State of Emergency (video game)

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State of Emergency

Developer(s)	VIS Entertainment Ltd.
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Engine	Custom
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
Release date	February 2002 (NA)
Genre(s)	Beat 'em up
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature (M), BBFC: 18, USK: JK/SPIO-Gutachen
Media	CD-ROM, DVD-ROM
System requirements	PC Version: PIII 600MHz, 32MB DirectX 8.1 3D card, 600MB hard drive space.
Input methods	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 action-adventure video game released by Rockstar Games. It was developed by Scottish firm VIS Entertainment Ltd. for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. Hip Hop artists D-Stroy and Jean Grae provided voice overs for State of Emergency characters.

[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 features drug dealing and political assassinations.

[edit] Reaction

After the surprise success of Grand Theft Auto III, State of Emergency was eagerly anticipated as Rockstar Games' next release. However, the game was released to mixed reviews. 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

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.