Gen-AI controversy aside, Crazy Taxi: World Tour feels like classic arcade Sega - and it's an absolute blast

Sega’s iconic arcade racer Crazy Taxi is making a spirited comeback with the upcoming release of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. Retaining much of the original's adrenaline-fueled gameplay and irreverent style, this revival promises to reignite the franchise’s distinctive blend of punk rock energy and chaotic driving fun, according to a recent hands-on preview at Gamescom.

The original Crazy Taxi, renowned for its high-speed taxi runs through a stylized San Francisco, left an indelible mark on the Dreamcast era, combining frenetic gameplay with a memorable soundtrack featuring punk bands like The Offspring and Bad Religion. World Tour aims to preserve this essence while introducing new environments and gameplay enhancements.

At the heart of World Tour is the return of Axel, the franchise’s green-haired, Hawaiian-shirted protagonist, who pilots a highly maneuverable yellow taxi. The vehicle retains signature moves such as the speed-boosting Crazy Dash, the sudden halt Crazy Stop, and the signature Crazy Drift, enabling players to execute wild cornering maneuvers that define the series' arcade driving style.

The demo focused primarily on Crazy Rush mode, a single-player sandbox experience reminiscent of the original’s time-limited passenger pickups and drop-offs. Players race against the clock, chaining together stunt combos to multiply their fares. Early indications suggest that the game expands on these core mechanics without overcomplicating them, maintaining the series’ fast-paced, accessible appeal.

One of the most notable additions in World Tour is a fresh setting inspired by Germany, which showcases a diverse range of environments. Starting at an airport, players navigate intricate road layouts including an underpass, a runway requiring precise maneuvers around large aircraft, and a bustling terminal area filled with dynamic obstacles such as baggage carts and luggage piles. This environment adds a layer of visual and mechanical variety uncommon in earlier entries.

Beyond the airport, the game transitions into a vibrant tourist town with cobblestone streets, market squares, and festive seasonal events like a pumpkin festival. These diverse locales not only enrich the aesthetic experience but also introduce new challenges and interactive elements, including destructible objects like market stalls and street furniture that react to the player's driving, enhancing the sense of a living, responsive world.

World Tour also introduces integrated mini-games and side missions called Odd Jobs. These inject fresh gameplay twists while staying rooted in the main driving mechanics. Examples include launching a passenger dressed as a squirrel using the Crazy Stop move, or assisting a city worker in a cab who needs to clean up the streets by smashing through bins and boxes to collect debris. These diversions add humor and expand the game’s mission variety without detracting from its core arcade action.

The demo culminated in a high-speed adventure featuring a character named Pierre, who clutches flowers and demands a rapid trip to the airport. What begins as a standard taxi run quickly escalates into a chaotic chase through the countryside, complete with nitro boosts and explosive obstacles. This sequence captures the unpredictable, exaggerated nature typical of Crazy Taxi's gameplay.

Visually, World Tour adopts a colorful, cartoonish art style that remains faithful to the series’ aesthetic roots. While not radically innovative, the environments are lively and detailed enough to feel engaging, populated with pedestrians and vehicles that contribute to a believable, bustling atmosphere without impeding gameplay flow.

Despite the excitement surrounding Crazy Taxi's revival, the release has been shadowed by controversy regarding the game’s use of generative AI in its development, a topic that has sparked debate within the gaming community. Nonetheless, the gameplay experience, as observed in the Gamescom demo, appears to deliver on the franchise’s promise of wild, arcade-style fun.

In summary, Crazy Taxi: World Tour appears to be a carefully crafted homage to its late 90s predecessor, revitalizing its high-energy driving mechanics and punk-infused soundtrack while introducing varied new locations and mission types. The game’s emphasis on accessible yet dynamic arcade thrills suggests it will appeal both to longtime fans and newcomers eager to experience Sega’s unique brand of reckless taxi mayhem once again.