Stranglehold

With Max Payne's creators Remedy currently busy planning Alan Wake's shadowy nightmares, it's down to Midway to fly the slo-mo, bullet-ridden flag for third-person shooters. Stranglehold is being co-produced by John Woo's Tiger Hill Studios, and is a game sequel to the 1992 Hong Kong action movie Hard Boiled, which starred Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector 'Tequila' Yuen. Along with Midway's 'Massive D' technology for fully interactive and destructible environments, which include a tea house and market (both packed with hundreds of delicate items to destroy), Stranglehold is looking every bit the violent, cinematic, gun-toting explode-a-thon we all desperately want..

He Dinosaur-Us

As well as third-person action, a useful Resident Evil 4-style over-the-shoulder view allows you to pick off distant targets more accurately - especially with the superior PC mouse-control.

Woo's In The House

John Woo has been fully involved in the creative process, using his movie team to make storyboards, writing the script and making stylistic decisions such as ensuring the game developers don't include any limb-splattering.

Museum Piece

Locations for Stranglehold include Hong Kong and Chicago, where this historical museum level takes place. Here, Inspector Tequila can unleash bulletfury on rare porcelain vases, dinosaur skeletons, fossils in glass cases - and the criminal underworld.

Shot Machine

Inspector Yuen has three lethal 'Tequila Bomb' special moves: Precision Aim which targets enemies for a one-sliot kill; Barrage for concentrated gunfire; and Spin Attack for a 360-degree killing.

D For Destruction

Midway's 'Massive D' technology means you can blast most of the game's scenery, creating chaotic debris-flying action reminiscent of the lobby scene in The Matrix.

Smooth Moves

Controlling Tequila is easy, with context-sensitive moves such as leaping across tables done by running towards them - you don't even have to press jump - keeping the John Woo action flowing fast.

Off His Trolley

Inspector Tequila can interact with objects like this service trolley, which you can leap onto and, with your built-up momentum, ride into a room full of surprised enemies to take them all out with extreme prejudice.