Crazy Taxi PSP is the handheld port of its two very popular predecessors: Crazy Taxy and Crazy Taxi Game 2. It was developed by Hitmaker and Sniper Studios, and was released by SEGA last September 2007 in Australia and the EU. And as can be expected, the combination of its two games delivers more of the mayhem that made the series great, while adding a few new twists that takes advantage of the PSP’s capabilities.
But for those of you who have been unaware of this game for the past few years, here is what it’s all about: you play as one of four taxi drivers, who must cruise around a selection of three cities to pick up passengers. You then drive them off to their respective destinations and collect the fare. It is that simple. However, the fun starts when you realize that there is a VERY stiff time limit in Crazy Taxi PSP, and you have other cab drivers who will stop at nothing to steal your fare away from you. The result: competitive driving mayhem at breakneck speeds.
What’s New in Crazy Taxi PSP
Great as its concept already is, however, veterans of the series will notice a few more ways to add to the fun. First of all is the ability to ram your opponent’s cab. This is highly useful when both of you are headed towards the same passenger, because you can nudge your opponent past, and be at the correct spot to take that fare instead of him. In addition, you can add insult to injury by using the interference feature, which slows down your opponent’s fare delivery time.
Another cool feature of Crazy Taxi PSP is the new multiplayer function via Ad Hoc. Taxi Velserbroek This is the one that exploits the PSPs capabilities, and it is the first time that the series has implemented this function. With it, you can go head-to-head with a friend, and compete for the highest rank or fare. And if you only have one PSP to share between the two of you, there is also a turn-based multiplayer feature, which will still allow you to challenge each other on a single system.
Then you have the customizable music. As any fan of car driving games can tell you, great sounding music can make the difference between an adrenaline-filled ride and a boring one. And while Crazy Taxi PSP already has good music from the hard rock/punk rock genre, it still recognizes this element and allows you to transfer your favorite songs to a specified folder and play them instead (especially since the music from The Offspring and Bad Religion has been removed due to licensing issues).
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Crazy Taxi PSP
Porting issues aside, there are plenty of things to like in Crazy Taxi PSP. For one, there is still the good core gameplay, which has been praised in the past as being “deceptively complex” by numerous reviewers. It is quick, fun, and simple, which makes it perfect for those who want a quick diversion. And this aspect is supplemented by the pick-up-and-play mentality that the PSP offers.
And because it is almost a straight up port, the things that made those games fun are still there, like the crazy maneuvers you can do in Crazy Taxi 2, the selection of mini games to hone your skills, the ranking system, and that rewarding feeling of being appreciated by your passengers for driving recklessly. The graphics are also decent, and while they might look a bit old, the smaller size of the PSP’s screen makes for a good display.
Unfortunately though, there are issues which plagued the originals (and then some) which have also made it through to the handheld: the loose controls, the slow loading times, the poor audio cues from some passengers, and the somewhat lacking sense of speed.
But all in all, Crazy Taxi PSP is a very good choice if you are looking for a quick game to perk you up during a lull time at the airport. But if you are a fan of story driven mayhem, like what you can find in most police car driving games, then you might be better off searching elsewhere. Still, that does not take away the fun of playing a classic. So consider that and enjoy Crazy Taxi PSP.