Crazy Taxi: City Rush Review

A regular fixture in many an arcade, bowling alley or roller rink for decades, SEGA’s Crazy Taxiturned the third-person driving game into a chaotic experience and taught you everything NOT to do while behind the wheel.

The concept was pretty straight forward, you drive a cab around town, pick up customers, then do whatever it takes to get them to their destination in the quickest time possible. The original arcade and later console versions focused on trying to have the longest run and highest score by successfully delivering your hapless passengers.

These people seemed delighted to throw you tip money for taking jumps, ramming things and causing general mayhem. The more runs you finished, the more you made and the farther you got into the city.

Now, SEGA ramps up the crazy and the taxi with their mobile app sequel game – Crazy Taxi: City Rush.

Reiger, You’re in 844!

The original arcade games had a handful of drivers, each with their favorite cabs. One would be quicker, another stronger, another took tighter turns etc. City Rush has a number of drivers and over a dozen cars to choose from. And you can completely upgrade and customize your cars as you go.

And yes, I said CARS plural. You maintain a garage full of vehicles and hire them out to game NPCs or your Facebook friends to drive and make money for you. See that? You’ve just been promoted from Reverend Jim Ignatowski to Louis De Palma on the first day, congratz boss.

Playing City Rush is mostly reflex swiping and tapping the screen as your cab whizzes the streets. No wheel control, which I like actually. The Grand Theft Auto touch wheel control was a pain. Here, it’s simply swipe left or swipe right, or press hold on the edges to take tight turns. The cab auto-accelerates and you only have to brake when queued to. Remember, this is an arcade style game, not a driving simulator.

But, who wants a simulator when you can hit the Boost and plow up traffic ahead of you, launch skyward off the numerous truck trailers with their loading ramps conveniently down or making hairpin turns that would leave your stomach in your spine?

The game breaks up the city into areas that you must complete to move forward. Each area has its own challenges, selection of cars, as well as regular customers.

Latka, These Cabs Won’t Fix Themselves!

Once you start collecting cars, there’s a lot you can do to make them more… you. The car’s attributes can be improved with newer tires, body frame, bigger engines, and more Nitrous (NO2) Boost. 

A wide selection of colors, wheels and decals can be bought along with items you can mount on your car’s hood or trunk. Customizing your cab increases it’s Ride score which gives you bonus cash after each run. These add-ons range from the cool (like a big engine sticking out or a racing spoiler) to the completely ridiculous. 

Let me say it this way, you can make your cab look like a Brony’s dream or a pirate ship. 

Hit the Road!

I admit I’ve pretty hooked after playing a week or so. I’ve got 8 cars so far, half of them completely upgraded and I’m waiting for the 4th area to open up. Hiring out cabs is something I can do quickly, at any time, without having to actually stop and drive a mission, so my drivers are always busy.

But, it’s a game you can learn quick, pick up anytime, run a fast mission or two and put back down if you must. It’s a very casual experience, but you can easily spend a lot of time behind the crazy wheel.

Gotta’ run, it’s my shift.