Top 10 Video Games for Fans of the Heroic Bloodshed genre and director John Woo to Play [Linwood’s Picks]

Much like many other fans of the Heroic Bloodshed genre, my first introduction to it was through John Woo’s critically acclaimed masterpiece ‘Hard Boiled’, the first two entries of the ‘A Better Tomorrow’ trilogy, and ‘The Killer’. His style has continued to influence action cinema and his trademarks such as dual-wielding guns, were at one point commonplace in many shooters. Seeing as how there are no lists that are dedicated to his strong presence during this era of gaming, I decided to make a list of my Top 10 video games that showcase the impact that his directorial style and panache for violence have had.

10. DEAD TO RIGHTS

“The game focuses on Jack Slate, a police officer partnered with his dog Shadow. The two patrol Grant City, a metropolis seemingly populated with more criminals than honest citizens. One night while on a routine patrol, Jack responds to a call at a construction zone, only to find his own father murdered.” [Note: Both this and its sequel/prequel are recommended.]

9. MAX PAYNE

“The game centers on former NYPD police detective Max Payne, who attempts to solve the mysterious murders of his wife and daughter, in connection to a drug trafficking case involving a designer drug named “Valkyr” and while doing so, is entangled in a larger and complex conspiracy, involving the U.S. military.” [Note: The entire trilogy is recommended.]

8. TOTAL OVERDOSE

“The player assumes the unexisting role of Ramiro “Ram” Cruz; criminal turned DEA Agent. He has been sent into the Mexican border city of Los Toros and its surroundings by his twin brother Tommy, who wants him to find out who killed their father Ernesto Cruz.”

7. TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF LA

“The game tells the story of Nicholas Kang, an uncompromising Los Angeles police officer who is recruited into the Elite Operations Division in order to investigate a series of bombings in Chinatown. As he delves further into the case, he discovers it may be connected to the disappearance of his police-officer father twenty years previously.” [Note: The entire trilogy is recommended.]

6. ADVENT RISING

“The game begins with Gideon Wyeth; the protagonist, escorting a group of human ambassadors from a space station to a meeting with an alien race called the Aurelians. … After learning that humans have untapped mystical powers, he begins training with the Aurelians.”

5. THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO

“Play as Neo and battle your way through familiar fights and situations from the Matrix trilogy. Every choice has a consequence. From the Wachowski Brothers.”

4. F.E.A.R.

“The game’s story revolves around a supernatural phenomenon, which F.E.A.R.—a fictional special forces team—is called to contain. The player assumes the role of F.E.A.R.’s Point Man, who possesses superhuman reflexes, and must uncover the secrets of a paranormal menace in the form of a little girl Alma.”

3. WET

“The player takes on the role of Rubi Malone, hired gun and “problem fixer,” who will take pretty much any job for the right price. She’s got a reputation as one of the best in the business, so of course one day she gets double-crossed, almost killed, and not paid. Incredibly pissed at this turn of events, Rubi sets off on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge that takes her across three continents.”

2. WANTED: WEAPONS OF FATE

“Set about five hours after the events of the film, Wesley Gibson continues his transformation into a full-fledged assassin and heir to a legacy of a secret fraternity of assassins. He continues his quest with a new mission to seek out the French chapter of The Fraternity, to hunt down The Immortal, and finally discover the truth about his family.” [Note: Watching the movie adaptation of the graphic novel ‘Wanted’ from Mark Millar is recommended.]

1. STRANGLEHOLD

Take on the role of Inspector Tequila from John Woo’s influential action film, ‘Hard Boiled’ starring Chow Yun-Fat. Engage your enemies with intense cinematic gun battles and cause massive environmental damage in real-time or revolutionary slow-motion Tequila Time [Watching ‘Hard Boiled’ prior is not needed, however, recommended if you have not seen the movie.]

Bonus entry…

MAXIMUM

“MAXIMUM Action is a brutal and satisfying physics-based first-person shooter influenced by Hong Kong cinema, heroic slow-motion bloodshed, and old-school balls-to-the-wall retro FPS action.”

Linwood Storm

Linwood Storm is an American musician, executive producer, filmmaker, director, actor, publisher, voice-over artist and comic book writer from Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is currently the host of the ‘Black Grindhouse’ podcast and founder of GameCargo.

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