Crazy Taxi still looks crazy bad

Welcome to a Wii Fanboy's world

It hurts to see 3rd parties completely ignore the technical capabilities of your console, it really does (that looks like it could be run on the DS, all things considered)

of course, it should still be pretty cool, i mean hey, its Crazy Taxi :)

"that looks like it could be run on the DS"

You're freaking blind

"You're freaking blind"

That game looks like an N64 game.

The DS is capable of N64 graphics.

Therefore, it can probably be run on the DS.

The DS might somewhat be capable of N64 graphics but there are very very few games that even look close on the DS. This game could look better beens its on the PSP but it already looks better than what the DS could handle. I hope the polish it even more beens it's a PSP title.

My GOD, the whining! You lot have got to be kidding me -- This does NOT look like a DS or N64 game. Check out the racing games on DS. Nowhere close.

It looks like (gasp!) a DREAMCAST game. It's a port. So what? Me, I think it looks fine and I'm looking forward to having it on PSP. It doesn't look *that bad* and besides, as a veteran Crazy Taxi player myself, I can tell you that you don't spend a lot of time worrying about texture sizes or bit depth while dodging vehicles and navigating narrow jumps running against the clock.

Some of you guys have got to quit whining about less-than-perfect graphics. Crap like this gives credence to the Nintendo fanboys' accusations of Sony owners being graphics whores.

"The DS might somewhat be capable of N64 graphics but there are very very few games that even look close on the DS."

mario kart ds looks better than mario kart 64, metroid prime ds looks better than almsot any n64 game as well. Most games dont look like that cause people prefer 2d gameplay voer 3d graphics in general.

"Some of you guys have got to quit whining about less-than-perfect graphics. Crap like this gives credence to the Nintendo fanboys' accusations of Sony owners being graphics whores."

thats because they are graphic whores, whats the point of spending 40 bucks on ports of a port of a port of a remake etc. of final fantasy games with very otudated graphics and gamepklay, with a little bit improved graphics (sprites) if they arent graphic whores? why would anyone buy that when they can just play the ff1 and 2 game son the ps1 or gba emulators, or probably buy a gba and the cart for the same price lol?

"Mmm.. beens."

yah any 3D game that the DS does looks shitty and pixelated, look at burnout legends

http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3Bbutton&qs=burnout

you will see the DS poor 4.0 rating, look at the screens they don't look like what even a N64 could have done. At least on the N64 it would look smooth and not pixelated. Then look at the PSP 9.0 rating and the screens. This is a true represenation of the difference in the games and systems in general. There are not that many FPS or 3d games as the DS can't do 3D. This is why the latest burnout dominator was not made for the DS, as Burnout Legends sold like crap and played like crap and compared to the PSP looked like crap

You list 2 games out of how many???!!! and they look crappy compared to most any other 3d game on the PSP. I don't want to slam the DS really but I get sooo tired of ignorant DS lovers that just do not get it. Hell yah I am a graphic whore but I also want a good game to go with it, on the PSP you can get both on the DS you never will.

Look at Star Trek TA again the DS is grainy and very dated looked when compared to the PSP

http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&qs=star+trek+tactical+assault

the only reason it got the same rating was supposedly the touchscreen stuff but if you check the forums the touchscreen is not worth getting an inferior looking game.


there are many examples that if you honestly compare

http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3Bbutton&om_act=convert&om_clk=gssearch&qs=ridge+racer

you can see the reviews and screenshots and it is like night and day as the PSP looks and plays VASTLY superior to the simpleton,childish, made for preteen DS

You list 2 games out of how many???!!! and they look crappy compared to most any other 3d game on the PSP. "

no actually the ones I listed look better than msot psp games, I also forgot to mention some of square enix games like ff3 which looks absolutly gorgeous. The ds has gotten 2d gameplay to a science, the 2d sprites on ds side scrolling games are works fo art, to the hgihest claiber. looka t castlevania.

oh and most gamers prefer mario kart ds over ridge racer psp, just look at the isnane ammounts mario kart sold to the above average ridge racer sells.

@pershing333: Talk about buying a crappy looking Final Fantasy game with outdated gameplay! Look no further than FFIII on DS. Vintage, irritating gameplay, horrendously BAD low-poly, blocky-texture 3D graphics (it would've been *so* much better as regular 2D). The Metacritic average score for this game is 77, not exactly a stellar hit, and I think a few of those meta-points can be chalked up to it carrying the Final Fantasy brand name. And let's not even get into Chocobo Tales, the minigame-packed, card-game-ized spinoff crap aimed squarely at your little brother. Another average 77 score thanks to that FF namesake, and again not really comparable to the Final Fantasy games of recent of days gone by.

Meanwhile, the 'ported' Final Fantasy PSP games are going traditional, polished 2D with some new added content, the way they ought to be. Crisis Core looks freaking amazing in full blown can't-do-that-on-DS 3D and is a totally new spinoff from the FFVII series. I'm willing to bet it's a flat out better game than FFIII, too.

Are some people here graphics whores? Seems so. Do they define all Sony or PSP owners? No.

Are older games from dated platforms worth playing on a new system? Yes. Hell, look at the popularity of old console titles downloadable on Wii, PS3 and 360. Throw in being able to put your game in your pocket, and you're adding a whole new dimension. This insipid 'why not play a better version on a console' BS is one of the more embarrassingly desperate strawman arguments you Nintyfreaks use. Last time I checked, you couldn't squeeze even a slimline PS2 w/ LCD into your pocket, let alone a 360 or Wii. It's called a PORTABLE EDITION, Einstein. Maybe this selective retard-logic works on your folks when worming out of cleaning your room but it doesn't wash, here.

"oh and most gamers prefer mario kart ds over ridge racer psp, just look at the isnane ammounts mario kart sold to the above average ridge racer sells."

Could it have anything to do with that old Mario nameplate and the fact that there's a lot more DS units out there than PSP? Naaah.

If there's anything worse than someone being a graphics whore, it's a waffling Nintendo fanboy who now proudly proclaims that higher sales equate to better quality games -- the same fanboy would've said the exact opposite during the PS2/Gamecube days.

Another typical PSP-bashing strawman argument from the Nintendo troll contingent.

Can a get an AMEN from #12 & 13 post's! I just love it when DS Fanboys are put in there place and there ignorant rants based on an inferior products are put to rest, even though they may reply there ignorance has already been highlighted so please "pershing333"
take a break from your pixlelated dated mario/pokemon loving world and enlighten us more, I need some more ignorance to laugh at......

"...with a little bit improved graphics (sprites) "

Uhhh, I think you're losing your vision mate. :(

"Most games dont look like that cause people prefer 2d gameplay voer 3d graphics in general"

No, I think it's because the ds isn't capable of making many good 3d graphics games, as opposed to psp. Which is why people should prefer 2d ones for it. Also, if by "general" you mean all games for ALL systems, then I think you got some screws loose in your head.

"Talk about buying a crappy looking Final Fantasy game with outdated gameplay! Look no further than FFIII on DS. Vintage, irritating gameplay, horrendously BAD low-poly, blocky-texture 3D graphics (it would've been *so* much better as regular 2D)."

I have FF3, and I agree with you. The graphics weren't great, and the gameplay didn't age well either. Still a good game though...at least to me

"thats because they are graphic whores."

Hmmm, if I didn't know better, I would think your a ds troll. Saying all psp owners are graphic whores(which I am NOT), is just as stupid as me saying everyone who gets a ds, does it because they're pov and can't afford a psp. :/ Pershing333, why am I even typing this? Pixelator already owned your ass.

This game looks good to me, and if it's less than $20, then I might get it.

To the idiot that suggested this game looks like an N64/DS game - you're (well I already said it) an idiot. Or at least buy some glasses.

To everyone else that is bitching about the games graphics- and this includes the writers on the site - get your head out of Sonys ass and realise that the PSP isn't as powerful as you guys all think.

Yes its a powerful piece of hardware, and has some wonderful games, but you all seem to think it can match up to the 128 bit consoles. It can't. Get used to it.

To me the game looks like it's running fine (at least from the latest videos) The biggest problem is the music. But you can use music from your memory stick- so it's not a huge problem.

The only other thing you need worry about are loading times.....

Re #13: "Could it have anything to do with that old Mario nameplate and the fact that there's a lot more DS units out there than PSP? Naaah."

While in general I agree with your point, dismissing Mario Kart DS out of hand in such a manner suggests ignorance. I would more quickly dismiss the few hundred thousand copies of the mediocre Diddy Kong Racing as being 'name recognition' sales. Mario Kart is a truly polished and extremely well executed game that is damn near perfect and has been rewarded with critical accolades and massive sales worldwide because of it.

We all know that names sell - why else would the two GTA games have sold so much on the PSP? Or Madden? Or Star Wars Battlefront? But it doesn't reign supreme - Star Wars Lethal Alliance isn't a stellar seller - or a stellar game.

TXA, I don't mean to question your motives, but sometimes I think that 'I like the PSP but not Sony' devil's advocacy of yours blinds you to the rampant trolling and ignorance of the Nintendo fanboys who lurk here daily.

Of course MKDS is a polished game (well, except for that snaking exploit). I didn't dismiss its qualities in any way, although I find it not really evolved from the 90's versions. It's also clear that DS hardware sales, nostalgia of the older MK series and Mario name recognition do drive sales of that product. It could've literally sucked and still sold tons of units. Not as many, perhaps, but still.

My point, which I think you're ignoring, regards the sub-sophomoric argument that 'most gamers prefer Mario Kart DS over Ridge Racer PSP' because of the higher sales on DS. It's fairly obvious that part of that sales discrepancy due to systems sold - and as good or 'polished' as Ridge Racer is, it simply can't compete with a game called MARIO KART.

So with all due respect, I find your selective criticism a bit on the bizarre side. You go after what I think is a fairly clear counterpoint to this drooling fanboy's blather, but you ignore such jawdroppers as: "no actually the ones I listed look better than msot psp games, I also forgot to mention some of square enix games like ff3 which looks absolutly gorgeous."

Re: pixelator - I am not selective, I just *try* to completely ignore the DS fanboys who troll here (and to an extent the PSP fanboys as well) and would much rather have intelligent debate with the people worthy of such discussion.

Having a discussion of PSP vs. DS graphics capabilities is not much more fruitful than debating load-times ... sure you could *a* DS game that looks better than *a* PSP game, just as you can find PSP games with shorter load times than Top Spin 2 DS (really, really bad). I was just playing Test Drive Unlimited, and the graphics are fantastic, but the gameplay and feel of driving is also really well done.

But it is unfortunate that every criticism of PSP graphics in a game immediately turns to a PSP vs. DS debate, which then leads to name calling as DS trolls remind everyone that the PSP is selling ~1:2 to the DS worldwide, which then leads to negative portrayal of DS gamers as brain-dead sheep, and so on.

Here's where I define the crux of the fanboy problem.

1). General Forums: You find fanboys of both Sony and Nintendo flavors (or Microsoft, etc.) battling it out across a wide range of maturity and intellect. I personally think the Nintendo fans have been more prolific, aggressive & vocal for years, but that's my personal opinion.

2). Nintendo forums: You find Nintendo fanboys. Not too many Sony trolls, if any. I occasionally post to DS Fanboy, but I don't troll there. The bloggers there make more mention of the PSP than PSP owners do.

3). Sony forums: You find Sony fanboys and a DISPROPORTIONATE number of Nintendo fanboy trolls. Really, forums like PSP Fanboy are RIFE with these idiots piping up all the time and citing better sales, better games, better load times, blah blah and so forth, ad nauseum.

That's my personal opinion, but I do a lot of board hopping. Kotaku is another excellent example, with PSP or Sony related threads filling up rapidly with frothing rants from haters.

Why do I bother with the trolls? It may sound silly and like I'm tilting at windmills, but I'm striving for a balance. See, I've been IP BANNED from all Weblogs sites including PSP Fanboy, Joystiq, etc. (this is after initially banning several of my email addresses). I have to post from work or use an anonymizer because someone at Joystiq/Weblogs doesn't like what I have to say about their Nintendo slant or the pandering they do to their rabid fanboy constituents. I guess the truth stings, because compared to some of the illiterate brats who flame there regularly, I'm almost polite.

So yeah, I suppose I ignore more of the PSP fanboyism and ignorance than you do, for the simple fact that I think there's so much more misinformation and hate directed in the other direction right now... And that dissenting opinions that don't favor Nintendo are quashed by the censor-happy powers-that-be.

You go to DSFanboy ... ahhh! My eyes start to bleed when I start reading comments there - and you *know* I also love my DS!

I tend to stay away from most blog places or system specific forums for these very reasons, but PSPFanboy is actually a decent little group (with entirely too many trolls, as you mention).

Back on topic, I find that I gravitate more towards the 'eye candy' if nothing in the apparent gameplay 'pops' for me. Having just played Test Drive Unlimited all weekend, and tooling around in some sweet Lamborghinis and other nice shiny cars in a wonderfully rendered Hawaii ... I just didn't see anything that looked really interesting in Crazy Taxi. But then, I'm not a console gamer (PC & handhelds) so all of this is new to me.

But why would you get the PSP version when you could get a version for a superior system, like the PS3 or the 360? DS has an entirely different set of games, while PSP is the same thing but worse. Nothing warrants that purchase, really. If I want to go for a weaker system, I want things not offered by the stronger systems, and portability alone doesn't really cover that for me.

There's no reason for them to purchase this game or ff 1 + 2, since they already have the original and have for some time. FF3 isn't great, but it's not that bad.

Well this would be true pershing333 if you was trying to play a game ported to the DS, I could understand your ignorance. Take Test Drive Unlimited I have it on the PC and on my PSP and of course the PC version looks nicer, but the PSP version still looks really sharp has the entire game map and just about all the bells and whistles that my PC version has including infrastructure and I can play it anywhere there is internet, the game plays great. Now if the DS had this game which it does not as it could never do a game of the scope unless they made it a 2d top down scroller with only local network play I sure would be saying why in the hell would I want to play it...

pershing333 I don't know if you are just as ignorant as you come off as or are just trying to get a rise out of PSP uers or just ashamed that you could not get your mommy to buy you a PSP but your statements show a definate lack of knowledge regarding the PSP.

I actually prefer the PSP version of TDU ... except for the fact that the load times are basically the same or longer ... a definite pet peeve of mine (if you hadn't noticed).

For people like me, handhelds offer me a peek into the console world I have no interest in joining - all the Final Fantasy GBA games are 'first timers' for me on the GBA & DS *despite being more than old enough to have played them). So I get a PS2-ish experience without needing a console.

Pershing, your logic, believe it or not, also applies to the DS. Technically speaking, you could do all the DS games on the Wii (or other systems) better. The Wii is a 'better system' than the DS. What, you say? But the DS is PORTABLE? And even the ports and rehashes have some elements that set them apart from their console predecessors? DO TELL. The same holds true for the PSP.

The DS library contains fewer straight ports than the PSP selection, it's true. But when you factor out all the GBA/SNES/N64 ports, glossed-over sequels and licensed kiddie garbage, the list of truly good and original 'can't do this on a console' titles isn't that big. You've got a few standouts like Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright, Cooking Mama (all of which now have Wii versions, btw) and a few truly original classics like Kirby Canvas Curse or Nintendogs (even if the latter appeals to me about as much as chugging baby formula).

Meanwhile, those of us who OWN it know that the PSP has standout original titles as well, such as Killzone, Daxter, Loco Roco, Mercury, Gurumin, Field Commander, Pursuit Force, Infected, Metal Gear Acid and several others. It also has lots of excellent sequels or franchise titles (again, just like the DS) that aren't carbon copy ports of console titles like Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, Ratchet & Clank, SOCOM 2, Dungeon Siege, The Warriors, etc... Sure, there are some clunker ports in that mix, more than there ought to be. But your 'all or nothing' crap is no better than the dweebs who insist that the DS is only for kids.

You also obviously need to go look up what they're doing with the PSP FF ports. To me and many others who have not played the originals, these represent two 'new' (revamped) and already-proven excellent RPG titles added to the PSP lineup.

Alright first, this isn't about psp vs ds, you can have both and enjoy what they got. i own a ds and a psp and i play them both equaly, yes 3d games look bad on the ds but they are getting alittle better. still the ds is more a 2d platform where as the psp is more 3d. so they worked harder on graphics because the t and m games usualy are in 3d. one this does not look like a ds game, close perhaps but it wouldn't run on it. second psp has alot of ports yes, but for people who dont own the game when it first came out that can be a god send, like me. i bought valkyrie profile as well as powerstone, now if the psp didn't port those i'd never get to try them. it's not about "oh god ports of games i own" you have to remeber there are people out there who never had the game and the ports EACH system makes gives them a chance to try it out. i have ff3 and yeah it's ok at best but it could also be worse. there's no reason to troll one another, but then again that could be what makes you feel good. either way this is about the psp not the ds. they both have there strong points they also both have weakness's. its not completly fair to judge them when they where made for diffrent audience's the ds is more of a younger family friendly system where the psp if for more mature hack and slash. anyway this looks like a dreamcast port. it looks fine to me the point of this is to make people either say oh man i remeber this ill get it. or have people say "crazy taxi? never got to try it on the dreamcast"

...hahaha. DS-fanatics and PSP-fanatics are funny; unable to stay on any topic aside from their own pathetic agendas to create flase competition of words between the two demographics - PSP fans and DS fans.

I mean, let's see where all this BS started from - the post itself. Sorry, Yoon, this ain't a direct jab at your work! It's just that you merely addressed the somewhat unpolished look of the game's graphics, which then caused one PSP Fan (ironic), to make a casual declaration that it's N64-level, which isn't true. Anyway, that was the start of our problems, and the end of the topic at hand. I believe Pixelator tried to bring the direction back, but it was still too late.

Honestly, I never got Kingdom of Paradise up until recently; the images looked bad, and was I wrong to judge on those images! They looked dirty, pixelated, and sick. Now I get the game, and the visuals are of a stunning opposite contrast to what I had seen on gamespot! So yeah, I find that these 'pictures' give a distorted presentation of what you might really experience on the PSP screen. I think with Crazy Taxi it's just an image issue, and the game itself will look fine and dandy on the PSP. It looks just like the DC rendition, minus the clarity, which I attribute to image issues or something of the sort.

You are correct this has turned into a PSP vs DS rant session, I do however like to point out when a DS Fanboy comes to this a PSP Fanoby discussion area and starts spewing ignorance. I believe the PSP has got a bad rap sinces it's release, some part do to SONY and in no small part to to Nintendo Fanboys. I will always in this forum try to explain, dispell, debunct any rants or poor observations by DS Fanboys that troll in here and try flame the PSP. I think in a way Mr. Yoon's words his editorials inflames DS Fanboys and they feel a need to respond.

Strange--I made absolutely no mention of Nintendo in my post. How did this happen? I don't really know. Sometimes I feel like people don't actually read the things I write. Anyways, I still stand by my claim: this is a lazy port--one that doesn't do the PSP any justice. The system is capable of far more, and we should be demanding such.

I did not say that you did mention Nintendo, I merely stated Nintendo Fanboys and how they have IMO helped to try to put a bad rep towards the PSP. I did read your post, and I hope the game is to your liking. I to hope it is as good as it can be at least DC quality would be nice. I would just point out how DS Fanboys read your views and jump in here and start there rants against the Mighty PSP.

Speaking of moronic trolls,*cough*Whiteeyebrow*cough*.

No one here even needs to click your links, since we all know that the psp isn't failing. It's not selling as much as the ds(so what?), but it's already a proven fact, that psp isn't failing.

Stupid troll...

Gee WhiteEyebrow the links you sent are over a year old and they are supposed to tell us about current issues with the PSP? Oh and the SEGA forum is supposed to enlighten us as well??? WhiteEyebrow you are a MORON. Go back to your DS Troll Hole we don't need you lowering this forums IQ by posting here.

Fair enough, Mr. Yoon, perhaps we should be expecting more. All I'm saying is that maybe, just maybe, the final product might be a bit more polished up than what we see in these pictures?

Anyway, I fully agree that people should try to contain themselves within the context of the article (avoiding stupid comparisons with Nintendo, when there was no mention of Nintendo).

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