Crazy Taxi 3: A Disappointing Ride?

A Familiar Ride, But Is It Worth It?

The Crazy Taxi franchise has always offered a unique, high-octane twist on the driving genre. Bursting onto the arcade scene and later gracing the Dreamcast with a near-identical port, the original game was a breath of fresh air. Its vibrant, dayglo visuals and breakneck frame rates made picking up and dropping off passengers in San Francisco an exhilarating experience. However, for all its initial fun, the game's replayability was often questioned, with many finding the novelty wore off after a few days. The sequel introduced the perplexing 'Crazy Jump' and the ability to handle multiple fares, but for those who had already invested in the first iteration, the added value at its £40 price point was debatable.

Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller - More of the Same?

Now, we arrive at Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller, an Xbox exclusive that, perhaps due to its quiet release, was relegated to the "review when things settle down" pile. To put it bluntly, the title could have been more accurately described as 'Crazy Taxi - The Dead Horse Version'. While it retains the core mechanics of its predecessors, the additions feel less like innovation and more like a desperate attempt to breathe life into a formula that had already begun to stagnate. This iteration introduces 'Glitter Oasis', a new city inspired by Las Vegas, alongside 'revised' versions of the West Coast and Small Apple from previous games. Furthermore, you're given four new drivers to join the existing eight. Yet, even with a roster of eighty drivers and twenty cities, the fundamental issue remains: a lack of significant gameplay variety to maintain long-term engagement. After navigating the three cities, mastering routes, and picking up countless fares, the game offers little that isn't already done more compellingly, and often with more depth, in the throwaway taxi missions found in titles like Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City.

Technical Woes and Questionable Optimisation

The most significant disappointment with Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller lies in its technical execution on the Xbox. Hitmaker, the developer, seems to have struggled with the platform, delivering what can only be described as a subpar experience. The game is plagued by severe slowdown, particularly noticeable in the Glitter Oasis environment, where the frame rate frequently plummets to a crawl. This is especially egregious given that the visuals themselves have seen no discernible improvement since the game's 1999 arcade debut. Players will be met with low-resolution textures, rampant pop-up, and uninspired character animation. For Xbox owners, the lack of polish on such a seemingly straightforward game is baffling. Even the loading times are chronic, with the Xbox's hard drive offering no discernible benefit, resulting in one of the most unoptimised gaming experiences encountered in recent memory. The control scheme also remains untouched, presenting the unnecessary inconvenience of needing to shift into reverse to move backward and then back into drive to move forward again. This clunky system costs precious seconds when attempting quick directional changes after dropping off a passenger.

The Soundtrack: A Matter of Taste

The soundtrack has seen an expansion, but whether this is an improvement depends entirely on your musical preferences. For those who aren't fans of American 'punk' music, the inclusion of numerous tracks from The Offspring, Bad Religion, Citizen Bird, Methods Of Mayhem, and Brian Setzer (of Stray Cats fame) will likely be met with a swift reach for the volume control. If the intention was to create a 'pumped' atmosphere during gameplay, it largely fails to achieve this, instead becoming an irritant for many.

Mini-Games: A Glimmer of Hope?

Amidst the criticisms, there is a small saving grace: the inclusion of 25 mini-games. These offer some additional, albeit fleeting, entertainment. While many, like Crazy Jump and Crazy Tornado, can be completed on the first attempt, others such as Crazy Football and Crazy Chasm provide a modicum of challenge. However, even the cumulative fun derived from these mini-games cannot salvage Crazy Taxi 3 from its fundamental shallowness. The game simply does not offer enough depth to justify its asking price.

Affordability and Final Verdict

Despite its exclusivity to the Xbox, Microsoft's marketing for Crazy Taxi 3 was notably muted, particularly around the Christmas period. This lack of fanfare might, however, present a silver lining for budget-conscious gamers. If you happen to stumble upon Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller in a high street store, it is highly likely to be available at a significantly reduced price. While the initial appeal of the Crazy Taxi formula is undeniable, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller ultimately fails to evolve the concept sufficiently. Its technical shortcomings, repetitive gameplay, and questionable optimisation make it a difficult recommendation at its original retail price. However, if found at a steep discount, it might offer a few hours of mindless fun, provided you can look past its numerous flaws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crazy Taxi 3 available on platforms other than Xbox?
No, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller is an exclusive title for the original Xbox console.

What are the main criticisms of Crazy Taxi 3?
The primary criticisms include severe slowdown, dated graphics, low-resolution textures, pop-up, uninspired character animation, poor optimisation, and repetitive gameplay that lacks variety.

Does Crazy Taxi 3 offer new gameplay modes?
Yes, it introduces a new city, Glitter Oasis (based on Las Vegas), and includes 25 mini-games, some of which offer a degree of challenge.

Is the music in Crazy Taxi 3 enjoyable?
This is subjective. The soundtrack features a significant amount of American punk rock, which may not appeal to all players. Many found it repetitive or irritating.

Is Crazy Taxi 3 considered a good value for money?
At its original retail price, most critics and players felt it did not offer good value due to its lack of innovation and technical issues. However, if found at a heavily discounted price, it might be considered more affordable for a casual gaming experience.

Comparison Table: Crazy Taxi Series Evolution

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