This is John Woo's Hong Kong

Part of the charm is that it’s all awfully familiar; we recognise the dark alleys, the neon signs, the filth and sometimes the rain. Environments aren’t all though, there’s Tequila himself, his leather jacket, the horde of enemies and of course, the famous Woo doves. If it hasn’t got doves, it isn’t John Woo. The doves put the emphasis on the player’s progression, and it’s nice to see them serve some function other than letting us know who the hero is.

The aesthetics are, as ever, a major element. We were told, “It’s a shooter with a lot of spectacle, very much like his films”. We’re promised the same kind of non-stop action. The sheer number of enemies that keep pouring in ensures that Stranglehold satisfies those with a thirst for action.

It feels as though we’ve just been dropped into a scene from The Killer. Surrounded by four thugs armed to the teeth and we leave, victorious, without a scratch. Realism and Woo don’t get on, but that’s what’s always been great about it.

The weapons are fundamentally important, and fortunately there’s no need to think. You dive in slow motion, shooting opponents all the while; you stand up and shoot a gas canister to mop up. The explosion pushes everything clear.

Everything exudes Woo’s style, from the camera angles and the colour palette to the lighting and the planning. Of course, the direction and staging don’t make a game alone and the major elements are still the gameplay and playability. We eagerly wait to have Tequila in our hands again, to judge more accurately.

Climb Every Mountain

If Gears of War repulsed you because it was too violent, then you’d probably be better off looking elsewhere. The preview build we got to play was very much the same as the one shown at E3, with one notable exception in the form of an entirely new level.

It’s then that it quickly becomes clear that the action is delectable. Every stunt precipitates a feeling of, “wow, this move was in the movie!” and we must admit that it’s all very slick. Just to avoid any confusion, we’ll describe things in the order of the levels we went through.