Reviews generally hailed the game as a considerable improvement over the already impressive original, due to its more interactive environments and higher intensity, especially in the chase scenes. A "Next Generation" critic elaborated: "Taking the game one step closer to the feel of a big budget action movie, "Virtua Cop 2" seems to have more 'movement' to it. ... Whether chasing down an armored car while picking off bad guys hanging out the window, or dodging bullets in a speeding subway train, this game is just short of being described as a roller coaster ride by some hack movie critic in the Midwest and even closer to being described as an 'edge of your seat thriller' by this reviewer on the West coast". Air Hendrix of "GamePro" had a somewhat more tempered response, arguing that one can still quickly memorize the game, making repeat plays increasingly routine. He concluded: "For lightgun fans, VC2's a solid buy. Otherwise, its short-lived but frenzied fun makes for a top Saturn rental".