In the intro movie, Claude is seen being shot three times in the back. Though he was not Killed Off for Real, and in fact was sent into an ambiguous coma/recovery time, right up to an alternate 2013 where the Zaibatsu drug front has grown into a mega-cooperation that influences most of the authority and the society in "Anywhere City". This might explain how he plans to get revenge on the Zaibatsu for trying to kill him, either by taking over or killing their executives along with their operations at the end of a level (Plus, he does appear to be older in the screenshot showing him within the in-game's proper setting aesthetic). Also, assuming this is the same Claude as in ''GTA 3'', It could be argued that the intro movie takes place after that game's events, given the short time gap between 2001 and 1999, as well as the absence of Catalina. Either that or he's just in a shorter coma, dreaming of a place called Anywhere City in-between both titles.
The Yakuza represent Greed with spades of Pride. They are thieves that accumulate wealth and hardware through their maritime industry and smuggling operations. They also love to show off the hardware that they have stolen so they can show everyone else that they have the latest and greatest weapons, cars, and clothes.
The Rednecks represent Wrath. They are Religious-nationalists from the Deep South who hate everyone and everything from the comfort of their large trailer park complex. Whether it is their moonshine production or their ideals, they don't care how under-developed they look to others, as they will come with shotguns ablaze, willing to kill anyone who is not like them and blow anyone and anything up as they wish.
The Scientists represent Lust with spades of Sloth. They represent a fringe faction of elite and disgruntled scientists, dedicated to imposing their own, dubious morality on the world. They harbor a desire for scientific research, despite the risks and ramifications of such if they are put to the test in real life. They’ll fight anyone who doesn't believe in the ability of eugenics, genetic modification, and euthanasia to build a better tomorrow. Their research also seems to support automation at the cost of more practical solutions.
The Hare Krishna represent Sloth with spades of Lust. They loath technology, reject progression and modern conveniences, preferring to enact forcefully against anyone who opposes their own views at the cost of the well-being of others. They have neglected their old ways of promoting their faith after being run down frequently by other crooks in cars, so they steal guns and cars in response and have them crushed and destroyed to rid the world of their peace-breaking menace. Their longing for an older way of living reflects a desire of which can be seen as a harmful obsession in its own right.
The Russians represent Envy. They show spades of being bummed that communism failed, as they are but lugging old technology around, and resort to stealing expensive American cars and weaponry to ship back home as a way of settling the score. They also control a huge underground organ and body part smuggling operation, (all while trivializing human resources just to put more food on the market.) and dominate the important contract-killing industry.
The Zaibatsu represent Pride with spades of Greed. Though they also steal a lot of stuff and are very rich themselves, their goals and agendas are more focused on domination and control than anything else. They are a shadowy and mysterious gigantic corporation, so large and powerful that it has become mostly political and runs the city behind the scenes. They go above making drugs to take advantage of other people, as they are also involved with building new power sources, expanding their products into food and hygiene, and manipulating politics in the background. They also have an agenda to expand their business and industries across an entire city, all while they plaster their insignia on everything they own, in order to further their civil presence and influence on both the city and its populace.
