Twisted Metal




This article is about the Twisted Metal series. For the first game in the series, see Twisted Metal (1995 video game). For the 2012 reboot, see Twisted Metal (2012 video game). For the first novel in the Penrose series, see Tony Ballantyne.






































Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal Series Logo.png
Genre(s) Vehicular combat
Developer(s)
SingleTrac (1995–1997)
Sony Interactive Studios America/989 Studios (1995–1999)
Incognito Entertainment (2001–2007)
Eat Sleep Play (2008–2012)
Publisher(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment
Creator(s)
David Jaffe, Scott Campbell
Platform(s)
PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows
Platform(s) of origin PlayStation
First release
Twisted Metal (1995)
November 5, 1995
Latest release
Twisted Metal (2012)
February 14, 2012

Twisted Metal is a series of vehicular combat video games published by Sony Computer Entertainment, and developed by various companies. The series has appeared on PlayStation consoles, the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3. As of October 31, 2000 the series has sold 5 million copies.[1] Seven of the games (including Twisted Metal: Black Online) were re-released as part of the Sony Greatest Hits program. The original game and its first sequel were also released on PC.





Contents






  • 1 Overview


  • 2 Games


    • 2.1 Main games


      • 2.1.1 Twisted Metal (1995) and Twisted Metal 2 (1996)


      • 2.1.2 Twisted Metal III (1998) and Twisted Metal 4 (1999)


      • 2.1.3 Twisted Metal: Black (2001)


      • 2.1.4 Twisted Metal: Head-On (2005)


      • 2.1.5 Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition (2008)


      • 2.1.6 Twisted Metal (2012)




    • 2.2 Spin-off games


      • 2.2.1 Twisted Metal: Small Brawl (2001)


      • 2.2.2 Twisted Metal: Black Online (2002)




    • 2.3 Cancelled games


      • 2.3.1 Twisted Metal: Harbor City


      • 2.3.2 Twisted Metal: Apocalypse


      • 2.3.3 Twisted Metal: Revolution






  • 3 Film adaptation


  • 4 See also


  • 5 References


  • 6 External links





Overview


In concept, Twisted Metal is a demolition derby that permits the usage of ballistic
projectiles, machine guns, mines, and other types of weapons (up to and including satellite-based weapons and nuclear weapons). Players choose a vehicle, and an arena—or a series of arenas in the story mode—to engage in battle with opposing drivers. A variety of weapons and upgrades are obtainable by pick-ups scattered throughout the stage. The last driver alive is the winner.


Although each individual game features its own storyline, they all revolve around the eponymous "Twisted Metal": a vehicular combat tournament hosted once a year. In almost all of the games, the host is a man called "Calypso"; however, in the series' fourth installment, perennial contestant Sweet Tooth briefly takes over. The general goal is to destroy all opponents; apart from the other contestants, unique vehicles seemingly designed by the host themselves may stand in the competitors' path. The winner is brought before the tournament host, who will grant the contestant a single wish.


The hosts of these games are the persons who are, through arcane means, capable of warping reality itself to grant the wish of the contest winner; however, there is a general "be careful what you wish for" theme in the game series, as nearly all of the winning contestants end up with "not-so-happy" endings, due to the skill and proclivity of the hosts for twisting the words of their wish around—often to deadly effect. The games in the series usually contain a healthy dose of black humor.



Games



Main games



Twisted Metal (1995) and Twisted Metal 2 (1996)





Twisted Metal 2 screenshot.


Main articles: Twisted Metal (1995 video game) and Twisted Metal 2

Format: PlayStation, PC


The first two Twisted Metal games were developed by SingleTrac.


Windows versions of Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2 exist. Twisted Metal 2 on PC features slightly cut-down graphics compared to the PlayStation version (minor details of some levels disappeared) but it doesn't require a 3D accelerator video card and played well on computers with lower processing capabilities. It also features multiplayer over a modem line or Internet.



Twisted Metal III (1998) and Twisted Metal 4 (1999)


Main articles: Twisted Metal III and Twisted Metal 4

Format: PlayStation


After a contractual dispute with SingleTrac, Twisted Metal development duties were handed over to Sony's in-house development team, 989 Studios. The Twisted Metal titles developed by 989 Studios were fundamentally different, due in no small part to the fact that SingleTrac owned the engine used in the first two titles and so an entirely new engine had to be built from scratch for the non-SingleTrac-developed entries. One of the major changes that resulted were the introduction of advanced physics simulation and AI techniques to the series.


David Jaffe, in speaking about these two entries in the series, was reported to have said, "....[in and of themselves] they're good games, they're just not good Twisted Metal games".



Twisted Metal: Black (2001)


Main article: Twisted Metal: Black

Format: PlayStation 2


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. With much of Twisted Metal's original creative team back with the company who owned the franchise, this reunion led to the creation of the series' first installment on the PlayStation 2, Twisted Metal: Black.



Twisted Metal: Head-On (2005)


Main article: Twisted Metal: Head-On

Format: PlayStation Portable


Despite what was essentially a complete relaunch and rebranding of the franchise with Twisted Metal: Black, Incognito decided to return to the series' roots and create a game that felt more like a true follow-up to the original Twisted Metal series, bringing back the bright colors and cartoony characters of Twisted Metal 1 and 2. Available on the PSP in time for its North American launch, Twisted Metal: Head-On is considered by many fans – especially those disappointed by the non-Singletrac-developed titles – to be the true sequel to Twisted Metal 2. Utilizing the PSP's built-in online capabilities, it also marked the first time a Twisted Metal game had full online play available from the start.



Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition (2008)


Main article: Twisted Metal: Head-On

Format: PlayStation 2


In February 2008, Eat Sleep Play, a new development studio formed by David Jaffe and Scott Campbell, released Twisted Metal: Head-On for the PlayStation 2. While primarily a direct port of the PSP game "Twisted Metal: Head-On", it does feature a number of extra features, most notably four complete and playable levels from the unreleased/incomplete Twisted Metal: Black sequel, called Twisted Metal: Harbor City. Other bonus content includes: a code to download the soundtrack (a timed offer which has since expired); a half-hour documentary on the series with some of the original developers called "Dark Past"; a rough playable portion of an unfinished and unreleased third person action game starring Sweet Tooth (controllable for the first time ever on-foot and outside of a vehicle); and the never before seen original live-action ending videos of all the characters from the first Twisted Metal, directed by Jaffe.



Twisted Metal (2012)


Main article: Twisted Metal (2012 video game)

Format: PlayStation 3


Twisted Metal (2012) is the most recent game in the Twisted Metal series. It features multiple drivers and tracks. It also features multiplayer gameplay and other game modes. The game consists of three story arcs that focus on Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm and Dollface.



Spin-off games



Twisted Metal: Small Brawl (2001)




Screenshot from Twisted Metal: Small Brawl


Main article: Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Format: PlayStation


Instead of delivering a PlayStation 2 follow-up to Twisted Metal: Black, Incognito took an unexpected turn and developed Twisted Metal: Small Brawl for the original PlayStation, a Twisted Metal aimed at a younger audience that featured radio-controlled toy cars instead of full-size vehicles.



Twisted Metal: Black Online (2002)


Format: PlayStation 2


A game featuring only the multiplayer portion of Twisted Metal: Black, but playable online. A free copy could originally be obtained by mailing in a card that came packaged with the PlayStation 2 online network adapter. After Sony stopped offering the disc, it was later included as a bonus disc in subsequent reissues of the Greatest Hits version of Twisted Metal: Black. The servers to the game have since been shut down.



Cancelled games



Twisted Metal: Harbor City


Format: PlayStation 2




Development Screenshot of Twisted Metal: Harbor City


A sequel to the PlayStation 2 game Twisted Metal: Black, titled Twisted Metal: Harbor City,[2] was in development but was cancelled before it was announced when the series co-creators left the development team.[3] At time of cancellation four levels had been completed; these levels were included and playable in Twisted Metal Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition as a special mode.



Twisted Metal: Apocalypse


Format: PlayStation 3


A Twisted Metal game set in a post-apocalyptic environment, which was originally in development in 2008 but was scrapped.[4] Artwork of the cancelled game was released by David Jaffe at the San Diego Comic-Con International; it showcased concept arts of locations such as a destroyed Mount Rushmore as well as a giant crater. It was also revealed that the Eat Sleep Play team was originally rather keen on the idea, though it was hinted by Jaffe that the idea was rejected by Sony Computer Entertainment, speculated to be because of the release of MotorStorm: Apocalypse, a racing game which also featured a post-apocalyptic environment.[5]



Twisted Metal: Revolution


Format: PlayStation 3


Apart from Twisted Metal: Apocalypse, another Twisted Metal game was in development for the PlayStation 3 which utilized street culture and hip-hop influence. The game was titled Twisted Metal: Revolution, but it was cancelled; it would have featured characters with a more realistic look such as a Sweet Tooth that looked more of a smooth criminal rather than a psychopathic clown. Other characters included yakuza, FBI agents and street gang members. David Jaffe compared the game to Rockstar's Midnight Club series when describing the look and feel of the game. In addition, Jaffe said that it was extremely difficult to portray the environments that they had created in their concept art within the game as it resulted in an extremely bland environment.[5]



Film adaptation


In February 2012, it was announced Sony Pictures Entertainment was bringing Twisted Metal to the big screen by hiring Crank, Crank: High Voltage, Gamer and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance co-director Brian Taylor to write and direct the film.[6] In September 2017, Brian Taylor confirmed that Sony had passed on the Twisted Metal movie, feeling the series fanbase didn't warrant the higher budget it would have cost to realize the movie.[7]



See also




  • Vigilante 8 and Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense (Twisted Metal's closest and most successful competitors during the PS1 era)


  • Rogue Trip and Critical Depth (created by the Twisted Metal team during their dispute with Sony)



References





  1. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (October 31, 2000). "TM: Black Date Set". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ monokoma. "Twisted Metal Black 2: Harbor City [PS2 – Cancelled]". Unseen 64. Retrieved March 9, 2010.


  3. ^ Jeremy Dunham (July 27, 2007). "Jaffe Leaves Sony to Eat, Sleep, and Play". IGN. Retrieved January 19, 2010.


  4. ^ Jonathan Leack (July 18, 2010). "Twisted Metal Almost Brought the World to Ruin". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved July 22, 2010.


  5. ^ ab Michael McWhertor (July 23, 2010). "See Two Dead Twisted Metal Games With Wildly Different Concepts". Kotaku. Retrieved July 22, 2010.


  6. ^ "Sony Deal To Write/Direct 'Twisted Metal' Movie". Deadline.com. February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.


  7. ^ "Brian Taylor Explains Why 'Twisted Metal' Fell Apart; Says He Wanted Nic Cage for Sweet Tooth". Collider.com. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.




External links


  • Official website









-

Popular posts from this blog

Dragon Quest

Image
This article is about the video game franchise. For the first game in the series, see Dragon Quest (video game). For other uses, see Dragon Quest (disambiguation). "Dragon Warrior" redirects here. For other uses, see Dragon Warrior (disambiguation). Not to be confused with DragonQuest. Dragon Quest Genre(s) Role-playing Developer(s) Game design/scenario: Armor Project Character/monster design : Bird Studio Main series programming: ArtePiazza, Chunsoft, Heartbeat, Level-5, Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix (formerly Enix) Nintendo Creator(s) Yuji Horii Artist(s) Akira Toriyama Composer(s) Koichi Sugiyama Platform(s) MSX, Famicom/NES, Super Famicom/Super NES, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, mobile phone, Android, arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, iOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita Platform(s) of origin Famicom/NES First release D
Read more

AM broadcasting

Image
"AM Radio" redirects here. For the song by Everclear, see AM Radio (song). For the American musical group, see AM Radio (band). AM broadcasting is a radio broadcasting technology, which employs amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions. It was the first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and is still used worldwide, primarily for medium wave (also known as "AM band") transmissions, but also on the longwave and shortwave radio bands. The earliest experimental AM transmissions were begun in the early 1900s. However, widespread AM broadcasting was not established until the 1920s, following the development of vacuum tube receivers and transmitters. AM radio remained the dominant method of broadcasting for the next 30 years, a period called the "Golden Age of Radio", until television broadcasting became widespread in the 1950s and received most of the programming previously carried by radio. Subsequently, AM radio's audiences have a
Read more

Metroid

Image
This article is about the series. For the first game in the series, see Metroid (video game). For the eponymous alien species, see Metroid (fictional species). Not to be confused with Meteoroid. Metroid Logo as used with Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Metroid Prime: Trilogy Genre(s) Action-adventure Developer(s) Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems, Retro Studios, Nintendo Software Technology, Team Ninja, Next Level Games, MercurySteam Publisher(s) Nintendo Creator(s) Satoru Okada Gunpei Yokoi Hiroji Kiyotake Yoshio Sakamoto Platform(s) Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Super NES, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch Platform(s) of origin Family Computer Disk System First release Metroid August 6, 1986 Latest release Metroid: Samus Returns September 15, 2017 Metroid [a] is a science fiction action game franchise created by Nintendo. The series is primarily produced by the company&#
Read more