Crazy Taxi (DC) (Crazy Taxi (DC))

Member Name: thole09

Product:	Crazy Taxi (DC)
Date:	07/10/09 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gameplay, Graphics

Disadvantages: Some repetitive audio

"Crazy Taxi" is a video game which was released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000 by Sega. It is a driving simulation game which was ported from an earlier freestanding arcade machine of the same name. In the United States, the game received an age rating of "T" which deemed the title suitable for teenage years and above.

The game boasts the most simple yet engaging of concepts. Players in this title are required to assume the role of one of four taxi drivers and tour through two distinct cities in search of fares. These fares will instruct the driver as to where they wish to go and the game becomes a beat-the-clock challenge wherein players must deliver their fare in the shortest time possible. Delivering a fare quickly to his or her destination will score bonus time points and receive a cash bonus from the fare. It is these results which are presented to the player at the end of a fixed three, five or ten minute round in-game. Crazy Taxi also includes its original "arcade" style rules which require the player to continually play against a timer and score the highest amount of points possible until expiry.

The gameplay of this title keeps with the original arcade platform very well. The pace is extremely fast, demanding and engaging. The overall requirements of the game do become slightly repetitive over time but the title has retained its charm for me throughout the years. One critical aspect of the title is driver selection as each presents a clearly noticeable advantage and disadvantage. Joe, for example, has the highest top speeds which hinder his control over the vehicle but Gus features a heavily weighed vehicle which offers great control and durability with the penalty of lower speeds. I also quite enjoy the presence of branded locations. As with many spin-offs of the title, players would be instructed to drive to buildings such as the cinema or clothing store. Here, players will be instructed to drive fares to recognizable true to life locations such as Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The game does present a slight learning curve to the player as one will have to adjust to the general quickness of the title, but after this has passed the game becomes throughly enjoyable.

The graphics of this title are excellent and make great use of the Dreamcast's available technology. The incredibly fast gameplay holds up well in terms of framerate and the game does suffer from areas of slowdown. These visually choppy areas are few and far between but do seem to come up at odd areas. I found that even in light traffic my game would grind to a temporary halt for a brief moment before resuming. Nonetheless, the cars, locations and fares are very well designed and implemented and I have no complaints in this department. The sound, while brilliant in terms of its clarity and audibility, did become tiresome to listen to. It seemed that the developers opted to continually loop certain voice snippets to suit the fare's gender regardless of his or her physical appearance. While this does not significantly impact on gameplay, it does become rather noticeable during long sessions at the television.

Overall, Crazy Taxi is an excellent arcade experience for the Sega Dreamcast and I would recommend it to prospective buyers. It provides a thrilling arcade experience with little technical fault.

Summary: Thumbs up