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Crazy Taxi 2

Score: 80%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Media: GD/1
Players: 1
Genre: Arcade/ Racing

Graphics & Sound:

Following the original 1999 arcade hit, Crazy Taxi 2 continues the look, feel and sound of its predecessor perfectly. The graphics stay sharp and crisp as always, speeding by at 60 frames per second (for the most part) with two pretty new levels to stare at. The sound effects are still as wacky as ever (the welcome return of that 'time to make some craaaaaAAAAAaaaazy money' announcer really lets you know what you're playing!), and CT2's soundtrack consists mainly of Offspring tunes again -- but with only four main songs to keep players rocking for hours, perhaps they could've thrown more in this time. Still, it all adds up to a solid presentation for a very solid game.

Gameplay:

The premise stays the same: drive around at breakneck speeds, pick up oddball passengers willing to pay you over 300 bucks to take them two blocks away, drop 'em off, and repeat until time runs out. Only this time you're in New York City, a new trick (the indispensable Crazy Hop) has been thrown into the mix, and four never-before-seen cabbies are yours for the picking. It might feel exactly like the old Crazy Taxi, but this is an entirely new playing field.

Outside of the two single player levels, there's the fun-filled Crazy Pyramid, a series of stacked mini-games designed to force the player to learn the ropes and unlock new vehicles and maps. From jumping hurdles and playing golf with your cab, to hopping across narrow bridges miles above the city, there's plenty of fun to be had and several records to break. Put this together with the ability to record replays of your own insane driving exhibitions, and CT2 delivers enough to keep almost anyone entertained for weeks.


Difficulty:

Veterans of the first Crazy Taxi will see the same challenge of car control (with the exception of the new Crazy Hop ability), while newcomers should take the time to learn each essential move through the mini-games before trying their hand at the Big Apple. This can be a tough game, but nearly anyone can sit down and have a good 'ol time just the same, even if just for three minutes at a time. There's no option for difficulty settings, so if you don't learn how to drive a mean cab sooner or later, you definitely won't be getting far without practice.

Game Mechanics:

Technically, CT2 really shows off what the Dreamcast can do in some areas. The only noticeable slowdown seems to occur when driving through a long strip of water, and the draw distances are phenomenal to say the least -- pretty important in a game where being able to see your goal a mile away is absolutely crucial. The controls are almost exactly like the previous game; in other words, flawless. It'll take some getting used to in order to consistently perform the Crazy Dash all around the city and such, but everything feels just right after an hour of playing.

For any fan of the original, Crazy Taxi 2 might not deliver much in terms of innovation... but sometimes change isn't necessarily required to make a great sequel. Sega certainly scores another point in a recent string of fine games for the Dreamcast with this one, but the question remains -- how long must we wait until Crazy Taxi 3 sneaks up on us?


-Ben Monkey, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ben Lewis

Sega Dreamcast 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker Sega Dreamcast Daytona USA

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated