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Twisted Metal is a vehicular combat series made for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PSP. The series is published by Sony and developed by the game studio Incognito Entertainment.

It is the longest-running PlayStation-exclusive franchise. Seven games of the series (including Twisted Metal: Black Online) were re-released as part of the Sony Greatest Hits program.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Twisted Metal (1995) and Twisted Metal 2:World Tour (1996) 3 Twisted Metal III (1998) and Twisted Metal 4 (1999) 4 Twisted Metal: Black (2001) 5 Twisted Metal: Small Brawl (2001) 6 Twisted Metal: Black Online (2002) 7 Twisted Metal: Head-On (2005) 8 Recurring characters 8.1 Calypso 8.2 Sweet Tooth 9 Music in Twisted Metal series 10 News 11 Trivia 12 See also 13 External links

In concept, Twisted Metal is a demolition derby which permits the usage of ballistic projectiles. 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 same basic theme: a man named Calypso hosts a vehicular combat tournament called Twisted Metal with the promise of granting the winner one wish. There is a general "be careful what you wish for" theme, as many of the contestants wind up with not-so-happy endings. The games in the series usually contain a healthy dose of black humor.

Main articles: Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2

Format: PlayStation, PC

The first two Twisted Metal games were developed by SingleTrac. Twisted Metal 2 is regarded by most fans as the best game in the series and in general as a PlayStation classic. After developing these two games, along with WarHawk and the first two games in the Jet Moto series, SingleTrac left Sony and signed with GT Interactive, using their Twisted Metal game engine to develop other vehicular combat games such as Critical Depth and Rogue Trip.

An IBM PC version of Twisted Metal 2 exists. It 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 plays well on weak computers. It also features multiplayer over a modem line or Internet.

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, as the code base was completely rewritten. Sony introduced advanced physics simulation and AI techniques to the series. Many fans of Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2 were upset at the resulting change of game play; however, new players received these titles well and they went on to become best-sellers. Twisted Metal 4 improved upon the shortcomings of Twisted Metal III as was reflected in trade reviews.

Twisted Metal III and 4 are no longer considered part of the official Twisted Metal canon and their storylines are disregarded in newer games in the series.

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. Naturally, Sony offered them the opportunity to develop a new Twisted Metal title and their first game was Twisted Metal: Black for PS2.

The game is much darker in atmosphere and style than previous games, and it is the first and only installment to date that received a Mature rating due to its content. The designers have stated that the two main sources of inspiration for the atmosphere and storylines were Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs. However, the more mature content that some of the endings contained led to the removal of the FMV sequences from the European version, upsetting many of the European fans as well, which was reflected by poor sales in Europe.

Main article: Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

Format: PlayStation

Instead of delivering a PS2 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.

Format: PlayStation 2

Simply an online version of Twisted Metal: Black, a free copy could be obtained 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.

Main article: Twisted Metal: Head-On

Format: PlayStation Portable

Despite the return of SingleTrac/Incognito with 2001's Twisted Metal: Black, they still had yet to deliver a true sequel to Twisted Metal 2. With the PSP, Incognito created a game that picks up where Twisted Metal 2 left off. Twisted Metal: Head-On is, for all intents and purposes, the "real" Twisted Metal 3. Utilizing the Twisted Metal: Black game engine but taking place in Twisted Metal 2's universe, Head-On combines aspects of the two most highly-regarded games in the series. It's the first game in the series to ship fully online-enabled.

Many characters appear in more than one game of the series, although the same vehicles are not always driven by the same people. The most well-known character is Sweet Tooth, whose face has appeared on the cover of every Twisted Metal game to date.

Minor examples of such recurring characters include:

• Mr. Grimm, Warthog and Sweet Tooth are the only characters that are featured in every Twisted Metal game. Out of all three, Sweet Tooth is the only character to keep the same driver.
• Twisted Metal Head On and Twisted Metal Small Brawl are the only games in the series which do not feature Minion as a boss or as a playable character.
• Thumper, Outlaw, Spectre, and Axel have been featured in all except one Twisted Metal Game. Thumper does not appear in Twisted Metal: Black, Outlaw and Spectre do not appear in Twisted Metal 4, and Axel does not appear in Twisted Metal.

Calypso, playing the leading role in storyline of the series, is a playable character in TM4, while in other games, he appears only in the games opening and ending cutscenes.

When someone wins his contest, the winner gets one wish. These comprise the game's ending sequences. It should be noted, that while Calypso seems to stick to the phrasing of a wish, he will gladly violate its spirit, which usually causes the wisher harm in the end, though in the original game, Black and Head On he granted a few of the character's wishes directly. The scope of his powers seem to have extraordinary bounds. Even with this though, there are limits as to just what he can grant.

Calypso is to some extent seemingly a prisoner of the Twisted Metal contest himself: he can't, for example, restore his daughter to 'life' unless she wishes for it.

Calypso's character design is inconsistent. It is different in many Twisted Metal games throughout the series. In terms of appearance, the most notable change is his hair which varies from thick and long to complete baldness.

• In the first Twisted Metal, he is portrayed by an uncredited actor in live-action cutscenes. Here he is depicted as a man with a totally burnt face and a great mass of hair. His voice was disorted and less human than in Twisted Metal 2 and Head On. However, these live-action cutscenes never actually made it into the game, only being leaked onto the internet years later.

• In Twisted Metal 2: World Tour, he was a smartly dressed man with long flowing hair, heavy facial burn scars, and a greatly exaggerated evil grin. In the game, the opening sequence and the various endings were narrated entirely by him in first person giving the other characters little dialogue of their own. He also had the memorable line "I am Calypso, and I thank you for playing Twisted Metal." which he would ironically say at the end of each character's endings while giving the same trademark grin.

• In Twisted Metal: Black (which is set in an alternate universe to the other games in the series), his left eye is literally sunken into his head, and accurately depicts the sadism within. In this game, the narrative is reversed from World Tour. In Black's endings, Calypso no longer has any spoken dialogue of his own. The cutscenes are now narrated by the chosen playable character in first person.

• In Twisted Metal: Head On he is more similar to his World Tour appearance with similar dialogue. In this game he is only balding and keeps the sunken eye from Black. There is no narrative in Head On's endings, only dialogue between the different characters (including Calypso himself).

Sweet Tooth is a killer clown that drives an ice cream truck. He is a playable character in all Twisted Metal games, though often only after being unlocked through accomplishing certain objectives.

• In the original Twisted Metal he was portrayed by an uncredited actor in the still images of the game. He lacked his trademark flaming head, but kept the basic design and vehicle that would use for the next 3 installments. His story stated he was a mental institute escapee and serial killer who was looking for his long lost friend. In Twisted Metal 2 elements that would with time become the character's trademarks, such as his flaming head, were added.

• Sweet Tooth changed from being a secret car to the game's final boss in Twisted Metal 4. A story twist in which he overthrew the tournament organizer Calypso and took his powers to fulfill the winner's wish allowed him to accomplish this.

• In the alternative universe of Twisted Metal: Black, Sweet Tooth suffered a big make-over design-wise, giving him a more maniacal homicidal appearance. His personality also changed to a more dark-toned one, different from his insane clown killer personality of past games. His background was expanded upon, stating he was a wanted mass murderer that survived the electric chair, to later end at the Blackfield Asylum.

Sweet Tooth is also an unlockable character in Incognito's War of the Monsters game. Sweet Tooth is represented by a tall mech with the signature flaming clown head, and often breaks out in his usual laughter throughout the game.

Beginning with Twisted Metal III, various music artists and bands have been brought in for each game's soundtrack. One such person was singer Rob Zombie, who contributed songs to both Twisted Metal III and Twisted Metal 4, and is even a playable character in the latter. Music from the game disk can also be played on a CD player or in a computer.

Track listing of Twisted Metal III by use:

• Main Menu Screen: Rob Zombie - "Meet the Creeper"
• Hollywood: Rob Zombie - "Superbeast"
• Washington, D.C.: Pitchshifter - "Microwaved"
• Hangar 18: Pitchshifter - "W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G."
• North Pole: White Zombie - "Rob Zombie Christmas Theme (More Human Than Human)"
• London: Unknown - "Metallica London Theme (Fuel)"
• Tokyo: Pitchshifter - "Innit"
• Egypt: Gamma Ray- "Valley Of The Kings"
• Blimp: Rob Zombie - "Meet The Creeper"

Track listing of Twisted Metal 4 by use:

• Introduction Video: One Minute Silence - "South Central"
• Main Menu Screen: One Minute Silence - "A More Violent Approach (instrumental)"
• Construction Site: Rob Zombie - "Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Mix)"
• Neon City: Cirrus - "Time's Running Out"
• Road Rage: Cypress Hill - "Lightning Strikes"
• Sweet Tooth’s Bedroom: Ghoulspoon - "Alien Magnet"
• Amazonia 3000 B.C.: Skold - "Chaos"
• The Oil Rig: One Minute Silence - "And Some Ya Lose"
• Minion’s Maze: Rob Zombie - "Superbeast (Twisted Metal 4 Remix)"
• The Carnival: White Zombie - "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains"

Currently game developer David Jaffe is creating a look back at the entire Twisted Metal series.

On July 27, 2007, David Jaffe updated in his blog that they will release a Playstation 2 port of Twisted Metal: Head-On for the PSP. Scheduled to be released winter 2007/2008, the port will run at 60fps, and will feature 5-7 levels from the never released Twisted Metal Black II and a Twisted Metal documentary. It will also be the first work for independent company "Eat, Sleep, Play", which is owned by Scott Campbell and David Jaffe.

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Twisted Metal 2 can be seen in an episode of Friends, with Joey and Ross battling it out on the Paris level.
• Twisted Metal III can be seen in the (1999) movie Big Daddy as Julian is playing. Julian is playing as Sweet Tooth in the Washington Level before Sonny makes him turn it off. Curious though, the sound effects are not the real game's sound effects and are instead replaced with typical generic 'bleeps' and 'bloops'.
• Twisted Metal III can also be seen in the (2000) movie Bring It On. Torrance's brother, Justin, is playing while Torrance is trying to get ahold of her boyfriend. As Justin makes his snippy comments, Torrance takes out her frustration on Justin's PS1, ruining his game.
• Twisted Metal Small Brawl is the only game in the series to not have any cheat codes at all.
• Darkside was planned to be in Twisted Metal 2 as a unlockable boss.^{[citation needed]}

Twisted Metal is often compared to other vehicular combat games, such as:

• Vigilante 8, released in 1998, was a direct competitor to TM2 and TMIII
• Rogue Trip and Critical Depth are created by the same developers as TM and explore the same concept
• Carmageddon
• 187 Ride or Die
• Full Auto.

• TMalliance, a fan site devoted to the series.

v • d • e Twisted Metal video games
Twisted Metal · 2 · III · 4 · Black · Small Brawl · Head-On