Super Runabout: San Francisco Edition

"Better than Crazy Taxi?!?!"

You may find the name familiar for this game as earlier incarnations of this game have appeared on psx. Simply put, Runabout is similar in style and execution to Crazy Taxi, but with a greater variety of missions and vehicles to choose from. This game has received less than wonderful scores in certain quarters but i will set out to prove to you that it is a worthy addition to your collection.

Presentation

All of the options screens are in english which makes things nice and simple. The front end of the game is presentable, without being anything to write home about. One of the first screens you will see is the 'scenario' screen. At this point you can choose whether to be based in a garage or a police station. The two choices present missions which are totally different from each other, as well as a differing range of vehicles, most of which are unlocked by successfully completing missions. My personal favourite is the A-Team style van; very cool.

In game graphics are superb to a point but there is some pop-up evident, but you should be too busy to notice it. One impressive feature is that you can damage your cars, with the cg models slowly being battered out of recognition!
Elsewhere cut scenes are fairly ordinary-looking, somehow not looking as crisp as the likes of doa etc.

Sound

As usual for this type of mission-based racing game, music is predominanetly rock based, with loads of guitar being thrashed around the place. Some of the tunes are kind of forgettable but they manage to complement the on screen action well enough. SFX are decent and chunky, with crashes represented with suitably satisfying noises.

Gameplay

A lot of people have criticised the handling in this game, but over-exaggerated handling did little to hinder the success of driver. This is not a game which takes itself too seriously and I normally find myself laughing when my vehicle spins around for the 45th time, not tearing my hair out in frustration.

Some of the levels in this game are so damn fun!! Like the first 'scenario b' level where you have to stop a runaway tram; just like the car chase sequence in The Rock. The delight in causing total mayhem is only heightened by the fact that you can save your best replays to vmu. Whilst admittedly the replays are nowhere near as comprehensive as Driver they are effective enough to be important.

Lastability

You would be able to finish this game within a day or so if you put your mind to it, but it is the wide range of vehicles which make up for this fact alone. It is even possible to unlock a tank to drive around in! Couple this with the way in which you can fiddle with the tuning of your vehicles makes this game a mainstay in my collection at least.

Conclusion

If you like causing utter mayhem then this game is for you. If you like Crazy Taxi or Driver then you will find a familiar thrill in this game and for that reason you may find yourself liking this game more than you thought. The thing I like about this game is that it follows the Crazy taxi school of driving titles: It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is refreshing when you consider everyone is talking about what a good and realistic game Gran Turismo 2000 is. Super Runabout is a game and it plays like a game. For that reason alone I recommend this game for anyone seeking a good laugh.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/04/00, Updated 07/04/00