Can I learn to like Twisted Metal (1995)?
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- Can I learn to enjoy playing this 21 year old video game?
Twisted Metal for the PS1 released in 1995 and wasn’t ever meant to be progenitor of an entire genre of video games, just a fun diversion born out of wishing bumper-to-bumper traffic could be blown away at the press of a button. Developed side-by-side with the game Warhawk, Twisted Metal was seen as the less marketable product. Despite its modest expectations, it spawned not only an entire franchise, but a long list of other franchises inspired by its ideas. Meanwhile, Warhawk fell into obscurity almost immediately.
Although my favorite game in the series is Black for the masterfully crafted, beautifully dark world it presents, there is still an endless number of things to appreciate about the other games in the series, the original certainly being no exception.
Where Black features a distinctly bleak and oppressing direction for its art design and Twisted Metal 2 takes on a more colorful and cartoony philosophy, the first Twisted Metal had a realistic look and feel. Make no mistake, this game is far from impressive graphically, even for its time, but the style aims to immerse the player in a world meant to look like their own. Twisted Metal wants you to feel like your competing in the fight of your life in your own backyard and succeeds in doing that better than any other game in the series.
The story of Twisted Metal follows the tournament of the same name, taking place on Christmas Eve every year. Making Twisted Metal as much a part of Christmas as Die Hard or The Scrooge’s dumb floppy night hat. Specifically, TM1 has players participating in the 10th annual contest during the futuristic year of 2005. Held by the enigmatic and mysterious figure, Calypso, the Twisted Metal tournament is a vehicular battle to the bitter end where only the last driver remaining can claim victory and receive their prize of any wish they desire granted. There are no limits to the wishes, not size, nor value, or even reality. However, it’s not uncommon for the winner to find themselves on the business end of an ironic twist.
Twisted Metal has players choosing their drivers and vehicle from a cast of characters ranging from grumpy taxi drivers, to government agents, to the literal Grim Reaper. Many of the characters have since become icons for the series. Of course, Sweet Tooth is the star now, but at the time TM1 came out, he was just a psychotic circus clown who escaped from the insane asylum and is desperately trying to find his closest friend and nearest ally, Crazy Harold the Wacky Paper Bag. Clearly a character destined to be the face of a franchise.
Each of the drivers at some point in the 6 months leading up to that year’s tournament received a message through the United Internet Service. They saw the name of the sender “CALYPSO” and their eyes glazed over with visions of their greatest fantasies and desire fulfilled at the snap of a finger. The message flashing on their screens read simply: WILL YOU DRIVE?
The drivers are being invited, to do battle in arenas all across Los Angeles. Like modern day gladiators they pilot their chariots of steel through warehouses, downtown streets, suburban neighborhoods, even the rooftops of skyscrapers. The contest demands the absolute best from its drivers at every turn, the game demands the same from its players. Unlike the games that followed, the first Twisted Metal is unforgiving in its gameplay. You can’t move in place, bumping into walls causes you to lose health, and every vehicles handles like a runaway hotdog cart. Even with all that, it’s still a blast to play, pun intended.
Not much is known about Calypso, his story wasn’t fleshed out until later. He runs the contest and has some supernatural powers the extent of which is not fully understood.
While the scope of the game is somewhat limited, taking place entirely in Los Angeles with only 6 levels and 12 drivers to choose from, it does lay down a wonderful foundation that the rest of the franchise is able to build on. Still rough around its edges and in need of dramatic polishing, the game manages to nail the tone and vibe that makes Twisted Metal special anyway.
I just finished watching your video while I was having breakfast. You have such a relaxing voice, man
And yes, just like any other game you have to practise, in order to handle better your vehicle, make good use of your weapons, and memorize item locations
That really means a lot! Thank you! 😅 I can tell that Twisted Metal 1 is a game that only gets better the more time you put into getting good at it, so I’ll have to keep coming back to it and practicing for sure!
Very nice. I love TM1. Playing Cyburbia is the most fun I have in the series. And yeah like how grounded and serious it is. Not too dark or too silly.
Thanks! It’s weird that the first game is the most “realistic” in terms of tone and then every other game is either over the top cartoony or messed up and dark
@@dessadoo Maybe some people thought it was boring. I certainly prefer it over 2012 or black. Call me boring bit I prefer to help a cop end TM or a ghost to be alive again to see their family over 2012&Black's psychos.
That’s a great perspective to have on the series! Even though I prefer the darker, more developed stories of Black, it can get a little grating after awhile of just constant horror and dark themes.
@@dessadoo Never was a huge fan of Sweet Tooth and probably his popularity led to the darker tones due to his serial killer background. It also became kind of predictable when Calypso started twisting wishes. Prefer the OG Calypso over the other ones.
I LOVE the roster in this one. Yes, TM2 has my fav characters like Grasshopper, Twister and Axel, but I really miss Pit Viper and Crimson Fury... and missing taxi and truck isn't good even if drivers are boring... We can actually recreate the Lambo with lasers in Twisted Metal 4, of all games. Another reason I plated TM4 so much as a kid.
I’m glad you know where the secret healths are. I use them in my deathless playthroughs. I actually find Hammerhead tonight to use in this game, all the big vehicles I don’t like using in this game. They are too slow and their heath doesn’t make up for it.
I actually didn’t end up finding any of the secret health pickups 😭 I know to blow up the cars but I couldn’t get the pickups lol
@@dessadoo Well one is in a car, one is in a tunnel and one is at a church😉.
Ooooohhh good to know! Thanks! 😅
The answer to your question is definitely YESSSSS! The first time I played TM1 was back in 2015. At that time I was completely hooked with Carmageddon 1. Also PS1 games like Destruction Derby and Demolition Racer were my "solid parameters" of what made vehicular-combat games fun.When I did my very first playthrough I didn't got hooked neither was enjoyable. I remember choosing Sweet Tooth simply for the sake that he is "the popular character" (not a rational choice XD) Several months later I got my hands in TM2, and got a bit more interested but then for some reason I returned to TM1 and started to master it, thanks to Roadkill, in 1st place, and then to Mr Grimm, in 2nd place. Since I created this YT channel, three years ago you can imagine by my username and PFP that I'm a passionate fan of Classic DOOM (and other classic FPS games of that time), but in the last few months I returned once again to TM, first with the 2nd game, and now with the 1st game, which I dare to say that in this very moment of my life has become MY FAVOURITE GAME
THis is like "learning" to like beautiful naked women or gourmet Pizza. What the fuck is there to LEARN?
4:05 You can collect Rear Missiles, which are not energy attacks in this game.
Oh, yes you will. This started a franchise.
And I actually like the text endings.
And something I have to say: What's in that 'Demos' thing? Warhawk demo or what?
They were made by the same people, so, I think there is a Warhawk 95 demo.
I think it’s just watching the CPUs play the game for like kiosks at the store or something, but I’d have to look into it
But the cheesy lost vids r fun to watch tho... Strange it tastes like Ahhhhhhh!!!!
The text endings are way better than the Videos I never really thought they were a cop-out. The videos came out pretty bad anyway
Homing missiles are overpowered in this game. With using darkside, due to his high armor, I'll just ram into everything that has wheels. While of course using the special.
The ramming did work well with Darkside but that special is really underwhelming 😅
@@dessadoo I agree fully. 😂
I noticed that too, they nerfed them after this...
@@dessadoo I think that was the point, otherwise DS would be too powerful...
I love TM 1995. Darkside and Mr Grimm are the best characters. And TM Small Brawl my fav. Of the PS1 tm games.
I still have to play Small Brawl, but I hear it is a very strong game in the series.
@@dessadoo Small Brawl is a pretty solid title. Maybe not the best in the series but it's pretty good.
@@dr.pepperphdindeliciousnes1396 Dave Goodrich of V8 helmed that game & Black: Online.
@@wallaceshawn-zk8iw Really? I didn't know that. That's cool. I know Mike Giam had a big role in SB and he did a great job with TM1 and Black. I wish Mike and Scott were working on the new TM tbh.
@@dr.pepperphdindeliciousnes1396 Me too, not really interested in the new game w out them, but I will probably check out a vid of it...
Twisted Metal black is basically a recreation of twisted Metal One with a darker twist pretty much the only characters from twisted Metal 2 in black or axel and Shadow
I thought about that recently. Like the maps line up REALLY close and there are a handful of characters who only really appear as playable in TM1 and Black like Darkside and Yellow Jacket. Black is much cooler when looked a from that perspective
That would explain why i like Twisted Metal 1 more than the sequel LOL
I love how Darkside’s ending sets up TM2 because wasn’t he supposed to be in that game?
Also Yellow Jacket and Road Kill both had set-ups and YJ was absent while Road Kill was made into a different character
Play as sweet tooth when you play through tm2 👍🏽
Thanks for the tip!
Some reviewers actually preferred this game over the sequels.
Even David Jaffe himself prefers TM1 over most of the other games 😂
@@dessadoo Actually he liked TM 2 the best, especially the gameplay.
@@dessadoo Although nowadays I think he likes PS3 the best. He said it was the closest to his original vision, like MGS V for Kojima.
You seem to be overlooking the cockpit camera view which can be accessed the same way you zoom in and zoom out the camera. You can view the vehicle driver's hands steering the wheel as well as other debris around the cockpit, so it's pretty neat.
The cockpit view was a cool idea, but it’s nauseating to use imo
@Drew Dessadoo Just wanted to make sure you were aware of the existence of that feature. Not to mention that since you failed to mention Twisted Metal: Small Brawl as being another game that includes Crimson Fury and Darkside, it is obvious that maybe you've never heard of that game before!
Thanks for pointing that out!
@Drew Dessadoo Also, I take back what I said about you not knowing Small Brawl since I recently came across one of your shorts that proves you're awareness of the game's existence!
Crimson furry was in head on and mayby something else
2013 like yellow jacked and mayby 3 or 4...I don't know about them
Also reasons why failure was Expanded was because tm was tested by street fighter Players sayi g it should be mortal kombat on wheels:)
U shouldn’t attacked the boyfriend 🥺
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