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Crazy Taxi
Android (Platform)Arcade (Platform)Dreamcast (Platform)Game Boy Advance (Platform)GameCube (Platform)iPad (Platform)iPhone (Platform)PC (Platform)PlayStation 2 (Platform)PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)Xbox 360 Games Store (Platform)
A high-octane taxicab driving game for arcades. Instead of racing other opponents, the cabbies must race the clock and dodge traffic to deliver their patrons to their destinations as fast as they can.
Overview
Crazy Taxi is an over-the-top open-world taxicab driving game developed by Sega AM3 and released by Sega (Company) for arcades (using their Dreamcast (Platform)-based NAOMI hardware) in February 1999.
Known for its unrealistic and humorous arcade-style gameplay, Crazy Taxi puts players as one of four freelance taxicab drivers as they drive around a fictional coast-side city in the United States while picking up customers and driving them to their destinations as fast as possible (disregarding all driving laws and vehicular damage).
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 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 (Platform) 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 course (known as "Original"), 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 (Platform) and GameCube (Platform) ports, Strangelite's PC (Platform) port, and Graphic State's Game Boy Advance (Platform) port (as Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride). It also received digitally-released enhanced ports by Sega Studios for the Xbox 360 (Platform) and PlayStation 3 (Platform) in November 24, 2010, for the PC (Platform) 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 (Platform) game Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (as "West Coast" mode) and bundled with Crazy Taxi 2 (Game) in the 2007 PlayStation Portable (Platform) 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.
Cabbies
Axel
Axel
Axel is a carefree guy and a punk rocker whose cheerful nature can get explosive pretty quickly. His style tends to be an all-rounder.
- Plate #: 1NOM155 ("I No Miss")
- Age: 21
B.D. Joe
B.D. Joe
B.D. Joe is a street performer known for entertaining his passengers. His style tends to focus on top speed.
- Plate #: 2HOP260 ("To Hop To Go")
- Age: 25
Gena
Gina
Gena (Character) is a car lover who personally performs extensive tune-ups to her taxi. Her style tends to focus on acceleration.
- Plate #: 5EXY515 ("Sexy Sis")
- Age: 23
Gus
Gus
Gus (Character) is an older gambler who originated the "crazy" style of taxi driving. Driving an old-fashioned taxicab, his style tends to focus on handling.
- Plate #: ONLY777 ("Only 7-7-7")
- Age: 42
Soundtrack
The game includes different series of soundtracks based on the version, due to licensing. The GBA version includes original tracks.
Original
The original game's soundtrack is comprised of songs from punk rock bands Bad Religion and The Offspring. Some of these tracks were later used for Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller. The gameplay soundtrack plays the following on loop:
- The Offspring - All I Want
- Bad Religion - Them and Us
- The Offspring - Way Down the Line
- Bad Religion - Ten in 2010
The game also uses "Change the World" by The Offspring as the main menu and name entry tracks, "Hear It" by Bad Religion as the character selection track, and "Inner Logic" by Bad Religion as the ending credits track.
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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- Name
- Crazy Taxi
- Release Date
- February 1999
- Platform
- Game Boy Advance (Platform)
PC (Platform)
PlayStation 2 (Platform)
GameCube (Platform)
Android (Platform)
Arcade (Platform)
iPad (Platform)
iPhone (Platform)
PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)
Xbox 360 Games Store (Platform)
Dreamcast (Platform) - Developer
- Publisher
- Genre
- Driving/Racing (Genre)
- Theme
- Comedy (Theme)
- Franchise
- Crazy Taxi (Franchise)