Crazy Taxi

Crazy Taxi is a video game developed by Hitmaker and published by Sega. The game was first released in arcades in 1999 and was ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 2000. Subsequently, it has been brought to the Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube in 2001; and then PC and Game Boy Advance in 2002. A port to Sony PSP called Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars was released August 9, 2007. Crazy Taxi is the first game in the Crazy Taxi series, and it became one of the few Sega All Stars.

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. North of the map, past the baseball stadium, a high rise city can be found for further adventure. For both levels, the player has a choice of four drivers and their cabs, each of whom has slightly different attributes: Axel is the well-balanced cab choice, BD Joe has the fastest floored speed but least controllability, Gena has the best acceleration/deceleration and braking and Gus has the heaviest cab, enabling him to drive well off-road and even onto most oncoming traffic.

The main objective of the game is to pick up customers and take them to their 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 journey. 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 taxi. There is no penalty for a "Bad" rating, but time will have been wasted attempting to deliver this customer. However, there is often sufficient time available on the main clock for the player to pick up another passenger with hope to make up for their loss. On the arcade version, if a player earns a "Bad" rating, the next fare starts at $0.00.

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.

All versions (except the PC version and the Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars port) of the game are also notable for their soundtrack featuring Bad Religion ("Inner Logic," "Ten in 2010," "Them and Us", and "Hear It") and The Offspring ("All I Want, "Change the World," and "Way Down the Line").

Console versions of the game also feature the "Crazy Box", a set of minigames that features challenges such as stopping by hitting a pole, picking up and dropping off a number customers within time limits, bowling using the taxi 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. The rear of the car is forced down somewhat, lifting the front end. For multiple dashes, hit 'reverse' and then again 'drive' immediately followed by 'accelerate' (known as the Limit Cut). A variation called the "Crazy Backdash" involves performing a Crazy Dash and then shifting into reverse, so that the car reveses with a burst of speed. A side-effect of these three tricks is that the car gains massive traction and limited steering, which can be exploited by players to more easily weave in and out of traffic. It can also be exploited to do a "Crazy Stop", where after a Crazy Dash the brakes are applied and reverse gear engaged, causing the car to stop almost instantly. This causes the rear of the car to lift up, as if front wheel breaking is applied. 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.

Despite being violently thrown around and not seemingly strapped into the taxi in any visible way, passengers are usually appreciative of stunts and reward the player with bonus fares upon successful execution (i.e. not hitting anything). Mastery of stunts is essential for attaining high scores in the game.

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, (the now-bankrupt) Tower Records, the FILA sportswear store, the Levi's store or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Each of these chains is modeled 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.

Due to licensing on said companies lapsing over the years, (As well as Tower Records ceasing to exist as a retail chain) none of the featured companies are seen in the re-release of Crazy Taxi in Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars.

PC Port
In 2002, Strangelite ported the game to PC. The PC version had a different soundtrack. The PC format did not sell well and was eventually released as part of the xplosiv budget range.

PSP Port
In 2007, Sniper Studios ported the game to Playstation Portable. The PSP version has custom soundtracks, and single and multi-system multiplayer.

Soundtracks
The following list is for the Arcade, Dreamcast, PS2, and GameCube versions.


 * Bad Religion - Inner Logic
 * Bad Religion - Ten in 2010
 * Bad Religion - Them and Us
 * Bad Religion - Hear It
 * The Offspring - All I Want
 * The Offspring - Way Down the Line
 * The Offspring - Change the World

The PSP version supports custom soundtracks. You must enable Custom Music in the menu, then you can press select at any time to change tracks.