Thereâs an inherent problem that retro remakes of titles from our childhood face, and that is that our remembering of them is flawed. We recall how great it was, only to blow the dust out of the cartridge slot as we fire it up and then be met with an empty feeling and a stark reminder that the feelings you had were not of the game itself, but the raw emotion of how it made you feel at the time.
This is the exact issue that Crazy Taxi World Tour will be facing head-on in 2027 as Sega seeks to revive a beloved classic. The slight mention of the original Crazy Taxi, which was released in my local arcade in 1999 - and later, on the Dreamcast in 2000, draws up archival memories, great memories, and one distinct musical number from The Offspring. Simply put, how do you follow a game that hasnât aged, one that still sees sales in 2026 on multiple platforms?
Sega seemingly has the answer to this question by keeping one important factor, the identity. They have achieved this by remaining true to the classic and also bringing the original Creator and designer - Kenji Kanno, on board, whilst building on strong foundations by removing certain elements that made the original feel like an Arcade in your own home. Many reviewers before have talked about the DNA of games and how important it is for sequels to remain true to their lineage. But if we dissect the original, we find excellence in its gameplay split down into 3-minute chunks and finding yourself being thrown back to the menu screen, only to begin again from scratch. The game was centred around the sense of urgency and was, for all intents and purposes, an arcade game brought home.
In the original, there was next to no progression, game mechanics that were designed for players to interact with the physical arcade cabinet, with the gear shifter intended for drive and reverse, finishing off with a âClass D Licenseâ and a scoreboard for your younger brother to try and beat. Yet, whilst this all sounds negative, it was a masterclass in gaming with one caveat - It wasnât a game youâd sit down and play for hours, and it was never designed to be so. The original was an arcade title at heart, designed for rapid, exhilarating gameplay before timing you out and awaiting the next credit to be inserted.
At Gamescom I had the chance to sit down with Sega and play World Tour for 30 minutes, which passed by in a flash, a promising indication of them producing yet another excellent title. Immediately I was back in the seat from all those years ago, pulling crazy drift turns, exploring the city around me, and then I saw my first fare. With trepid anticipation, I pulled up alongside them, not sure quite what to expect; had Sega added a radio station? Would it be newer songs? Would those songs be in keeping with what we all came to love and expect from all the years of gameplay weâve had since 1999? I had so many questions, which were answered promptly as the old faithful âYEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAHâ rang out in the headphones!
I was home; it was exactly the intention that Sega had in mind when they entrusted the next in the series to Kenji. Together theyâre seeking to expand upon the original in a way that feels familiar, like it was always there, almost clone-like. Yet Crazy Taxi World Tour manages to keep you strapped in the seat for far longer. On reflection, there are a number of reasons, I suspect mainly because the time limitation has been stripped away, there are regular passengers that come with their own personalities and the locations they request to be dropped off at are relevant to their character style. They even act as clandestine in-game tutorials enabling you to develop your skill as a player. It all makes âsenseâ, and that is a key proponent in modern titles. It makes gaming more palatable, easier to pick up and continue where you left off, and for the players that enjoyed the original - far easier to fit into a busy schedule of work, relationships and looking after kids of their own.
Graphically, the game pays homage to the original. The UI layout matches almost exactly what OG players have come to expect for years of drifting taxis around the city, whilst the visual assets have received a complete overhaul. However, there was controversy surrounding the use of AI in the initial builds of the game. Itâs worth noting that Kenji was brought in to protect Crazy Taxiâs legacy, whilst Sega are simultaneously using modern techniques and tools that didnât exist in the 1990s. Thankfully, Sega have since cleared this up, stating that all game assets will be crafted by artists for the final build.
For longevity, Sega has included several additional pillars of gameplay that lend their own individual strengths to the title. Firstly, we are afforded 5 different cities that reflect different regions from around the world, enabling a larger level of cultural representation appealing to a larger worldwide audience. Progression has been added, with the ability to upgrade and fine-tune your ride to suit your style of gameplay. So, if you prefer ploughing through cars, you can beef it up so as not to receive so much of a speed penalty when colliding with other vehicles. If dodging and weaving through oncoming traffic is your style, then adding components that assist with control and agility will be key. This is a vastly better system than just 4 choices of vehicle that we had from the original, and one that will be better suited to a more modern audience. For those that will want to race in an up to 6-player multiplayer mode, good tuning will allow a significant step up over the competition; to a degree this could be esports worthy, time will tell if this becomes a niche title competed in at LAN parties and gaming events around the globe.
TLDR; Crazy Taxi World Tour builds on the original, stays grounded and in touch with its roots, whilst ensuring youâll be committed to much longer gaming sessions by ending the time-limiting style of gameplay, as the gameplay has evolved into a âshiftâ session style as you enjoy a fleshed-out vehicle-tuning and upgrade experience in 5 different city settings.
At the time of writing, Crazy Taxi World Tour doesnât have a release date other than â2027â. But the game feels fleshed out, plays fantastically and has found itself added to my Wishlist with the full-circle intention of sharing my love of the series with my children next year.
