State of Emergency (video game)

State of Emergency

Developer(s) VIS Entertainment
Publisher(s) Rockstar Games
Engine Custom
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
Release date(s) PlayStation 2
  • NA February 12, 2002
  • EU February 15, 2002
Xbox
  • NA March 26, 2003
  • EU April 4, 2003
Windows
  • NA July 29, 2003
  • EU 2003
Genre(s) Beat 'em up
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Distribution CD-ROM, DVD-ROM

State of Emergency is a 2002 action-adventure video game released by Rockstar Games. It was developed by Scottish firm VIS Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows.

Plot

The American Trade Organization has declared a State of Emergency. The player must join an underground crew to put this organization out of business; they must play as one of a selection of five characters who each have their own unique backgrounds.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS2) 70.44%[1]
(Xbox) 64.54%[2]
(PC) 61.33%[3]
Metacritic(PS2) 71/100[4]
(Xbox) 67/100[5]
(PC) 65/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame(Xbox) [7]
(PS2) [8]
Edge4/10[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly6.33/10[10][11]
Eurogamer4/10[12]
Game Informer(PS2) 8/10[13]
(Xbox) 7/10[14]
GamePro(PS2) [15]
(Xbox) [16]
Game RevolutionC−[17]
GameSpot(PS2) 8.5/10[18]
(Xbox) 7.8/10[19]
(PC) 7.2/10[20]
GameSpy(PS2) 70%[21]
(Xbox) [22]
GameZone(PS2) 8.3/10[23]
(Xbox) 8/10[24]
(PC) 6.8/10[25]
IGN(PS2) 8.3/10[26]
6.6/10[27][28]
Official PlayStation Magazine (US)[29]
Official Xbox Magazine6.5/10[30]
PC Gamer (US)43%[31]
The Cincinnati Enquirer[32]
Entertainment WeeklyC[33]

State of Emergency was met with average to mixed reception. 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. GameRankings and Metacritic gave the game a score of 70.44% and 71 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version;[1][4] 64.54% and 67 out of 100 for the Xbox version;[2][5] and 61.33% and 65 out of 100 for the PC version.[3][6]

FHM gave the PS2 version a score of four stars out of five and called it "Manic, frenzied and violent gaming at its gripping best."[34] The Cincinnati Enquirer also gave the same version four stars out of five and stated that "This new 'bad boy' of the video game industry is extremely fun to play — for those old enough and mature enough to purchase it — as a campy stress releaser at the end of a bad day."[32] However, Maxim gave the same version a score of six out of ten and said, "Such virtual destruction may once have seemed innocent, but these days the whole thing hits a little close to home."[35] Entertainment Weekly gave said version a C, saying, "Four levels are too few to stay interesting for all 175-plus missions, which are too bloody repetitive."[33] The Village Voice gave the Xbox version a similar score of five out of ten and said, "In 'Revolution' mode—a series of nearly identical, frustrating mini-missions—the jackbooted thugs, now armed with pistols, make life much tougher. (Deeply flawed camera views don't help.) What's the point if you can't steal your family some diapers?"[36]

Before its release, the game was denounced by Washington state politicians for its similarity to the real-life 1999 World Trade Organization riots and protests in Seattle which caused $3 million in damages. The game features the fictional "American Trade Organization" as the antagonistic establishment.[37]

Sequel

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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State of Emergency for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State of Emergency for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "State of Emergency for PC". GameRankings. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "State of Emergency for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "State of Emergency for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "State of Emergency for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ Deci, T.J. "State of Emergency (Xbox) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "State of Emergency (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Edge staff (April 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Edge (109).
  10. ↑ EGM staff (April 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly.
  11. ↑ EGM staff (May 2003). "State of Emergency (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 134.
  12. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (March 5, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  13. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (April 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Game Informer (108): 70. Archived from the original on August 24, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  14. ↑ Brogger, Kristian (May 2003). "State of Emergency (Xbox)". Game Informer (121): 91. Archived from the original on November 15, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  15. ↑ Major Mike (March 1, 2002). "State of Emergency Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  16. ↑ Bro Buzz (April 17, 2003). "State of Emergency Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  17. ↑ Silverman, Ben (March 2002). "State of Emergency Review (PS2)". Game Revolution. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  18. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff. "State of Emergency Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  19. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (March 28, 2003). "State of Emergency Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  20. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (August 15, 2003). "State of Emergency Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  21. ↑ Osborne, Scott (March 3, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  22. ↑ Stratton, Stephen (April 5, 2003). "GameSpy: State of Emergency (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  23. ↑ Krause, Kevin (February 23, 2002). "State of Emergency - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  24. ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (March 30, 2003). "State of Emergency - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  25. ↑ Hopper, Steven (October 15, 2003). "State of Emergency Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  26. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (February 15, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  27. ↑ Boulding, Aaron (March 27, 2003). "State of Emergency Review (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  28. ↑ Boulding, Aaron (September 8, 2003). "State of Emergency (PC)". IGN. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  29. ↑ "State of Emergency". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 108. April 2002.
  30. ↑ "State of Emergency". Official Xbox Magazine: 74. May 2003.
  31. ↑ Kuo, Li C. (December 2003). "State of Emergency". PC Gamer: 132. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Saltzman, Marc (March 13, 2002). "Gaming getaways". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Robischon, Noah (March 22, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Entertainment Weekly (645): 114. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  34. ↑ Moynihan, David (March 3, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". FHM. Archived from the original on April 10, 2002. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  35. ↑ Porter, Alex (February 7, 2002). "State of Emergency (PS2)". Maxim. Archived from the original on January 24, 2002. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  36. ↑ Catucci, Nick (April 15, 2003). "Special Forces". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  37. ↑ "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly". Game Informer XI (100): 17. August 2001.

External links