Crazy Taxi is an arcade-like racer where you play as a taxi driver, navigating through crowded streets, sidewalks, and even underwater to deliver passengers on time. The courses are set in cities with heavy traffic and pedestrians, who will dive away if you try to run them over. Your goal is to get as many customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.
In the main Arcade mode, a timer counts down rapidly, but it can be refilled by picking up customers. Be reckless and disregard traffic rules to earn extra tips for speedy driving, but these rewards only work if you arrive at your destination on time. Each customer has their own timer, and the longer they take to reach their destination, the more reward you'll get.
The game features different modes, including Arcade, Original, and Crazy Box, each with specific goals and challenges. You can choose from four cabs and drivers, each with unique statistics and attitudes. The cars have different abilities, and you can perform special tricks like a crazy drift or boost by shifting gears quickly.
The game also features a new course not available in the arcade version, as well as a soundtrack featuring popular bands like The Offspring and Bad Religion. Your performance will be rewarded with a license, ranging from D to A, depending on your speed and skill.
Crazy Taxi is available for the Gamecube console, released on May 3rd, 2002.