The graphics in this game easily surpasses those of the original Virtua Cop. Instead of gangsters who look like they are all related, there are many different kinds enemies, including soldiers, the cargo loader from Aliens, and even George Michael (well, someone who looks like him anyway). These characters know their parts well and always get to their entrances on time. They even fall off buildings and crash through conveniently placed wooden crates. The details are also very well done. For example, the enemies react differently depending on where you hit them. Shoot them in the groin and they will fall forward, clutching themselves in agony. Shoot them in the head, and you will see it snap and the body fall backward in realistic motion. There are also many more interactive backgrounds than in the first game: you can crash windows, lighting fixtures, or even make cars jackknife across the road by shooting their tires. Although the graphics are a bit out-of-date especially compared with 3D-accelrated marvels today, the details of polygons and their animaitons in Virtua Cop 2 are certainly second to none.

The big ?gunsight? is carried forward from Virtua Cop into this sequel. Although I find it a tad too big and annoying, it becomes necessary to leave it on, especially when there are multiple enemies on the screen at once. Without the gunsight, you won't know which one to shoot first. Anyone who likes a steep challenge can turn the gunsight off in the options menu.

A welcome new feature in Virtua Cop 2 is the ability to choose between two different paths per level. Similar to House of The Dead, this adds considerably replayability to the game, although the levels in Virtua Cop 2 are disappointingly short and the alternate paths aren?t too different (they converge towards the end of each level anyway so you can meet the ?boss? enemy).

Overall, I find Virtua Cop 2 to be fun and entertaining while it lasts, although the replayability could have been much better. Games like this are fine in the arcades, where you can spend a dollar for a few games and then walk away. Here, you're being asked to spend forty dollars (well, zero now, since SEGA has long discontinued the PC version) for a game that has only three levels. Although the graphics is excellent and the game has a good ?feel? to it even when played with a mouse, Virtua Cop 2 isn?t really worthy of our Top Dog tag due to the game?s brevity and repetitive gameplay. If you like ?rail shooters,? House of the Dead series offer much more value for your gaming time.