Crazy Taxi 2 - Sega Dreamcast

First off, Sega moved the scenery from hilly San Francisco to the narrow urban canyons of New York City--which is a bad thing if the hills in the first game were an attraction. But this one has Central Park, and that's a thrill unto itself. Also, Crazy Taxi 2 lets you pick up multiple passengers (on occasion), which is the best way to keep that timer up and score bigger points.

Once again you've got aggravating and conspicuous advertising in the game--from Burger King and KFC to clothing stores and other real-world destinations. Masters of Mayhem and Offspring supply the music. The Offspring song is a new one--at least we're pretty sure it is--but like all Offspring songs it sounds like the one from the last game.

Additionally, there are new Crazy Stunts you can perform. Crazy Golf entails a run at a massive ball, with a goal of smacking it a good 100 yards. Crazy Balloon 2 challenges you to pop all the balloons in a short span of time. Plus there are three more minigames you can play. You can play arcade style with a set time limit, or on a big or small NYC map.

The controls are tight and easily as good as last time, but some players may still have trouble performing some of the more difficult tricks. Also, this game is extremely similar to the first one. Anyone bored with Crazy Taxi isn't going to find Crazy Taxi 2 a breath of fresh air. But the game is still really fun for players of all ages. It's crazy, wild, and a completely realistic simulation of a real NYC cab ride. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros: NY, NY is a heck of town Same tried-and-true gameplay as the original Lots of new minigames, drivers, and maps Cons: No hills Same tried-and-true gameplay as the original

Amazon.com Product Description
Crazy Taxi 2 is set in the most taxi-crazed city of them all: New York. Leaving the California sun behind, this sequel has a grittier, more urban aesthetic--and an attitude to match. Though the object of the game is still to pick up and shuttle fares across the city, Crazy Taxi 2 sports better graphics, new and returning drivers, more missions, and a wild new jump feature that lets you clear cars and intersections at the touch of a button. Adding to the game's challenge are cab-sharing groups of people who aren't always going to the same place.