Crazy Taxi is a series of score attack racing video games that was developed by Hitmaker and published by Sega. The first game appeared in arcades in 1999 and was very successful, prompting Sega to port the arcade version to their Dreamcast console in 2000.
Each game has the player assume the role of a taxi driver who must accumulate money by delivering passengers to their destinations in the fastest time possible, earning tips by performing “crazy stunts” before the time runs out. The franchise has been recognized for its innovative gameplay design which is easy to learn but difficult to master, its use of in-game advertising, and its soundtrack music provided by the bands The Offspring and Bad Religion.
Additional money can be earned by driving like a maniac – weaving through traffic, jumping off of strategically placed ramps, or the infamous downhill jumps (where you can catch some serious air, San Francisco Rush style), among other stunts. At the end of the game, your score is tallied up and you are awarded a license according to how much money you earned during the game:
$0 – $999 = Class E License
$1000 – $1999 = Class D License
$2000 – $2999 = Class C License
$3000 – $3999 = Class B License
$4000 – $4999 = Class A License
$5000 – $9999 = Class S License (allows you to view the ending, and watch some of your best dropoffs!)
$10000 – $20000 = AWESOME! License
20000+ = CRAZY! License
The arcade game was one of the first to use the Sega NAOMI hardware processor, which is based on the Sega Dreamcast and was unveiled as part of Sega’s exhibition at the 1999 Amusement Operators Union exposition in Japan
Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs
You can perform a Crazy Dash after comming to a dead stop by shifting into drive and flooring the gas, in one quick motion. You will take off at full speed However this is a tricky maneuver so you will have to practice it until you perfect it. Reverse the Game Play normally when you begin playing the game, your taxi is already headed forward, and your first available fairs generally want to go to the Street Car stop. If you HOLD the gear selector in REVERSE while HOLDING the BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR before you press start to begin the game, when you start, your taxi will be facing the opposite direction, and a whole new route of fairs begins.