Video game review: 'Stranglehold' bucks trend of bad movie games

One of the best surprises in the game is that it tweaks game-play on occasion to keep a steady diet of shooting down bad guys a lot more interesting. Mini-puzzles and quests to blow up drug dens add just enough needed variety to the game to keep things interesting.

Each new section of the game is introduced by a cinematic scene that is classic John Woo, complete with mayhem and doves but lends the shooter enough story line and characterization that it isn't just mindless target practice and makes the game a satisfying experience.

Three difficulty levels and the quest for better style points give the game some replay value, but it is the first time through that is by far the most fun.

GRAPHICS: The game is a visual treat but more for its style and well-designed environments than its cinematic clarity. Character textures and forms are nothing special and the look of the bad guys gets a little repetitive.

SOUND: The sound effects of gunfire and the destruction of the environments are really fun. The soundtrack is appropriately rooted in Asian music and instruments. The sounds subtly add to the experience.

THE WRAP UP

PARENT'S TAKE: This is not a game for children. Some of Tequilas killings, such as when he employs a special ability to guide a bullet through a villain's eye or mouth or neck from long distances, are brutal and bloody. The focus of the game is killing a lot of people. The "M for Mature" rating is well deserved.

FINAL WORD: Taking John Woo's Inspector Tequila through a movie-like game is surprisingly fun and discovering all the little treats of the game makes this third-person shooter well worth playing.