Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars

 PSP
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Aug 7, 2007
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
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  1. Digital Entertainment News
    72
    It’s a quick ‘n easy port of the arcade and Dreamcast games, which may be enough for fans who want Crazy Taxi on the go, but those of us not blinded by nostalgia will be frustrated by the game’s shortcomings caused by the choice of platform and the simple onset of time.
  2. GameZone
    70
    Just remember to take your Crazy Taxi in small dosages or you might get a little indigestion.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    70
    The visuals are mostly bright and clear, although the occasional piece of disappearing scenery and some issues with pop-up dampen the fun. [Oct 2007, p.97]
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  5. PSM Magazine
    70
    We enjoyed the series' addictively simple-yet-fun gameplay seven years ago, and we enjoy it just as much now. [Nov 2007, p.87]
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  6. PALGN
    70
    Whilst Crazy Taxi has a number of technical issues, they don't add up to anything more than a minor inconvenience to the majestic mayhem, especially with a second player along for the ride.
  7. Games Master UK
    69
    A basic arcade game that we've seen many times before but it still has a certain appeal. [Nov 2007, p.83]
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  8. Cheat Code Central
    68
    Like the various mini-games, these multiplayer modes are fun, but they have little lasting impact. In fact, the same could be said for the entire game. Due to the repetition of the gameplay, as well as the locations and the characters, it's best played in small doses.
  9. GameSpot
    60
    Fare Wars offers up the first two Dreamcast Crazy Taxi games on the PSP, though neither game has held up particularly well.
  10. GamesRadar+
    60
    Still a good time, but like all sparse arcade compilations, your mileage may vary.
  11. GotNext
    60
    Ultimately, Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars is mostly a fan service to devotees of the series.
  12. Worth Playing
    59
    No matter how shiny the car's wheels, no matter how diligently you clean out the ashtray and how often you wash the exterior, it's just a big lump of metal unless you've got the engine running smoothly, and Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars fails in that regard.
  13. Game Informer
    58
    Unfortunately, these new features don’t overcome the horrible driving controls, laughable braking, poor draw distances, and the complementary pop up. Only die hard fans of the Dreamcast series should give this game a look.
  14. 1UP
    55
    Fare Wars would be a respectable conversion of the arcade and Dreamcast classics had the developers managed to keep the speed -- and thus, the excitement -- in the game. Now Crazy Taxi just feels slow and clunky, and all the minigames and extra cities to explore in the world can't fix that.
  15. Game Almighty
    51
    If you've played Crazy Taxi and its sequels, then you've played this new version. It controls well, looks fine, sounds good...but it's Crazy Taxi, a game that is better off remembered instead of regurgitated.
  16. VideoGamer
    50
    If you don't fondly remember the first wave of Crazy Taxi games, steer well clear of this. However, if you fancy a taste of some retro driving action, this may be worth a purchase, but approach with caution and low expectations or prepare for a shock.

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best PSP Game of 2007
38
#38 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2007
45
#45 Most Shared PSP Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. nullsolaris
    Jul 2, 2018
    7
    It's a rough port with a relatively low framerate compared to the original games on DC, all the branding is gone, the music is changed,It's a rough port with a relatively low framerate compared to the original games on DC, all the branding is gone, the music is changed, there's some weirdness with some of the graphics here and there, etc... but it's still Crazy Taxi and plays okay. And that's the important part.
    Zoom around the city, pick up customers, make mad money. Try to get a Crazy ranking by getting more than $20k (which I still can't do, even if I do consistently hit $10k). That sort of thing.

    Starting out is pretty tricky, but once you can a handle on drifting (while turning, shift to reverse, then shift back to drive), doing the Crazy Dash (either from a standstill or while moving, shift to reverse, shift to drive, wait the briefest moment, then accelerate), and stopping properly (don't drift into walls, you'll stick to 'em), you'll be getting high scores like nothing. The physics are a bit jank in Crazy Taxi, but you get used to it.

    The handling feels unchanged from the various other releases on other machines, all the modes and features are still present like the wonderful Crazy Box, and if all you had was a PSP or Vita (or you wanted to try out Crazy Taxi 2, a game that would otherwise be a Dreamcast exclusive), this is what you want.

    Speaking of CT2, I do wish it was a better game. It's a decent expansion on the original, it adds some cool features, and the Crazy Pyramid is amazing fun... but the maps leave much to be desired. They're a bit rough, like the console exclusive map in CT1, if not quite as messy with navigation. It's solid, if not amazing like the original arcade game and arcade map. Also, the handling feels a bit weird compared to CT1.

    The game has custom music support... but as far as I can tell, it doesn't find files located in folders. Still, if you drop the original soundtrack onto your PSP, you can forget the (largely mediocre) tunes they replaced it with.
    There are also some other little bonus extras that you can unlock and toggle. I leave 'em off, though.
    There's even multiplayer, but I've never been able to try it out.

    Ultimately though, here in 2018, I'd actually recommend the Android version of Crazy Taxi over this for an on-the-go experience, assuming you had a controller to play that version with, since it has the original soundtrack and runs at a higher framerate and resolution, although you don't get CT2 in that package.    … Full Review »
  2. JSXero
    Apr 8, 2014
    9
    If you need any evidence of how awesome the power of the PSP could be, just take a look at Fare Wars, a collection of two complete DreamcastIf you need any evidence of how awesome the power of the PSP could be, just take a look at Fare Wars, a collection of two complete Dreamcast releases, all packed on one UMD with some extras just to spoil you even further.

    There is not much to say exactly about the Crazy Taxi games that haven't been said and they fit perfectly on the PSP, quick arcade session gameplay, try and make the most cash in 5 minutes, and then try again and again. Driving and cornering is as smooth as you can get and both games handle like their DC counterparts. Crazy Taxi has the best level design, but Crazy Taxi 2 adds in the boost feature that makes leaping over traffic a breeze, and making those huge jumps from freeway to freeway possible.

    It's hard to fault any Crazy Taxi game because the game play is just so good, but if your looking for representations of Tower Records, The Fila shop or KFC in the psp version, you will be looking for a long time, as those licenses expired years ago. Those iconic images are staples in the history of Crazy Taxi, but you can still have kick ass game sessions without them.

    Fare Wars is another PSP release that just keeps on giving, you might of played them before, but you cannot pass up playing them again, this time possibly in the back of a taxi yourself.    … Full Review »
  3. WallyB.
    Aug 19, 2007
    8
    Bout time Crazy Taxi showed up on the PSP - it's been on every other platform. Good port of the arcade/DC version.
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