Crazy Taxi (video game)

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox video game Template:Nihongo foot is a racing video game developed and published by Sega.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the first game in the Crazy Taxi series. The game was first released in arcades in 1999 and then was ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. Gameplay is based on picking up taxi customers and driving to their destination as quickly as possible. Reception to Crazy Taxi has been mostly positive. It was ported to other platforms numerous times, including the PlayStation 2 and GameCube by Acclaim in 2001, and then Windows in 2002, becoming Sega's first multi-platform game after the company transitioned to third-party.

The game has also been rereleased for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, iOS and Android, and is also featured on the Dreamcast Collection.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It became one of the few Sega All Stars on the Dreamcast and also earned Greatest Hits and Player's Choice status on PlayStation 2 and GameCube respectively. Sega followed up on the success of Crazy Taxi with numerous sequels, the first being Crazy Taxi 2 for the Dreamcast, which included several gameplay changes.

Gameplay

File:CrazyTaxi gameplay.jpg

In Crazy Taxi players are tasked with earning fares by taking customers to destinations as quickly as possible.

The main objective of the game is to pick up customers and take them to their chosen destination as quickly as possible. Along the way, money can be earned by performing stunts, such as near misses with other vehicles.<ref name="gamerevolution review" /> The player is directed to a destination by a large green arrow at the top of the screen. The arrow does not adjust based on obstacles but rather points in the general direction of the destination. Once the player arrives near the destination, they must stop within a specified zone. When the destination is reached, the customer's fare is added to the player's total money earned. Ratings are then awarded depending on how long the player took to complete the journey.<ref name="ign dc">Template:Cite web</ref> If the customer's timer runs out before the player reaches the destination, the customer will jump from the taxi without paying the driver.

Players can select three-, five-, or ten-minute settings, or the Arcade Rules used in the original coin-op version of the game.<ref name="ign dc" /> 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 one minute, which can be extended through time bonuses earned for quick deliveries. Console versions of the game also feature a mode known as Crazy Box, a set of minigames that feature challenges, such as picking up and dropping off a number of customers within a time limit, bowling using the taxi as a ball, and popping giant balloons in a field.<ref name="kenji kanno interview">Template:Cite web</ref>

The arcade version of the game includes one stage, and an additional "Original" stage was added for the console versions. Both stages are based in sunny coastal Californian locales, with steep hills and other strong similarities to San Francisco. The player has a choice of four drivers (Axel, B.D. Joe, Gena, and Gus) and their cabs, each of which has slightly different attributes.

Development and marketing

The arcade edition of the game was developed by Hitmaker as a variation from then-current arcade titles. The Crazy Taxi cabinet ran on Sega Naomi hardware.<ref name="arcade cabinet">Template:Cite web</ref> It was originally released in arcades as a sit-down machine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An upright version was later released.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over the next few years, the game would be ported to the Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Windows;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the latter port was published by Empire Interactive and developed by their internal studio Strangelite.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Crazy Taxi was later ported to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These ports originally were to force a 4:3 aspect ratio, with widescreen monitors showing blue bars on either side of the screen,<ref name="joystiq stripped" /> resulting in featuring full widescreen support for these ports.<ref name="widescreen">Template:Cite web</ref> The game is a port of the Dreamcast version, including both the original arcade and the Dreamcast-exclusive level.<ref name="widescreen" /> The PlayStation Network port was released on November 16, 2010, while the Xbox Live Arcade version was released the following week.<ref name="release psnxbla">Template:Cite web</ref> The game was also announced for the Zeebo console, though no port was ever released.<ref name="zeebo">Template:Cite web</ref>

Crazy Taxi was brought to the App Store on iOS devices in October 2012. The game includes the arcade map and the map that was introduced for consoles. It also includes all Crazy Box challenges. As in the console versions, if all challenges are completed, a pedicab is unlocked to play the main game with. The taxi can be controlled though either the touch screen or by tilting the device making use of its accelerometer. Critics were impressed with this port because the maps remained unchanged and the controls were intuitive.<ref name="ta play">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sega applied for and was awarded U.S. Patent 6,200,138 – "Game display method, moving direction indicating method, game apparatus and drive simulating apparatus" – in 2001.<ref name="patent">Template:Cite web</ref> The mechanics in the "138 patent" describe an arcade cabinet similar to Sega's previous arcade game Harley-Davidson & L.A. Riders (1997)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but also describe the arrow navigation system and pedestrian avoidance aspects that were used in Crazy Taxi.

Crazy Taxi producer Kenji Kanno noted that the time extension on gameplay was a breakaway of the current "100 yen for three minutes" that persisted at the time for arcade games, and it rewarded players with longer playing times by performing well in the game.<ref name="kenji kanno interview" /> In addition to providing a game that could be played in short sessions, Kanno wanted a game to explore the "daily life and routine" of a taxi driver.<ref name="ign video interview kanno">Template:Cite web</ref> In the development of the Dreamcast version of the original arcade game, the developers included a larger map in addition to the arcade one, as to create a feeling of "being lost" and allowing home console players to have fun "learning the town".<ref name="kenji kanno interview"/> Mini-games were developed for this version as to "let the player play longer if he improved skill" by offering challenges that were both fun and educational. Over one hundred different ideas for mini-games were developed by the team, but then pared down for the Crazy Box mini-game challenges for the game.<ref name="kenji kanno interview"/>

Crazy Taxi is also notable for its soundtrack featuring the bands Bad Religion and The Offspring, who provided all of the tracks for the arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 and GameCube ports.<ref name="gamerevolution review">Template:Cite web</ref> The PC featured an entirely new soundtrack, omitting the original bands in favor of music from Pivit, Too Rude and Total Chaos.<ref name="gamespot pc review">Template:Cite web</ref> The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Crazy Taxi also exclude the original bands, providing an original soundtrack for the ports.<ref name="joystiq stripped" /> Custom soundtracks can also be used on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 via their system firmware. The iOS and Android versions feature the original soundtrack.<ref name="ta play" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to 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 KFC.<ref name="ign dc" /> Crazy Taxi also featured vans on the roads with the WOW! logo on the side. Each of these chains are modeled as a location in the game. This is considered one of the most prominent examples of product placement in video gaming history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These establishments have been replaced with generic businesses in later versions, due to licensing difficulties.<ref name="joystiq stripped">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="catch a ride interview">Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Crazy Taxi on their April 1, 1999 issue as being the second most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It went on to be the biggest hit from Sega's Hitmaker studio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sales for the game were generally high, with the Dreamcast version being the second highest selling Dreamcast game in the United States in 2000, selling nearly 750,000 units.<ref name="magicbox">Template:Cite web</ref> American sales later reached Template:Nowrap units across the Dreamcast and Template:Nowrap, including Template:Nowrap for the Dreamcast and Template:Nowrap for the PS2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the UK, the Dreamcast version was reported to have sold out.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The PlayStation 2 version received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),<ref name=platinumelspa>Template:Cite web</ref> indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.<ref name=gamasutrasales>Template:Cite web</ref> In Japan, the Dreamcast, PS2 and GameCube versions sold 155,714 units.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Xbox Live Arcade sales for 2011 were high, with the game selling nearly 100,000 units.<ref name="sales 11 360">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Dreamcast version of Crazy Taxi was critically acclaimed, averaging 90% at video game aggregate site GameRankings based on 37 reviews.<ref name="gr dc" /> Subsequent ports of the game have also received generally positive reviews, but had a trend of declining average scores. The PlayStation 2 port averaged 79% at GameRankings and 80/100 at Metacritic respectively.<ref name="gr ps2" /><ref name="mc ps2" /> The next port for the GameCube scored lower, with aggregate scores of 70% and 69/100.<ref name="gr gc" /><ref name="mc gc" /> The PC port was the poorest rated of the ports, scoring an average of 56% at GameRankings.<ref name="gr pc" />

Critics generally praised the overall gameplay. Brandon Justice of IGN said: "I can't stress enough how addictive this game is".<ref name="ign dc" /> Of the Dreamcast port, Game Revolution felt that "a great arcade game became a good home game".<ref name="gamerevolution review" /> They further noted the game's high difficulty and added that while the game was difficult, it was not frustrating.<ref name="gamerevolution review" /> Michael Goncalves of PALGN added that the game was either a "love or hate" title, adding "if you love it, you will cherish the game and play it to your hearts content".<ref name="palgn review">Template:Cite web</ref> Goncalves also pointed out that the game featured occasional pop up and clipping.<ref name="palgn review" /> Reviews were split across the releases in regards to the game's soundtrack. PALGN cited Bad Religion and The Offspring as a high point of the game,<ref name="palgn review" /> while Game Revolution felt that the tracks were repetitive.<ref name="gamerevolution review" /> GameSpot reviewer Jeff Gerstmann felt that the soundtrack was subjective to personal preference, stating "you'll either want to crank the volume up or turn the music all the way down".<ref name="gamespot ps2 review">Template:Cite web</ref> In a review for the PC version's altered soundtrack, fellow GameSpot reviewer Andrew Park felt that the new music was fitting for the game. However, they criticized the PC version for frame rate issues and recommended the Dreamcast version instead.<ref name="gamespot pc review" />

James Bottorff of The Cincinnati Enquirer gave the Dreamcast version three-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote that "the only bug on Crazy TaxiTemplate:'s window is the lack of longevity. The game can grow tiresome after multiple plays. However, the amount of fun packed into its short life span makes it a worthwhile addition to your library of games".<ref name="cincinnati review" /> Maxim gave the same version a score of six out of ten: "We don’t like how the pesky pedestrians always manage to dodge your cab, but the graphics of the San Francisco-like city are amazingly detailed".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Japan, Famitsu gave the Dreamcast version a score of 34 out of 40,<ref name="Fam_SDC">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and the PS2 version 30 out of 40.<ref name="Fam_PS2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> GameFan gave the Dreamcast version a score of 96%,<ref name="GameFan">Template:Cite journal</ref> while Edge gave both the Dreamcast and PS2 versions a score of seven out of 10.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Hilary Goldstein in IGN called the Xbox Live Arcade release "a mad dash of fun", adding "there's almost no depth to Crazy Taxi, but that's just fine".<ref name="ps3 360 IGN">Template:Cite web</ref> Goldstein praised the fact that the port stayed true to the original source, but felt that the lack of the original soundtrack "kills half the reason to pick Crazy Taxi up again".<ref name="ps3 360 IGN" /> Criticism also pointed to the lack of visual updates such as higher resolution models and textures.<ref name="ps3 360 IGN" /> GameProTemplate:'s Dave Rudden also lauded the fact that the port played faithfully to the original. Rudden echoed Goldstein's comments in regards to poor visuals, saying it had "ugly character models and boxy traffic cars".<ref name="gamepro review">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Robert Workman from GameZone praised the game for sticking to its Sega roots: "Crazy Taxi isn't just a nostalgic trip, but also a wondrous stress reliever and an all-around entertaining game".<ref name="gamezone review">Template:Cite web</ref> Russ Pitts of The Escapist gave it four stars out of five: "In spite of dated graphics and other technical whizbangery, Crazy Taxi will remind you why you love driving games – and who started that fire. It's a game that's fun to play in short bursts that will become longer and longer the more of them you devote to it".<ref name="escapist review" /> In contrast, Daniel Feit of Wired gave it a score of six stars out of ten: "Gameplay is pure repetition; fun in short bursts but little lasting attraction".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Jeff Lundrigan and Daniel Erickson reviewed the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 versions for Next Generation, respectively, and each gave their games four stars out of five: "A strangely addictive experience overall, Crazy Taxi is perfect for the gaming obsessive, but also makes a great party game".<ref name="NGv3n4">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Erickson described it as "a near-perfect port of a fantastic game".<ref name="NGv4n8">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The Dreamcast version was a runner-up GameSpotTemplate:'s annual "Best Driving Game" award among console games, losing to Test Drive Le Mans.<ref name=bestworst2000>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Crazy Taxi won "Console Action Game of the Year"; it also received nominations for "Console Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering".<ref name="Console2000">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Craft2000">Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

Crazy TaxiTemplate:'s success prompted Sega to produce multiple sequels. In 2001, Crazy Taxi 2 was released, followed by Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller in 2002. THQ would publish the Graphic State developed Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride in 2003, the only title for the Game Boy Advance. Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars, a compilation of Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2, was released in 2007 for the PlayStation Portable. A mobile-exclusive entry to the series, titled Crazy Taxi: City Rush, was released on the iOS and Google Play app stores in 2014.

Crazy Taxi and its sequels have also prompted several games which clone its core gameplay. The Simpsons: Road Rage was the first of these titles, released in 2001. In 2003, Sega filed a lawsuit against Fox Interactive, Electronic Arts, and Radical Entertainment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sega claimed that the game was a patent infringement of Crazy Taxi. The case, Sega of America, Inc. v. Fox Interactive, et al., was settled in private for an undisclosed amount.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The poorly received Emergency Mayhem for the Wii utilizes the same core gameplay of the Crazy Taxi series but adds additional elements in regards to driving emergency response vehicles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Team6 Game Studios would later release a similar game called Taxi Chaos, which could be considered as a spiritual successor to Crazy Taxi. The game was released on February 23, 2021, for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. The game takes place in a fictionalized version of New York City and has the same format as the original Crazy Taxi games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2024 United States presidential campaign

One of the game's fans was Tim Walz, then a high school teacher and later the governor of Minnesota and the Democratic nominee for United States vice president in 2024. During the campaign, a former student of Walz said the governor recounted that his wife made him get rid of his Dreamcast because he was playing it too much.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A Plymouth, Minnesota man later said a Walz intern sold him the console for $25, with Crazy Taxi inside.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

That October, Walz and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez played Crazy Taxi and Madden NFL 25 on Ocasio-Cortez's Twitch channel. Walz confirmed many details of the story, saying he considered the game an alternative to the violence of Grand Theft Auto 3.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Film adaptation

In 2001, Richard Donner was attached to a live-action version of Crazy Taxi but eventually left the project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Talk of a screen adaptation of Crazy Taxi was renewed in 2014, as Sega optioned the film and TV rights to its library.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

External links

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