Crazy Taxi: World Tour Review
Having experienced nearly every version of Crazy Taxi, my journey began with the PlayStation 2 EyeToy version included in Sega Superstars, where I gesticulated wildly as a passenger. My enthusiasm was rekindled with the announcement of Crazy Taxi: World Tour, but the generative AI controversies post-reveal dimmed my excitement.
At Gamescom, I got hands-on time with the game. After an hour, I felt that I’d seen enough. Despite my eagerness for a modern update, I left feeling underwhelmed.
In the demo, I played as Axel in a Germany-themed map. While the classical time-attack gameplay remains, the game introduces side quests, like delivering pizzas or performing stunts. However, I soon realized that driving wasn’t particularly enjoyable. The drifting lacked the thrill from earlier iterations, and the handling felt tighter—but not in a good way.
Visually, World Tour suffers from a cheap aesthetic, lacking the vibrant, cartoonish charm of the original. The game appears to have been influenced heavily by generative AI, which detracts from its identity.
Though the familiar Offspring soundtrack and real-world brand integrations (like the Puma store) are present, the overall presentation feels lackluster. While I wanted to enjoy the recreation of real-world locations, I found myself disengaged. For now, I’ll be watching from the sidelines, rather than eagerly returning to this iteration of Crazy Taxi.
