Crazy Taxi 3 High Roller Review

The meter is running as I screech around a corner in the neon-drenched Glitter Oasis, spotting a potential fare waving frantically. I slam the taxi into Crazy Drift, burning rubber as I spin 180 degrees to pull alongside them. They barely have time to close the door before I'm hammering the accelerator, weaving between traffic, taking shortcuts through a casino lobby, launching off impromptu ramps, and delivering them with two seconds to spare. My reward? A measly tip and the immediate adrenaline rush to find the next passenger. This is Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller, where the hustle never stops and sanity takes a back seat.

Overview

Developed by Hitmaker and published by Sega exclusively for the Xbox in July 2002, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller represents the franchise's first appearance on Microsoft's hardware after establishing its reputation on the Dreamcast. This third instalment retains the manic taxi driving formula that defined the series, challenging players to pick up passengers and deliver them to their destinations as quickly and flamboyantly as possible to maximise fares and tips. As an Xbox exclusive, it brings together content from the previous two games along with entirely new elements, including the glamorous Las Vegas inspired Glitter Oasis environment. The game fits comfortably within the arcade driving genre but stands apart from traditional racers with its unique emphasis on time management, route optimisation, and stunt driving rather than competition against other vehicles. High Roller arrived at a transitional period for Sega following their exit from the hardware market, representing their strategy to bring arcade experiences to home consoles while leveraging the Xbox's superior hardware capabilities compared to the Dreamcast that hosted the original games.

Graphics and Presentation

Crazy Taxi 3 makes reasonable use of the original Xbox hardware, though it never pushes the system to its limits in the way first party titles managed. The game runs at a consistently smooth framerate, prioritising performance over cutting edge visuals, which serves the fast paced gameplay well. Draw distance shows noticeable improvement over the Dreamcast entries, allowing players to spot potential fares from further away and plan routes more effectively. Texture quality varies considerably, with certain environmental elements looking surprisingly sharp while others appear muddy and indistinct, particularly when viewing buildings at a distance. The engine handles the chaos of multiple vehicles, pedestrians, and destructible objects admirably with minimal slowdown, even during the most frenetic moments.

The art direction embraces an exaggerated cartoon aesthetic that has aged more gracefully than attempts at realism from the same era. Each of the three environments offers distinct visual identities: West Coast's sunny beach vibes, Small Apple's urban density, and the new Glitter Oasis's neon soaked Las Vegas inspired spectacle. The latter is easily the most visually impressive, with its night setting allowing for eye catching lighting effects as casino signage reflects off the taxi's paintwork. Character models for the drivers and passengers are basic by today's standards but display enough personality through exaggerated proportions and animations to convey the game's manic energy. Vehicle models fare better, with reasonably detailed taxis that deform slightly during collisions, though nothing approaching a proper damage model.

The user interface retains the arcade charm of its predecessors with bold fonts, vibrant colours, and exaggerated visual feedback that clearly communicates information without distracting from the driving action. The countdown timer, fare meter, and directional arrow are all easily readable at a glance, which is crucial given the split second decisions required during gameplay. Loading screens feature stylised character art and gently poke fun at loading times, which are actually quite brief for the era. Cut scenes are minimal, limited to brief driver introductions and endings that maintain the game's cartoonish style without interrupting the arcade flow. While not a graphical powerhouse for its time, the presentation successfully captures the chaotic spirit of the gameplay with a visual identity that prioritises clarity and personality over technical showmanship.

Sound and Music

The audio landscape of Crazy Taxi 3 represents both a significant strength and a notable disappointment for fans of the series. The absence of the iconic licensed soundtracks featuring The Offspring and Bad Religion from previous entries is immediately apparent and removes some of the anarchic punk energy that defined the Dreamcast originals. In their place, High Roller offers a selection of original compositions and lesser known bands that attempt to capture a similar vibe but ultimately lack the instant recognition and energy the licensed tracks provided. The music that is present covers genres from punk and rock to electronic dance beats for the Glitter Oasis section, but these tracks fade into the background rather than enhancing the experience. The sound mixing allows players to adjust music, effects, and voice volumes separately, though the default balance tends to prioritise the chaotic sound effects over the forgettable soundtrack.

Voice acting fares considerably better, with the ten playable characters and various passengers delivering exaggerated, over the top performances that perfectly match the game's frenetic pace. Drivers spout suitably ridiculous one liners when performing stunts or narrowly avoiding collisions, while passengers alternate between expressions of delight and terror depending on your driving style. The quality varies between characters, with some delivering genuinely amusing lines while others rely too heavily on repetitive catchphrases. The sound effects package succeeds brilliantly in conveying the arcade atmosphere, from the satisfying skid of tires during a Crazy Drift to the crash of debris when ploughing through destructible objects. The ambient audio creates distinct soundscapes for each environment, from the beach sounds of West Coast to the casino ambience of Glitter Oasis. The Xbox hardware allows for more simultaneous audio channels than the Dreamcast original, resulting in a richer, more chaotic sound mix that enhances the sensory overload that defines the Crazy Taxi experience.

Gameplay Mechanics

The core gameplay of Crazy Taxi 3 remains fundamentally unchanged from its predecessors, adhering to the "easy to learn, difficult to master" philosophy that made the arcade original so compelling. Players select one of ten drivers, each with slightly different vehicle handling characteristics, and are unleashed into one of three environments with a simple objective: pick up passengers and deliver them to their destinations before time expires. New fares add precious seconds to the constantly depleting clock, creating an urgent rhythm that pushes players to chain together efficient routes while performing stunts to maximise earnings. The brilliance of this system lies in its immediacy and accessibility; anyone can grasp the basics within minutes, but truly impressive scores require mastery of the advanced driving techniques that give the series its depth. These techniques, including the Crazy Dash, Crazy Drift, and Crazy Through, allow skilled players to maintain momentum, take shortcuts, and weave through traffic with balletic precision, though they require considerable practice to execute consistently.

The control scheme utilises a straightforward layout that belies the nuance possible within the system. Acceleration, braking, and shifting between forward and reverse gears form the foundation, while combining these inputs in specific patterns triggers the special manoeuvres. The Xbox controller's analogue triggers offer more precise acceleration and braking control than previous platforms, though the digital nature of the special moves means this advantage is somewhat muted. Vehicle handling strikes a deliberate balance between arcade accessibility and skill based mastery; taxis respond immediately to inputs without the inertia of simulation racing games, yet each driver's vehicle handles distinctly enough to encourage experimentation. The physics system prioritises spectacular moments over realism, allowing for impossible jumps, drifts, and near misses that would be frustrating in a more grounded driving game but fit perfectly with the manic tone. Collision detection occasionally feels inconsistent, with some obstacles stopping your taxi dead while others can be ploughed through with minimal slowdown, creating occasional moments of frustration when a seemingly clear path unexpectedly ends in a crash.

Beyond the standard Arcade and Original modes carried over from previous entries, High Roller introduces several mini games that provide welcome variety. These range from stunt challenges that test mastery of the special moves to bizarre scenarios like collecting giant billiard balls or delivering packages to moving targets. These diversions lack the refined balance of the main game but offer a playground to practice techniques while breaking up the potential monotony of the standard fare hunting. Sadly, no multiplayer options are included beyond the traditional high score competition, a missed opportunity given the Xbox's focus on multiplayer gaming. The progression system remains minimal, with new drivers unlocked based on performance in the main modes, but the true incentive for continued play is the pursuit of higher scores and more efficient routes. This focus on self improvement rather than explicit progression may disappoint players accustomed to the structured advancement of modern games, but it captures the essence of arcade gaming where mastery itself is the reward.

Story and Setting

Narrative has never been Crazy Taxi's strong suit, and High Roller continues this tradition by offering only the thinnest veneer of storytelling. The premise remains unchanged: you are an eccentric taxi driver trying to earn as much money as possible through fares and tips within the time limit. Each of the ten playable characters receives a brief introduction showcasing their personality and driving style, but these serve more as flavour than substantive character development. The driver roster includes returning favourites from previous games alongside new additions exclusive to High Roller, each with exaggerated personalities and appearances that range from punk rockers to surfer dudes to Las Vegas showgirls. These character vignettes provide amusing context but ultimately have no bearing on gameplay beyond cosmetic differences and slight variations in vehicle handling. The writing focuses exclusively on humour, with one liners and silly customer interactions prioritised over any meaningful narrative arc or character growth.

The environments provide more substantial world building than the character work, particularly the new Glitter Oasis area. This Las Vegas inspired setting captures the excess and spectacle of the Strip with casinos, hotels, and entertainment venues creating a playground of ramps, shortcuts, and spectacular vistas. Passengers requesting destinations like "The Pyramid" or "The Volcano Show" further embed the setting in a parody of real world Las Vegas landmarks without directly replicating licensed properties. The returning environments from previous games, West Coast (San Francisco) and Small Apple (New York), receive graphical upgrades but remain functionally identical to their earlier incarnations. Each area features distinct passenger types with appropriate clothing and dialogue that reflect their settings, from tourists in Hawaiian shirts in West Coast to businesspeople in Small Apple. Environmental storytelling through billboard advertisements, store names, and architectural styles creates a cohesive if shallow world that serves primarily as an interesting backdrop for the driving action rather than a narrative space to be explored or understood. For a game focused entirely on arcade action, this light touch approach to setting provides just enough context to frame the gameplay without distracting from it.

Content and Value

Crazy Taxi 3's value proposition hinges primarily on its replayability rather than content breadth, following the arcade tradition of offering a simple core experience designed for repetition. The main Arcade mode can be completed in as little as three to five minutes per session, though achieving high ranks that unlock additional drivers requires considerably more skill and time investment. Across the three environments, ten playable characters, and various game modes, most players will extract between 10-15 hours before seeing everything the game has to offer, though score chasers may find dozens more hours of engagement in perfecting routes and techniques. The Crazy Box mini games provide welcome variety with 25 distinct challenges ranging from simple stunt tutorials to elaborate obstacle courses, though these vary significantly in quality and entertainment value. Players primarily interested in structured progression may find the content thin, but those who embrace the arcade philosophy of self improvement will discover surprising depth in mastering the systems across multiple environments.

At its original retail price of £39.99, Crazy Taxi 3 represented questionable value compared to more content rich contemporaries, particularly given its similarity to previous entries. However, the current pre owned price of around £12-15 positions it as an affordable addition to any original Xbox collection. The absence of online features, even leaderboards which would have been perfect for the score focused gameplay, limits long term engagement compared to modern titles. Local high score competition provides the primary motivation for continued play, making it well suited to households with multiple gamers but less compelling for solo players once the initial novelty wears off. While the core gameplay loop remains entertaining, the lack of substantial progression systems or narrative hooks means player retention depends almost entirely on the inherent satisfaction of improved performance rather than extrinsic rewards. For fans of arcade driving games, the refined mechanics and instant accessibility represent excellent value, but players expecting the depth and content breadth of modern titles may find the offering somewhat sparse despite its budget price point.

Technical Performance

Crazy Taxi 3 demonstrates competent if unexceptional technical performance on the original Xbox hardware. Loading times represent a significant improvement over earlier Dreamcast entries, with initial boot up taking approximately 20-30 seconds and transitions between environments or game modes requiring 10-15 seconds. These brief interruptions maintain the arcade pace that defines the series, allowing players to quickly restart attempts or switch characters without frustrating delays. The game runs at a generally consistent framerate that appears to target 30 frames per second, with occasional dips during particularly chaotic moments involving multiple crashes or special effects. These performance hiccups rarely impact gameplay significantly due to the forgiving nature of the controls, though purists may notice the inconsistency during particularly hectic sections. The draw distance shows marked improvement over previous entries, allowing players to spot distant landmarks and plan routes more effectively, though some environmental elements still pop in noticeably when travelling at high speeds, particularly in the dense urban sections of Small Apple.

Bug assessment reveals a generally stable experience with few game breaking issues. Occasional physics oddities occur, with taxis sometimes bouncing unpredictably off certain objects or briefly clipping through environmental elements before being reset. The collision detection occasionally feels inconsistent, particularly when attempting to thread through tight spaces or navigate complex shortcuts. The save system employs a straightforward approach, automatically recording high scores, unlocked characters, and Crazy Box progress whenever achievements are earned. The system requires approximately 100 KB of storage space, a minimal footprint even by original Xbox standards. We encountered no instances of corrupt save data or lost progress during testing. Crashes were extremely rare, with only one instance of the game freezing during several days of testing, requiring a console restart. Overall, while not technically flawless, High Roller delivers a stable experience that prioritises consistent performance over visual splendour, an appropriate choice given the fast paced arcade gameplay that defines the series.

The Verdict

Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller delivers exactly what fans of the series would expect: more of the same frantic, arcade taxi driving action with a fresh coat of paint and a new environment to master. The core gameplay loop remains as addictive as ever, with the simple premise of picking up and delivering passengers belying the skill ceiling required to truly excel. The addition of Glitter Oasis provides welcome variety alongside the returning environments, and the expanded roster of drivers offers cosmetic if not substantial gameplay differences to explore. However, the game struggles to justify its existence as a full sequel rather than an expansion, with minimal evolution of the core systems established in the previous entries. The absence of the iconic licensed soundtrack removes some of the anarchic energy that defined the series, while the lack of multiplayer features beyond basic high score competition feels like a missed opportunity given the Xbox's capabilities. The mini games add welcome variety but vary wildly in quality and entertainment value. Technical performance is generally solid if unspectacular, prioritising consistent framerate over visual fidelity. For newcomers to the series, High Roller represents the most content complete package, bundling elements from previous games alongside new additions. For returning fans, the question becomes whether more of the same is sufficient reason to invest. At its current pre owned price point, the game offers enough fresh content to justify addition to any original Xbox collection, particularly for those with nostalgic attachment to the franchise, but don't expect a revolutionary step forward for the series.

Pros

• Addictive, instantly accessible arcade gameplay
• New Glitter Oasis environment offers fresh challenges
• Expanded roster of playable characters
• Variety of mini games extend longevity

Cons

• Limited evolution from previous entries
• Missing iconic licensed soundtrack
• No proper multiplayer modes
• Visuals look dated even for the original Xbox

Final Score: 7/10

A solid arcade experience that delivers on its promise of chaotic taxi action. While it lacks meaningful innovation, the core gameplay remains as entertaining as ever.

By OGXbox Archive