State of Emergency

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• Title — State of Emergency • Developer — VIS Entertainment • Publisher — Rockstar Games (PlayStation 2, Xbox) Global Star Software (Windows) • Platforms — PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows • Released — PlayStation 2 Xbox Microsoft Windows • Genre — Beat 'em up • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer

Set in a dystopian United States where big business gradually took over national affairs and suspended elections. It wasn't long before the American Trade Organization, most commonly known as "The Corporation", performs a coup and takes control in 2023, establishing a totalitarian corporate regime. Years later, in 2035, an underground movement called "Freedom" sparks a national riot and The Corporation declares a state of emergency in response. The game takes place in Capital City, the player joins Freedom to topple The Corporation; they must play as one of a selection of five characters, each with their own unique backgrounds.

The player is given a choice of characters to play as, however only two are available from the start. The remaining three must be unlocked. Roy MacNeil (AKA "Mack") - MacNeil was a cop for fifteen years before he was fired from the force for refusing to open fire on a group of rioters looting a Corporation grocery store. A highly respected and high-ranking officer, MacNeil's dismissal resulted in a city-wide strike of protest by his fellow officers. The Corporation retaliated by replacing the entire force with their own security firm. MacNeil and his fellow officers continued to protest, eventually uncovering evidence that Corporation was funding organized crime outfits to harass non-Corporation businesses. When the ex-officers attempted to air their findings, key members were assassinated, prompting MacNeil to go into hiding. He has since been instrumental in organizing the underground revolutionary group, Freedom. Anna Price (AKA "Libra") - Anna was an up-and-coming criminal attorney who once believed in the Corporation model of rebuilding America, until she was blackmailed by the security forces to falsify evidence against political prisoners. When Anna refused to railroad her clients and threatened to expose Corporation, she paid a horrible price. A car bomb planted by Corporation thugs killed her husband and daughter, but she survived the blast. Believed to be officially dead, Anna has now hooked up with Freedom seeking revenge on the fascist state. Hector Soldado (AKA "Spanky") - Spanky remembers the way his neighbourhood used to be. Although the neighborhood was previously impoverished, it is depicted as having deteriorated significantly due to ongoing conflict. Overrun by state-sponsored death squads and gangs, The Corporation has engaged in a prolonged conflict against the residents of Spanky's neighbourhood. Once a hardened gang member, he has now directed his efforts to organizing his community into an armed resistance against the Corporation. Ricky Thang (AKA "Freak" or "Phreak") - Ricky was orphaned in high school when his parents were arrested as political dissidents and were never seen again. Ricky went into hiding with other runaways before he was recruited by agents of Freedom. As Ricky's father used to run a PC repair shop, he has been using PC's since he was a child, and has become a prolific hacker and phone phreak. He is personally responsible for several attacks against Corporation's infrastructure, which first attracted the Freedom movement to put the hacker to good use. Edward Raymonds (AKA "The Bull") - The Bull graduated from Mesa High and joined the armed forces before the Corporation takeover. He was discovered by a sports agent while playing for the army's football team, and was recruited to play professionally. The Bull enjoyed a legendary career until the Corporation bought the professional football league. When he refused to participate in Corporation-sponsored match fixing, he was framed for illegal drug-use, and served five years in prison. With his future bleak and reputation destroyed, The Bull was ready to go take out as many of the men responsible as he could. The Bull now uses his experience to train new recruits to Freedom and lead organized attacks against the Corporation.

A sequel, State of Emergency 2, was released in 2006. This game was once again developed by VIS Entertainment; during production, the company became insolvent and the game was completed by DC Studios before being released by SouthPeak Games.

State of Emergency is described in the collections that hold this material as Publication is recorded by Global Star Software. The recorded date of publication is 2002. It is associated with United Kingdom. Recorded genres are beat 'em up.