Influences

Stranglehold attempts to translate the gun ballet aesthetic popularized by director John Woo, used in films such as Hard Boiled and The Killer, to an interactive media format. Although the game has drawn comparisons to Remedy Entertainment’s Max Payne franchise, which was influenced by Woo, a more accurate account of both games’ creative provenances traces the games to Woo’s lengthy, balletic shootouts.

Gameplay

During play, jumping in any direction or interacting with any object while aiming at an opponent (or pressing a certain button) will slow time, creating a short window during which Tequila can shoot at targets. This technique—called Tequila Time—generates a cinematic effect that mimics Woo’s. Tequila Time is managed through a meter which drains with use and regenerates with time. Tequila can also make use of his environment, moving up and down railings, swinging from chandeliers, and sliding across tabletops and riding on carts while shooting at enemies.

Another form of gameplay comes from the style and grace associated with Woo’s balletic firefights. By taking out enemies the player earns stars. The more stylish the kills performed, the more stars received. Taking out enemies in quick succession, or interacting with the environment when taking down opponents, will earn the player the optimum amount of stars. As an incentive to interact with the environment, Tequila receives a bonus to his attack power and defense during interactions.

Tequila also employs several iconic techniques from Woo’s movies, referred to as Tequila Bombs. Tequila Bombs require energy to perform. The player gains energy by defeating enemies (equal to the Stars obtained) and by collecting paper cranes hidden about each level.

Development

Stranglehold uses a heavily modified version of the Unreal Engine 3. Among these modifications is Massive Destruction (also known as Massive D), a set of physics technologies that allows players to destroy nearly every object in a given level. Stranglehold also incorporates a body swapping technique that randomizes parts of enemy character models, producing varied characters rather than repetitious clones.

Stranglehold incorporates location-based damage. The AI responds in different ways to different hit locations, varying enemy reactions with damage-mapped impact points. This feature is integrated throughout the game, but especially apparent during the second of four Tequila Bombs: Precision Aim. Also, while targets take time to recover from flesh wounds, they will eventually revive (even if unable to stand) and continue to fire until passing out from simulated blood loss.

Stranglehold contains dynamic in-game advertising, such as posters and billboards for real world products appearing during gameplay.

A trailer for Stranglehold was present as an extra feature in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

Collector’s Edition
Midway released a Collector’s Edition for next-gen console versions of the game.

The PlayStation 3 Collector’s Edition includes Hard Boiled fully remastered in high-definition and on the same Blu-ray disc with all the additional game extras and features. The Xbox 360 Collector’s Edition includes the same extras and featurettes but on a separate disc without Hard Boiled.

The Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 editions were both packed in a tin case with a holographic cover motif.

Updates and downloadable content

On December 6, 2007 Midway released a downloadable map pack for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game systems. The map pack features 10 additional multiplayer maps, as well as 21 all-new multiplayer character skins. The Xbox 360 version also includes 10 new achievements worth 250 points.

Film adaptation

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lion Rock Entertainment is making the sequel to John Woo’s Hard Boiled. The film will be based on the plot of Stranglehold. In an interview with Twitchfilm Terence Chang announced that the film will be a prequel to Hard Boiled with a much younger Tequila. Hong Kong actor-director Stephen Fung will direct the film in Singapore and the U.S. with a $20 million budget.

Since the initial announcement of a big-screen version of Stranglehold, there has been no further news on its production. It is presumed that the project was a victim of Midway Games’ bankruptcy.