I agree that the maps from the sequels weren't very good. The lack of verticality hurts, but other cool elements are also missing: Open spaces, hard curves, long sections that give you big money but are sparse in costumers...They weren't as well designed.
In some regards, I think they should have made the map bigger instead of making new maps. But that makes the game less acessible.
Right now, the biggest problem I have with CT now, is the draw distance. When you jump down the tram slopes cars pop out of thin air and it reflects very poorly. The graphics as a whole could be greatly improved, and not beacuse they look ugly or not, but because they could exaggerate the art style a little more, making it more vibrant and punk-ish. Not having real circles for the pickup signs makes the game pretty dated.
Then comes the gameplay adjustments, which many expert players would love. I couldn't even pull half of the special moves so I can't really comment here
I'm just a bit wishful, wanting every classic game to get the treatment OutRun and Tetris had with OutRun 2SP and the Grandmaster series. It would make so many great games into absolute masterpieces.
I think I had a half-finished article about this, perhaps I should pick it up again.
