Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
David Jaffe has always been the man for chaos and destruction. Before he swept the world and put his name firmly on the video gaming map with God of War and its sequel, he was known as the genius behind Twisted Metal. Simply put, Twisted Metal is Unreal Tournament with vehicles. The first title in the series has aged considerably — though with dignity — and remains a classic of the vehicular combat genre, so much so that it's often the first name to roll off the tongue at any mention of it. But it is perhaps Twisted Metal 2 that is most fondly remembered by fans of the series. What makes this installment more attractive is straightforward: whatever problems and limitations were present in the original have been rectified in the sequel. There is more to destroy, more space to roam freely, and an unprecedented sense of openness that is almost too vast to take in all at once. The graphics, too, are a step up — sitting snugly somewhere between comic-style and cel-shading. The signature humour is intact, as is the wacky, often punishing gameplay. In short, David Jaffe delivered a sequel that stayed true to everything Twisted Metal had proven itself to be. All he did was turn the power up to 11.
The core of the game is engaging in a twisted version of destruction derby and being the last driver standing — or rather, still driving. The backstory goes something like this: following a tragic accident that cost him his wife and daughter, Calypso — in true Shao Kahn and Heihachi Mishima fashion — established an annual tournament called Twisted Metal, where head-to-head competition is taken almost too literally. From a roster of rough-and-tough drivers, you select your particular maniac of mayhem and enter tournaments across arenas that range from farm fields and snow-capped mountains to the depths of Hell itself. Scattered throughout each arena are power-ups and upgrades to use to your advantage, allowing you to dispatch your enemies with greater efficiency. Your primary weapon is a sub-machine gun with infinite ammo — your most reliable companion in the arena — though it quickly becomes a tired old workhorse once the rocket launchers and other ballistic weapons enter the picture.
The standout feature of every Twisted Metal game is the vehicles. Inventive and iconic in their own right, they resemble a cross between Hot Wheels and Carmageddon, but stripped of the grandeur and fitted instead with mounted weapons. The series' most iconic vehicle — Sweet Tooth, the ice cream truck — is sadly absent from this entry and can only be unlocked via a cheat code. Its exclusion is somewhat compensated for, however, by the introduction of two new vehicles: Twister and Axel. The former boasts a hurricane special move that can pull you out of tight spots while also serving as a formidable offensive weapon when things get too hot. The latter is a two-wheeled contraption with the driver positioned in the middle — think of it as a Segway fitted with monster truck wheels. In my opinion, Twister and Outlaw 2 — an LAPD police car — are the two best choices for newcomers, being quick and sturdy enough for the player to get real mileage out of them early on.
Regrettably, the game loses its momentum all too quickly. By the third arena, you're all but fed up. It is only the trademark darkly humorous endings that keep the player going through at least one full playthrough. Playing with different vehicles, uncovering their weaknesses and unleashing your own strengths is fun and engaging the first time around, but on a second run the fun is steadily consumed by repetition.
In conclusion, though the series has seen a fair amount of tweaking and improvement over the years, it is the original two entries that still stand out as the best — with Twisted Metal 2 being arguably the most balanced in terms of exciting gameplay, satisfying combat and good old-fashioned fun.
