Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal Twisted Metal is a high-octane action racing game where unique vehicles battle to destroy all opponents. Outsmart Calypso’s mysterious powers, use missiles and bullets, and team up in multiplayer to claim victory.

Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal is a high-energy action racing game where you take control of different vehicles in the Twisted Metal Championship. Each car comes with its own distinct tricks and capabilities, so you’ll need to drive smart—then turn that speed into chaos. Use your arsenal to fire bullets and even missiles to wipe out rival cars and claim the top spot.

But you’re not only fighting other drivers. The tournament’s host, Calypso, wields strange powers that can twist a winner’s wishes in unexpected ways. Stay alert, because one careless moment can lead to a brutal outcome.

The game also offers a multiplayer mode, letting you invite friends to form teams and battle players worldwide. Coordination and teamwork can be the difference between victory and getting eliminated.

Gameplay Overview

Even though each entry has its own storyline, they all center on the recurring event known as “Twisted Metal”: an annual vehicular combat tournament.

• In most games, the host is a man named Calypso.



• In the fourth installment, the long-time contestant Sweet Tooth briefly takes over.
• The core objective is straightforward: destroy every opponent. Beyond the other contestants, you may also have to deal with hostile obstacles and vehicles that seem built by the host for your failure.



• After winning, you’re brought before the tournament host, who grants you one wish.



• These games often follow a “be careful what you wish for” idea—because hosts can manipulate the meaning of the wish, leading to endings that are often far from happy.
• The series is known for mixing in black humor along with the mayhem.

Useful Tips

TM B is, in the opinion of many players, the easiest entry point. TMPS3 is often seen as the best and most modern take on the core gameplay, though it’s also more complex due to additional control options. If you’re starting out, TMB is frequently recommended as the best first choice.

Tips for TMB

• Learn the special shield + rear attack combo. Many players don’t rely heavily on freeze attacks in this game due to low hit reliability, especially on uneven or non-flat terrain. Still, mastering the shield and rear-fire tactics is essential.
• Keep moving. If you’re fighting the computer, don’t camp in one spot. Stay in motion and constantly chase opportunities for weapons. You can even “jab” opponents with missiles and then drive away. Since the maps tend to start crowded with enemies, wear them down gradually while collecting gear—then finish a weakened opponent when they’re below half health and you have plenty of weapons.
• Know the maps. Weapon and health pickup locations matter a lot. Learning map layouts will help in basically any Twisted Metal game.
• Plan around weapon carryover. Weapons carry into the next level. If you’re down to a single opponent, don’t rush them—wait until you’re fully stocked so your loadout transfers forward.
• Understand PC aggression. Versus the computer, staying still is dangerous. If you let it turn a one-on-one into a stationary target situation, you’ll likely get overwhelmed. Also, once you run out of weapons, things usually go downhill fast.

Player Impressions: Head-On Extra Twisted Edition

Twisted Metal: Head-On Extra Twisted Edition (and yes, that title is a mouthful) is a PSP port that arrived on PS2 with improved visuals and a large amount of extra content. It keeps the same overall story structure: a lineup of drivers—each equipped with vehicles built for destruction—gets pulled into repeated battles across arenas after Calypso invites them to a winner-take-all tournament.

Destroy the competition to get your greatest wish—at least in theory. When it comes to Calypso, though, granting wishes rarely means what you expect, and unintended consequences are the rule rather than the exception. Beyond the story, the game delivers the series’ signature action: explosive, destructible, and high-speed arenas packed with nonstop fun.

The original PSP version was popular and included many modes and features fans associate with the series. The Extra Twisted Edition keeps most of that content, and adds a documentary about the game’s creation. It also includes additional levels pulled from the unreleased sequel, Twisted Metal: Black 2—with standout entries like Carnival of Darkness, where you drive up, down, and around roller-coaster-style routes while trying to take apart opponents.

One downside of the port is that its online play options are more limited than what the PSP version originally offered.

Overall, the premise is where the game really shines: it’s an arena-style battle where armed cars fight to eliminate everyone else, delivering the kind of chaos the series is best known for.