Underrated and Underappreciated | Twisted Metal

---

When it comes to vehicular combat there's only one king, Twisted Metal, you can shove Carmageddon up your exhaust pipe. Despite what you might think, it’s a genre that includes a wide range of titles and even a diverse mixture of styles. Micro Machines plays very differently to Destruction Derby, with Mario Kart and its ilk kind of fitting somewhere in the middle. The obvious distinction being that nobody had their shoes filled with water and popped in freezer for a few hours after beating me at Micro Machines or Destruction Derby.

---

 by
 Chris
​ Brand

---

@SuperCrisco

---

Games that fall under the banner of vehicular combat don't necessarily need a storyline; you're racing and smashing because it's fun and you want to win. Twisted Metal, however, has nary a thing to do with racing. Nothing at all. And it's made all the better for actually having a storyline, even if it is slightly cheesy. You could just play through without giving thought to it, but there's all the more enjoyment to be dredged by paying attention to each character's personal bio and ending.

Twisted Metal is a tournament that’s held every year, much to the chagrin of the people who live in the area and would like to continue doing so. The man behind it, Calypso, promises the winner anything he or she desires. Their prize needn't be anything physical, or indeed anything plausible, Calypso has powers beyond human understanding.

Each of the playable characters - complete with their own unique vehicles - have entered the tournament for different reasons. Playing through the campaign with any given one will unlock their unique ending, in which they claim their prize from Calypso. Calypso, however, is a colossal dick that only gets more sadistic with every sequel. He frequently twists the words and corrupts the wishes of the winner. Outlaw, for example, is a hard working cop who’s had enough of the violent competition and the chaos it brings, so he wishes to live in a world free from Calypso and his devastating tournament. In his ending, that wish is granted, though not in the way you might think. As he drives out of the garage he finds himself floating above the Earth, in a world entirely unaffected by Calypso's games. See? Dick.

Even without knowing the ins and outs of each character's story arc, there's still a full suite of mayhem to enjoy.

Fast, frenzied and out of control are some of the things that have been said about my driving. When it comes to Twisted Metal, these qualities are boons! Remember, it's not a racing game; no, this is a battle arena. Making unexpected, twitchy, last second turns can help throw off a chasing opponent, or position you to launch your special weapon all up in their unsuspecting grill. When you're playing chicken with a maniac in a napalm-spewing ice cream truck, it may be comforting to think that they at least have a plan. 

 I don't. I have no idea what I'm going to do until it's already happened, and I doubt I'm the only one.

Insanity doesn't take consequences into account, though. Insanity just does things and makes a round of shoe-pops if it all goes to hell.

Many games reward unpredictable behaviour, like landing a clean combo if you catch your opponent off guard in a fighting game. Shooting straight down the middle in a FIFA penalty shoot-out means you’ll beat me every single time. It may be infuriating, but whatever, you win. Enjoy your frozen shoes.

Twisted Metal rewards insanity. Charging at great speed into a monster truck may not seem like the best course of action, regardless of your chosen vehicle, but a lot of the time you'll do enough damage to win. Of course, sometimes you'll end up scattered around the level in many flaming pieces. Insanity doesn't take consequences into account, though. Insanity just does things and makes a round of shoe-pops if it all goes to hell.

You can totally turn your brain off and switch to autopilot for this. It doesn't matter how bad you are at driving games, you still have a chance to win by just pressing all the buttons in a random order. You can forget you're even driving a car, it's just a mechanical thing that moves really fast and shoots death.

If you've not played Twisted Metal (or any of its sequels) you owe it to yourself to have a go. You could play with a friend and take on the role of Calypso himself, telling them that they'll win a very cool prize if they can beat you. Pro tip: if the water keeps draining out, put the shoes on a baking tray first.

---

---

If you know a game that you feel is underappreciated, share it with us in the forums or comment below.

Make sure to check out Sam's choice - Earth Defence Force, and Emily's - Beyond Eyes.