Amazon.com Review

The Dreamcast system is, in a word, awesome. Fire up Soul Calibur, and instantly you'll appreciate that the graphics and gameplay are even better than in the arcade version. And Sonic Adventure, with its light-speed gameplay, is sure to wow even the most jaded gamer.

It's amazing that such a small machine (it's about the size of your mouse pad) can deliver such incredible performance. Chalk it up to superior engineering. Dreamcast's only downside is that it comes with only one controller and a demo disc. In order to truly take advantage of Dreamcast's capabilities, we recommend outfitting the controller with a Jump Pack and a Visual Memory Unit. Getting one or more extra controllers is also a good idea, because some of the best Dreamcast games support up to four players at once.

Why it's so cool:

• Ultramodern components: Custom-made video, audio, and processor technology blows away the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation and puts Dreamcast in the same league as PS2 and XBox.
• Integrated modem: In another video-game first, Dreamcast comes with a 56K modem. Use your regular Internet service provider and the separately sold keyboard to access e-mail, shopping, and the World Wide Web. Not only can you upload high scores, participate in chat discussions, and download updates and enhancements for your games, but, through a membership to the SegaNet Internet service provider, you can play Quake III Arena, NFL 2K1, and other games against Dreamcast owners over the Internet.
• The Visual Memory Unit (VMU): More than just a memory card, the VMU is a miniature portable game system that fits inside a controller--so its LCD screen is easily seen by you but hidden from your opponent.
• All-in-one entertainment: It plays games. It plays audio CDs. It connects to the Internet and lets you browse the Web or e-mail friends. Our note to the cost-conscious: If you have a Dreamcast system, you just don't need a separate CD player or a separate computer. Dreamcast does it all, and does it well.

Reviews (930)

The Sega Dreamcast is better than a Gamecube.
I love the Sega Dreamcast so much. The Dreamcast has online and a Gamecube dose not. A Dreamcast is easyer. A Gamecube is more harder. Dreamcast has more better games than Gamecube. Gamecube is just a copy of a Dreamcast. I give a Gamecube a 7.5 . I give a Sega Dreamcast a 9.5 . I wish they haven't stop making games for the Dreamcast.

Hours of good fun playing!
I bought a Dreamcast last week for (...)with more than 20 games and I'm very happy I did! Some games on it are just amazing.. I have an xbox but I love fighting games and Dreamcast has a bunch of quality ones. I can also play, nes, snes, mega drive and mames games on TV: that's just the best ! Very cool console.

Dreamcast
The release of NHL 2K2 marks the end of the Sega Dreamcast's remarkable run. While production of the Dreamcast may be over, the legacy lives on. In the dreamcasts short lived life time 248 Dreamcast titles were released. The first console to venture into online gameplay, Dreamcast has a built-in 56K modem. With 128-bit processing, 3D audio capabilities and stellar 3D graphics, your gameplay experience just got better.

When you purchase Dreamcast, you receive the Dreamcast console, 56K modem, one standard Dreamcast Controller, Stereo A/V cable, power cable, ten-meter phone cable, Internet browser CD-ROM, game sampler CD-ROM, and instruction manual.

Peak graphics performance of over three million polygons per second provided by the PowerVR 2DC graphics engine for the fastest, most sophisticated 3D graphics ever seen on a videogame console.

128-bit 3D processing power provides amazing lighting and other special effects.

Built-in 56kbps modem for the ultimate in multiplayer online gaming.

16 megabytes of memory for huge, complex game worlds.
64-voice CD-quality audio.

Four built-in controller ports for easy multi-player action.
Built-in high-speed expansion ports.

If you a collector and want the last sega console ever made then dreamcast can be had for about $40 to $20 bucks depending on where you look

a chunk of moneydown the drain
I bought it, but then I bought sonic adventure 2 after that. I turned my console on, then the screen turned pitch black. It froze. If you want to play sonic adventure or sonic adventure 2, buy a NINTENDO GAMECUBE. I know those work. This system is 6 years old. If you buy it, a big clump of money is down the drain. Now, go to the homepage and type 'gamecube' in the search bar for amazon.com and start shoppin'!

What is wrong with you ppl?
Ok, Ive been reading the reviews and I'm A bit angry. Sega revolutionized the market with Dreamcast.Without it, alot of the games we play now might not even exist. Without Sega, We might not even have 3-D games. The first systems with true 3-D capabilities were the Saturn and PS1 and the PS1 technology was stolen from Nintendo! The Playstation was A CD add-on for Super Nintendo but when Sony was recruited, they stole the technology and the name. If Nintendo were to launch a lawsuit and the new home console code named revolution, you would be buying Nintendo PSP because Sony would be wiped out. As for the Dreamcast, it was a great system but because the phanboys failed to see that, it failed. As for the phanboys in question, if you cant even capitalize letters, your not worth my time. Stop putting bad reviews here and go play your PS2. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?

The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.

Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.

Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallower thanthis (you are essentially performing tasks and exploring, instead of gaming),but the game feels like no other and is ultimately satisfying by the time thatit all ends. In this way, Shenmue is more than a game--it's an eventthat's worth experiencing. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Compelling, well-told story
• Good action and combat
• Fantastic sound and graphics

• Plot is familiar to fans of kung fu action films
• Task-and-exploration gameplay might seem slow to action gamers

Reviews (300)

The realistic sphere of emotion and time
Shenmue is a graphic adventure game from 2000 exclusive to the Sega Dreamcast.The setting is Japan in 1986.You're placed in the role of Ryo Hazuki, an 18-year-old student and martial arts disciple on a winding, multi-faceted quest to uncover the mystery behind his father's murder.Along the way you'll traverse myriad locations and interact with countless non-player characters, as well as engage in side interests and attend to personal issues.

The progression of gameplay is quite open and arbitrary.There is no particular pace you have to keep in playing; you can sprint through the entirety of it, or you can devour days and days roaming around, engaging in the oddities, practicing martial arts, chatting with passersby, playing mini-games or whatever else.The hands on the clock tick away in real time in Ryo's world.The date and time of day--morning, afternoon and evening--is presented in convincing fashion by the game, and is reflected in the towns and villages and industrial areas you'll be visiting.The streets may be thronged with pedestrian traffic during mid-day, shoppers and businessmen, families and children.But after nightfall things change.After the streetlights flicker into life, the locales take on an aura of eerie stillness as the crowds thin and--in the urban and industrial areas--are replaced by members of the seedy nightlife, while in the residential districts they begin to bob their collective heads towards sleep.Many, although not all, businesses, shops and residences are open and interactive for you to explore. Time of day comes into effect here, for certain businesses and shops are only open during particular hours of the day or night.In addition to the realistic sphere of passing time, there are varying weather effects in place as well: sun, rain, and even snow as the calendar edges into the winter months.

Your home is the Hazuki Dojo in Yokosuka.Ryo's mother and father, his last living relatives, are now both gone.You live there with a former student of Ryo's father, Fuku-san, and the elderly housekeeper, Ine-san.Ine-san is a grandmotherly figure who'll fret and worry about Ryo's safety, imploring him to be careful and to let the past go.Yet she's soft spoken and demure, almost resolved to the situation.Each evening Ryo must be home by 11PM, and when he's late Ine-san seems almost hurt by it.It creates a true sense of obligation, of emotion, of connection to the characters and situation.Shenmue excels at creating a sense of strong emotional ties between the player and the characters, as evidenced by the potent flashbacks of Ryo with his father and the difficult parting with Nazomi at the end.You begin to feel the things Ryo feels, to truly take on the role of a lost, yet fiercely indomitable 18-year-old boy up against overwhelming odds to avenge the death of his father.

Every NPC is interactive and will converse with you.Many characters you meet near his hometown know Ryo by name, and some are his close friends--such as Nozomi Harasaki or the American Tom Johnson.There are actual curves of character development as the game progresses, relationships that alter in scope and nature, and a seemingly new, wary awareness of a wider, more iniquitous world by Ryo.Indeed, the villains Lan Di and unstable, tittering Chai impose heavy, bleak footprints on the narrative.Most people Ryo speaks to will have a few lines of dialogue about this or that--sometimes relevant and sometimes not, or now and then sending you off on splinter pursuits apart from your more crucial objectives--and a few will offer up clues to where you need to go next, what items you might need to acquire and to whom you need to talk.Every interaction can be important as you struggle to uncover clues.And with a continuous, moving timeline, it's all-too-possible to miss certain events as they occur when you're someplace else.While most of the gameplay involves the patient, explorative extrication of mystery upon mystery, there are also occasional action segments of martial arts brawling and QTE (quick time encounter) events calling for some speedy button pushes.

About midway through the proceedings Ryo is obligated to find employment to further fund his undertaking, and in this the game's principal setting and structure is somewhat altered.Ryo secures a job operating a forklift on the harbor docks.Here the game delves even further into the realms of realism, for every morning you must get up and report to work first thing--and then do the actual work for eight hours before recommencing with the more important tasks.And while this sometimes leads to a certain degree of monotony and tedium from the player's perspective, it does seem to work well overall within the scope of the game.

Outside the core body of gameplay are multiple minigames and collectible items that Ryo can pursue.The mingames are found mostly in the You Arcade in Dobuita, where full, authentic versions of the Sega arcade classics Hang On and Space Harrier are playable.There are also darts, billiards, slots and QTE games available.And a jukebox that plays real music.And cassette tapes of music you can buy in stores.Every sunrise before work at the harbor, Ryo can participate in a forklift race.And over 600 collectible items are available--everything from photographs to ancient Japanese mirrors to light bulbs to a package of squid legs--and they're located just about everywhere.

Visually, Shenmue is a tour de force, a world you just fall into like a pool of water and then don't want to get back out of. Stylistically and thematically, in both architecture and culture, it's a purely Japanese world.And the Japanese vibe really gets under your skin after a while.In a strange way, by the end of the game, you almost feel as if you've actually been in Japan, not just playing a game set there.It's a striking ambiance and environment they've created; time's suffocating grip has no hold here on the Dreamcast.The environments spring to life around you: trees and grass sway in the breeze, fish dart around a pond, a kitten meows by the roadside, ships dock at the harbor, pigeons startle into flight by your footsteps, people go blithely about their daily lives, the structures appear so lifelike you can almost reach out and touch them.Character animations are carved with a fine chisel; every line etched in the face a graphic relief, hair strands that divide and drift on the winds, eyes that bore holes of meaning and emotion into you.Even the detail present in Ryo's brown leather jacket is stunning.And all this on the Dreamcast, easily looking as good here as later, more advanced gaming consoles.

Shenmue breaches generations and cultures, a game people of vastly different ages and backgrounds can concurrently enjoy and become absorbed with.In the act of investigating, something is revealed, and that points you to the next stage--and from there to the next.You want to see what happens next; you care about Ryo's journey and the people around him you've come to know.The settings are pragmatic and the basic storyline is simple enough that a child can follow it, yet there is depth enough to draw anyone in.It's a universal theme, and a game that has remained wedged in the memory over the years.Regrettably, the ultimate resolution isn't found here; Ryo's tale winds on in Shenmue II on the Xbox.

Yu Suzukies Masterpiece...
Shenmue for the Sega Dreamcast may possibly be the greatest video game experience I've ever had in my gaming days(including Shenmue II for xbox).Shenmue is about a young man out for revenge to find his fathers murderer but theres WAY more too it, I won't spoil anything other then this game is flat out beautiful and should be played by gamers that won't wyn about the slow paced action..

Like the title above, this is Yu Suzukies Masterpiece, the man worked EXTREAMLY hard on this amazing game(Shenmue is also known as one of the most expensive video games ever created).Sadly Yu Suzukies hard worked game never made any good sales because of the PS2's launch, I like many others got it at the time it was first released, This game is just pure brilliance.The visuals are some of the best seen in games...This may be the longest game review I've ever done so lets get to it..

Visuals
This is one of the if not THEEEE best looking DC game ever made, everything is so detailed and the character models are great.The building, the Atmoshpere, thank you so much Suzukie.

Gameplay
ok this is probably the reason this game is the most hated/loved game ever created.IT'S EXTREAMLY SLOW PACED, and may turn off some casual gamers but if you can hold on long enough the action will start to come up.The game play is simple and easy to get use to very quickly.The game plays like a mystery novel, ask people question and clues about something and when you find some clues you go ask other people that may know BUT THIS GAME PULLS IT OFF SO WELL IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY!This game(plus Shenmue II) has THE best fighting engine ever!!!It's taken straight out of the virtura Fighter games.And the Free Battle sequences are extreamly rare yet very fun in the game.Did I mention you can do almost everything in this game?Well not everything but alot of things like getting a job, gambling and alot of the other things that can be done in real life...

Sound/music
When I say this games music is beautiful IT IS, Ten times better then MGS 1.Especially the main theme which you'll notice alot, it's amazing if theres one thing Yu Suzki did well(other then everything els) it's the music in this game, pure brilliance

Controlls
I'm really lazy to get into this but there pretty good
Lemmi just some it up right now

The Good
-Superb Visuals
-Great Controls
-Superb sound
-Amazing Inviorments
-Loads of things to do
-AWESOME FIGHTING ENGINE
-One of the most expensive games ever made
-A beautiful story about vengence but with alot to it

The bad
-action gamers will be turned off by how slow paced this game go's
-For some long, for some a SHORT game, took me about 13 hours my first time but that's because I just did all the story parts and not the side quests
-The sales for this and Shenmue II did so bad that we probably won't see a Shenmue III anytime soon
-For anyone looking for a good challenge for this and Shenmue II, look elswere, it's pretty simple an pretty straight forward..

Other then that Shenmue is an instant classic with everything on the spot, Yu Suzukie created something more then a game....This game is not just good because it feels like you're acctually in that world and living Ryu'S life.....This is good because Yu Suzukie braught us something that just feels so real, and like as if there really is a world like that....acctually there is, JAPAN, duuhh, but still no other game has hit me or motivated to the point were I HAVE TO PLAY THIS GAME more then shenmue....This game is hands down...One of the greatest video game experiences you'll ever have...... When it all comes down to this, I give Shenmue for the sega Dreamcast a

5 out of 5 stars...

Brilliant....Just...Brilliant

Totally a great game a must have for dc fans.
This is a really sweet game. Totally a butt-kicking game. I mean you go around beating people up the game lets you see in real live play beating some one up you know without the pain and nose bleeding.

TPittman
Ok, first of all im 12 years old, i bought this game, and played it from 3:00PM-2:00AM, three days in a row, and beat it! I only took about three breaks, and didn't go outside or even eat supper!!! I love this game so much, i beat it twice... total time of the game is about 27hours of game play! Man i wish i had an Xbox so i can play shenmue 2, shenmue 2 is also for the European dreamcast, which i dont have, but someday, i will get shenmue 2, and beat it...

This is a list of all the great things in the game...

1.Great storyline and detailed world...

2.Great minigames: Space Harrier(Quite weird, you look like a mother with a purse coming home from the store), Hang on(A motorcycle racing game), Darts(This ones probably my favorite), Exite QTE2(A game where a letter from the controller apears on the screen and you press it as fast as you can), Pool(not that fun and this is only located in the bar), and last but not least, QTE Title(Pretty much the same as Excite QTE2, but this is a boxing one). Most of the Minigames are located in the Dobuita(The city), at You arcade, and darts is also located at the harbor lounge...

3.You get a job at the harbor, and you take boxes with a Forklift to the warehouse your boss tells you to take it...

4.You can go in most of the buildings in the city Dobuita, and the harbor...

5.You can buy pretty much anything, food, Soda, buy a little toy out of the toy machine, and you can win prises, and win video games...

6.Vehicals are in this game, theres a motorcycle, and a forklift, and you can race on the forklift when you have a job...

7.Theres time, clocks, and it turns day and night, and it snows, and rains...

8. Buy tapes, and you can find a tape player in your room, so you can listen to really cheesy songs...

Heres a list of the bad things in the game...

1.The voice of the main character(Ryo Hazuki) sounds like he only put effort in the beginning, threw the rest of the game, he sounds he doesn't even care that his dad died...

2.The part where you have to save a girl(Nozomi Harasaki) on the motorcycle sucks big time, You only drive the motorcycle straight, i thought you would be able to drive it anywhere, and that part is hard too...

Thats everything, the only part of the game that sucks is them two, but buy the game, trust me, its the best RPG/Adventure game ever made on the planet, and the game not that bad, its rated Teen for Animated violence, Strong language, and Use of Tobacco and Alcohol, but dont let that stop you, just buy it already!!!

NOTE: You need a memory card!!!

The peak of gaming.
4 years ago, I saw tons of ads for Shenmue. I had never read anything about the game, or knew what it was about, as the ads simply said "SHENMUE" and its release date. I started to get hyped up about it, because they made it seem like this was the biggest game to come out since Super Mario Bros. 3. When it finally did come out, I managed to get it at Target for an incredibly sick low price. Upon taking it home and starting it up, I had a new standard for what makes a game good. I couldn't even believe this was a game when I saw Ryo Hazuki in action, running through an almost photo realistic Japan in the 1980's. It was beauty in motion. But this is more than a pretty game, much more.

What exactly is Shenmue? Is it an rpg, adventure, action, or fighter? It's really all of those. If you don't know by now, it was originally slated to be an rpg with Virtua Fighter characters, which sounds pretty cool. Later on though, everything was changed into something completely original. You play as Ryo Hazuki, a Japanese teenager who arrives home to see a black car parked near his home. Entering through the gates, he finds the housekeeper on the ground, probably beaten up. She tells him that his father's in the dojo and the men in the car are with him. Making his way to the dojo, an "adopted" family member gets thrown out and is unconscious. Finally, Ryo enters to see a Chinese man in a silk robe asking for a mirror. Ryo's dad, Iwao, doesn't tell them, and they begin to fight. Iwao is no match though, as Lan-Di dodges every move without effort and takes him out with a simple kick. Saying that he won't tell him again, Lan-Di threatens to kill Ryo. Iwao has no choice, and tells him that it's buried under the cherry tree outside. But it's too late, and Lan-Di tells Iwao to get up and die with honor. He kills him right in front of Ryo, and leaves with the mirror. The scene is very dramatic and the music addes even more to an already emotional scene. From that point on, it's up to Ryo to track down Lan-Di and avenge his father. Unfortunately for him though, it won't be easy. A lot of time will be spent asking questions around town to get more details on where to go next. This part of the game tends to bore some ignorant people, but it isn't as bad as they make it out. If you actually follow directions, things will be very simple. Sometimes, the people you try to get answers out of take offense, and immediately start a fight. Trust me, the fights in Shenmue are sweet and I was always pumped to get in one. The music, moves, and danger of it all renders all other fights in games obsolete. It took me a long time to get back to turn-based fights in rpgs after playing this.

As serious as it may sound, you can still have fun in Shenmue. Remember, this takes place in Japan in the 80's, so it's a very new world to many people. It's also as realistic as you can get. The designers took the actual weather reports and forecasts from that time period and put them into the game's actual calendar. If it was raining on a friday in December in real life, it's doing the same thing here in the game. If you don't want to wait around until a store opens to talk to the owner, buy some capsule toys of classic Sega characters (ranging from Sonic to NiGHTS to Sega executives), or go to the arcade and play classic games like Hang-On or Space Harrier. Time flies when playing those gems. You can also try out darts, a boxing simulator, and a QTE arcade machine to win capsule toys of said machines. QTEs are pretty cool. During a scene, sometimes a button or direction will flash on the screen, and you have to press it quickly in order to move on. An example is when some bikers attack (well, try to if you're good) Ryo at the harbor. If you manage to hit all the buttons correctly at the right time, Ryo will knock a biker off his motorcycle, causing him to fall into the sea. Even now, four years later, these excite me. Shenmue also has a vast variety of characters- Ryo's potential love interest: Nozomi the flower girl, Tom the hot dog vendor, Goro the street-wise punk with a heart of gold, Mark who supervises Ryo when he gets a job (oh yes, you get to work, and it's nothing but fun) driving forklifts, and many more characters. You can also practice your fighting moves in the dojo or even a parking lot. And you'll want to if you don't want to get beaten up in the many fights. Go out and buy some new move scrolls at the antique shop, or look around the Hazuki house. There's just so much to do here, that I could bore you even more with a second review just to go through it all. And by the time you're even 2 hours into the game, you will actually feel like you -are- Ryo Hazuki. The character attention is worthy of 5 stars in its own.

For the time it was released, nothing could compare to Shenmue. Character models all have nothing but the best detail. Wrinkles in their skin, articles of clothing where you can see each individual stitch, and actual facial expressions. Not just heads that had moving mouths, but real expressions. You can see the anger and determination in Ryo's eyes when confronting members of gangs in the area, shock when Tom demonstrates a new move later on, and grace in the final scene. But the developers didn't just stop with the main characters like so many others do, each individual character has their own unique look to distinguish them from anyone else. Just look at some of the workers at the harbor, or the resturant workers who look the part. On the Shenmue passport disc, there are almost FMV quality graphics in some of the characters that talk to you about the Shenmue world and explain various things. They're so close to being of Final Fantasy X FMV quality. Even today after the likes of the Xbox and GC have set the bar, those graphics look great. If there's anything to degrade in the graphics at all, it's that there's slowdown when walking through crowded streets. It never bothered me, but it does get to some people. Fortunately, this doesn't occur during the incredible fights. The 70 man battle in particular.

There's nothing bad to say about the music. The game's theme will automatically be stuck in your head once you hear it for the first time. And when the Chinese fiddle version is heard, it makes the theme even more memorable. It's epic, plain and simple. The theme is heard a lot throughout the game, but used differently and with variations. There's even a christmas version once December rolls around. Through the game, you can also buy cassette tapes if you want to hear something different. My favorite would probably be Hang-On, which can be won at the Tomato store as a prize.And the music that kicks in during fights, nothing short of dynamic. It's a shame it wasn't carried over to the sequel. That theme alone was worth playing for. And like the graphics, there's one tiny thing I didn't like- some of the voice acting. A lot of the voices are pretty good, but some of the extras just didn't try. If you have the chance, import the Japanese version to get the better voices.

Shenmue remains my favorite game even after the Panzer Dragoon Ortas and Blinxes and even Bust-A-Moves that I've played recently. Please buy this game and show support so the saga can continue. Right now the series is kind of in a rut, and its future isn't looking too good. As long as its finished in some way (even if the official comic manages to get more attention), I'll be happy. Shenmue isn't for everyone, but for those that pick it up and can appreciate it, they'll be hooked. Thank you for making this experience Mr. Suzuki. Here's hoping to more in the future *raises glass of cranberry apple raspberry juice*. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

CrazyTaxi was an arcade game turned Dreamcast showcase that reallyhelped sell the system. Now that the Dreamcast is on its last legs,Sega throws crazed drivers everywhere a bone by moving the sequel tothe system. Crazy Taxi 2 is the same as Crazy Taxi, onlycrazier!

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

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

Additionally, there are new Crazy Stunts you can perform. Crazy Golfentails a run at a massive ball, with a goal of smacking it a good 100yards. Crazy Balloon 2 challenges you to pop all the balloons in ashort 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 smallNYC map.

The controls are tight and easily as good as last time, but someplayers may still have trouble performing some of the more difficulttricks. Also, this game is extremely similar to the first one. Anyonebored with Crazy Taxi isn't going to find Crazy Taxi 2 abreath of fresh air. But the game is still really fun for players ofall ages. It's crazy, wild, and a completely realistic simulation of areal 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

• No hills
• Same tried-and-true gameplay as the original

Reviews (60)

Honestly I thought the 1st was better but still average..
Crazy Taxi 2 is the sequal to the Sega hit Crazy Taxi.Now I usually make bigger reviews to be honest I'll just make this my

SHORT and Sweet Review..

Now The 1st Crazy Taxi was DC game but lost its exclusitivity(yeah that sounds dumb but It just came up my head) and can be found on
Xbox
Gamecube and Ps2.Though the best version is the Dreamcast you can probably spend it on the Ps2 version or the other systems since DC games seem to be a pain to find now.

The graphics are solid and the gameplay loses its touch later on...OK MAYBE JUST FOR ME MAN!I didn't think the game was that great but like I said before...

Graphics good...gameplay...ehhh gets old.This is must for any Die Hard Dreamcast owner but For people who want more then just another sequal with "some" stuff stay clear away from this...I'm not saying the game is bad!I just think the 1st it better...

I really enjoyed the game over all and though it was an A-O-K Dreamcast Game..

I give CrAzY Taxi for the Sega Dreamcast a...

3.0 out5 stars.....

*NOTE*

Other then Crazy Taxi the Sega Dreamcast(R.I.P) has some really awesome amazing games... Some for example Sonic Adventure, Marval Vs Capcom2(and yes the DC version is the best mainly cause it was the original version and it was DC exclusive at one point)

And yeah.....well..

Lates..

Addictive Fun
The reason that "Crazy Taxi 2" doesn't get a prefect 5-star rating is that it's only one player, which destroys the possibility of what potentially would be the most enjoyable way to play the game, sitting beside a friend frantically competing to pick up the most customers and money, last the longest without running out of time, etc.
That said, Crazy Taxi 2 functions surprisingly well as a party game. Something about the bright visuals, loud sound effects, and raucus music, along with the fast pace of the action -- there is always a new task to complete -- make it almost as much fun to watch someone play the game as it is to play oneself. I've often found myself cheering along with a friend's efforts. (Or jeering, depending on my mood)
As for playing solo, make sure you clear your schedule. While an individual game might only take five minutes, one can easily sink hours into trying to earn more money, a better license, etc... the very fact that "one more game" takes such a short amount of time contributes to the addiction.
In short, if you can pick this game up at a gamestop or on Ebay, I highly reccomend it as one of the better Dreamcast titles.

Fun for a while but a game with NO depth is destined to fail
Crazy Taxi 2 is fun for a while but when you either beat the pyramid or become upset because its too hard to beat then the game will slowly make its way to the bottom of your collection.

It has great graphics and tight control but the music is a letdown and my aren't those cab drivers crude. The game is a welcome addition to any Dreamcast library even if it will eventually get old.

do not buy this game.
this game is the worst game of all time. it has horrible graphics horrible camera angles and bores the crap out of you quickly. everything looks so basic and dull the game is no fun at all. the cars dont move in the direction you want them to. i like trying out games a lot. but im sorry i ever checked out this garbage. for a fun time check out any grend theft auto or the most recent nascar game. this game is really bad and should definitely go down without notice. im so glad i only rented this one.

another great game by sega
This is one of my favorite games, i cant understand
why sega fall with games like this.
Its original, funny, its a challenge beat this game,
awesome graphics, the control its easy well i can
say a lot of more good things about him.
Once you started you cant stop playing this game,
the crazy pyramid oh you gonna have problems with
the last 2 misions, and of course...
Buy it!
And learn from SEGA, nintendo. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you think it's hard to flag down a cab in a big city, try driving one in Sega's zany straight-from-the-arcade port of Crazy Taxi. If you're one of the teeming fans who eagerly played CrazyTaxi in the arcade at a buck a pop, then this game is a must-buy, if only from a purely economicstandpoint. Even those who don't know the difference between Crazy Taxi and the long-runningTV series Taxi will immediately recognize the appeal of this game. In fact, this game is soimpressive and addictive that it should easily convince a whole new wave of buyers to purchase a SegaDreamcast.

What's so hot about Crazy Taxi? For starters, the graphics sport the most impressive re-creation ofa living city ever seen in a video game. The level of detail is astounding and never ceases to surprise theplayer as block after unique block speeds by. The city is a distilled version of San Francisco with somelandmarks and neighborhoods left intact. Making it seem all the more real are apparent product placementsof real-world retail locations such as KFC, Tower Records, and Pizza Hut. And just about everything yousee on the screen is interactive: boxes, phone booths, and mailboxes topple when bumped or smashed,pedestrians leap and tumble out of your path, and the myriad of traffic attempts to avoid your erratichigh-speed antics. While some driving games brag about a lack of boundaries, this one delivers--playersdrive on the ocean floor, off the second floor of a parking garage, through parks, and down stairs. A helpfulhovering arrow points drivers in the correct direction, but you can truly drive wherever you want at anytime, making for tons of replay value.

While the game is a direct port from the arcade game of the same name, there's plenty more depth in thehome version. In addition to the city that appears in the coin-op version, the Dreamcast version alsoincludes an entirely new city. Crazy Taxi includes a trunk-load of mini-games that help to teachdrivers how to perform the special speed boosts and maneuvers in the game.

Though this game would be plenty exciting without any sounds at all, it has an adrenaline-pumpingsoundtrack supplied by punk crossover bands the Offspring and Bad Religion, as well as some good, ifsometimes monotonous, dialogue between the driver and the passengers. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• Wonderful, realistic graphics
• Easy to get into, and full of many long hours of addictive play
• Even more to offer than the fantastic arcade game upon which this is based

• On very few occasions players will encounter some graphic slowdown

Reviews (204)

A good game to come back to from time to time
This game is a lot of fun to play.There are very different pretty large cities that can be fun to explore some time if you get tired of driving people around.The only real problem with this game is that after a while you can get pretty bored, especially after you find the handful of awesome places to get stunt points, and you end up going no where else.Outside of this the game is great, and if you get bored try playing the arcade mode where you get little time, but gain more as you drop people off.Also I if you get bored just drive around and see what you can find.Finally when you have done all that you can set the game aside for a little while, and come back to it and enjoy again!!

good game-i suggest it
first off this game is amazing. the graphics are not great but are OK.the only reason i gave this game four stars was that it would have been better if there was a MAIN GAME with missions. but other than that the game is sick.

the best
THIS GAME IS GREAT THE INTRO TO THIS GAME GETS U HYPED UP AND READY TO PLAY I SUGGEST THAT U BUY CRAZY TAXI 1,2,3 1&2 IS FOR DREAMCAST BUT 3 IS FOR XBOX OR PS2 BUT STILL LOADS OF FUN!!!!!!!

Intense, adrenaline-pumping fun
As one of the big ticket titles for the fledgling Dreamcast, Sega's final venture into the home console market, this game needed to replicate and improve upon the quality established by its arcade counterpart. Naturally, die-hard fans of the arcade machine would flock to a home release, regardless of quality, to save themselves a bundle on quarters... but the real trick was capturing the hearts and minds of the home market. Crazy Taxi's arcade release came near the very end of the out-of-home market's lifespan. Like it or not, gamers just weren't leaving home with as many tokens in their pockets as they had in the decades beforehand. Sega had captured the arcade market with this imaginative gem, but they'd only reached a dwindling fraction of the gaming market. To really consider Taxi (and the early quarter of the Dreamcast's life) a success, they needed a grand slam here.

As with any good arcade title, there's no lengthy, thought-provoking back story to the world of Crazy Taxi. It's instantly accessible, mindless fun. After ten minute of gameplay, you feel like an old pro. You could take a wild guess about the premise just by looking at the CD jacket and get 90% of it correct. OK, get this... you're a TAXI driver.... who is rewarded for driving all CRAZY-like... and your only purpose in life is to earn more money. End of story.

As seems to be the case with any arcade game, the physics of CT have been mussed with just a teensy bit, aiding in the transformation of a taxi driver's day from monotonous, mundane errands to wild, exciting rides. Your car will never sustain any damage, nor will those of the game's various citizens. Instead, vehicles bounce off of one another, roll over and sail through the air like so many cartoony bumper cars. The lack of any real visible consequences for your actions (aside from the obvious loss of game time) really help to set a player's mind at ease and let the relaxation set in. Sure, you're rushing around the city like a madman... but at least you're at ease in doing so.

A new addition to the home release of the Taxi is the refreshing "Crazy Box" mode, which takes the tweaked physics engine of the regular game and applies it to other varied driving games. You'll drive down a bowling alley, complete with oversized pins. You'll cruise down a skier's long jump ramp and sail off the edge. You'll navigate a teeny stretch of road, complete with sharp turns, instant death on either side and a relentless time limit. It's a great way to introduce new players to some of the more advanced methods of game play, while giving experienced players a set of new challenges and a chance to brush up on their abilities. It's exactly what the home release needed to set it apart from its arcade cousin and to intrigue the more demanding home market.

In addition to an easily established (and notably improved) premise, the control scheme on my familiar white Dreamcast controller is damned close to perfection. The number of commands necessary to play a game of Taxi are relatively small: you just need to steer, accelerate, brake and shift. The Dreamcast pad, however, functions as though it were sculpted with this very game in mind. The left and right triggers are your brake and gas, respectively, and are pressure sensitive, which means you have much more control over your pedals. The analog stick is a flawless de facto steering wheel, to the point that I can't imagine controlling the game with a regular wheel any more. Likewise, the "A" button switches you to reverse and the "B" button guns it back into drive... both buttons placed logically in the exact spot where your thumb should be while holding down the right trigger. This placement makes shifting, accelerating and the various advanced play mechanics introduced in "Crazy Box" much more natural and easy to accomplish.

Visually, there's no distinguishing the game from its arcade counterpart. They're honestly identical, which was really a big feather in the Dreamcast's cap at the time of the game's release. In today's world, alongside graphical masterpieces such as Gran Turismo 4 and Project Gotham Racing 2, it doesn't stand a chance, but at the time it was really inspiring to see. Each of the four selectable drivers are well crafted and easily recognizable, even in the heat of a tight deadline. They each cruise around in their own original cab, styled to match their personality and come fully equipped with their own custom license plate. There's a good selection of different models out on the roads,but I'd be lying if I said you'll never see a duplicate out on the road. They're all pretty abundant, but there's enough variety that you won't be distracted by the same car lined up, bumper to bumper, all the way down the road.

Finally, the audio... which is just completely over the top. Seriously, the amount of effort that went into acquiring, licensing, writing, recording, mastering and implementing the various audio aspects of Crazy Taxi is just mind-blowing. Everything from the musical score (provided by The Offspring and Bad Religion, respectively) to the driver / passenger voices and interactions (which vary depending on the individual) to the sound of oncoming traffic, rubber on asphalt and screaming civilians is spot on. The speedy, racing mainstream punk rock soundtrack perfectly accompanies the rushed, frantic pace of the game itself. Absolutely flawless.

In short, Crazy Taxi was everything Sega needed to re-establish themselves in the home market. It's a superb experience, whether you're playing alone at home on a Friday night or taking turns with a large group of friends. Where it's lacking in depth, it makes up with replayability and a tight control scheme. If you've got a Dreamcast sitting around at home and you haven't picked this game up yet, now is most certainly the time.

Crazy Taxi Is Not So Good
If you are thinking about buying the game change your mind!!!!! It might seem fun at first but after the first couple of months it's going to be boring.I bought this game because I was intrested and today it's collecting dust.There goes ten dollars down the drain.So take my advice and don't buy the game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was so close toperfection that the idea of dramatic improvements in the sequel seemedpretty far-fetched, but Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 offers so muchmore that it almost puts its predecessor to shame. The graphics arevastly improved, there are tons of new tricks to pull off, and the gamehas more secrets than the CIA. Even if you played the original todeath, there's enough new stuff here to keep you occupied for months tocome.

Pro Skater 2 is all about customization. You can still play asone of the real-world skaters represented in the game, such as SteveCaballero, Elissa Steamer, and Mr. Hawk himself, but the real fun comesfrom creating your own skater and rising up through the ranks. As youconquer the massive skate parks included in this release, you rack upcash to be spent on pumping up your stats or adding new tricks to yourrepertoire. You can specialize in verts, concentrate on your streetskills, or take a more balanced approach, and the addition of manualswill let you string together tricks from either category to rack upsome amazing scores. The custom options extend to a complete skate-parkeditor that is easy enough to use that we were creating basic arenas inless than 15 minutes. It's a thoughtful addition to one of the mostpurely entertaining games ever released. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Create-a-Skater option lets you decide on everything from thetricks you use to the shoes you wear
• Easy-to-use park editor allows for complex creations
• Beautiful graphics and smooth animation make this one of thebest-looking sports games on any platform

• Getting the hang of manuals takes some time, but once you do, watchout

Reviews (59)

game review
i like this game so much but i think tony hawk pro skater 4 for xbox will be better!!!! must buy. if you a skateboarding fan you should this game or any tony hawk games.the game is great!

Exellent Game! Great Graphics! But....
This game is terrific, no doubt there! I got this game for my birthday and it was one of the best skateboarding games I ever played. But just like all other skateboarding games, there is always a limited amount of things you can do. In other words, this game, in it's own way, can get really boring when you beat the game.(Which is very easy to do.) I recommend that you do not buy this game, but rent it. Unless you are the skateboarding freak of nature, don't buy this game. You will get tired of it easliy.

THIS GAME KICKS
Tony Hawk 1,2,2x,and 3 are the best games ever made. Tony Hawk 2 is a great game featuring the worlds top skaters, like(Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Geoff Rowley, Rodney Mullen, Eric Koston and Chad Muska) including many, many other great skaters. This game has great levels including the great Skatestreet Ventura. You will have much fun playing this game. There many tricks, combos, and goals to achieve. There are may things you can do in this AWESOME game. THIS GAME KICKS!!!

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2-pros and cons
Well in my opinion i think that this game is very fun...but the question is: why do poeple have the advantage of cheats? Yes, there are many pros and cons of the game it self but once you bring the cheats in to it, you basicly get the entire game over with. What is the point of buying a game that costs like [...] and then putting all the cheats into and its over? thats my question...well lets get to the good parts of the game. ON my game i have all of the cheats done but i still am able to save that or not use any of my cheats at all. its fun finishing the level and getting bonus things and you can create your own players...build your own skate parks and much more. My advice to you is buy this game, its very fun and o ahead and get teh cheats if you want right away, but you won't really master the game. This game is one of my favorites...so have your own oppinion but, buy it..yes it is [...] but its worth it.
~marisa

Skateboard Heaven!
Looking for a good game?! Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is the game for anyone who likes skateboarding. Ever since I opened the game on my birthday and started playing it, I got adicted to it. You may think that just because I'm 11 years old I may not know what I'msaying, but this is an exellent game I asure you. You'll have hours of funplaying this game. There's an unlimited amount of levels you can skate thanks to the park editor, and you can have as many skaters as you want because you can create your own skater. If I were anyone reading this reveiw all that I would have to say is "Dad, can I get this game PLEASE!!!!!" ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Players who thought that NBA 2K was good are in for an evenbetter game of hoops this time around with NBA 2K1. Almost every area ofthe franchise has improved, and now players can hop online and challenge someonein Sioux City, Iowa--or anywhere else--if they please.

Player faces are much more recognizable, and the resolution and detail of thecourt is higher than it was before. The coaches, too, are more animated--raisingtheir hands in the air as a three-pointer goes up and in--and the crowd is morethree-dimensional and lively.

During the game, players will encounter better defense against lay-ups; also,they'll have to break down defenses with quick passing, and post up and backtheir way to the basket. On defense, the computer always looks for easy buckets,which forces players to double-team opponents and keep scorers to theoutside.

Franchise mode is the icing on the cake, as players can draft a team, and signtheir own players and free agents by making offers and orchestrating trades. Afew more special offensive moves would have been nice; but, as is, this is amust-have title for fanatic and casual b-ball fans alike. --Robb Guido

Pros:

• Excellent graphics and improved artificial intelligence
• Players can go online and play opponents across the country

• Could have used more offensive special moves

Features

• Sequel to the very popular Dreamcast basketball game NBA 2K
• Online play option allows you to compete with 8 Dreamcast players via the Internet
• Motion-capture animation provides realistic pro moves
• GM mode allows you to trade players and draft rookies
• New commentary and authentic 3-D arenas

Reviews (70)

It's good but it has bad graphics.
This is a good video game, but the problem is the graphics, man it's bad, and the superstar teams the San Rafael Sega Sports Team and the San Rafael Seganet are good but really racist, because they hardly have black guys on their teams, but I do like the San Rafael Mocap. My favorite players are Sadiki Fuller and Roy Byrd, and the name of their colleges are really funny: Dunk University Very Much, and University Read My Ankle, but is their such college as Light It Up University, and Redman is featured from Def Jam University, and Larry Peacock from Hard Knox College, and Charles Outlaw and Brian Grant. But when the players were made with giant heads, that was freaky, and I didn't like that over camera, but my favorite camera is swivel. I give it a ***** (5 out of 5).

NBA 2k1.... just gets boring
It is too boring and the dunks are stupid because it make lil people be able to dunk. Jus plain horrible

NBA 2k1.... just gets boring
It is too boring and the dunks are stupid because it make lil people be able to dunk. Jus plain horrible

Killer Deal
This game Is asome the graphics are great all the players look like themselves (unlike NBALive) you could do street ball, playoffs, Season, franchise, and more the players do awsome dunks and for only [$$$] Go And get it!

NBA 2K1 is sweet!
Okay, my other review hardly told you anything about the game. Next to Sonic Adventure 2, this has the best graphics I've ever seen!The sound effects are awesome, you can hear the shoes squeaking on the floor, the 'harff' when you score a 3 pionter, and the 'Argh!' when you dunk it!It's like your there witnessing a real basketball game (not to mention the Commentary)!If your into games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, make an acception.You'll love this game! ... Read more

Features

• Ultrarealistic football game with updated pro leagues, players, and stadiums
• Enhanced artificial intelligence for stronger defenseMore than 1,700 moves featuring motion-capture animation for realistic gameplay
• Manage your favorite team in franchise mode
• Play against up to 8 other Dreamcast owners via the Internet

Reviews (122)

2K1 is very good, but is it better than Madden's series?
I like this game and have not played Madden much at all.
How to control defensive linemen:
off the snap:
press A and hold with heel of thumb
-press trigger L or R for club
-hold A and a trigger, then lightly tap B for spin
-hold A and a trigger, then tap Y for swim maneuver
-hold A and a trigger, then tap X for rip(I think)

WOW...football on the Dreamcast peaked here
NFl 2K1 is the best NFL game around! It has great graphics, lots of replay value and great commentary that is not annoyingly repetative. The backround graphics could have been touched up but the games still ROCKS. If you own a Dreamcast (the best system that never made it) then get this

Better than 2K2.
This is probably the most complete NFL game there is. Certainly the best one I've ever played. So it's 2002 and the rosters are out of date and the graphics are a little dated. That shouldn't bother you. The passing, running, and catching are all top notch in my opinion. If you get the hang of it on Rookie, bump up the difficulty to Pro. You'll have to be pretty good to do well on Pro. The A.I. doesn't learn your patterns very well, and you can usually win games by running the same plays over and over (I have about 8 plays I run all the time and I won the Super Bowl last season on Pro setting). I can't say how tough it is on All-Pro, but I will find out some day. If you don't mind if your football is a little old, you really should get this one. You can get it for real cheap usually.

good game
This is a great game.The graphics are awesome.The A.I. defense is easily juked out and plays weak defense
the plays are realistic and Curtis Martin and Warrick Dunn are the best backs in the game
Minus some defensive errors this is a flawless game

Lifelike.
If only I never traded it for Virtua Tennis (see my review for that, too.) All the teams are like real and other than the faces, so are the players. Play is so realistic, and if you don't be careful, you can easily get sacked. Just take off all the penalties (except offside) and your ready to play. If you get lucky, you can beat the Redskins with the Falcons 89-21 like me in the time that they originally give (5 minute qts.). But don't be foolish and trade it. The practice mode is also very fun because you get to have the whole offensive and defensive teams on the field at once. Get with your friends on Monday nights when football season's not around and have yourself a wonderful time with NFL2K1. ... Read more