Pros: More challenging, multiple riders at once add to challenge
Cons: The "Crazy Jump" makes the gameplay too cheap, tired formula, difficult to navigate through city
The bottom line: Sega failed to exceed the expectations with of it's predecessor resulting in Crazy Taxi 2 being an overall disappointment not worth it's fare
The original Crazy Taxi exploded in the arcades with it's addicting insane premise of taxing people around the city for a couple thousand bucks, yeah this game was crazy. None crazier than it's following, Crazy Taxi made the arcade market shine for a time being until it's Dreamcast-ported release in 1999, which made owners of the Dreamcast proud to own a worthwhile arcade title; which is a genre the critics bash for it's simplicity. Although Crazy Taxi is pretty simple and very arcade-like, the formula is addicting, and knowing that, it kept players on edge for a while, outlasting many arcade titles of the times. Knowing Crazy Taxi's immense success on the Dreamcast, Sega and Hitmaker went a did a sequel and released it on the Dreamcast with high hopes of it continuing it's success that the first had. The problem here is that Crazy Taxi is a serios that had many ideas perfect and simple; Crazy Taxi 2 blows the concept out of control resulting in a tired, and very undesirable sequel of an ultra-success. Sega does not do a fine job of attempting to capitalize on Crazy Taxi.


It's probably because most of us are desensitized to Crazy Taxi, pumping many hours into the home version and many quarters in the sit-down (and even stand-up) machines in the arcades, but you can't help saying that Sega killed itself since Crazy Taxi was so brilliantly made. It basically made you want to play the game until you were sick of the looping soundtrack. The setting was perfect, in the beautiful San Francisco-esque city with extremely sloped roads, mid-city parks, and even parking garages. The city seemed to capture a little of Miami in there as well, resulting in a perfect city to be speeding like a madman in because it's... well... crazy. In CT2, the setting is obviously not labeled New York, but you'd be a fool not to realized this is what it is. One of the game's biggest problems is being that it takes place in New York; a state with tons of side roads and clutter. In CT2, you'll easily be sidetracked during the missions which must of been why Sega added the "Crazy Jump" feature. Sadly, I think this too is the other big problem that bogs Crazy Taxi 2 on a downward spiral. Between being frustrated at the horrible direction the arrow gives off, you'll often find yourself heading into a building instead of your destination; oh the frustration. Never in the original did one have this problem, which is what made the game adaptive. Gameplay is anything but fluid in this new, overly-crowded city of New York.


The gameplay is simple; choose one of the four new cabbies; Slash, Ice Man, Cinnamon, and Hot-D. Each have their own cabs, advantages, and disadvantages for all levels of difficulty. You'll then choose to play arcade rules, or work for 3, 5, or 10 minutes... driving (you sicko). You hop into the game, and find potential customers. Different colors of money signs over the pedestrians determines the range you'll be taking them, and the money you'll be recieving. Are you willing to pay $1,000 for a trip down the street? Maybe a tad eccentric, but it's a working formula. In Crazy Taxi 2, you'll now be able to pick up multiple passagers, which is very challenging and risky. If you don't drop them all off, you lose a lot of money, but should you succeed, you'll be in for the big payoff. Of course, you'll be able to use many skills in your cab, in order to shave off time and perform more precisely around the sharp corners in the crowded city.


As mentioned before, Sega adds the new "Crazy Jump" feature which to my surmise is because these cities are nearly impossible to fluidly navigate through. With no help of the horrendous misdirected arrow, Sega tries to sympathize with our apathies by giving us the eccentrically dispicible "Crazy Jump" that while fun to use at times, only makes the game cheap and a tad over-the-top. Without shame, I admit that the jump can get one out of such situations, where it's clearly needed, but overall it's inclusion in Crazy Taxi 2 is just plain annoying. And of course, you can't not use it; the game was built around the required use of that pitiful Crazy Jump horse-pucker. Sega, you've ruined Crazy Taxi with that ridiculous jump, since you'll be forced to use it almost always, nullifying the idea of actually driving. It's true, you'll be forced to use the jump so often, you'll sware driving is a underlaying part of getting to locations. Amongst the new "Jump", you'll also have the Crazy Dash; ability to jump-start, Crazy Drift; swifter turning at higher speeds, as well as plenty of other moves that the game will teach you.


Even though the Dreamcast never looked too stellar compared with the rivaling consoles, Crazy Taxi 2 still looks well done. This time, Sega improved the framerates over the last, ridding of most of the slowdown that plagued the original (only in the mid-city portions of the game) adding more surrounding insanity to be able to handle the hardware better. Unfortunately, CT2 looks and feels exactly like the original game, sporting the same NAOMI arcade graphics, lacking any vast improvements. Just keep in mind, these graphics do look a tad flat and dull now, but respectively, they do the job and hardly ever bother with slowdown problems. Player models and car models look very boxy and low-polygonal as well, but this is what the console does to maintain a decent framerate under all it's circumstances. Without any further complaints, the looks fine, if starting to look aged, still maintains a satisfactory presentation.


Like the original, due to the ample popularity of the previous bands chosen to play in the game's underlaying soundtrack, Sega signs on punk-rock group The Offspring to do the soundtrack once again. Taken mostly from their most acclaimed album, Americana, Sega has included various tracks such as "Americana", "No Brakes", "Walla Walla", "Come Out Swinging", and "One Fine Day" premiere in the game. Like the previous game, the music will repeat itself endlessly, which will most likely having you singing along within a few hours, or hating it so much you'll want it muted completely; which is an option. There's also some tracks from the much-dreaded Tommy Lee, who in my opinion I would rather see marked with tire tracks than appearing on this soundtrack. Having such respect for the accomplished Offspring, it's great to see that their screaming of "Ya Ya Ya Ya Yaaaa!" has made it back, but that song, is no longer the poster-song for the game. Of course, various chants from the drivers and their surly, racy, and zealous remarks have returned, but this time with an entirely new cast.


There's a new setting, more frustrations, and more arcadey gameplay in Crazy Taxi 2. Sadly, the formula is tired, and dried-out, especially for players like I, who've sucked all the goodness out of the original. You have the Crazy Pyramid, where you'll be able to unlock the game's secrets and learn how to drive that taxi like a pro. Like the first, get used to hearing endless repition in and out between the soundtrack and retrying time and time again. There's also an online function, however it's not quite what you'd think. You can obviously hook-up via your modem, however, you'll only be able to upload replays, and scores on the website, which is almost a wasteful, and uninspired addition that doesn't quite take advantage of online play. Overall, fans who can put up with the game's boring gameplay and hightened challenge may welcome Crazy Taxi 2, but sadly, it's not as impressive as it was predicted.


FINAL COMMENTS
Basically, Crazy Taxi 2 isn't the sequel it was amped to be. I for one, who enjoyed the original and without a doubt label the game a classic, was extremely let down by Crazy Taxi 2. Within a half hour of playing, it took me to realize that the game is nothing but a poorly made sequel that fails to make any vast improvements. Said tersely, Crazy Taxi 2 is a disappointment. While not a bad game, it's simply bogged even lower because it's drags out the original's gameplay in a setting that just plain doesn't work.

Between putting up with that horrendous arrow, and dealing with the frustrations of the gameplay, it all sums up in being the game is just not fun on it's second outing. I could play the original again, but I cannot play this game anymore. Fans beware, CT2 is not what you expect.

FINAL DECISION
(on a basis of Epinions' stars ratings)

Visual
3 out of 5

Audio
3 out of 5

Gameplay
2 out of 5

Control
4 out of 5

Lasting Prowess
2 out of 5