Twisted Metal

Blog Post: Fast & Furious

boxcar182 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:50:00 GMT

Twisted Metal is Fast. Real fast. If you just jump in the multiplayer right away you will get obliterated. I suggest play a few offline modes to get the controls down then once mastered go ahead and take the fight to others.

This game was built around multiplayer both online and offline, creative director, David Jaffe, even said its the "bread and butter" of the game. He was right, the games main attraction and lasting appeal is in the multiplayer. There is a single player story mode but if you have played previous Twisted Metal games you will be slightly disappointed. Gone are the 12-14 crazy psycho drivers you choose from with each having a unique background story, instead you choose from 3 contestants (Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, & Doll face) each with their own insane story (seriously, these 3 are nuts). No longer are their stories told through comic like cutscenes but instead told through live-action scenes using real actors with pretty cool special effects. Now I did enjoy the single player for what I was offered, but I wanted more from it. I wanted my 12-14 characters to choose from, that's just what I always liked about the Twisted Metal series. There was also awkward racing levels in the campaign, they felt....odd, pretty much unbalanced because you just pick the fastest car and haul ass, It just didn't fit in the Twisted Metal world.

Now the multiplayer is insane, in a good way! I have not played a game with a constant smile on my face since Ocarina of Time. I had an absolute blast in the multiplayer, like I said earlier the game is extremely fast which is probably why I had so much fun. Everything seems well balanced between the vehicles so if your cars special does mega damage then your armor probably isn't great or visa versa. There's 5 modes (death match,team death match, hunted, team hunted, & nuke) the latter is pretty capture the flag, Twisted Metal version. I found myself playing death match and team death match, it's the most basic but extremely fun just drive fast blasting missiles and firing machine guns.

my review is based off the multiplayer, now if the game was shipped with no single player I'd have given it a 10 but it didn't so 9.50 it is

+insane action

+ balanced multiplayer

+game looks good with all the chaos going on

-single player is a let down

-some network issues

Wiki: Twisted Metal Guides

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:45:00 GMT

Guides for Twisted Metal

Blog Post: Got what I expected and a bit more

Kenneth Hartman — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:18:00 GMT

I have been with the franchise since my cousin had the first few on the Playstation. I've kept up with the games except for small brawl, if anyone remembers that. It was a real fun experience for me and I understand everyone is pissed that online is in updates right now, but for the most part I love it. its a big thing though if you're new to the franchise then you might or might not enjoy the game, it's a gamble. If you're a fan from the start or anytime before this then you'll feel right at home. When story came around I was at first disappointed that I could only play as 3 others, Sweet Tooth, Doll Face, and Mr. Grimm, but once I saw that they were well built I was more than happy to see a satisfying story than just a cartoon slide show. I will not being going for hard mode or twisted mode for Wart hog to be unlocked. I'm happy with what I have. Also, when you get to the end of the game and get the hidden trophy by doing the things I wont tell, it begs for a sequel. I can't say much for online for now seeing that I haven't had the full experience these updates promise.

Blog Post: Clowning around with Car Combat

FrankxthexBunny — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:18:00 GMT

When I was five years old my uncle visited my house and brought some video games with him. One such game was the PS1 release of “Twisted Metal 2.” The fiery explosions of 32 bit car combat danced across the screen in a foreign yet inviting aroma of simulated destruction. I watched him play for half an hour, asking an endless stream of questions about everything I saw, when he finally looked at me with a smile and handed me the controller. This was the first time I had ever played a video game in my life, and needless to say I was hooked for many years thereafter.

Over time there have been many hit or more often miss sequels, and my interest in the series faded. Then, just last year, Eat Sleep Play, the original developers of Twisted Metal 2, announced that they were rereleasing and reinventing the series. Suddenly, that long faded spark began to ignite, and I found myself more excited than I’d been for a long time. On Valentine’s Day it was released. With bated breath I inserted the disk into my PS3 that same weekend, and was greeted by an experience that failed to disappoint.

While Twisted Metal hasn’t lost its spirit in the last 15 years – one of its greatest strengths – it isn’t 1996 anymore, and it’s likely that the major appeal exists predominantly for long time fans of the series. The controls are more or less the same: pitting your vehicles in different settings throughout the world to demolish each other in the most outrageous ways possible. Weapons like missiles, turrets, napalm, and even remote control cars with bombs strapped to their tops are attained through pickups throughout the maps, while each character’s unique special attack charges over time. These special attacks span from turbo (for ramming vehicles) to a hurled flaming chainsaw to an ice cream truck transforming into a robot with a jetpack. The insanity of what goes on in the game is transferred to the level design, with destructible buildings any vehicle can just drive through as if they were paper, pedestrians running around in a panic as the world around them crumbles.

The physics are perfect for combat, but terrible for the new racing missions peppered throughout the story mode. In fact, the story mode as a whole was a bit disappointing. Instead of each vehicle having a driver with their own z grade back story there are only three characters: Sweet Tooth the serial killer clown, Mr. Grimm, the game’s mascot and troubled ex-gang member, and Dollface, the psychotic, masked ex-supermodel. While Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck, Mr. Grimm’s motorcycle, and Dollface’s semi are all available to use, any character can now inhabit any vehicle. Unfortunately, the appeal to a Twisted Metal with a linear story isn’t very high, and while the concept and mechanics work fine, it seems like something is lost in the process. After getting through poorly constructed boss battles, enemy A.I. that focus exclusively on you regardless of all the other combatants they should be dealing with, and a lukewarm plot, I had begun to question the decisions Eat Sleep Play made when taking the game in this direction. That was before I played multiplayer.

The game sports both old school split-screen and a bare bones online multiplayer system. There are some very basic rewards for experience points, but the gameplay itself is where Twisted Metal truly shines. Modes like Team Deathmatch and free-for-all are a blast as always, but they don’t compare to the madness of Hunted, where you receive points for defeating the player who is the “hunted” but then become the hunted yourself (I call it Murder Tag). My personal favorite is “Nuke Mode,” an insane three phase battle similar to capture the flag. This game is meant to be played with friends, either offline or online, and that is clearly where it finds its most comfortable place.

This game did not disappoint me at all. It was entertaining, energetic, and over the top. If you could get over the lack of polish and sometimes frustrating difficulty due to imbalanced A.I. and a finicky physics system, then there’s the potential for hours of fun with your friends. I leave my controller decidedly satisfied with where the series is now, and optimistic to where it could go in the future.

Blog Post: Has Gameinformer Done Us Wrong? Mehhhh Kinda

The Towel Boy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:43:00 GMT

Okay, to get this out of the way quick and painless, I am a fan of Twisted Metal. I grew up with the series(and no im not a serial killer......or am I!) as a child and still defend it to this day. Recently the GI reviewers said it was a decent game, but I believe its more than decent.

First the Problems: Reversing is difficult(and I laughed when Reiner and Phil couldn't figure it out) and the races are sometimes impossible without strategy. AI is unpredictible, either being completely stupid or fighting like a racoon in a corner.

Other: The game is just so INSANE and fun that these problems are quickly forgotten as you fight for domination over your opponents. True the story was hacked off a bit, but this allowed emphasis on the series main characters. Combat is Fast and Fluid and more importently...FUN.

Overall: Few Problems, easy to overlook them, FUN and INSANE. Very enjoyable, good investment, kinda reviewed harshly.

P.S.: This review was not done on a nostalgia trip, leave comments if you like!

Blog Post: Old-school car combat at it's finest.

Brandon Dorbert — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:27:00 GMT

I have been a fan of the Twisted Metal series since the beginning. My favorite prior to this was Twisted Metal Black. When this Twisted Metal was announced I made sure I pre-ordered it. Finally the game is out and it is amazing. Over all the gameplay has not changes, it still has the fast-paced, tight driving and all the old weapons from the series. The maps how ever are even bigger than the past games in the series, which makes the gameplay even more fun. Some aspects of the game are changed and for the better. Now instead of just having a machine gun as the secondary weapon now you can upgrade to a shotgun or rocket launcher. The single-player is really challenging with many variations to the fights. Like the third match has you fighting with the other players, but there is a electric cage that moves around the map every minute. The player has to stay in the cage because if they go out there is a timer that starts that tells you your grace period. If it hit zero you will begin to lose health if you are outside the cage. My only issue with the single player is that there is only three characters to choose from and unlock the stories, it is not a big issue though. The multiplayer is really where the game shines. There is the game modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Last Man Standing, and now Nuke, where one team protects the objectives and the other tries to destroy it. Twisted Metal is a classic game that many hardcore gamers who grew up with the series will enjoy. Many of the newer generation kids who grew up with the FPS overload will MOST LIKELY not like the game.

Blog Post: Meets and slightly exceeds expectations

bigdog — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:20:00 GMT

Solid game, tight gunplay and driving mechanic. Some flaws and frustrations in one player, but no too bad. I have not yet played mulitplayer, so this review may not be acceptable to some, but the servers were down. I've been a TM fan since day one and had high expectations, Eat, Sleep, Play exceeded them, well done.

Blog Post: Love the Challenge

Scott Stedman — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:45:00 GMT

I enjoyed playing this game. I love the levels, the carnage, and the difficulty of the game and this is just the single player part. When playing multiplayer, it is fun and sets the standard for similar games in the genre.

Blog Post: Classic Gameplay = Nostalgic Fun

tonyadpx — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:50:00 GMT

I'd say this Twisted Metal, more than any other, benefits from being a long-standing title. It's not a groundbreaking game. In fact, when it comes to actual gameplay the game has changed little. But it's fun, and the nostalgia that comes from playing this is more than enough to give it a solid 8.75.

Blog Post: i have no interest

arthufart — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:45:00 GMT

i have no interest in the series whatsoever

Blog Post: GREAT GAME

Andy Aldrich — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:21:00 GMT

Great game! Got it day one and haven't been able to put it down. Multiplayer is a blast, single player is better than expected, but has some minor flaws. All in all a much better game than I thought it would be. I highly recommend it to any former fan of the series or anyone looking for one hell of a good time with multiplayer.

Wiki Page: David Jaffe is the Jim Carrey of Twisted Metal

Bjyman — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:25:00 GMT

Consider this my guide to Twisted Metal for the PS3. For those who don't know what I mean by the title, with the exception of Ace Ventura, Jim Carrey hasn't really been one for doing sequels and in my opinion neither is Dave. I'm sorry, but the pyramid with the pool in it doesn't cut it and if you don't know what I mean by Dave well I wont go there, but suffice to say I wont be buying this game, if I buy this game, anytime soon for nostalgia or more accurately lack of nostalgia purposes. Perhaps him going through companies also speaks to what I'm saying. However it is possible that Scott or Sony is pulling the strings, but to this extent I doubt it.

Guide Foreward:

This guide will show you how I play Twisted Metal: PS3 from the outside looking in (YouTube videos and other people's comments). As a spectator I'm unable to give it a score so I wont, but I would argue that nostalgia is crucial for any commercial franchise. Ignoring nostalgia in marketing is like trying to pass 7-UP off as Coke. If I want Coke I'm going to go to for what I know is Coke so that is what in effect happened to me with ESP's marketing campaign. You come off as saying "Twisted Metal has to change in order to make money"? I save prove it!!! And Twisted Metal: Head On doesn't count.

How To Deal With The Lack of Twisted Metal 1 and 2 Nostalgia:

In a twist of irony, pun intended, it is my hope that the Twisted Metal Black fans finally understand what its like to not get a true sequel to their game. (It is my understanding that Twisted Metal PS3 isn't a sequel to Twisted Metal Black.) I also realize some people say the nostalgia argument is irrelevant and it's gameplay that matters I agree, but developers, Sony included, should at least have the decency if they want to make something different to quit marketing it under the Twisted Metal name or acknowledge it as a subfranchise like CSI NY.

The first thing to deal with lack of nostalgia when playing or not playing the game is to acknowledge the problem. A very important strategy for those who play in my view. So let's talk about why I don't think they'll market the game the way I was talking about. It's all about money. No matter how different Twisted Metal becomes, even from A to Z, it will probably still be marketed under the Twisted Metal name for monetary purposes. The direction of the Twisted Metal series has gone the way of the Hayflick Limit. You keep trying to copy the same piece of paper over and over it eventually becomes distorted beyond recognition. http://viewzone.com/aging.html Actually the Hayflick Limit here is being generous, because I don't think there is even intent here to retain it's identity, but I would imagine source code has been lost through games.

It's one to thing to keep forcing SUV Outlaws and barechested masked Sweet Tooth's on people who don't want them, what clown wears a mask instead of facepaint btw?, but I'm going to talk about what really has me fired up in the next sentence that is naildriver into me not wanting to buy the game. It's the name the game is marketed under! That's right Twisted Metal!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a 1995 game with the exact same name? It's like a statement from the game developers that Twisted Metal has become so irrelevant that there isn't even a conflict of interest of calling a different Twisted Metal game in the "Twisted Metal franchise" the same name. That's how it comes off to me. I mean come on call it Twisted Metal something. I suppose even that 7 game tradition is the latest one of many to be broken. If they come out with "Twisted Metal 2" that will be the end of it. Yeah I'm playing the poser TM1 card out of concern over the direction of the franchise, but so far I've talked about things in a general way. Let's talk about the nuts and bolts now to the best someone outside looking in can.

From what I've heard from people the general theme is that single player mode is bad and that it's multiplayer that really has it going on. That kind of makes sense to me. To ESP's defense it's apparent their aim was to focus on multiplayer so it's kind of hard to make something that is geared for multiplayer into single player. However as a game designer I would emphasize the equilateral triangle approach, which would be expanding sides at the same time equalaterally. While speculation it could also be possible that the people who don't like single player are being too picky with the exception of nostalgia and the lack of driver stories. I would be disappointed by the lack of drivers compared to other Twisted Metals. While I know where I'm coming from I don't know where the single player haters are. Perhaps horrible CPU?

As far as the GTA concept of switching cars in garages I don't like it. In the Twisted Metal tradition IMO each driver should have their own car and storyline. Even 989 got that!! I'd also think sticking your head out of your car to fire off shotgun rounds would leave you pretty exposed!! Seeing drivers do that reeks of dumbness. If I'm in Calypso's competition I'm going to stay behind my bulletproof windows thanks. Mr Grimm should also stay a car in the franchise, but it seems like he's evolved into a driver name instead of a car name, I assume because TM2 car select had it both ways, but if you look at it from TM1 Mr. Grimm is really a car name and not a driver name. My take on it was that people just called Mr. Grimm by his car name, because no one knew who he really was. So remember Mr. Grimm is a car name!

So I guess I've moved into my concerns over realness. On that level what I also don't get is why it takes a faction leader to activate a nuke truck. Do the nuke trucks have DNA scanners that scan the faction leaders for a DNA match or is it just Calypso's magic?

Using Talon to Win/Realness Concerns:

Talon has an obvious edge over other cars. Heights! Seems like if someone were Talon they could just go for the highest altitude possible and have at it. Use it!! That's what I'd do over and over again to win single player or multiplayer if I had the game. Additionally someone has said cars take too long to kill. I also think the driver outside the car after you destroy a car that carried over from TMB is cheesy. My final realness concern is that I've seen YouTube videos of cars going through houses and buildings like cardboard. Come on!! So what we can learn from this is if you're a ground car don't rely on buildings as shields. The last thing on how deal with the lack of nostalgia so it can't affect potential gameplay is accepting reality.

Accepting Reality:

To to sum things up my take is that TMPS3 is probably better than Twisted Metal Black in a lot of ways like innovative multiplayer, but that doesn't change the fact in my opinion that Twisted Metal has evolved into a scifi version of StarFox and Calypso's voice reeks. Seeing that it looks like ESP went the mutliplayer route I think ESP should do more mulitiplayer maintenance than they appear to be doing and rain DLC, but at least they've added trophies. Also what about multiplayer shelf life? I don't want to buy something that could be taken offline like TMBO. If someone wants to buy me a PS3 and Twisted Metal PS3 I'll give it a whirl, but if not I'm content playing correctly labeled classics.

Special Thanks:

Special Thanks to Sony, Dave Jaffe, Scott Campbell, and ESP for this guide. Without them this guide wouldn't be possible.

Disclaimer: This guide on how to play Twisted Metal for the PS3 is 100% my opinion and I am not claiming anything in this guide to be true or statement of fact.

Blog Post: Twisted Metal

microphonist — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:16:00 GMT

This games sucks,,, I will buy this when it's $20.00,,, takes to long to blow a car up. I used to the play this on Sony 1 era, but that was then, this is now and this game, even though it feels updated is stuck in the 90's with the feel of the game.

Since my last review im on way to purchase it, it is a 8.25... decent game

Blog Post: Twisted Metal Review: Car Combat's Explosive Return

Dan Ryckert — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The Twisted Metal series will always have a place in PlayStation history. In the early years of the PSone, the successful vehicular combat game brought attention to a console trying to establish its identity. After creator David Jaffe left, the series floundered with two disappointing 989 Studios installments before returning with the hit Twisted Metal: Black. After a 10-year hiatus from consoles, how does the series stack up in a vastly different gaming landscape largely devoid of vehicular combat games?[Excerpt]

In terms of classic Twisted Metal gameplay, this is the best the series has ever been. When the game drops a handful of vehicles into a gigantic, destructible playground littered with weapons, it’s a blast. Most of the classic weapons are back, although developer Eat Sleep Play altered some things slightly. Each vehicle now has two special attacks, remote bombs can be shot forward, and new weapons like the stalker and swarmer missiles operate with a simple charge mechanic and deal massive damage if timed correctly. Abilities like reverse turbo and alternate sidearms also help mix up your strategies.

Perhaps the most convenient change to the gameplay is the way players access energy attacks. In previous games, sequences of three to four d-pad presses were required to access secondary abilities like the freeze, landmines, shields, and rear fire. In this new installment, you access all of these with one simple press of the d-pad. Firing an EMP at an enemy is as easy as pressing up, while your missiles can be fired behind you with a quick press of down on the d-pad. This simple tweak significantly improves ease of use.

Twisted Metal saves its most notable changes for the single-player story mode. Previous titles typically featured over a dozen characters with unique endings. This new title ditches this approach in favor of a single linear story featuring Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm, and Dollface. Each of these segments follows the formula established in Black: You first learn their motivations for entering Calypso’s tournament, receive a story update halfway through the game, and then witness the results of their granted wish when they finally confront Calypso. Told through stylized vignettes that mix live action and CG visuals, these stories are campy at times, but each is interesting and well produced. Given their decent quality, it’s disappointing to have such a limited selection of narrative perspectives.

The lack of character variety is disappointing, as are the moments in the story mode when Twisted Metal deviates from its strengths. Classic deathmatches are always fun, and a couple of the boss fights are great. However, things go awry when the game introduces checkpoint races and non-traditional boss battles. One race is completely unwinnable if you fall off any one of numerous skyscrapers, and two poorly designed multi-stage bosses really tested my patience.

Thankfully, the multiplayer is pure Twisted Metal. Deathmatch modes place you in one of the game’s numerous massive maps, and it doesn’t take long for things to turn into an all-out warzone. Nuke mode is chaotic and entertaining, with two teams capturing their enemy’s leader and launching him or her at a massive effigy of the opposing team. Hunted and Last Man Standing are also fun, but can’t compete with the insanity of Nuke. Gamers irked by the “die five seconds after you spawn” experience from titles like Call of Duty should enjoy the longer lifespans of Twisted Metal’s online play. On the other side of the coin, shooter fans used to extensive progression systems may be disappointed with Twisted Metal’s bare-bones ranking system. Though it has an XP system, all you can unlock are sidearms, vehicles, and skins that are already offered in the story mode.

When Twisted Metal embraces the series traditions, it delivers the best action ever seen in the franchise. When it departs from convention, however, it becomes a hit or miss affair. Whether or not vehicular combat can strike a chord with gamers in 2012 the way it did in 1995 remains to be seen, but Twisted Metal is a blast when it’s firing on all cylinders.

Blog Post: Mr. Grimm Stars In The Latest Trailer

Kyle Hilliard — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:31:00 GMT

The latest Twisted Metal trailer looks at the backstory of Mr. Grimm sung to the rocking tunes of Rob Zombie's Dragula, a song that released in 1998.[Excerpt]

There isn't much narrative to be drawn from the trailer, but you do get a decent helping of gameplay footage.

Twisted Metal is set for release on February 14.

[view:1331953266001]

Forum Post: Re: ANYONE ELSE WAITING FOR THIS GAME????

sweetjohnny410 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:57:00 GMT

* have

Blog Post: Get To Know Dollface And Juggernaut In New Clip

Jeff Cork — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:10:00 GMT

Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe revealed Twisted Metal's Valentine's Day release date yesterday, and also gave a sneak peak at an upcoming trailer. Guess what? Now we've got it.[Excerpt]

The clip shows off how Dollface came to be such a maladjusted young lady, as well as plenty of footage featuring the marauding semi truck, Juggernaut. Gasp as spiked murder balls careen toward their victim and explode. Watch as the meat grinder fires a steady stream of hot lead at its target. Cry when the clip is over.

That last step is completely optional.

[view:1130481838001]

File: Twisted Metal screens

Dan Ryckert — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:43:00 GMT

File: Twisted Metal screens

Dan Ryckert — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:43:00 GMT

File: Twisted Metal screens

Dan Ryckert — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:43:00 GMT