Gameplay/Control:: CT offers four drivers with unique taxis to select. Feeling a bit dangerous? Pick Gus (my favorite), whose taxi takes punishment like no other. Does speed matter most to you? Be sure to select smack-talking B.D. Joe. Each character offers a slightly different experience. While we are on the subject of cabs, control is a very important subject to mention. These cabs control beautifully. Obviously, like every other DC racing game, the left and right triggers control brake and gas, respectively. But there are buttons for reverse and forward gears which are key to performing special maneuvers. Example: is the clock winding down? Need to get to “C.T. Hospital” real quick? A Crazy Dash (read: speed boost) is achieved by pressing both accelerate and forward gear simultaneously. Feeling like a hot shot? To powerslide, simply push both forward and reverse gear buttons (A and B) while turning left or right. There are several other techniques to master… And trust me, you will use them: they are key to raking up the cash. And they make the game a blast to play. Ultimately, the control couldn’t be any better.
Once again, like many SEGA games, CT is all about gameplay. And CT’s gameplay delivers. Previous to playing the game, you may have thought taxis are as lame as your Uncle Ned’s fart jokes. I had no idea picking up and dropping off customers could be so fun. Just follow that green arrow and make sure you get there on time. The quicker you get there, the bigger the time bonus. The first few times you play, you’ll be blown away by the awesome city to explore and the adrenaline rush you get from “driving” twenty feet in the air. And once you master the control, you’ll go crazy attempting to beat your personal records. As you play, you’ll also want to memorize where all the locations are, too. Even better is the fact that some of the places are real world stores and businesses. There’s a Pizza Hut, a Tower Records, a Levi’s store…very cool, indeed. CT’s gameplay is a beautiful thing. The only real significant factor which affects gameplay is the green arrow. Once in a while, it may lead you in the wrong direction. Strangely, this usually only happens in the new city developed specifically for the DC version. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it is quite annoying. And I almost forgot… Ever hear of "sleep" or "food?" You can forget about those things when you’ve got CT in the same room as you: it is addictive as crack (or so they say). Greatness, greatness, greatness…
Visuals:: As you may or may not know, CT is a Naomi-based arcade game. So you should expect nothing put perfect graphics, right? Yes, right…VERY right. CT is a lovely-looking game. Although there is one strange quirk, so to speak. In the original city, the graphics are near flawless. Zero pop-up and a constant 60 fps are there, and always there. In the new city, however, slowdown and pop-up do occur. Don't fret, as these issues only occur in select areas of the map. And they certainly don’t affect gameplay, which of course, is the most important thing. The graphics are pretty darn amazing, overall.
Audio:: Sound, sound, sound… pretty good, pretty nice, repetitive. What’s there is good, but you’ll hear it way too often. With only two bands featured on the soundtrack, get ready to hear the same songs many times. Thankfully the songs aren’t garbage by any means. They are nice and set the “crazy” mood for the game. Character voices are likewise monotonous, and are pretty ridiculous, too. They might evoke a chuckle or two. In the end, sound is quite good, albeit repetitive.
Overall:: Crazy Taxi is just so great…sooo great… If you don’t own this game by now, why the hell do you even own a Dreamcast? That’s all I have to say.
Score:: 9.5/10
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