Is it a bit like Driver?
Apart from looking 10 times as good, yes; the gameplay is fundamentally the same. Driver had a great storyline but in essence each mission was a case of driving to point A, picking something up and taking it to point B, occasionally going on to points C and D. It's the same with Crazy Taxi, without the mission structure. In Arcade mode you're given a set amount of time before you need to slap in another (virtual) coin. Getting a fare to their destination on time will not only give you money, but also a time bonus. It works like the old checkpoint system used in regular racing games. Another game type allows you to choose a fixed period of time and see how much money you can make therein.

Robert De Niro was a crazy taxi driver. Is he in the game?
Sadly not. Neither is Danny De Vito. The four drivers on offer - Axel, B.D. Joe, Gena and Gus - are completely made up. Some things are real, however, such as the soundtrack that features such punk/pop luminaries as The Offspring and Bad Religion.

Do say...
Are you looking at me?

Don't say...
I haven't got any change. Can you break a tenner?