John Woo Presents Stranglehold FAQ
By DrunkHolteEnder

Release Date
14-09-07

Introduction
Stranglehold, a third person, action/adventure game set in Hong Kong and Chicago, is being developed in collaboration with world renowned film director, John Woo. Featuring international action film star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Tequila, Stranglehold will feature much of the hyperkinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences that Woo is known for.

Stranglehold -The Dragon Claw, the most powerful triad gang in Hong Kong, is being threatened by a young upstart gang looking to overtake the long established business that has belonged to Mr James Wong for almost 30 years. Wong's connections with the Hong Kong Police have him seeking the assistance of a hard boiled veteran, Inspector Tequila Yuen, in a search for Wong's kidnapped daughter and grand daughter. Tequila, with his own style of getting things done and haunted by his past relationship with Wong, battles his way from the alleys of Kowloon to the upscale high rises of Chicago as he gets caught in the crossfire that erupts over the control for Hong Kong's lucrative heroin trade.

Controls

Left Trigger – Dive

LB – Wall Move/Table Kick

Right Trigger – Shoot

RB - Manual Tequila Time

X – Pickup Weapon

B – Throw Grenade

A – Switch Weapon

Right Stick – Look/Aim

Left Stick - Move Character

Characters
Tequila - Tequila Yuen is a veteran Hong Kong cop who’s no nonsense approach to bringing down criminals has earned him both fame and notoriety within law enforcement and the criminal underworld. Tequilas rogue tactics are the stuff of legends, but always result in the same thing the job gets done. Of course his improvisational, instinct based approach to police work has made him some enemies along the way. As Tequila sees it, the enemies he has made both on and off the force are merely casualties of effective police work. Tequila wields dual pistols which he uses to deadly effect in gun fights, is well versed in multiple firearms, and feels comfortable using anything from automatics, heavy machine guns to rocket launchers. His cool demeanour allows for a steady hand and an incredible unrivalled Aim with any weapon. Tequila's signature fighting style is called "Gun Ballet" where He combines diving through the air with table slides and other exotic moves that allow him to interact with the world, like running up banisters or swinging from chandeliers. Tequila has cat like reflexes and an uncanny ability to know where his enemies are at all times. His speed and agility create an illusion called "Tequila Time" - the ability to react so quickly to a situation that it seems like his enemies are in slow motion. His experience in the Hong Kong police force gives him the ability to think like a criminal, and his guan hsi or connections get him into places other cops can't reach.

Captain Ed Lee - To describe Captain Ed Lee as "by the book" is to undersell the extent to which the rules govern his professional life. It is more apt to say that Lee is the perfect embodiment of the book. From his haircut with the sideburns that have never dipped below mid-ear in length, to his speech which is rarely revealing of emotion, to the high shine of his wingtips. Lee believes an unyielding adherence to procedure is the hallmark of effective police work and it provides the foundation upon which fighting crime gains its traction against criminals. A man of extreme seriousness, Lee rarely smiles, believing that complacency is the gateway to sloth. Although most of the officers in his division consider him a bit extreme, he does elicit their grudging respect. Lee has an astonishing ability to depersonalize all of his professional relationships. He is not averse to demoting or even firing officers with whom he has long-standing professional ties.

Jerry Ying - A member of the HKPD undercover drug task force, Jerry possesses a strong sense of duty. It's not, however, a sense of duty accompanied by a strong sense of right versus wrong. Jerry believes fulfilling one's duty, whatever that may be, is the only quantifiable end and therefore the only one worth pursuing. Notions of right and wrong are mere conventions tending only to cloud one's judgment and get in the way of completing a given task. Jerry's decidedly amoral stance on all matters was developed over the years in the course of his undercover work as he has repeatedly been called upon to tread the line between so called right and wrong. Eventually that line disappeared for Jerry and he adopted a nihilistic bent, the dominant characteristic of his personality. Jerry rarely looks anyone in the eye when speaking, a trait that makes him seem more disinterested and hyper-cool than distrustful. Despite this somewhat standoffish quirk, Jerry does have the ability to install trust in those around him.

James Wong – James Wong is the son of a prominent Hong Kong family whose lineage is traceable to a period just after the rise of the Ming Dynasty. During that period, the Wongs Were military men, commanders in the Chinese Navy Some also held mid level positions in the government, mostly in the judiciary. James Wong is now the ostensible head of Wong's Shipping, a well regarded institution within the Hong Kong business community for generations. Wong keeps a low profile and is rarely seen in public. He is known more by reputation than anything else, a reputation engendering both respect and fear. His disdain of attention, of course, is due to the numerous illicit activities in which his company is involved drugs, gun running, and gambling. Wong oversees these endeavours in his capacity as head of the Dragon Claw Triad for which the shipping business is merely a front. Wong is bullheaded, decisive, and never admits to error.

Dapang - Dapang is the personal bodyguard for James Wong. A true loner, Dapang has an inner rage built on years of cruel and inhumane treatment from his youth in the sweatshops of Taiwan and never hesitates to use it against his enemies. He communicates mostly through his actions and speaks only when spoken to. Wong and Dapang share a closeness based on mutual respect, and Wong considers Dapang a family member, even more so since the death of his son Johnny. Dapang's undivided loyalty to Wong stems from his appreciation for the new life that Wong has afforded him and uses the teachings from his Sumo years to focus all of his energy on his role as a bodyguard. Dapang considers himself the ultimate predator and continuously refines his combat skills through his passion for bow hunting because of the challenge it presents and his belief that guns are for business.

Damon Zakarov - Damon Zakarov came of age in a period when the USSR went from world power to third world in what seemed an overnight transition. It was a period that delivered a tremendous blow to the pride of Soviet loyalists among whom Damon counted himself. Although Damon seeks to downplay his Soviet background, it nevertheless remains the most significant formative influence upon who he is. He runs his organization in a steel-fisted manner more befitting of a former Soviet Military man than the sophisticate he pretends to be. His knowledge of firearms and hand-to-hand combat techniques far surpass his knowledge of art and wine. Aside from his extensive art collection his true prized possession is a rare collector's Edition gold-plated Matador pistol. Damon has an unusually high threshold for pain This is matched only by his ability to inflict it. He is surprisingly athletic. He likes to Punch, likes to feel bones cracking, teeth loosening, but restrains this impulse as it contradicts the cool and sophisticated exterior he tries to maintain.

Vladmir Zakarov - Vladmir Zakarov came of age in the Ukraine during The period of Soviet demise and easily adapted to the upheaval and chaos that surrounded him. Exposed at an early age to the crime-ridden streets in and around Odessa, Vladmir was earning good money as an enforcer for several low level gangs by the time he was 14. Unlike his brother Damon, Vladmir Zakarov unashamedly acknowledges his Soviet heritage. This embracing of his Background has little to do with any genuine Soviet pride, however, but rather is largely in response to Damon's disavowal of the same. Vladmir often speaks to his brother in Russian which, much to Vlads' delight, invariably raises Damon's ire. What Vlad lacks in intelligence, he makes up for in brute force. Never through reason will Vlad win an argument preferring to use the threat of broken bones and bloodshed to state his case. He is ruthless and uncouth and celebrates these attributes much to Damon's chagrin. Vlad has the ability to rouse ill will even among the most tolerant of individuals, which has taught him to choose a layer of body armour on a daily basis as extra insurance

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Eli Manning :D
Healthy Gaming Guide

The Enemy Factions
Dragon Claw - The Dragon Claw triad is one of the most storied in all of Hong Kong's underworld. Conceived at the time of the opium wars in the 19th century, Dragon Claw was founded by Xia Wong as a legitimate means of defending the family's shipping business and warehouses against the invading British. It was during the second of these wars, however, when Dragon Claw became less of a legitimate commercial entity and began asserting itself with the objective of taking control of China's narcotics trade. With their rich tradition and adherence to the old codes based on honour and loyalty, Members of Dragon Claw consider themselves the royalty of Hong Kong's underworld.

Golden Kane - Starting as a ragtag group of slum kids in Kowloon, GK's initial purpose was pure survival. Led by a 12 year-old named Yung Gi, the Kane began their criminal endeavours by going on merchant raids throughout the city, swarming vendors at the end of a business day, taking everything in site, and escaping in a wake of chaos. To the GK, the notion of honour, as defined by Mr. Wong's Dragon Claw, is regarded as decidedly old school, and an impediment to advancement. With such diametrically opposed approaches to doing business, a clash between the GK and Dragon Claw is certain to go down as one of Hong Kong's most violent gang wars in recent memory.

Zakarov Syndicate - The Zakarov crime family began in the early 80s as two brothers, Boris and Victor Zakarov, started buying commercial real estate in the less desirable areas of Chicago. They later set up an elaborate immigration scheme involving sweatshops and tenement housing. By the end of the decade, the brothers saw an opportunity in the burgeoning crack cocaine market and scoured the former Soviet Onion for hardcore criminals that could assist in tapping the lucrative revenue stream. It was around this time that the brothers' nephew, Damon Zakarov, came to Chicago to oversee this element of the business. Boris and Victor were eventually slain in an unsolved gangland shooting. Damon immediately assumed control of the business and was later joined by his brother Vladmir.

Imperial Nines - The Imperial Nines are an old Dragon Claw rival. At one time, the Nines ruled a good portion of Hong Kong and fought numerous battles with Dragon Claw for control of Hong Kong's narcotics trade. Upon their final defeat in the 1930s, the I9s were folded into the Dragon Claw organization. Since then, the 19s have remained a largely autonomous entity and have been used by Dragon Claw as additional muscle when needed. With highly skilled fighters in both hand-to-hand and weapons based fighting, the 19s are a small group, but they're considered the most dangerous hit men in China
Weapons
The Enforcer - Is the classic Tequila weapon. This powerful pistol can be dual wielded and is effective at close and medium ranges.

.44 Caliber Matador - Is a force to be reckoned with. It can be dual wielded, but has a slower re-fire rate than the Enforcer. The Matador is effective at close and medium ranges.

M5-SBS - Assault rifle has a high muzzle velocity and exceptional accuracy at great distances when fired in short controlled bursts. When the trigger is held down it unleashes a hail of bullets at enemy targets, but you'll sacrifice accuracy.

Loco Submachine Gun - Is an exceptional close to medium range skirmish weapon with an incredibly high re-fire rate. It can also be dual wielded, but your accuracy will suffer over long ranges.

Ursa Pump Action Shotgun - Is the ultimate close quarter's skirmish weapon. Its powerful blast can topple even the toughest of foes. Its slower re-fire rate and limited range capability are its only weaknesses.

JWS-50 Heavy Machine Gun - Is the ultimate assault suppression solution. Its massive ammo capacity, and large 50 Caliber rounds deliver unprecedented stopping power even at long ranges. However, the weapon's large firing recoil does result in a loss of accuracy.

Thor M.R.M Missile System - Is a lightweight portable device. Capable of travelling great distances with extreme accuracy to its target, it delivers a devastating explosive punch.

Standard Military Issue Fragmentation Grenade - Is Devastating at close quarters to enemies. Its size and balance make it easy to use and deploy in the field, even In hard to reach areas.

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Eli Manning :D
Healthy Gaming Guide

Achievements
1. Hong Kong Marketplace Completed
Complete the Hong Kong Marketplace level on any Difficulty setting. 10 Points

2. Tai O Completed
Complete the Tai O level on any Difficulty setting. 10 Points

3. The Mega Restaurant Completed
Complete The Mega Restaurant level on any Difficulty setting. 15 Points

4. Zakarov's Penthouse Completed
Complete the Zakarov's Penthouse level on any Difficulty setting. 15 Points

5. Chicago History Museum Completed
Complete the Chicago History Museum level on any Difficulty setting. 20 Points

6. Slums of Kowloon Completed
Complete the Slums of Kowloon level on any Difficulty setting. 20 Points

7. Wong's Estate Completed
Complete the Wong's Estate level on any Difficulty setting. 25 Points

8. Game Completed - Casual
Complete the entire game on the Casual Difficulty setting. 40 Points

9. Game Completed - Normal
Complete the entire game on the Normal Difficulty setting. 50 Points

10. Game Completed - Hard
Complete the entire game on the Hard Difficulty setting. 60 Points

11. Game Completed - Hard Boiled
Complete the entire game on the Hard Boiled Difficulty setting. 70 Points

12. I Don't Know How to Play Those
In The Mega Restaurant level, complete the Casino or the Restaurant without using the Guitar Cases. 20 Points

13. Paleontologist
In the Chicago History Museum level, completely destroy the Brachiosaurus or the T-Rex. 10 Points

14. Stay Dry
In the Slums of Kowloon level, stay along the top pathway in the crumbling sewer area. 10 Points

15. Master of Precision Aim
Kill 50 enemies with the Precision Aim special move. 25 Points

16. Master of Barrage
Kill 100 enemies with the Barrage special move. 25 Points

17. Master of Spin Attack
Kill 100 enemies with the Spin Attack Special Move. 25 Points

18. Barrage Specialist
Use the Barrage special move with every weapon. 10 Points

19. Old School
On any difficulty setting, complete a level without using any of the Tequila Bomb Special Moves. 25 Points

20. Untouchable
On any difficulty setting, complete a Standoff by defeating all enemies without taking any damage. 10 Points

21. Deadly World
Kill 50 enemies by using the environment instead of guns. 25 Points

22. Rolling Death
Kill 50 enemies while riding on a roll cart. 25 Points

23. Death by Swing
Kill 50 enemies while hanging from a chandelier. 25 Points

24. The Killer
Fire 10,000 times. 10 Points

25. Origami Master
Collect 250 Origami Cranes. 35 Points

26. Chow Would Be Proud
Kill 10 enemies with a 5 star kill rating. 15 Points

27. Ruthless
Perform a 50 star Style Combo. 30 Points

28. Massive D
Cause at least $75,000,000 of damage. 20 Points

29. Nobody Has That Much Style...
Acquire 5,000 total Style Points. 60 Points

30. Meet John Woo
Visit the Unlock Shop. 5 Points

31. Freedom!
Purchase all of the Multiplayer characters in the Unlock Shop. 10 Points

32. It's All Mine...
Purchase every item in the Unlock Shop. 30 Points

33. Tea Party
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Kowloon Teahouse map. 15 Points

34. Jurassic Battle
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Dinosaur Rotunda map. 15 Points

35. Mega Jackpot
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Golden Dragon Casino map. 15 Points

36. Lounge Lizard
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Mega Lounge map. 15 Points

37. Geronimo!
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Totem Pole Gallery map. 15 Points

38. Sea Food
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Tai O Drug Labs map. 15 Points

39. Movin' on Up
Host and complete 10 multiplayer matches on the Chicago Penthouse map. 15 Points

40. One Gun To Rule Them All
Finish in 1st place in a Multiplayer ranked match. 10 Points

41. Killing Spree
Get 5 kills in a row without dying in a Multiplayer ranked match. 20 Points

42. Bullet Ballet
Kill 50 opponents while in Tequila Time in Multiplayer matches. 20 Points

43. Winner Takes All
Kill 50 opponents using Tequila Bombs in Multiplayer matches. 20 Points

44. Hardboiled Killer
Kill 307 opponents in Multiplayer matches. 20 Points

45. Be the Master
Kill 100 opponents as John Woo in Multiplayer matches. 20 Points

Screenshots And Vids
Screenshots From Teamxbox

Vids From IGN

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Eli Manning :D
Healthy Gaming Guide