Crazy Taxi
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| Crazy Taxi {{#if:{{{image|}}}|<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">{{{image|}}} | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Hitmaker {{#if:{{{publisher|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)<td>{{{publisher|}}} |
| Release date(s) | February 1, 2000 (DC) See Crazy Taxi series |
| Genre(s) | Racing/Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player {{#if:{{{ratings|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)<td>{{{ratings|}}} |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PC {{#if:{{{media|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media<td>{{{media|}}} |
Crazy Taxi was first released in arcades in 1999 and was ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. Subsequently, it has been brought to the PlayStation 2, and Gamecube in 2001; and then PC in 2002. It is the first game in the Crazy Taxi series.
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Gameplay
The arcade version of the game includes one level, and an additional "original" stage was added for the console versions. Both are based in sunny coastal California locales, with steep hills and other strong similarities to San Francisco. For both levels, the player has a choice of four drivers and their cabs, each of whom has slightly different attributes: Axel is well-balanced car, BD Joe is the fastest but least controllable, Gena has the best acceleration and braking and Gus is the most controllable and can drive well off-road.
The main objective of the game is to pick up customers and take them to a chosen destination as fast as possible. Along the way, money can be earned (the game is primarily a score attack title) by performing outrageous stunts such as the "Crazy Through" (near-misses with other vehicles; both risk and reward are higher when driving against the flow of traffic) and "Crazy Drift" (extended, barely-controlled skidding).
When the destination is reached, that customer's fare is added to the player's total money earned, while "Speedy", "Normal" or "Slow" ratings are awarded depending on how long the player took to complete the delivery. If the player is too slow in reaching the objective and the customer's timer runs out, a "Bad" rating is given before even reaching the destination, and the customer jumps from the cab. There is no penalty for a "Bad" rating, but time will have been wasted attempting to deliver this customer. However, there should still be sufficient time available on the main clock for the player to pick up another passenger and hope to make up for their loss.
For each level, one can play under different time conditions: three-minute, five-minute or ten-minute settings, or the "Arcade Rules" used in the original coin-op version of the game but which was also included in the home versions. In the three time-limited settings, play continues for the designated period of time, after which the cab automatically stops and no more points can be scored. Under Arcade Rules, the player starts with an initial time limit of around a minute (although in this first Crazy Taxi game it can be changed in the options screen), which can be extended through time bonuses earned for "Speedy" and "Normal" deliveries, as well as by making good use of whatever time is left over after making a delivery. Expert players, able to memorise the best route from pick-up to delivery, can thus continue playing for long periods of time - however, as time goes on, the "best" passengers will have been taken to their destinations, leaving fewer potential customers remaining, so as the game continues the challenge increases.
The game is also notable for its soundtrack featuring Bad Religion ("Inner Logic," "Ten in 2010," and "Them and Us") and The Offspring ("All I Want," "Change the World," and "Way Down the Line").
The home versions of the game also feature the "Crazy Box", a set of minigames that features challenges such as stopping by hitting a pole, bowling using the cab as a ball, and popping giant balloons in a field.
Stunts
The game features fast arcade-style gameplay, along with a variety of cab 'stunts'. The first stunt is the Crazy Dash, a forward burst of speed that can be pulled off in succession. To trigger the burst, the player must shift into 'drive' and directly follow it with the 'accelerate' button. For multiple dashes, hit 'reverse' and then again 'drive' immediately followed by 'accelerate' (known as the Limit Cut). Another stunt is the Crazy Drift. This is accomplished by quickly hitting 'reverse' and then 'drive' while making a sharp turn. A final, position-specific stunt is the Crazy Jump, which goes off automatically if the player goes off ramps or other sudden inclines.
Advertising
As well as generic destinations such as the city's police station, rail terminal and lookout point, passengers may also request to be taken to Pizza Hut, Tower Records, the FILA sportswear store, the Levi's store or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Each of these chains is modelled as a location in the game. Although this is one of the most prominent examples of product placement in video gaming history, it is generally looked upon relatively favorably amongst gamers, perhaps because it gives a sense of realism to the (semi-)fictional city in the game.