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 the first of two games in the series to be released for the PC. It was released for the PlayStation on November 5, 1995.
Twisted Metal 2[]
- 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 the second and final 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.
Twisted Metal: Head-On 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 concepted alongside Twisted Metal: Black until being dropped in favor of the latter once development officially began. Players would have visited popular U.S. landmarks across the country, and the atmosphere would have been a lot less dark.[1] [2] [3]
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.
Project Copper[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal (Live-Service)
Known internally as Project Copper, this Twisted Metal game was cancelled early on in its development before it was greenlit. It was originally supposed to be made by the UK-based studio Luden Games, but was later handed to Firesprite. It was a live-service battle royale game made with the Unreal Engine 5, and was set to release on the PlayStation 5.
Early Game Versions[]
Twisted Metal: Apocalypse[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal: Apocalypse
An early iteration of the PS3 title. According to David Jaffe, Apocalypse would take place in a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic future. It was rejected because Scott Campbell wasn't into the idea of a world that was already destroyed, as part of the fun of Twisted Metal is to be the one to destroy the environment.
Twisted Metal (Scrapped realistic version)[]
- Main article: Twisted Metal (Scrapped realistic version)
Unnamed early version of Twisted Metal (2012) with a more realistic look, and a feel similar to the "Midnight Club" series as described by David Jaffe. It was said to have been rejected because portraying the environments from the concept art to 3D models resulted in extremely bland environments, and most of the team didn't like the idea, besides Jaffe.