Saturday, July 26, 2008

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars Review





DETAILS
Crazy Taxi takes the logic of a typical arcade racing game and turns it on its head by throwing in a little money-making strategy to the usual theme. Players drive through a jam-packed city, picking up fares and getting them to their destination by any means necessary -- ramming into traffic, jumping over ramps and, basically, driving around like a complete lunatic. Forget the safety standard -- these customers hate to wait. (They'll even jump out of the cab, at top speed, if it takes too long for them to get there.) This game was a big hit in arcades and on the Sega Dreamcast a few years back, so it should be no surprise that Sega decided to take it for another run with Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars for the PSP.
Instead of making a completely new game, Fare Wars essentially works like a "greatest hits" collection. Players can choose between Crazy Taxi and Crazy Taxi 2, putting their best efforts on display through the streets of San Francisco or New York. Both games work the same, with passengers needing to be picked up and paying out the nose if they reach their destination in a timely manner. The gameplay continues to run smoothly, with fine-tuned steering and lots of manic stunts to multiply the dollar amount earned throughout each run. Crazy Taxi 2 also adds a fun little "jump" feature, where players can make their vehicle leap upon command to get over traffic jams -- a nice touch, even if a bit unrealistic. (It goes like ten feet off the ground, instead of just the wheels going up and down.)

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