So shallow (State Of Emergency (PS2))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	State Of Emergency (PS2)
Date:	06/09/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun for a little bit

Disadvantages: Repetitive and even boring

Following the massive success of Grand Theft Auto 3, it was hoped that State of Emergency might follow suit and be a stunningly crafted game with a great story and addictive gameplay. Sadly, it's none of these things, but it's an alright shoot em up if you're bored, even if it's got not even superficial depth and is in fact a little bland.

It's a very strange game indeed, involving you attempting to overthrow an Orwellian, dystopian government with the most violent means possible. It has been called a "hooligan simulator", and like most of Rockstar's games, had the usual fleet of bored parents trying to get it banned.

As a bit of fun whilst you make for a pizza to cook or something, it's an alright game - the controls are very responsive and the visual element is actually pretty good, rendered in the same sort of cartonnish style as the GTA games. Sadly, it's far too repetitive though, and the game consits largely of turning up somewhere with a huge cache of weapons, and then unloading those weapons on anyone who happens to be in the vicinity. It's just a shame that it has ZERO depth - there's not much reason to come back to it once you've beaten every mission, unless you're in a bad mood and want instant, violent gratification without any inherent logic.

I won't write Rockstar off entirely because of this one foul game, but it feels as though they just knocked out a lazy effort that they knew people would buy after the astronomical success of GTA3. This is a brainless game that gets rather boring very quickly, and is alright in spells, but won't have you glued to the console for hours at a time by any means. I imagine it's a lot more enjoyable if you're mildly (see: heavily) intoxicated, though.

Summary: A soulless cash-in