State of Emergency (video game)
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| State of Emergency | |
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| Developer(s) | VIS entertainment Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Rockstar Games |
| Engine | Custom |
| Release date(s) | February 2002 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M), BBFC: 18, USK: JK/SPIO-Gutachen |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows |
| Media | CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| System requirements | PC Version: PIII 600MHz, 32MB DirectX 8.1 3D card, 600MB hard drive space. |
| Input | Joypad, keyboard (PC), mouse (PC) |
- This article is about the video game. For the governmental declaration, see State of emergency; for the album of the same name by The Living End, see State of Emergency (album).
State of Emergency is a controversial 2002 console game released by Rockstar Games. It was developed by Scottish firm VIS entertainment Ltd. for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows.
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[edit] Game features
[edit] Summary
The game takes place in the near future, where an omnipresent corporation (known simply as "The Corporation") rules the lives of the ordinary people. Dissidence and free speech are disallowed - rebellion is met with a swift and violent death. All private enterprise is owned by The Corporation.
Nonetheless, there is a small, growing resistance movement dedicated to overthrowing The Corporation by means of inciting riots. It is the player's aim to make life as difficult as possible for The Corporation by causing as much mayhem and destruction as possible. Each of the members of this uprising that the player can take control of have background stories that explain their hatred of The Corporation.
[edit] Gameplay
The game is played out in the third person, in the guise of a character selected before the game. In general, the aim is either to kill as many people as possible, or kill a specific person or group of people. Fundamentally, the game is broken down into Revolution Mode and Chaos Mode. Regardless of the mode selected, the game always begins in the middle of a mass riot, where looting, pillaging and brawls en masse have broken out.
Revolution Mode is to be considered as a "story" or "mission mode", where the player is invited to fulfil a series of missions. These missions are relayed to the player by means of a contact who always stands in the same place throughout the game. Once all missions in an area are completed, the player moves onto the next area. As previously mentioned, most missions involve the murder of a certain individual or group of individuals, in order to extract information, protect a target or simply for revenge. If a mission is failed due to the time expiring (usually represented by the death or escape of a key character), the player can replay the mission simply by visiting the contact again. The game ends if the player dies from loss of energy.
Chaos Mode (also written Kaos Mode in some versions) is akin to an "arcade mode", where the player is given free license to achieve a high score. The mode itself is divided into a number of smaller modes - timed modes require the player to cause as much mayhem and destruction within a set period of time, be it by destroying buildings, cars, killing Corporation police, gangs or thieves. Killing civilians is not penalized, except when explicitly stated at regular intervals. "Last Clone Standing" invites the player to massacre a crowd of genetically engineered clones using the weapons scattered around the level, including machine guns, axes, stun guns, grenade launchers, molotov cocktails and rocket launchers. The aim is to empty out the zone in the shortest time possible, although in the "timed clone" mode, the clones regenerate and the aim is simply to kill as many as possible in the allotted time.
Multiplayer is also featured in the game. Any of the Chaos Mode submodes can be played in multiplayer, and a standard deathmatch feature is also available.
[edit] Reaction
[edit] Controversy
The game caused considerable controversy for the extreme violence and its subject matter. It faced accusations of being a "hooligan simulator" and calls from numerous groups, most notably from a number of tabloids and parents' groups in the UK, to be banned. It received an 18 certificate. It even features things such as drug dealing, political assassinations, and even anarchist leaning views.
[edit] Critical reaction
Reaction to the game was moderately positive. The game's strengths were considered to be the value for money as a budget title, the simplistic fun offered, the technical achievement of having hundreds of people running around on a modest system, and the satirical sense of humor. Weaknesses cited include gameplay that might be considered too simple, and a poor multiplayer mode on the PC.
- Gamezone: 6.8 out of 10 [1]
- IGN: 6.6 out of 10 [2]
- Gamer's Hell: 6 out of 10
- PC Zone: 62%
- GameSpot: 7.2 out of 10 [3]
The PS2 version met with more positive reviews.
- IGN: 8.3
- Gamespot: 8.5
Despite this, a sequel, State of Emergency 2 was released in 2006. This game was again developed by VIS entertainment ltd although after they became insolvent and went into administration the game was completed by DC Studios and was released by SouthPeak Interactive.
