24 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
Crazy Taxi 3: Lets Make Some Crazy Money
Date of Review: Aug 16, 2002
The Bottom Line: Ready to make some Crazy Money?
First, I must make it perfectly clear that I have not played any of the previous Crazy Taxi games or any of its knock-offs, like Simpson's Road Rage. So, this review is purely targeted at those who are fresh to the series entirely, instead of someone who has played the Dreamcast/GameCube/PS2 versions. I had purchased this title on pure whim (and having plenty of trade credit left over at EB to pick it up for $3 after fully paying off Mario, Zelda, Star Fox and Metroid). Anyway, on to the synopsis.
Crazy Taxi follows a very simple formula. Pick up people, get them to their destination as fast as possible, and do as much crazy stuff in between to pad your fare in tips. Strictly speaking, this is an arcade game, one you don't have to pump quarters, or in this day and age, dollar bills into to play. So, in a way, picking up the game really loosens the wallet. On to the good stuff.
Crazy Visuals, Man!
Visually, Crazy Taxi 3 is just...well...nice. Nothing groundbreaking, yet nothing that is just pure trash either. Many cars can be on the screen at once, the few effects, mainly fire from boosts and crazy drifts, are well done, and the levels themselves have been put together nicely in the visual department. Two of the levels are night time, and it shows off some competent, yet still flawed, lighting systems.
Crazy Concept
Having never played the previous titles, the whole idea of just picking up customers in a taxi and breaking every road law known to man is pretty cool. I've played each level a good 30 times a piece, just that addictive. Then throw in a ton of interesting, and absolutely difficult, mini games, like a football rush or long jump, and I'm quite happy.
Crazy Levels
Level design is brutal, just plain brutal, and boy is that grand! When you pick up a customer, you are given just enough time to get them there if you simply use basic acceleration and no fancy tricks, like jumping over obstacles for shortcuts or crazy drifts. So, to get your fare there with a "Speedy" rating, and thus get a bounus in both time and cash, you really have to utilize your jumps, drifts, and plenty of shortcuts. The levels always leave the short cut in a hard to get place and always leaves plenty of traffic to get in your path. They don't make this easy, and therefore, palm sweatin' fun!
Crazy Addiction
As said before, I've played each regular level 30 times a piece and have been trying like mad to get all the mini games unlocked. And, I can say, I stil want more. I am lucky I don't have to go to an arcsade for this, for I would have easily exceeded the purchase price (well, had I not traded in games) and is well worth it.
Crazy Slowdown
This problem only occurrs in the downtown areas of the Small Apple and Glitter Oasis levels. There are just SO MANY CARS and people that the game begins to crawl. At first, it only seems like your vehicle just took a sleep pill, since it doesn't actually stutter the game, it just looks like a true, bona fide Matrix slow effect. You still get every frame, just really slowly, as if you were in first gear.
Not Enough Crazy Levels
Three levels and a few mini games is just not enough, I do predict I will get bored of this sooner or later, and having doubled the levels would have significatnly improved the longevity of this title.
Crazy Bottom Line
Crazy Taxi 3 is a darned good game for those new to the whole series. Its got addiction, action, and guys wearing speedos waiting to get dropped off at the clothing store. It has a few minor slowdown problems and limited number of levels, but it is still worth a purchase for the new fans. I cannot speak to those who played the previous games, to them, rent it first, and see how you like it.
