns the graphics. It is just a fun game. Besides what games can you be in Hong Kong and the U.S. I is totaly worth $60.
  2. NickM.
    Dec 1, 2007
    8
    I thought this was worth my purchase. the graphics are great, i dont mind the dumb AI, i think i prefer it in a game like this, and the mechanics are amazing. The bullet time...i mean tequila time is awsome, almost as much a presition aiming. very fun, 2 points of for the fact that it is a little more challenging than it should be.
  3. NathanP.
    Sep 24, 2007
    9
    Any action junkie will find Stranglehold a blast to play hearkening back to old school shoot 'em ups of old. The massively destructible environments and special moves really make you feel like a badass. Multiplayer, while not very robust makes for a pleasant diversion. Good luck beating it on maximum difficulty, "Hard Boiled".
  4. AlexB.
    Sep 5, 2007
    9
    Personally, I really enjoyed this game. It gave graphics worthy of the 360 in many regards, lacking in some but very detailed in most. It presented me with a game that i can play as many times over as I want, and will have fun each time. The game play is addicting, and yes, repetitive, but to me it is just so fun that i am actually viewing it's repetition as a positive thing because Personally, I really enjoyed this game. It gave graphics worthy of the 360 in many regards, lacking in some but very detailed in most. It presented me with a game that i can play as many times over as I want, and will have fun each time. The game play is addicting, and yes, repetitive, but to me it is just so fun that i am actually viewing it's repetition as a positive thing because i had so much fun doing it the first time!… Expand
  5. FokmanF.
    Sep 7, 2007
    8
    I picked up this game in the mood for mindless action and thats exactly what i got. A great sequel to Hard Boiled and a fun game while it lasts,(Kinda short).
  6. DanielB
    Jan 4, 2009
    8
    It's a really cool action game, and technically it's awesome, because you can really destroy a lot of different stuff. The action is on the top almost all of the time, the AI isn't fantastic, but they do what they have to, being targets for my bullets. The tequilatime works good aswell, you can bounce on walls, running on the stairs and then the traditionall dive in the It's a really cool action game, and technically it's awesome, because you can really destroy a lot of different stuff. The action is on the top almost all of the time, the AI isn't fantastic, but they do what they have to, being targets for my bullets. The tequilatime works good aswell, you can bounce on walls, running on the stairs and then the traditionall dive in the air. It all works great and keeps the game up to speed. So, yeah it's a really good game, which gives you what it promises, a hell lot of good action!… Expand
  7. DanielB
    Jan 4, 2009
    8
    It's a really cool action game, and technically it's awesome, because you can really destroy a lot of different stuff. The action is on the top almost all of the time, the AI isn't fantastic, but they do what they have to, being targets for my bullets. The tequilatime works good aswell, you can bounce on walls, running on the stairs and then the traditionall dive in the It's a really cool action game, and technically it's awesome, because you can really destroy a lot of different stuff. The action is on the top almost all of the time, the AI isn't fantastic, but they do what they have to, being targets for my bullets. The tequilatime works good aswell, you can bounce on walls, running on the stairs and then the traditionall dive in the air. It all works great and keeps the game up to speed. So, yeah it's a really good game, which gives you what it promises, a hell lot of good action!… Expand
  8. brianmell
    Oct 30, 2007
    9
    i dont understand when people say, this one is a rental because its a short game...how stupid a sentence is this? do you buy a game judging by its length? fully knowing by now and happily accepted the fact that size matters not? we buy games because they are fun to own, you can play them whenever you like, over and over again. if you have no money to spend, you are in the wrong hobbyi dont understand when people say, this one is a rental because its a short game...how stupid a sentence is this? do you buy a game judging by its length? fully knowing by now and happily accepted the fact that size matters not? we buy games because they are fun to own, you can play them whenever you like, over and over again. if you have no money to spend, you are in the wrong hobby partner, go play bingo in a community center. stranglehold is a keeper, its a classic...fun as hell, amazing physics and graphics to boot. deserves your full attention. if you are into cool action games, this is it.… Expand
  9. Keegs79
    Sep 11, 2007
    9
    This game delivers on fun factor by a huge stride with great controls. It doesn't bring anything overally innovative but it does everything right. The A.I. is extremely smart with accurate shots. The graphics are outstanding with great detail and nice explosions. This game brings to this current next gen gaming a game that combines old school gameplay in great new fashion. The only This game delivers on fun factor by a huge stride with great controls. It doesn't bring anything overally innovative but it does everything right. The A.I. is extremely smart with accurate shots. The graphics are outstanding with great detail and nice explosions. This game brings to this current next gen gaming a game that combines old school gameplay in great new fashion. The only downside is its short and lackluster multiplayer mode. All things given this game rocks!… Expand
  10. AlanA.
    Oct 14, 2007
    9
    I love Stranglehold yeah it might be repetative as hell but play it on hard-boiled difficulty and it will be a challenge I do wish it was longer but what the hell. It's a fun kick ass game and I say buy it or rent it if you like High Octane Non stop action games!
  11. DonR.
    Nov 7, 2007
    9
    I thought this was a great game. A lot of fun, challenging and good graphics and story.
  12. RobertKing
    Aug 23, 2007
    10
    This game was awesome! It had a bad-ass demo so i can't wait to buy the actual game on the 27th. It has so much action and so much shooting. What else does a gamer like me want? This game had it all. Even though the online play looked a little lame i am giving this game a 10/10.
  13. anonymous
    Dec 12, 2009
    10
    Oh my god this game is AMAZING!! It's like combining Max Payne and Devil May Cry into one game. The only thing that stinks is the graphics.
  14. aspentitan
    Sep 11, 2016
    9
    I can't comment on the multiplayer aspect of this game but the single player campaign is about as fun as one could expect of any game. This game makes you want to sit down and finish it. I almost wonder if all the reviewers who commented how short the game was maybe just enjoyed it so much it seemed like a quick play. The game is at least 10 hrs which is longer than most other shooterI can't comment on the multiplayer aspect of this game but the single player campaign is about as fun as one could expect of any game. This game makes you want to sit down and finish it. I almost wonder if all the reviewers who commented how short the game was maybe just enjoyed it so much it seemed like a quick play. The game is at least 10 hrs which is longer than most other shooter single player campaigns. The draw of this game is it is frantic from start to end and pieced together with a decent story. In my opinion this game went for fun factor over realism and it nailed it. Here we have a good shooter game with a story with many destructible ways to take enemies out. As a player you can take the traditional approach of shooting enemies but you can also take out enemies through "bullet-time" powerups or by environmental damage. There is a tactical side to this game embedded within the high paced action and this is what makes the game so fun. The game is devoid or glitches and I found the checkpoint system paced as expected. If you die you start back at a reasonable area. Lots of health and ammo is available and not over or under abundant. The design of each area seemed to have paid attention to what a player would find entertaining, in other words this game actually seem play-tested to a high degree. I also found each chapters environments well thought out and interesting and varied. A couple downsides about the game and they are minor is the camera at times can be a little funky and do what it wants by way of zooming in and out on its own. It was annoying at times but not overly. Just saying it wasn't perfect. The other issue is sometimes to be stylish and get the skill points you could accidently dive or stick to somewhere you did not intend. Again, partially annoying but at least the spawn points and checkpoints in the game limited the frustration of how annoyed this was and minimized it to being a side effect. Anyway I highly recommend this game it really is a hidden gem especially at what the game must cost now.… Expand
  15. wastelander75
    Nov 26, 2011
    8
    Absolutely fun game to play, if a bit dated on some of the graphical points. Still, the nearly unlimited use of bullet time is a Woo classic here, and the fact that it's a nearly direct sequel to the classic Hard Boiled, I'd say it's a win for anyone willing to play it. Give it a shot, if it's not your cup of tea, so be it. But for those of you that enjoy it like I did, that's all it really needs.
  16. Compi24
    Jul 4, 2013
    9
    If "Stranglehold" weren't the first name of this game, its second name would naturally be "badass." John Woo, Chow Yun-Fat and Midway games make the style, mechanics, and destructibility brilliantly entertaining.

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. IGN
    81
    This is the true sequel to "Hard Boiled," which means Stranglehold is more about style than substance. So, not surprisingly, the story is melodramatic and forgettable and the adrenaline-pumping action is the star of the show.
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  2. GamePro
    80
    Stranglehold might stumble occasionally under its own ambitious weight, and might not quite deliver on all its promises and potential, but it's still a unique and absorbing 8-hour tour through a legendary action director's potent unfilmable dreams.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
    Read full review
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