Twisted Metal: Black

"Sometimes the mind bends so much...it snaps in two.."

Twisted Metal. The name of a game series that brought car combat to life with a heavy hitting dose of surrealism and plenty of hard violence to boot. Giving you control of several characters over four other games, Twisted Metal Black returns with a new look...darker, meaner and definitely violent and somewhat disturbing. In huge interactive backgrounds, decent music and a wide variety of multi-player options, TMB is the best of the best.

-Visuals 10/10-

Offering plenty of realistic explosions, environmental effects, and detailed battle-grounds, TMB offers the best visuals found in a car-battle game. With plenty of action on screen, and explosions going off all around, you'll have just enough time to blink before the next wave of enemies come firing at you. Each stage is dark and shadowy..sometimes so much so that you can't quite see what's ahead of you. Outside of that, there isn't anything much that you have to complain about, as the enemy cars and item pick-up's are well marked for you to see. Add this in with the several different camera angles to choose from that range from the up close and personal to the famed heli-copter view and you're all set.

-Audio 10/10-

The audio here is dark and moody, which matches the game one hundred percent. Every stage has a music track that fits, but is set to the background so it doesn't overwhelm the screams and the action going on during the in game fire-fight. The sound effects of the game are amazingly done, with each and every bullet, missile shot and scream coming across with crystal clarity. The music tracks loop, but with the action going on during the game, you'll hardly notice it.

-Control 10/10-

Bringing back the tried and true system of Twisted Metal control, with the control set-up being quick and easy to learn and use. Veteran's will find that the control is set the way that the first Twisted Metal had it, save for the fact that the turbo is now controlled by the right analog button. Novice's and experts alike should have no problem finding their way around the stage on a heavy duty strafing run.

-Game Play 10/10-

Twisted Metal has always been about killing off your competition using vehicles that range from the totally cool to the outrageous. In this version, you're left with some pretty intense vehicles that match the driver within them. Ranging from a hearse to a huge dump-truck, every car has a special weapon that fits the bill, and each driver has a sick and twisted story to tell.

The story-line here is what will catch the eye of everyone, but probably the first time through with each character only. Each driver has a dark and twisted past that leads up to the events of the tournament itself. Through the game, you'll find out why each driver did, and is doing, just what they are in competing. Mind you, the plot twists, and just the way that things go down is what makes this Twisted Metal darker than the rest.

The game play is full of action, usually pitting you against 7 to 8 opponents in either a large battlefield, or in a smaller one depending on which stage you choose as your next advance. The battle grounds themselves have several things for you to shoot, or to blow up...and in some cases, just to run through with your vehicle. Consider it complete and total anarchy and destruction of everything around you.

Secrets abound, other vehicles must be found, and other multi player levels must be unlocked. The multi player option ranges from a two player death match, to a four player round robin in which you go against three friends with a multi-tap, and try to blow each other out of the water. This feature is especially fun with some friends, and the competition can become fierce and furious.

-Overall 10/10-

One of the best games on the PS2, Twisted Metal Black bring to life all of the elements that the game is supposed to represent. With drivers that have a shaded and disturbing past, to battle grounds that are not only expansive, but mostly interactive, you'll find several aspects that were missing from the first four games, all rolled up and complete in this one. A must own for any TM fan or PS2 owner for that matter, this is a game that could only be topped by a sequel..and maybe then, it still couldn't be surpassed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/03/01, Updated 07/03/01