State of Emergency- Did it foreshadow the future?

There is no question whatsoever that RockStar Games has been one of the most popular video game producers in the gaming industry for at least two decades now. During the 2000’s RockStar Games gave the world classics like Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Max Payne 2 and Bully which are also considered legendary today. While RockStar Games had produced many high profile video games during the 00’s and 10’s decades there are a few titles that have been overshadowed despite not being massive commercial success. One of the few titles developed by RockStar Games that many people considered to be highly underrated is State of Emergency from 2002. For those who do not know State of Emergency was developed by the now defunct VIS Entertainment and was released for PS2, Xbox and PC between 2002-2003. State of Emergency was a 3D beat em up game that came out during a time period where the genre was no longer popular. However, some go on record and argue that State of Emergency was kinda fun because it felt like a cross between Grand Theft Auto and the Fighting Force game from 1997. Despite, how fun State of Emergency was back in the early 00’s the story for the game itself was quite interesting yet unnerving.

The setting for State of Emergency takes place in the year 2035 and the American Trade Organization has managed to successfully overthrow the government after creating a para-military and establishing a totalitarian police state in the United States. The actions of the American Trade Organization also known as “The Corporation” ultimately lead to anarchy in America where there is nothing but chaos and civil unrest. The setting of State of Emergency takes place twelve years after America has been crippled by an economic crisis which began in 2023. As it currently stands America is on the verge of entering another major economic crisis in the year 2023. It should also be noted that mass layoffs across America has been taking place since 2020 leading to millions across the country losing their jobs. It scary to think what America might look like in 2025 yet alone 2035. State of Emergency may not have been the greatest beat em up game of all-time but story for the game seems prophetic hindsight.