Twisted Metal is a cult classic franchise that established itself as a unique genre unto its own. The game entries do not classify as a racing game, nor are they a shooter game. They are a meld of both. When Twisted Metal came out, it was a game that created an entire new category of video games that had never been seen before.
The Twisted Metal series was pretty dark across the board, with crazed drivers being manipulated by a deranged tournament leader and mascotted by a psychotic clown. For those who have never played the games, yes, that is real. The violence gives off a scary vibe without actually being horror. Somehow, it all worked and made the people who were lucky enough to know about this series fall in love with it. Something is simply exciting about launching homing missiles at a skeleton motorcycle driver or a hippy VW beetle driver, it seems.
The reality is that not every game in the franchise was a hit. In fact, the franchise as a whole has gone through quite a bit of upheaval, with multiple different studios taking a crack at entries, and many times, it did not work. Yet, the sum of its parts is a genre-bending classic series that was loved enough to earn a modern television series critically acclaimed enough to be recently renewed. The franchise was no doubt influential. Therefore, even with hits and misses, the impact is worth revisiting and ranking the full eight-game series, with rumors of a new entry on the horizon.
8. Twisted Metal: Small Brawl
This game was terrible on so many levels. The effort was there, but it simply did not add up to a cohesive game entry. Neither of the original brains behind Twisted Metal worked on it, and it was evident. This was Twisted Metal’s attempt to appeal to a young audience. But… why? When is a psychotic clown and deranged serial killer ever going to appeal to young kids? Or ever should? By making it so “cutesy” and “easy”, the mood and atmosphere of the series is gone, alienating the actual fanbase. It is a complete lose-lose situation and one of the biggest swings and misses of any gaming franchise. Simply embarrassing.
7. Twisted Metal 4
This Twisted Metal entry was a bit more enjoyable than critics would attest, but that is not saying a ton. The maps for the entry were incredibly boring, and the whole art style was bland. It was also upsetting to lose all the drivers that had been made famous in the previous games, such as Thumper, only to replace them with mediocrity. The franchise, in part, runs on a nostalgia factor with themes across the franchise, so taking that away made it just another game. It was a fine game, but not much to write home about, and it cost the series to lose a lot of its most devoted followers for many years.
6. Twisted Metal (1995)
Fans of the Twisted Metal series may be upset at this placement. This entry is the original and sets the stage for the entire franchise. This was the beginning that established the genre. The unfortunate problem, and why it is ranked low, is that it does not hold up over time. The graphics and art are, quite frankly, atrocious, and the controls are pretty darn hard to use as well. The weapons are mediocre, and there is not an extensive character choice. The pluses are that it created the framework for the fantastic Twisted Metal 2, and the end battle in Los Angeles is one of the best in the series. Nevertheless, there are simply better entries today.
5. Twisted Metal Head On
The Head On entry of Twisted Metal was released for PSP originally, and then upgraded for PlayStation 2 in only the North American market, as an “extra twisted edition”. The port made improvements on the original and added deeper storylines and map opportunities. The original version on its own was solid as well. Released as a direct sequel to Twisted Metal 2, the combat was strong here, and the dark humor in the storylines provides niche enjoyment. The art style was different, although the package did not quite live up to its predecessor. It was still a solid game that deserves praise for what it was able to accomplish, even on a handheld.
4. Twisted Metal (2012)
This entry came as a reboot of the Twisted Metal series after a seven-year gap, released for Playstation 3. The game quite literally killed not just the series but the entire development company, who moved to mobile only after the game’s release and eventually folded, with the main developer leaving the gaming industry altogether. Despite the impact, the game was good. It flopped commercially, but that doesn’t take away from the positives.
The storylines for the drivers are fantastic- some of the best in the series. World development is very solid. The new online feature was a fantastic addition to the game, one that could potentially carry a new entry in today’s gaming landscape. The downsides, though, were that they added too many racing elements to the game that were not necessary, and the boss fights were tedious. The worst, though, was that players only had the option of three drivers. Three? Really? So, the framework was there for a fantastic game, but the execution was not where it needed to be.
3. Twisted Metal 2
At first, this entry to the Twisted Metal franchise felt a bit basic. In today’s graphic landscape, it may be hard for players to pick up. The developers did nail it with this game, though. The stage layouts may well be the best in the whole series, not to mention that the drivable characters were also iconic and extensive. They did a great job developing Calypso, the main antagonist, here as well, providing the groundwork for the rest of the franchise.
What held it back from being at the top was the difficulty of the levels and the clunkiness of controlling the cars. Enemy cars mainly only attacked the player’s character, which made players feel heavily outnumbered. While the challenge is enjoyable for some, the mechanics can be a bit outdated for the series. In the end, though, there is no way fans play this game without shouting its praises. It took a basic idea and mastered it.
2. Twisted Metal 3
Possibly the most controversial ranking on the list, Twisted Metal 3 is highly polarizing. Many grew up playing this entry non-stop and loved every moment of it. Nostalgia is powerful. The mechanics in the game felt smoother than the previous entries, and having enemy cars fighting each other felt like it better matched the essence of a true deathmatch. While it made the difficulty level lower than other entries, it can allow players to enjoy the game for what it is.
The storyline was not for everyone. The switch in this game went from dark elements to comedic elements. There are really no misses on the characters and drivers, some of which deserve another appearance in the series. In the end, this is the game that made many fall in love with the series, and it can hold up even today. 989 studios taking over development for the series was a horror for some, but for this specific entry, it was exactly what the doctor ordered.
1. Twisted Metal Black
The top entry in the Twisted Metal franchise also happens to be the darkest in the catalog by far. Was it probably too twisted and dark for kids to play? Maybe, and yet many kids really fell in love with the entire franchise with this game. As time has gone on, it has become clear how great this entry really was. Not only is it a near consensus as the best entry, but it continues to hold up today and deserves a port to a modern console.
First off, the storyline was brilliant. The entire “escaped from a mental institution” theme throughout the game was just perfectly executed, and it makes everything in the series make sense. This game was the darkest of the entire collection, and yet drew you in possibly like none other. That is why its praise is sung from the rooftops by nearly all Twisted Metal fans. Add in a strong level design, a fantastic cast of playable characters, and mechanics that challenge but feel smooth and well executed, and there is no doubt that the pinnacle of the series was found in this entry.
Final Thoughts
The Twisted Metal franchise appeals to a niche group of players. It is never going to be a top-grossing series, as the games just are not able to hit mass appeal with the dark, twisted themes. However, those who have enjoyed the series have become passionate and loyal. Not every entry was good, but the series tried something no one else had done previously. That is a legacy, and one that hopefully spawns a well-done reboot in the near future.
