{
  "id": 5750942,
  "title": "Gen-AI controversy aside, Crazy Taxi: World Tour feels like classic arcade Sega - and it's an absolute blast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/gen-ai-controversy-aside-crazy-taxi-world-tour-feels-like-classic",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-05T09:01:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Eurogamer",
    "slug": "eurogamer",
    "url": "https://www.eurogamer.net/crazy-taxi-world-tour-gamescom-preview"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Crazy Taxi: World Tour has fans buzzing, evoking the classic arcade magic of Sega's Dreamcast era. As you soar over San-Francisco-esque hills, cruising towards the ocean to the upbeat tune of The Offspring's \"All I Want,\" a wave of nostalgia hits. The game brings back Axel, the iconic taxi driver with his trademark Hawaiian shirt and green hair, now with a more subdued appearance. The Offspring and Bad Religion's music remains, maintaining the same energetic vibe.\n\nThe taxi is as agile as ever, boasting the Crazy Dash, Crazy Stop, and Crazy Drift. These features ensure that the free-roaming driving action remains as carefree and unserious as the original. Crazy Rush mode, the focus of Sega's Gamescom demo, retains the fast-paced, sandbox-like solo taxiing, while also introducing multiplayer and closed beta. Completing pickups and drop-offs within the time limit is crucial, with trick combos serving as a final fare multiplier.\n\nThe Germany map in World Tour is an exciting addition. It starts with a high-speed rocket out of an airport underpass, followed by a thrilling drift as you navigate the airport and its surrounding areas. Various destinations like clock towers, pastel houses, and bustling plazas await. The map is colorful, lively, and full of environmental surprises that add to the chaotic life of the city. Mini-games and Odd Jobs like time attacks and cleaning tasks add new distractions to the already intense arcade loops.\n\nThe demo ends back on the runway, with the satisfying symmetry of a high-speed chase leading you back to where you began. It's a perfect embodiment of Sega's attempt to expand upon the exhilarating arcade core of the original Crazy Taxi, while staying true to its chaotic and undeniably fun spirit.",
  "summary": "Crazy Taxi was not my favourite Dreamcast game (please don't ask me to choose between the triumphant rhythm triptych of Rez , Space Channel 5, and Samba de Amigo , however), but there's a specific bit of it that's forever seared into my brain: the giddy thrill of cresting over that one San-Francisco-inspired hill and barreling down toward the ocean, all while The Offspring's All I Want 'Yeah,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Crazy Taxi: World Tour evokes classic Sega arcade magic",
    "Iconic taxi driver Axel returns with subdued appearance",
    "Crazy Dash, Crazy Stop, and Crazy Drift features maintain carefree gameplay"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}