Thumper

Thumper's most recent game appearance - Twisted Metal: Head-On

Thumper is one of the first vehicles introduced in the Twisted Metal series, making its first appearance in Twisted Metal (1995). It has always been depicted as a low rider.

Thumper's Special Weapon traditionally involves a flamethrower, but has seen other changes. Sometimes music resembling hip-hop sounds off when the special is initiated. Thumper's special is usually among the most powerful in the series.

Twisted Metal (1995)

Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Bruce Cochrane
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
Special Weapon Power
Speed
Handling
Armor
License Plate	DRYVBY
Special Weapon Sound Effect

"The lowest of the low riders, this car is tough and big, able to escape from the toughest of neighborhoods."

—Twisted Metal - Thumper's Bio

Thumper makes its debut in Twisted Metal, the first game in the series.

Special Weapon

• Scorcher: Burn your enemies to a cinder with this red hot column of flame. Strong with lots of reach!
  

Twisted Metal 2

Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Bruce Cochrane
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
Handling	Intermediate
Armor
Special Weapon
Speed
License Plate	NRSITYMN
Special Weapon Sound Effect

Thumper returns in Twisted Metal 2. Despite the stats being lower, this version is much more powerful thanks to its special weapon.

Special Weapon

• Ultra Flame Thrower: A ferocious beam of fire that bursts from underneath the vehicle's hood. When confronted by several enemies at the same time, fire this Special Weapon and go into a tight turn. With luck you'll strike more than one car!
  • This Special Weapon is powerful enough to destroy any normal enemy with two simultaneous uses, and is capable of destroying Dark Tooth with two uses.
    

Twisted Metal III

Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Bruce Cochrane
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
Handling	Average
Armor
Special Weapon
Speed
License Plate	None
Special Weapon Sound Effect

"He drives a bulky pink low rider with some hip-hop hydraulics and window-rattling bass."

—Twisted Metal III - Instruction Manual

Thumper returns in Twisted Metal III, with an all new special weapon.

Special Weapon

• Sonic Blast: An ultra-loud wedge of energy that ripples out from beneath his car and launches his victims into the air like human rockets.
  

Twisted Metal 4

Super Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Unknown
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
License Plate	1971

Thumper reappears in Twisted Metal 4 as Super Thumper. It serves as the boss of the Road Rage level. It can be unlocked by completing Tournament mode or inputting " O Δ Start O ← " at the Password screen. The identity of its driver is unknown.

Special Weapon

• Mega Fire: Streams two lines of continuous flames causing high damage. Opponents who are hit by this weapon will get burned over time.
  

Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Vinnie & Bruce
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
Armor
Acceleration
Top Speed
Handling
Blip Color	Purple

"That stereo in your room is nothing compared to Thumper's Special Weapon. Fire it and 3 ricocheting super sonic shockwaves will blare out towards your opponents. Plug your ears!"

—Twisted Metal: Small Brawl - Instruction Manual

Thumper's appearance in Twisted Metal: Small Brawl. This version has a special similar in spirit to the one from Twisted Metal III.

Special Weapon

• Super Sonic Shockwaves: Three purple sounds waves, one by one, that push your enemies back, causing good damage. The waves will bounce around the map until they disappear.
  

Twisted Metal: Head-On

Thumper
Information
Driver(s)	Angel
Vehicle Type	Low Rider
Handling
Armor
Special Weapon
Speed
License Plate	None

Thumper returns to Twisted Metal: Head-On. Unlike the previous games, where the car is driven by male characters, the car is operated by a girl named Angel. She entered the tournament to have a car that puts others to shame.

Special Weapons

• Balls of Fire: Launches four fireballs at nearby opponents.

• Ultra Flame Thrower: After receiving the Special Weapon upgrade, the special weapon sprays a jet stream of flames upon activation. It also has to ability to launch fireballs by repeatedly pressing the fire button.
  

Unused Entries

Twisted Metal: Black

Thumper
Information
Vehicle Type	Low Rider

Thumper was going to appear in Twisted Metal: Black, but didn't make the cut for the roster. It's unknown if it was ever modelled or if it was scrapped during the conceptual stage.

Twisted Metal: Harbor City

Thumper
Information
Vehicle Type	Low Rider

Thumper was supposed to return in the sequel to Twisted Metal: Black, before it was cancelled. The model was the usual classic pink low rider, with an appearance similar to the concept art that was to be used for Black, disregarding the paintjob.

Special Weapon

• Ultra Flame Thrower: Sprays a jet stream of flames.
  

Trivia

General

• With the exceptions of TMIII and Small Brawl, Thumper's special weapon has always been a flamethrower.
• Thumper was scheduled to be in Twisted Metal: Harbor City. Its design resembled the one appearing in Twisted Metal: Head-On, but at the same time was significantly different. Its special weapon was fully developed, being the classic flamethrower; but after the cancellation of the game, the vehicle was scrapped.
• Many vehicles in the series have used Thumper's Flamethrower, they are: Firestarter, Drag Queen, Warthog, Cousin Eddy, Tower Tooth, Kamikaze and Crimson Fury.

Twisted Metal (1995)

• Thumper's license plate in the original game (DRYVBY) means "Drive-By".

Twisted Metal 2

• Thumper's license plate in Twisted Metal 2 (NRSITYMN) means "Inner-City Man".

Twisted Metal 4

• There could have been a possibility of the driver of Super Thumper having an info screen, as Bruce Cochrane's TMIII info screen can be found in the game's files under the name "THUMP.TIM[0]."
• Even though Thumper is already in TM4 as the boss Super Thumper, it is possible to create a similar looking vehicle in Create a car mode.
• In an early version of the game dated September 29, 1999, Super Thumper's special was not made yet; with it launching a Power Missile instead.
  • The special was also named "Flames", just like Drag Queen's.

Twisted Metal: Black

• Thumper was originally planned to appear in Twisted Metal: Black as a black low rider covered in graffiti, but the idea was later scrapped as they could not find it a suitable driver.

Twisted Metal (2012)

• Road Boat from Twisted Metal (2012) somewhat resembles Thumper. Because of this many fans have made Thumper Skins on the Twisted Metal website to try to bring it back. Road Boat can also be painted pink/purple in the Custom Paint Shop to even further resemble the vehicle.

Gallery

• TM1
• TM2
• TMIII
• Head-On

Twisted Metal (1995)

Thumper card.

Concept art of Thumper. Taken from the December 1995 issue of the EGM² magazine.

Twisted Metal 2

Thumper card.

Twisted Metal III

Thumper and Bruce as seen in the manual from the game.

Ilustration of Thumper in the December 1998 Issue of the OPM Magazine.

Twisted Metal: Head-On

Thumper and its driver Angel.

Thumper being chased by Sweet Tooth.

Thumper at Transylvania.