Twisted Metal

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Christmas 1995. The original PlayStation had only been out a few months, and I had already rented it several times from Blockbuster (RIP). The first game that grabbed me was Battle Arena Toshinden. 

The second was something completely new, a car game with open maps, weapons, and the thrill of being the last one standing. Twisted Metal had released in early November, and every time I went to rent it the shelves were empty. All the copies were checked out.

It wasn’t until Christmas morning that I finally unwrapped my own copy, and for the next couple of months it completely took over my life. 

Welcome to the Twisted Metal tournament, where sanity goes to die and car combat reigns supreme. This groundbreaking vehicular destruction fest transformed the simple concept of "cars with guns" into a twisted masterpiece that would spawn an entire genre. 

Picture Mad Max meets a demolition derby, seasoned with dark humor and sprinkled with enough firepower to level a city block. This isn't your typical racing game where crossing the finish line matters. Here, the only finish line is when everyone else is a smoking heap of scrap metal.

Twisted Metal is a vehicular combat tournament where drivers compete in armored, weaponized vehicles across various arenas for the chance to have any wish granted by the mysterious host, Calypso.

Each contestant has their own dark backstory and unique vehicle, from Sweet Tooth's terrifying ice cream truck complete with flaming clown head to Roadkill's muscle car bristling with machine guns. The premise is beautifully simple: be the last car driving.

The game's graphics pushed the PlayStation's capabilities early in its lifespan with detailed vehicle models and destructible environments that felt revolutionary for 1995. Watching buildings crumble under rocket fire or seeing your opponent's car flip through the air in slow motion created moments of pure automotive poetry.

What truly separated Twisted Metal from its contemporaries was the revolutionary freedom of movement within each arena. 

Unlike traditional racing games that confined players to predetermined tracks, these battlegrounds offered complete exploration liberty, allowing drivers to discover hidden passages, shortcuts, and strategic vantage points. This felt like such a big deal to me back then. The maps were small, yes. But the freedom to go anywhere felt so fresh.

The physics system, while primitive by today's standards, delivered satisfying crashes and explosions that made every collision feel impactful.

Combat mechanics revolve around collecting power-ups scattered throughout each arena, from standard machine gun rounds to devastating special weapons like napalm and lightning bolts.

Each vehicle handles differently, requiring players to master turning radius, acceleration, weapon trajectories and unique special attacks. 

The control scheme feels intuitive once you get the hang of it, face buttons handle primary weapons, while the shoulder buttons are reserved for special attacks and defensive moves.

Since the original PlayStation controller lacked dual sticks, movement relies on the D-Pad. Going back to it today feels clunky, but it definitely makes you appreciate how far modern controllers have come.

What truly set Twisted Metal apart was its atmosphere. The game had so much character, especially with its sound design. The industrial metal soundtrack perfectly complemented the post-apocalyptic carnage, while sound effects like screeching tires, explosive impacts and unique sounds from his car created an audio landscape of beautiful destruction. 

The game's dark sense of humor permeated everything, from character endings that often resulted in twisted irony to arena designs that mixed familiar locations with nightmarish elements.

One of the main motivations to keep playing is to see every character’s story. The sequel’s endings took it to another level, but you still get that dark irony in the original.

Critically, the game received praise for its innovative approach to vehicular combat, earning strong reviews that highlighted its addictive gameplay and atmospheric presentation. Commercially, it sold over 1 million copies, impressive numbers that secured its place in PlayStation's Greatest Hits lineup.

The game's legacy extends far beyond sales figures. It spawned numerous sequels, each building upon the foundation laid by this original masterpiece. Twisted Metal 2 and Twisted Metal: Black are my personal favorites of the series, but you can’t go wrong with starting with the original.

The influence of this vehicular combat pioneer can be seen in countless games that followed, from Vigilante 8 to Crossout. Its combination of personality-driven characters, arena-based combat, and dark humor created a template that developers still reference today. 

The franchise's enduring appeal was further validated when Peacock launched a live-action Twisted Metal series in July 2023. Although, I haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t vouch for it either way. Let me in know in the comments on the website if it’s any good!

Whether you're a retro gaming enthusiast or someone curious about PlayStation's early days, Twisted Metal offers a raw, unfiltered gaming experience that reminds us why sometimes the simplest concepts create the most memorable mayhem.

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