Mastering Crazy Taxi: Your Ultimate UK Guide

Step into the driver's seat and prepare for a high-octane ride! Crazy Taxi, a timeless arcade classic, offers an exhilarating experience unlike any other. Forget mundane commutes; here, your mission is simple yet thrilling: pick up customers and deliver them to their destinations as fast as humanly possible, all while racking up massive fares. This isn't just about driving; it's about mastering the art of speed, precision, and a touch of delightful chaos. If you're ready to transform from a casual driver into a street-savvy cabbie, this comprehensive guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to dominate the bustling streets and become a legend in the world of Crazy Taxi.

Mastering the Controls: Your Taxi, Your Playground

While the core concept of Crazy Taxi is straightforward, mastering its intricate manoeuvres and stunts will elevate your game significantly. Understanding your vehicle's capabilities through its controls is the first step towards becoming a top earner.

Basic Controls

• Analogue Thumb Pad / D-Pad: Steer your taxi with precision.
• A Button: Shift to reverse gear.
• B Button: Shift to drive gear.
• X Button: Need a reminder of your destination or remaining distance? Press X.
• Start Button: Pause the game.
• R Trigger: Accelerate, your key to raw speed.
• L Trigger: Brake, essential for tight turns and controlled stops.

Unleashing Crazy Manoeuvres and Stunts

Beyond basic driving, Crazy Taxi encourages daring moves that not only shave seconds off your journey but also earn you valuable tips. These techniques are crucial for high scores and conquering the challenging mini-games.

Crazy Dash

This manoeuvre provides a significant burst of speed. To execute a Crazy Dash, first ensure you are in reverse gear (A button), then quickly release the accelerator (R Trigger) and simultaneously press the accelerator and shift back into drive (B button + R Trigger). It can be done while moving or stationary, providing an instant burst of acceleration.

Crazy Back Dash

Similar to the Crazy Dash but in reverse, this move is perfect for quickly backing out of tight spots. After performing a Crazy Dash, quickly shift back into reverse (A button). It’s especially effective from a standstill.

Crazy Drift

A handbrake-turn style manoeuvre, the Crazy Drift allows you to navigate sharp corners with incredible agility. While moving forward, initiate a turn (left or right on the Analogue Pad), then swiftly slide your thumb from reverse (A button) to drive (B button) consecutively. This creates a smooth, controlled slide, allowing you to maintain momentum through turns. A variation, the Crazy Drift Stop, involves braking mid-drift to halt your car precisely.

Crazy Back Drift

This move spins your car 180 degrees while continuing in reverse. To perform a Crazy Back Drift, follow the Crazy Drift steps but slide your fingers from drive (B button) to reverse (A button). While less frequently used, it offers a unique way to reorient your vehicle.

The Stunts

Performing these stunts in specific situations earns you extra tips:

• CRAZY THROUGH: Drive exceptionally close to other vehicles when overtaking or passing.
• CRAZY DRIFT: Successfully execute a sliding turn using the Crazy Drift manoeuvre.
• CRAZY JUMP: Utilise ramps or elevated objects to get significant airtime. A Crazy Dash before a jump will help you achieve higher and longer leaps.

Customers and the Fare System: Your Path to Riches

Your ultimate goal in Crazy Taxi is to accumulate as much cash as possible. This involves efficiently picking up, transporting, and dropping off customers, with your earnings influenced by speed, distance, and your flair for stunts.

Picking Up a Customer

Throughout the city, potential customers are indicated by spinning dollar signs above their heads. To pick one up, bring your taxi to a complete stop within their coloured stop zone.

Driving Your Customer to Their Destination

Once a customer is on board, your display changes: a time limit appears (green, then yellow, then red), a destination picture and distance counter briefly show (recall with X button), a fare counter displays the base fare (increasing with tips), and a green arrow guides you to the destination (turning red as you get closer). Your objective is to reach the destination before time runs out, earning tips through stunts along the way.

Dropping Off Your Customer

Upon reaching the destination, stop completely within the green drop-off zone. You'll receive the base fare plus a bonus based on remaining time. Your speed rating (SPEEDY, NORMAL, SLOW) depends on the timer's colour at drop-off.

Predicting an Approximate Fare

You can estimate a customer's fare based on the colour of their dollar sign and the size of their drop zone. Darker dollar signs indicate closer destinations, while larger drop zones suggest more challenging (and often more lucrative) journeys.

For maximum earnings, prioritise customers with green dollar signs and large drop zones early in the game. Towards the end, opt for red dollar signers for quick, final cash grabs.

A Note on Tips and Combos

Tips appear as coins, ranging from £0.25 (copper) to £1.00 (gold). Performing stunts consecutively without crashing builds a combo, significantly increasing the value of each tip. For example, a 5-string combo can yield substantial extra cash. Crashing resets your combo, so maintain focus!

The Fare Formula (Simplified)

Your total earnings from a single customer are generally calculated as: Total Fare = Base Fare + Tips + Time Bonus. Simple, yet effective!

Meet Your Customers

The streets are teeming with diverse characters, each with their own typical destinations. Here are a few you might encounter:

• Rachel: A hospital volunteer aspiring to be a doctor. (Typical destination: Hospital)
• Cindy: A college psychology major with a love for junk food. (Typical destination: Pizza Hut/KFC)
• Dan: An economics graduate student. (Typical destination: FILA)
• Grandma J: A feisty lady in loud pyjamas. (Typical destination: Used car shop)
• Biff: A baseball fanatic. (Typical destination: Baseball park/Heliport)
• Kim: A tourist with a video camera. (Typical destination: Millenium Tower/Big Hills Park)
• Buzz: A punk rocker. (Typical destination: Tower Records)
• Pierre: A young romantic. (Typical destination: Cafeteria)

Remember, these are just typical destinations; customers will often surprise you with other requests!

Game Modes and Options: Your Crazy Taxi Experience

Crazy Taxi offers several modes to keep the fun rolling, each with slight variations on the core gameplay.

Arcade Mode

Experience the classic arcade game in its original city. Choose between 3, 5, or 10-minute time limits, or play by authentic arcade rules. Your performance earns you a licence based on your total earnings:

Original Mode

Similar to Arcade Mode, but set in a new, Dreamcast-exclusive city. It offers the same time limits and licence progression, providing a fresh environment to test your skills.

Crazy Box

A collection of mini-games designed to hone specific driving skills. There are 9 initial mini-games, with 7 secret ones to unlock. These challenges are crucial for mastering advanced manoeuvres.

Options

Customise your Crazy Taxi experience:

• TIME SETTING: Adjust the time limit for 'Play by Arcade Rules'.
• TIME DIFFICULTY: Changes the time given to drop off each customer.
• TRAFFIC DIFFICULTY: Adjusts traffic density in 'Play by Arcade Rules'.
• AUDIO: Choose between monaural and stereo sound.
• MUSIC VOLUME: Control the in-game music volume.
• SE VOLUME: Adjust sound effects volume.
• CONTROLLER SETTING: Select from different controller configurations.
• VIBRATION: Toggle controller vibration on or off.

Records and Save & Load

Track your high scores across all modes and settings. While Crazy Taxi often features auto-load, you can manually manage player profiles here, creating or deleting up to 4 files.

Arcade Rules Explained

In this classic mode, you start with 50 seconds. Each successful drop-off grants a time bonus, allowing for extended play if you perform well. The bonus depends on your speed rating:

Additionally, a small time bonus is given upon picking up a customer to accommodate their destination time limit. If your total time is less than the customer's required time, your total time will adjust to match it.

Crazy Physics

Crazy Taxi proudly defies the laws of physics. Crashing head-on into objects has minimal impact on speed, cars are indestructible, and driving underwater is surprisingly feasible. This delightful unrealism is precisely what makes the game so much fun, allowing you to maintain incredible speeds and perform daring stunts without consequence.

The Cabbies: Your Ride, Your Style

Choose from a roster of vibrant characters, each with their own personality and subtle differences in vehicle handling.

Axel

A wild and freewheeling guy with a fiery temper, Axel drives a classic 60s cab. He sees cab driving as the "coolest" profession and aims to show customers a good time. While an average driver, his enthusiasm makes him a popular choice.

B.D. Joe

Always friendly and cheerful, B.D. Joe excels at "making people happy." He's a master of both driving and conversation, known for his ability to pull off stunts with ease. Many consider him the best all-around cabbie due to his agility.

Gena

Described as "cool & sexy," Gena has a strong passion for cars, seeing cab driving as an excuse to be in her beloved vehicle all day. While less concerned with amusing customers, she is incredibly timely. Her car handling feels similar to Axel's.

Gus

A melancholic but cool drifter, Gus holds the distinction of being the first "crazy" style cabbie. He drives the heaviest car in the game, allowing him to absorb crashes with minimal speed loss but at the cost of slower acceleration. His unique handling makes him a favourite for players who prefer a more robust ride.

Crazy Box Mini-Game Guide: Sharpening Your Skills

The Crazy Box offers a series of challenges designed to push your driving skills to the limit. Mastering these mini-games is key to unlocking secrets and becoming a true Crazy Taxi expert.

1-1: Crazy Jump

Objective: Jump over 150 metres off a massive ski ramp. Strategy: Simple! Use a Crazy Dash from the start, and consider performing multiple Limit Cuts (repeated Crazy Dashes) while descending the ramp for an even longer jump.

1-2: Crazy Flag

Objective: Knock down a flag behind your starting point. Strategy: Either perform a few Crazy Back Dashes or simply turn around and drive towards it, using Limit Cut for speed. It's a quick and easy challenge.

1-3: Crazy Balloons

Objective: Burst 20 balloons scattered across an open field. Strategy: Master the Crazy Dash for speed and the Crazy Drift for precision. Pop lone balloons by driving directly into them, and use a Crazy Drift to burst groups of three in one go.

2-1: Crazy Drift

Objective: Perform 15 Crazy Drift combos in an enclosed arena. Strategy: Focus on drifting on the flat sections of the arena, especially around the outside and in the middle, avoiding the raised bumps that can disrupt your flow.

2-2: Crazy Turn

Objective: Drive a customer through a track of hairpin turns. Strategy: Approach corners wide, turn in, and perform a Crazy Drift to exit. Don't hesitate to tap the brake mid-drift for tighter control, as timing is crucial here.

2-3: Crazy Bound

Objective: Drive a customer over ramps and 90-degree turns without falling into the sea. Strategy: Start with a Crazy Dash. Use Crazy Drifts on each ramp to align yourself for the next. Before the final narrow ramp, slow down to carefully line up, then brake heavily upon landing to stop in the drop-off zone.

3-1: Crazy Rush

Objective: Drive five customers to their destinations. Strategy: Customers are in a star formation, with destinations at each point. The challenge is reorienting after each drop-off. Use a Crazy Drift Stop in the drop-off zone to immediately face the next customer's direction, then Crazy Dash away. Precision stopping is key.

3-2: Crazy Jam

Objective: Drive three customers through dense traffic. Strategy: Crazy Dash through initial traffic. Use a Crazy Drift Stop to pick up the second customer while facing the main road. On the long, straight, jam-packed road, stick between lanes and use Limit Cuts to weave through traffic efficiently.

3-3: Crazy Pole

Objective: Drive eight customers along a course of 90-degree turns, each with a pole in the middle. Strategy: Execute a sharp Crazy Drift just before hitting each pole, effectively using it to T-bone your car and align for the next turn. Crazy Dash after each customer pickup to maintain speed.

1-S: Crazy Bowling (Secret)

Objective: Knock down all seven sets of ten bowling pins. Strategy: Tricky but fun. As you crash through each set of pins, perform a slight Crazy Drift to ensure a strike. At the sixth set, a full 180-degree Crazy Drift will set you up for the final set down a long lane. Falling into the gutter returns you to the start.

2-S: Crazy Zigzag (Secret)

Objective: Drive a customer along a course of 90-degree and hairpin turns without falling into the sea. Strategy: The most frustrating mini-game for many! Crazy Dash from the start. For the first three 90-degree turns, use a Crazy Drift with a touch of brake. For the tighter turns, brake heavily both before and during the Crazy Drift to prevent falling off. Start your drifts as your car's front passes the white road marks.

3-S: Crazy Zigzag 2 (Secret)

Objective: Drop off seven customers through the Crazy Zigzag course without falling into the sea. Strategy: Easier than the first Zigzag. Customers are dropped off at tiny zones on each corner. Apply a touch of brake as you pass the white marks, then perform a heavily-braked Crazy Drift to stop precisely within the zone and face the next turn.

S-1: Crazy Through (Secret)

Objective: Obtain a 30+ Crazy Through combo on a traffic-laden highway. Strategy: A great way to build combos is to position your car between two lanes of incoming traffic at the very start. Then, gently nudge the accelerator repeatedly to crawl along, steering slightly to navigate turns but staying between the lanes. This method consistently racks up high Crazy Through counts.

S-2: Crazy Parking (Secret)

Objective: Drive a customer through a multi-storey car park with moving and stationary traffic. Strategy: Use Limit Cuts on straight sections and Crazy Drifts on turns. Avoid stationary cars and ensure you don't overshoot the drop-off point. It’s a test of precise navigation.

S-3: Crazy Party (Secret)

Objective: Pick up all seven customers and drive them to their destination. Strategy: This requires following a specific route. Start by picking up the guy left of the ramp, then the one opposite. Double back up the ramp with bowling pins (use brake to stay on). Jump off to the parked cars for customer four. Drive up the cylindrical tower ramp. Jump from the tower towards the starting ramp's direction, landing on the terrace (aim right) for customer six. The last guy is on the left of the terrace. Once all are aboard, break through the barrier and follow the narrow path to the end without falling.

S-S: Crazy Attack (Secret)

Objective: Drive one lap around the Arcade city with a customer. Strategy: Follow the tramway downhill, turn left along the beach, drive through the big park, use the multi-storey car park for air. Navigate streets to the church hill, Crazy Drift off it to the car park below. Pass the baseball stadium onto the highway, then into the inner city. Go left after the police station, through the city (avoid the mall), to the look-out tower. Follow the coast up the large hill, then past university gardens back to the suburbs. You must pass through all checkpoints and stop in the final drop-off zone. Use car transporters as ramps to clear traffic and earn tips.

Hints and Tips: Maxing Out Your Earnings

Beyond mastering the manoeuvres, strategic route planning and opportunistic driving can significantly boost your fares.

Arcade City Tips

• The highway from the baseball stadium to the police station is a goldmine for Crazy Throughs. "Grind" against the outside lanes by jamming your car against them, then repeatedly Crazy Dash to rack up combos. The lower lane often has heavier traffic, yielding more tips.
• The hills in the suburban area are perfect for massive Crazy Jump combos. Always Crazy Dash before a jump for maximum air.
• To save time when driving from the church's grassy area to the baseball stadium, Crazy Drift off the hill leading to the R.B. Station, aiming to land in the car park below.
• Utilise the car transporters scattered throughout the city as mini-ramps. They not only provide extra tips but also help you bypass traffic.
• The multi-storey car park is excellent for bonus cash. Crazy Drift off the entrance ramp, Crazy Through parked cars, then Crazy Dash off the far end for a big jump.

Original City Tips

• The Used Car Shop area is fantastic for racking up Crazy Throughs due to the abundance of parked cars.
• For a shortcut to the Marine Plaza, execute a Crazy Dash up the raised bridge to clear the warehouse and land directly before the plaza.
• Similarly, you can jump from the Marine Plaza to the Police Station by using the ramp-like walls surrounding it.
• Like the Arcade City, the Original City features numerous steep hills perfect for jumps and earning extra tips. The highways in the inner city area are also great for speed and combos.
• The inner city's complex layout can be tricky, but subway entrances double as ramps. Try leaping onto the rooftop cafeteria for a significant time-saving shortcut.

Unlocking Secrets: Beyond the Standard Ride

Crazy Taxi holds a few exciting secrets, from alternative vehicles to challenging new gameplay modes.

The Rickshaw

Unlock this unique vehicle by clearing all 16 mini-games in the Crazy Box. In the character selection screen, press up on the D-pad (after scrolling past Gus in Crazy Box, or by quickly tapping L+R three times before selecting a cabbie in Arcade/Original modes, listening for a bike bell sound). The rickshaw is faster but heavier, affecting jumps. It offers a fresh challenge for experienced players.

Another Day Mode

Activate this by tapping R on the character select screen, then holding R while picking a cabbie. "Another day" will appear in green. This mode starts you in a different part of the city with altered customer locations and destinations, adding variety to your runs.

No Arrows Mode

For a true test of memory and navigation, hold R+Start during the "now loading" screen before character select. "No arrows" will appear in yellow, disabling the destination arrow. You'll need to know the city like the back of your hand!

No Destination Mark Mode

Hold L+Start during the "now loading" screen to activate "No destination mark" in red. This removes the green drop-off zone barriers, though a faint green line remains on the ground. It's a subtle increase in difficulty.

Expert Mode

Combine the challenge of "No Arrows" and "No Destination Mark" by holding L+R+Start during the "now loading" screen. "EXPERT" will appear in white, offering the ultimate test for seasoned players.

Alternative Views

If you have a second controller (plugged into port 3), press Start on it during gameplay. You can then use its buttons to change camera views:

• B Button: First-person "cockpit" view.
• X Button: Press five times for a speedometer.
• Y Button: Dramatic, action-oriented camera that pans and follows your car.
• A Button: Resets to the normal third-person view.

Hidden Customers

The cities are full of hard-to-reach or obscure customers who often offer higher fares. Keep an eye out for these rewarding detours!

• Arcade City:
  • On the beach, several people can be found standing underwater on submerged rocks, complete with snorkels!
  • In the multi-storey car park, after going up the ramp, turn right and drive to the very end along the left wall. Slowly drop off to land on a roof where Grandma J awaits, offering a huge fare for a long trip to the Police Station.
• Original City:
  • In the docks area, various snorkel-wearing Buzz characters can be found underwater, often heading to Tower Records.
  • From the triple-carriageway highway in the inner city, take a right at the fork. Just after the fork, you can fall off onto a building's roof to find another Buzz.
  • Ramp up the raised bridge in the docks area to land on top of the warehouse, where Grandma J might be waiting.
  • From the Landing Pier, go right, then left at the police station, then take the first right. Drive until you see steps on your left, go up them to a rooftop eatery with another customer.

Sightseeing

Crazy Taxi's attention to detail means there's much to discover beyond just customers. Take a moment to explore the vibrant environments:

• Arcade City:
  • An orca (killer whale) swims in the sea near the beach.
  • Policemen can be seen tapping their feet through the wire fence at the Police Station.
  • Watch a tennis match at the Tennis Court using the first-person view.
  • Observe increased helicopter activity around the Heliport.
  • Check out the groovy fountain outside the Bus Terminal.
  • Drive through the mall – it's a unique experience!
• Original City:
  • Follow the waterside area outside the police station to discover a picturesque cliffy/beachy area.
  • Admire the sheer scale of the Millenium Tower and the Big Hills Park's ferris wheel.
  • Drive underwater near the Lighthouse to find a section of the harbour wall in disrepair – try (unsuccessfully) to bash through it!
  • Drive along the train tracks between stations for a thrilling (and potentially car-destroying) encounter with a train.
• General Observations:
  • Keep an eye out for other yellow cabs performing their own crazy drifts and jumps – you're not the only one!
  • Notice how some red cars and blue transit vans might bear a suspicious resemblance to vehicles from other popular Sega games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Got more questions about Crazy Taxi? We've got answers to some of the most common queries.

Q: How do I earn more money in Crazy Taxi?

A: To maximise your earnings, focus on performing Crazy Manoeuvres and stunts (Crazy Dash, Crazy Drift, Crazy Through, Crazy Jump) consecutively to build tip combos. Prioritise customers with green dollar signs and large drop zones for higher base fares, and always aim for a "SPEEDY" drop-off to get the maximum time bonus.

Q: Which cabbie is the best to choose?

A: Each cabbie has subtle differences in handling. B.D. Joe is often favoured for his ability to perform stunts with ease, while Gus, with the heaviest car, is great for maintaining speed through crashes. Axel and Gena are considered more "average." Experiment to find the one that best suits your driving style.

Q: What do the different dollar sign colours mean?

A: The dollar sign colour above a customer indicates the distance to their destination. Red means very near, Orange is near, Yellow is medium, Yellow-Green is far, and Green is very far. Generally, green dollar signs mean a longer journey and potentially a higher fare, but also a tighter time limit.

Q: What happens if I don't reach the destination in time?

A: If you fail to drop off your customer within the time limit, a "BAD" sign will appear, and your unhappy customer will jump out of your cab without paying you anything for that trip. You lose the potential fare and the time spent.

Q: Can I damage my taxi?

A: No, thankfully! In Crazy Taxi's delightfully unrealistic world, your taxi is indestructible. You can crash into buses, buildings, and even drive underwater without your vehicle taking any damage or losing performance. This allows you to drive as recklessly as you like!

Q: How do I unlock the Rickshaw?

A: To unlock the Rickshaw, you must successfully complete all 16 mini-games in the Crazy Box mode. Once unlocked, you can select it from the character selection screen using a specific button input (up on D-pad in Crazy Box, or L+R three times before character select in Arcade/Original).

Q: Are there any hidden areas or Easter eggs to find?

A: Yes! Both the Arcade and Original cities are packed with hidden customers and interesting sights. Look for people underwater, on rooftops, or tucked away in obscure corners. You can also spot interesting details like an orca in the sea, policemen tapping their feet, or even a tennis match in progress. Exploring is highly encouraged!

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