In the future, taxi cab drivers will hold cut-throat races, cause unprecedented amounts of chaos and use highly destructive power-ups. That’s how Namco’s Smashing Drive sees it anyway. Get prepared with our preview!
Namco has pledged strong support for the Nintendo GameCube, and one of the first games it will release for Nintendo’s new console is a home version of Smashing Drive, its arcade title developed by Gaeleco. Set in a futuristic world, Smashing Drive puts gamers in control of hovering, upgradable taxis & high speed driving in traffic-filled cities. Featuring over-the-top driving and taxi cabs, Smashing Drive has inevitably drawn comparisons to Crazy Taxi. The premise is very similar, to get your customer to their destination as fast and as insanely as possible. Also like Crazy Taxi, Smashing Drive’s hover-cabs are well equipped to cause lots of damage. However, Smashing Drive is actually more of a race in the RUSH vein than a taxi game. Instead of ferrying passengers to and fro around town, you must race a rival cab. Your rival will always take a safe route, and you must haphazardly plow through the terrain to uncover shortcuts and prove yourself as the faster ride. Shortcuts can be found crashing through windows, riding up ramps, speeding throughout sewers, receiving a lift from a water fountain… There’s all kinds of exciting paths to find and the more outrageous the route, the higher the score you’ll receive. At the end of each run, grades are given for balance, cab condition, boosts obtained and number of “Risky Routes” (crazy short cuts) taken.
Smashing Drive features 10 courses, which have invisible lines surrounding them to keep you on track. Wrecking havoc is very necessary to gameplay. Power-ups come into play, helping remove obstacles and open up pathways. The power ups include a buzzsaw cutter blade, a sonic-blast horn called a “claxon” and a 4x4 transformation which morphs the cab into a massive traffic clearing vehicle…
Gameplay may be solid, though visually Smashing Drive doesn’t take full advantage of the GameCube’s hardware. Being an arcade game, it’s uncertain how much lasting appeal there is to be had. Fortunately, there is a 2 player mode allowing you to play against a friend in a duel to the finish. Smashing Drive is currently set to be released on the GameCube February 20th.
