Developer : Midway Studios
Release date : September 14, 2007
Synopsis :
Stranglehold is a third-person shooter developed by Midway Studios – Chicago and Tiger Hill Entertainment and published by Midway Games. It was released in late 2007 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is Midway’s first game to use Unreal Engine 3. Stranglehold is a sequel to John Woo’s 1992 Hong Kong action film Hard Boiled and stars Chow Yun-fat in a reprisal of his role as hard-boiled cop Inspector “Tequila” Yuen. Stranglehold is the first project on which Woo and Chow have collaborated since Hard Boiled.[failed verification] A sequel to Stranglehold, entitled Gun Runner, was in the works prior to Midway’s financial demise but was ultimately cancelled.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment re-released the Windows version of the game through GOG.com on November 26, 2019. The game sold more than 1 million units worldwide.
In Hong Kong, three Triad crime syndicates fight for territory: Dragon Claw, the Imperial 9s (I9s) based in Tai O, and Golden Kane. After a police officer goes missing, the Hong Kong Police Force receive a ransom call. Disobeying orders from police chief Lee, Inspector Tequila Yuen heads to a Kowloon market alone to save the officer, but finds evidence that he is dead. Tequila’s search leads him to a teahouse, where he unintentionally interrupts a business deal between Golden Kane and I9 members. Following a tip that the I9s killed the officer, and that the gang is working under Dragon Claw, Tequila heads to Tai O to investigate further.
In Tai O, Tequila tracks down Dragon Claw leader Jimmy Wong. Wong and Tequila have a complicated history: the inspector dated Wong’s daughter Billie, and the couple had a child named Teko. At Wong’s side are his henchmen: Dapang, and Jerry Ying, an undercover officer and Tequila’s former partner. Wong reveals that the policeman’s death is part of a larger plot by Golden Kane to gain more control of Hong Kong. The triad gang pinned the officer’s death on the I9s to divert police attention. Additionally, they partnered with the Zakarovs, a Russian mafia from Chicago, to kidnap and hold Billie and Teko ransom in exchange for part of Wong’s territory. When Golden Kane attacks Dragon Claw’s Tai O base, Tequila promises Wong that he will find his family, and helps the crime boss escape.
Tequila eavesdrops on Golden Kane leader Yung Gi’s conversation with Damon and Vladimir Zakarov. Impressed by the Zakarovs’ philanthropy and social standing, Yung heads to Chicago to see how the Russians run their organization, as well as to facilitate ransom negotiations. Tequila and Jerry travel to the Zakarovs’ penthouse in Chicago, splitting up to cover different floors, but are spotted by Vladimir. Tequila works his way to the top floor, and after a fight with Vladimir, causes the Russian to blow himself up with his own rocket launcher. He then tends to a wounded Jerry.
Tequila finds Damon and Yung at the Chicago History Museum, where they are negotiating the exchange of Billie and Teko. The gangsters agree to let Yung take Teko back to Hong Kong, and let Damon bring Billie. Yung leaves with Teko, while Tequila kills Damon. After reuniting with his lover, Tequila gets ambushed by Jerry, who kills Billie. After confirming that Wong paid Jerry to murder Billie, Tequila kills his former partner and takes his cell phone. A video on the cell phone reveals Wong’s motives: to prevent the Zakarovs from executing Teko, Billie will leak the names of several Dragon Claw associates in court and get Wong convicted if the crime boss does not agree to the Zakarov’s demands. Tequila texts Wong with Jerry’s cell phone, claiming that Jerry killed the inspector.
Back in Hong Kong, Tequila confronts Yung in his office to strike a deal with the gangster. Yung refuses to let Teko go, so Tequila shows him text messages between Wong and Jerry that prove Dragon Claw will betray the gangster during the exchange. The two agree to a new plan: if Tequila kills Wong during the deal, then Yung will free Teko. However, after a fight with Dragon Claw members, Tequila shows up late to the new meeting location. A startled Wong escapes with Teko while Yung, Tequila, and Dapang are locked in a standoff. As Tequila breaks the standoff by chasing him, Dapang guns Yung down and escapes.
Tequila hijacks a nearby car and chases Wong to his estate. After he shoots down one of Wong’s helicopters, it crashes through the locked front door of Wong’s main stronghold. Tequila enters the estate to find that Wong and Dapang have taken Teko hostage. After a tense standoff, Wong agrees to let Teko go, in exchange for her and Tequila leaving Hong Kong forever. As she is being freed however, Teko warns her father that it’s a trap, and gets shot in the arm by Wong as she runs to safety. With newfound fury, Tequila goes after Wong and Dapang, killing the latter. Armed with a high-powered sniper rifle, Wong attempts to kill Tequila with a headshot. Before he can pull the trigger, Teko shoves him over the balcony and he falls to his death.
As father and daughter reunite, Chief Lee arrives on the scene and returns Tequila’s badge. Tequila and Teko leave the scene, together.
Source : Wikipedia
