Overview
Crazy Taxi is a comedic open-world third-person racing game developed by Hitmaker and released by Sega for arcades (running the DC-based Sega NAOMI hardware) in both North America and Europe in 1999.
Known for its unrealistic arcade-style gameplay, Crazy Taxi is a humorous take on taxicab driving. As one of four freelance taxicab drivers, players drive around a fictional coast-side city in the United States while picking up taxi customers and driving them to their destinations as fast as possible (disregarding all driving laws).
Instead of racing other drivers, players must race the clock and earn more time, both by picking up patrons and by speedy deliveries, before the timer reaches zero (at which the game ends). For scoring, players earn cash by getting patrons to their destinations (earning more in their fare by performing stunts and reaching their destination quicker).
Along with its licensed punk rock soundtrack (featuring music from longtime bands Bad Religion and The Offspring) and use of real-world brands (such as Tower Records and Pizza Hut), the game is known for its numerous ports, re-releases, and sequels.
Ports & Re-releases
The game received a dedicated port to the Dreamcast worldwide in early 2000, adding new timer options (which changes the roaming timer to either a strict 3-minute, 5-minute or 10-minute timer), a bonus locale (known as "Original" mode), and a series of unlockable mini-games (known as "Crazy Box"). This version was used as the base for numerous ports in 2001 and 2002, including Acclaim Cheltenham's PlayStation 2 and GameCube ports, Strangelite's PC port, and Graphic State's Game Boy Advance port (as Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride). It also received digitally-released enhanced ports by Sega Studios for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 24, 2010, for the PC on March 4, 2011, for iOS devices on October 10, 2012, and for Android devices on July 10, 2013.
Along with its numerous standalone releases, the game was also remade in the 2002 Xbox game Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (as "West Coast" mode) and bundled with Crazy Taxi 2 in the 2007 PlayStation Portable compilation Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars (adding online multiplayer and other changes).
Gameplay
In Crazy Taxi, the player can chose one of four cabbies to pick people up and dive them from one destination to another. They have to get to the destinations as quickly as possible to maximize the amount of money they get from a fare. The clock is constantly ticking down; the player will have to dodge cars and hit jumps to get around as quickly as possible.
The game also has several abilities the player can use during gameplay. One of them is the "Crazy Drift", performed by pressing reverse then the drive button while turning the car--it's useful for getting through tight corners. The other is the "Crazy Boost", performed by pressing the reverse then the drive button quickly--it's a good way to speed the car up.
Characters
B.D. Joe
B.D. JoeB.D. Joe is a gleeful man who greatly enjoys his job. He wouldn't give up his taxi for anything in the world. Except maybe a more pimped out taxi. Which he would then probably go driving around picking up customers. Well, can't fault the guy for being dedicated.
Axel
AxelAxel is cool dude with an attitude. He seems pretty nice, but can be bossy when in a hurry. He sports green, spikey hair and shows off his six pack o' abs. Which makes him awesome by 1999 standards.
Gena
GinaGena is a sassy gal who could drive a man crazy, but would rather drive fools around town for some cash!
Gus
GusGus may not be as young as the other cabbies, but experience comes with his age. This man has one focus, and that is making that money.
Soundtrack
Original
Most of these tracks were later used for Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller. None of these tracks were used in the GBA version, which consists of generic tracks.
- Bad Religion - 10 In 2010
- Bad Religion - Inner Logic
- Bad Religion - Them and Us
- The Offspring - All I Want
- The Offspring - Change The World
- The Offspring - Way Down The Line
2002 PC Version
- Pivit - Fingercuffs
- Pivit - Middle Children
- Too Rude - The Distance
- Total Chaos - Let It Roll
- Total Chaos - What You Gonna Do
2010+ Versions
Most of these tracks were first heard in Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars.
- Burn the Fields - Escape Artist
- The Days The Nights - Radical Sabbatical
- The Hooks - Get Out
- Jonny Rumble - Black Radio
- The Juliet Dagger - Flinch
- The Juliet Dagger - Taking It Back
- The Juliet Dagger - Ragdoll
- Lions Lions - Radiator
- One Light Out - Orange Wednesday
- Theron Day - The Chase
- Three Against Four - Jump, Bink!
- The Vicious Five - Your Mouth is a Guillotine
- We Are Invisible - Spy Chaser
PC System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
OS: Windows 98, Me, XP or 2000
Processor: Pentium III 500MHz
Memory: 64MB RAM (128MB recommended)
Video Memory:16 MB
Sound Card: DirectX 8
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