Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars expertly brings the frantic, time-pressured taxi rides of the original arcade hits to the PSP. Players zip through compact versions of San Francisco and New York, picking up fares, weaving through traffic, and performing gravity-defying jumps and drifts. The familiar “get there fast” mantra remains core to the experience—every second counts as you race the clock to drop off passengers at their destinations.

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All of the beloved mini-games from Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2 return here, adding variety to the main fare-running mode. Whether you’re racing against a rival cab, collecting hidden items, or chaining together long combo routes, these bite-sized challenges keep the adrenaline pumping. The tight, arcade-style controls translate well to the PSP’s button layout, making it easy to pull off stunts and execute sharp turns on the fly.

Fare Wars introduces a robust Wi-Fi multiplayer mode, pitting you against other cabbies in real time. In head-to-head matches, the goal is simple: steal your rival’s passengers, rack up the highest total fare, and claim bragging rights. This competitive twist breathes fresh life into the classic formula and extends replayability far beyond the single-player timer runs.

Additional features exclusive to this version include in-game footage recording—handy for reviewing your best runs or sharing epic crashes—and a customizable soundtrack that lets you swap in tracks from your PSP’s memory stick. These modern touches ensure that both veterans and newcomers can tailor the experience to their preferences.

Graphics

On the PSP’s 480×272 screen, Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars delivers surprisingly vibrant cityscapes. The San Francisco and New York maps retain their iconic landmarks—steep hills, neon signs, and winding streets—while running at a smooth frame rate even when traffic density spikes. Pop-in is minimal, and the draw distance holds up well for a portable title of its era.

Textures and models have been reworked slightly from their Dreamcast and NAOMI originals to suit the handheld’s hardware. Although some distant buildings look blockier than on home consoles, the overall visual identity remains faithful. You’ll still spot the quirky storefronts, telephone booths, and familiar billboards as you barrel down avenues at breakneck speed.

One notable change is the removal of certain shops and props from the environment to streamline performance. Coupled with the re-recorded passenger dialogue and new soundtrack, these adjustments give Fare Wars its own distinct feel. While purists might miss a few visual flourishes, the core aesthetic—bright, bold, and full of motion—shines through on the PSP.

Story

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars doesn’t dwell on narrative complexity, and that’s by design. You play as one of several over-the-top cab drivers—each with unique visual flair—whose sole objective is to deliver customers across urban jungles faster than the competition. The lack of a traditional plot frees you to focus on pure, unadulterated arcade action.

Interactions with passengers are brief but colorful. Each fare comes with a quirky quip or exclamation, now freshly recorded for this PSP release. These bite-sized exchanges add personality without slowing down the pace; you’ll hear enthusiastic cheers when you reach a destination on time and playful groans when you miss the mark.

While there’s no deep character arc or branching storyline, the gradual unlocking of cab liveries, extended time limits, and new songs provide enough incentive to keep grinding fares. In a way, the “story” of Crazy Taxi is the rising fare meter itself—each new dollar earned is a mini-milestone in your taxi-driving career.

Overall Experience

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars shines as one of the PSP’s standout arcade racers, capturing the wild spirit of the originals in a portable package. The core gameplay loop—grab a passenger, race the clock, perform stunts—remains as addictive now as it was in arcades two decades ago. Quick runs fit perfectly into handheld play sessions, while the Wi-Fi mode offers deeper, competitive longevity.

The inclusion of both Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2 content makes Fare Wars excellent value, delivering dozens of pick-up-and-play scenarios across two iconic cities. Custom soundtrack support and footage recording add modern conveniences that enhance replays and community sharing. Even graphic compromises and relocated scenery can’t dampen the exhilaration of nailing a perfect combo route.

For fans of high-speed, score-attack racing, Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars is a must-own on PSP. Its blend of tight controls, diverse game modes, and relentless pace ensures that every fare run feels fresh. Whether you’re tackling the frantic single-player mode or duking it out online against friends, you’ll find yourself hooked by the same arcade magic that made Crazy Taxi a classic.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10