Twisted Metal is a series of vehicular combat games, spanning nine games on the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 3. It is the longest running PlayStation-exclusive franchise.
Overview[]
The games in the series center around the eponymous Twisted Metal competition (that starts at Christmas Eve), which is a demolition derby which allows the use of ballistic projectiles, such as missiles and machine guns. The contest is run by a mysterious man named Calypso, who grants the winner one wish, that, in his own words, has no limits on "prize, size, or...even reality."
Twisted Metal (1995)[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal (1995)
The first game in the series, which takes place during the 10th annual running of the Twisted Metal competition in Los Angeles, on Christmas Eve 2005. It was released for the PlayStation on November 5, 1995.
Twisted Metal 2: World Tour[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal 2
The second game in the series, which takes place exactly one year after the events of Twisted Metal, on Christmas Eve 2006. It is also the only game in the series to receive a PC release. It was released for the PlayStation on October 31, 1996.
Twisted Metal III[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal III
After SingleTrac stopped developing Twisted Metal due to a contractual dispute with Sony, Sony gave the job of creating the next game to 989 Studios. Twisted Metal III is a continuation of the second game, set somewhere within or after the year 2007. It was released for the PlayStation on November 10, 1998.
Twisted Metal 4[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal 4
The second game by 989 Studios, and the first one to have another person other than Calypso hosting the contest - Sweet Tooth himself. This game is also unique because of its cast of characters and vehicles, most of them being newcomers to this game. It was released for the PlayStation on October 31, 1999.
Twisted Metal: Black[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Black
After developing several non-Twisted Metal vehicular combat games for GT Interactive, a large number of SingleTrac employees left the company to form the gaming studio Incognito Entertainment and signed with Sony. Naturally, Sony offered them the opportunity to develop a new Twisted Metal title and their first game was Twisted Metal: Black for PlayStation 2.
The game has a much darker atmosphere than the first two games, and is the first game in the series to receive an "M" rating from the ESRB. Critics regarded it as the best in the series.
Twisted Metal: Small Brawl[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Small Brawl
Released a few months after Twisted Metal: Black, this game was created in order to draw younger audiences to the series, and involves radio-controlled cars, as opposed to full-sized ones like in other games. Small Brawl was originally developed as a PlayStation 2 title, but was later changed to a PlayStation 1 game.
Twisted Metal: Black Online[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Black Online
An online version of Twisted Metal: Black. It could be obtained for free by mailing in a card that came packaged with the PS2 online Network Adapter. After Sony stopped offering the disc, it was later included in subsequent reissues of Twisted Metal: Black on Greatest Hits, in a 2-disc set.
Twisted Metal: Head-On[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Head-On
The only Twisted Metal game on the PlayStation Portable, Twisted Metal: Head-On is a true sequel to Twisted Metal 2, and is the "real" Twisted Metal 3 for story line purposes.
Extra Twisted Edition[]
A port of Twisted Metal: Head-On to the PS2. It contains additional content, such as a documentary looking back on Twisted Metal, and ending movies cut from Twisted Metal, as well as an extra version with content from the unreleased sequel to Twisted Metal: Black.
Twisted Metal (2012)[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal (2012)
Eat Sleep Play created the latest installment for the Twisted Metal series on the PlayStation 3, released February 14th, 2012. Many who pre-ordered obtained Axel before everyone else. Other versions include the Limited Edition, which came with a direct re-port of Twisted Metal: Black. This game features a dark atmosphere similar to Twisted Metal: Black, but not as brooding and colorless.
Cancelled Titles[]
Twisted Metal: Road Trip[]
Curiously one of the lesser known cancelled installments, Twisted Metal: Road Trip was developed alongside Twisted Metal: Black until being dropped by Incognito in favor of the latter early in development. Players would have visited popular U.S. landmarks across the country, and the atmosphere would have been alot less dark.[1][2]
Twisted Metal: Harbor City[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Harbor City
This Twisted Metal game was cancelled during its alpha stage. Harbor City would've featured an interconnected world which could be traversed via long highways, connecting every level into one big map. There was also going to be on-foot sections where you control Needles Kane. This game was made alongside Head-On, so both games shared some elements.
Twisted Metal: Apocalypse[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Apocalypse
This Twisted Metal game was cancelled during its conceptual stage. According to David Jaffe, Apocalypse would take place in a post-apocalyptic future where the world is dominated by Calypso's contest. Each driver would have a different motive for competing in the contest. Aside from a new environment, every character would've been from a previous installment of Twisted Metal. Its ideas were eventually used in the 2012 release.
Twisted Metal: Revolution[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Revolution
This Twisted Metal game was cancelled during its conceptual stage. Also in development for the PS3, this title was very similar to the previous one, but with a more realistic look, and a feel similar to the "Midnight Club" series as described by David Jaffe. It was likely cancelled as portraying the environments from the concept art to 3D models resulted in extremely bland environments.
Twisted Metal (Live-Service)[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal (Live-Service)
Unnamed live-service Twisted Metal game cancelled early on in its development. It was originally supposed to be made by the UK-based studio Luden Games, but was later handed to Firesprite. Not much is known about it and the game was never greenlit, but it was to be released on the PS5.