Crazy Taxi Drives Madly Into The App Store
Crazy Taxi ($4.99) by SEGA is an almost identical port of the 2000 game of the same name for the iPhone and iPad. Grab a passenger, strap in and hit the pedal to the metal because you’re in for a wild ride on the streets of a city that doesn’t look entirely unlike San Francisco.
For those who have fond memories of sitting on the living room floor, Dreamcast controller in hand, frantically trying to get to the next destination in your yellow cab, you’ll be happy to know that this port is nearly identical to the original. Unlike some licensed games that are absolutely nothing like their namesake, this one holds true to your memory.
Players take control of a taxi cab and spend the entire game picking up customers and dropping them off at their requested destinations. The hard part is getting to the drop off spot before the clock runs out. One missed turn and you can kiss your fare goodbye.
If you’ve never played Crazy Taxi before then you’re in for a treat. This game is fun and frantic and will make your hands sweat as the anticipation builds and the clock ticks down to zero. Pick up and drop off customers within a limited amount of time to earn money. Get extra tips for speed and style.
If you have played this game before then you are going to love it. Players drive down the same city streets, picking up the same recognizable pigtailed girls, and listening to the same crappy Bad Religion sound track.
The drive and reverse pedals are on the right side of the screen. The left and right directional buttons are on the left side of the screen. They are positioned perfectly and don’t feel the least bit awkward. Controls are very responsive. This game requires impeccable timing and the slightest lag in driving controls can make or break your ability to move to the next round.
I’m not going to lie, the controls aren’t as good as a Dreamcast controller, but they don’t limit your ability to play the game with the same sweaty-palmed excitement as the console game.
There are three different modes of gameplay. Arcade and Original mode use the same rules as the Dreamcast console version. In Crazy Box, players earn points for completing mini goals, like picking up all customers within a limited amount of time by crashing into poles to stop the car.
If you grew up with Crazy Taxi, you won’t be disappointed with this iOS port. It plays well and the controls are almost as responsive as you want them to be. After a few hours of gameplay, you’ll get used to the difference anyway. Just be careful with how hard you press down on your device’s screen. If you are anything like me, your iPad won’t be able to take all the pressure.
