Twisted Metal

Each game in the series revolves around demolitions derbies where competitors use weapons including ballistic projectiles, machine guns, and explosives. Players choose a vehicle (each with a corresponding character) and an arena—or a series of arenas in the story mode—to engage in battle with opposing drivers. The last driver alive is the winner.

The series's plot revolves around the eponymous Twisted Metal tournament, a yearly contest made up of a series of derbies. In almost all of the games, the host is a man called "Calypso"; in the series' fourth installment, perennial contestant Sweet Tooth briefly takes over. The winner of the contest is granted one wish. Typically, this wish has unexpected consequences for the winner, similar to traditional stories where characters are punished for greedy wishes.

{{VG timeline

| subtitle = Main releases in bold

| 1995 = Twisted Metal (1995)

| 1996 = Twisted Metal 2

| 1998 = Twisted Metal III

| 1999 = Twisted Metal 4

| 2001a = Twisted Metal: Black

| 2001b = Twisted Metal: Small Brawl

| 2003 = Twisted Metal: Black Online

| 2005 = Twisted Metal: Head-On

| 2008 = Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition

| 2012 = Twisted Metal (2012)

}}

Image:Twisted Metal 2- World Tour screenshot.jpg

{{Main|Twisted Metal (1995 video game)|Twisted Metal 2}}The first two Twisted Metal games were developed by SingleTrac.

Windows versions of Twisted Metal and Twisted Metal 2 exist. Twisted Metal 2 on PC is built on an earlier version of the game (minor details of some levels disappeared) but it doesn't require a 3D accelerator video card and played well on computers with lower processing capabilities. It also features multiplayer over a modem line or Internet.

{{Main|Twisted Metal III|Twisted Metal 4}}

Both games were developed and published by 989 Studios due to SingleTrac's dispute with Sony and sale to GT Interactive rendered them unable to develop more Twisted Metal games. David Jaffe, in speaking about these two entries in the series, was reported to have said, "....[in and of themselves] they're good games, they're just not good Twisted Metal games".

{{Main|Twisted Metal: Black}}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 Incog Inc. Entertainment, and signed with Sony to develop another installment of the series on the PlayStation 2, Twisted Metal: Black. It serves as a reboot for the series, with returning characters having drastically changed appearances alongside newcomers.

{{Main|Twisted Metal: Head-On}}Despite what was essentially a complete relaunch and rebranding of the franchise with Twisted Metal: Black, Incognito decided to return to the series' roots and create a game that felt more like a true follow-up to the original Twisted Metal series, bringing back the bright colors and cartoony characters of Twisted Metal 1 and 2. Available on the PSP in time for its North American launch and utilizing the PSP's built-in online capabilities, it also marked the first time a Twisted Metal game had full online play available from the start.

{{Main|Twisted Metal: Head-On}}In February 2008, Eat Sleep Play, a new development studio formed by David Jaffe and Scott Campbell, released Twisted Metal: Head-On for the PlayStation 2. While primarily a direct port of the PSP game "Twisted Metal: Head-On", it does feature a number of extra features, most notably four complete and playable levels from the unreleased/incomplete Twisted Metal: Black sequel, called Twisted Metal: Harbor City. Other bonus content includes: a code to download the soundtrack (a timed offer which has since expired); a half-hour documentary on the series with some of the original developers called "Dark Past"; a rough playable portion of an unfinished and unreleased third person action game starring Sweet Tooth (controllable for the first time ever on-foot and outside of a vehicle); and the never before seen original live-action ending videos of all the characters from the first Twisted Metal, directed by Jaffe.

{{Main|Twisted Metal (2012 video game)}}Twisted Metal (2012) is the most recent game in the Twisted Metal series. It features multiple drivers and tracks. It also features multiplayer gameplay and other game modes. The game consists of three story arcs that focus on Sweet Tooth, Mr. Grimm and Dollface.

Image:Twisted Metal screenshot.jpg

{{Main|Twisted Metal: Small Brawl}}Instead of delivering a PlayStation 2 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.

Platform: PlayStation 2

A game featuring only the multiplayer portion of Twisted Metal: Black, but playable online. A free copy could originally be obtained by mailing in a card that came packaged with the PlayStation 2 online network adapter. After Sony stopped offering the disc, it was later included as a bonus disc in subsequent reissues of the Greatest Hits version of Twisted Metal: Black. The official servers to the game have since been shut down, but unofficial fan-hosted servers are available to join as of 2023.

File:Twisted Metal Harbor City Development Screenshot.jpg

A sequel to the PlayStation 2 game Twisted Metal: Black, titled Twisted Metal: Harbor City,{{cite web |url=http://www.unseen64.net/2009/01/19/twisted-metal-black-2-harbor-city-ps2-cancelled/ |title=Twisted Metal Black 2: Harbor City [PS2 – Cancelled] |author=monokoma |date=January 19, 2009 |publisher=Unseen 64 |access-date=March 9, 2010}} was in development but was cancelled before it was announced when the series co-creators left the development team.{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/808/808897p1.html |title=Jaffe Leaves Sony to Eat, Sleep, and Play |author=Jeremy Dunham |date=July 27, 2007 |publisher=IGN |access-date=January 19, 2010}} At the time of cancellation four levels had been completed; these levels were included in Twisted Metal Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition as part of Twisted Metal: Lost.

A Twisted Metal game set in a post-apocalyptic environment, which was originally in development in 2008 but was scrapped.{{cite web |url=http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/07/18/twisted-metal-almost-brought-the-world-to-ruin/ |title=Twisted Metal Almost Brought the World to Ruin |author=Jonathan Leack |date=July 18, 2010 |publisher=PlayStation LifeStyle |access-date=July 22, 2010}} Artwork of the cancelled game was released by David Jaffe at San Diego Comic-Con; it showcased concept arts of locations such as a destroyed Mount Rushmore as well as a giant crater. Eat Sleep Play team was originally rather keen on the idea, though it was hinted by Jaffe that the idea was rejected by Sony Computer Entertainment, speculated to be because of the release of MotorStorm: Apocalypse, a racing game which also featured a post-apocalyptic environment.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5595109/see-two-dead-twisted-metal-games-with-wildly-different-concepts/gallery/ |title=See Two Dead Twisted Metal Games With Wildly Different Concepts |author=Michael McWhertor |date=July 23, 2010 |publisher=Kotaku |access-date=July 22, 2010}}

Apart from Twisted Metal: Apocalypse, another Twisted Metal game was in development for the PlayStation 3 which utilized street culture and hip-hop influence. The game was titled Twisted Metal: Revolution, but it was cancelled; it would have featured characters with a more realistic look such as a Sweet Tooth that looked more of a smooth criminal rather than a psychopathic clown. Other characters included Yakuza, FBI agents and street gang members. David Jaffe compared the game to Rockstar's Midnight Club series when describing the look and feel of the game. In addition, Jaffe said that it was extremely difficult to portray the environments that they had created in their concept art within the game as it resulted in an extremely bland environment.

Unnamed live-service Twisted Metal game cancelled early on in its development. It was originally supposed to be made by the UK-based studio Luden Games, but was later handed to Firesprite. Not much is known about it and the game was never greenlit, but it was to be released on the PS5. The reason for the cancellation was the lay off 900 employees worldwide.

A one-shot Twisted Metal 2 comic book was published by DC Comics in 1996, written by Jamie Delano,{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamiedelano.co.uk/?page_id=13|title=Jamie Delano Bibliography|access-date=July 15, 2020}} pencilled by Phil Hester and inked by Peter Gross. The comic was given out as a prize in a promotional contest held in the Tips & Tricks magazine.

In February 2012, Sony Pictures Entertainment was bringing Twisted Metal to theaters by hiring Brian Taylor to write and direct the film.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/02/ghost-riders-brian-taylor-in-7-figure-sony-deal-to-writedirect-twisted-metal-movie-231020/|title=Sony Deal To Write/Direct 'Twisted Metal' Movie|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 14, 2012|access-date=February 14, 2012}} Five years later in September, Brian Taylor confirmed that Sony had passed on the Twisted Metal film, feeling the series fanbase did not warrant the higher budget it would have cost to realize it.{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/twisted-metal-movie-update-brian-taylor/#nicolas-cage-sweet-tooth|title=Brian Taylor Explains Why 'Twisted Metal' Fell Apart; Says He Wanted Nic Cage for Sweet Tooth|publisher=Collider.com|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 22, 2017}}

Twisted Metal was the inspiration for Slaughter Race, a fictional video game featured in the Disney animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).{{cite web|url=https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/ralph-breaks-the-internet-review-649403|title=Ralph Breaks The Internet is our generation's Who Framed Roger Rabbit|website=JOE.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/go/61999|title=Ralph Breaks The Internet: Easter eggs and reference guide|website=Den of Geek}}

{{Main|Twisted Metal (TV series)}}

In March 2019, Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra spoke about developing a television adaptation of the Twisted Metal franchise, during a presentation for investors at a special event. According to Vinciquerra, his division will be working closely with his acquaintances at the PlayStation division through a brand new production team created solely with the purpose of helping Sony produce filming television projects based on their gaming IPs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/twisted-metal-tv-show-on-the-way-from-playstation-productions/|title=Twisted Metal TV show on the way from PlayStation Productions|magazine=Games Radar|date=May 22, 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.irwebmeeting.com/sony/fast/20190521/k7a24dmc/irday2019_02_en/04/index.html|title=Sony IR Day 2019 Pictures|website=IR Web Meeting}} In February 2021, a Twisted Metal TV series was moving forward, with Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick helping to develop the series, with Michael Jonathan Smith writing the series and executive producing the series alongside Will Arnett, Reese, Wernick, Marc Forman, Peter Principato, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Herman Hulst.{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=February 22, 2021|title='Twisted Metal' Series From 'Deadpool' Writers in the Works at Sony Pictures TV, PlayStation Productions|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/twisted-metal-tv-series-deadpool-writers-1234911825/|access-date=February 22, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}} Later in September, Anthony Mackie was announced in the role of John Doe,{{cite web|title=Anthony Mackie To Star As John Doe In Live-Action 'Twisted Metal' Series From Sony TV And PlayStation Productions|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/anthony-mackie-john-doe-sony-pictures-television-playstation-productions-twisted-metal-series-1234833738/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=September 15, 2021|access-date=September 15, 2021}} and later officially confirmed to be starring and executive producing the series, which had been given a series order at Peacock.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=February 28, 2022 |title='Twisted Metal': Peacock Lands Live-Action Video Game Adaptation Starring Anthony Mackie With Series Order |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/twisted-metal-peacock-live-action-comedy-series-video-game-anthony-mackie-1234960605/ |access-date=February 28, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}} In May 2022, Stephanie Beatriz, Thomas Haden Church and Neve Campbell joined the cast.{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |title=Stephanie Beatriz Joins Anthony Mackie in Peacock's 'Twisted Metal' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephanie-beatriz-anthony-mackie-peacock-twisted-metal-1235146293/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 13, 2022}}{{cite web |url= https://bleedingcool.com/tv/twisted-metal-thomas-hayden-church-joins-peacock-series-adaptation/ |title='Twisted Metal': Thomas Haden Church Joins Peacock's Live-Action Video Game Adaptation|website=Bleeding Cool |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/twisted-metal-neve-campbell-cast-peacock-series-1235028800/ |title='Twisted Metal': Neve Campbell Cast In Peacock's Live-Action Video Game Adaptation|website=Deadline Hollywood |date=20 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022}} Will Arnett was hired to voice Sweet Tooth in June, with Samoa Joe playing the dual role.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/twisted-metal-will-arnett-voice-sweet-tooth-peacock-series-1235036745/ |title='Twisted Metal': Will Arnett To Voice Sweet Tooth In Peacock Series |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=1 June 2022 |access-date=1 June 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/twisted-metal-aew-joe-seanoa-1235037707/ |title='Twisted Metal': AEW's Joe Seanoa To Play Dual Role Of 'Sweet Tooth' Voiced By Will Arnett; 3 More To Recur |first=Rosy |last=Cordero |date=2 June 2022 |access-date=2 June 2022}} Mike Mitchell plays Stu, Mike's best friend, played by Tahj Vaughans. Lou Beatty Jr. plays a character named Tommy. The 10-episode series was released on Peacock on July 27, 2023.

• Critical Depth
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