Why Does Everyone LOVE Twisted Metal 2?
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- Today Nick sets out to ask the age old question; Why Does Everyone Love Twisted Metal 2?
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Nick, you don't have to "go out of your way" to find the level codes on the internet, the game gives it right to you on the loading screen AND the pause menu. All you have to do is pause and write it down somewhere, and when you die, you can pick up from that level. It's basically just the "Retry Level" from Black but with extra steps.
I love this game because of the aesthetics/atmosphere and it introduced really great characters like Axel, Twister, Mr Slam… etc.
He said 1
I haven't played TM2 in a long time. But I can tell you this.
The atmosphere is the best in the series. Something about the combination of the music and the look of everything combines into some weird grunge-liminal aesthetic, that is so different from the rest of the series. And I know that sounds bonkers, but I really don't know how else to explain it. I'm not particularly drawn to the gameplay, per-say, nor any character outside of Axel. There is just something about the air of the early PS1 style graphics with the music, it's almost aggravating trying to explain it.
Also, unrelated, but even though I haven't played TM2 in probably 25 years I still use the invincibility (Up, Down, Left, Right, Right, Left, Down, Up) Password on a daily basis in some way or another. If I am playing a PC game I am hitting that combo with my WASD during loading screens. Something about it is etched forever in my brain.
Best answer dude.
I put off getting TM2 for 20 years and I thought it was mediocre. TM1 is still my favorite and Rouge Trip is way better too like Single Trac finally made the game they were
shooting for
My favorite thing is the soundtrack. Thanks for making entertaining Twisted Metal content!
I grew up playing this game so I’m a little biased but, I think TM2 is the most well rounded but not perfect game in all categories. Great characters and cutscenes, pretty “decent” gameplay, the physics are doable if you get used to them which I have over 20 years lol. Balancing I do feel however can be fixed with skill improvement. I have beaten the game with twister and hammerhead deathless before. You also gotta remember this came out in the mid 90s so for that particular time period this game was practically triple A.
Also there is a secret attack method where if twister zips by someone to the left side and uses the twister at just the right moment, she can grab them while moving and not take a single point of ram damage. Sort of a pro technique.
It's the most fun...that's really it for me.
And you know for a while I was wondering if it was just "nostalgia" but here over the past few weeks I've introduced my kids to TM (except for Black and 2012 because they're pretty young) and I was convinced that Small Brawl would be their pick because it's the one that seems like it would appeal to kids.
But after letting them play them all the one they want to turn back on and play is TM2...They have no concept of overrated/underrated and they can't be blinded by nostalgia...they just want to play what's fun... and for both of them and myself it's TM2 hands down.
The edgy 90s fun atmosphere just really fits the twisted metal name
There are many reasons why TM2 is my favorite game in the series, but if I had to single out one element it would be the physics and controls - they're based in an arcade foundation, but there's a finesse required to execute advanced maneuvers successfully; it's the essence of easy to learn, difficult to master.
No doubt, you'll slide and crash into things all the time if you don't invest the time in learning the intricacies of the engine, but once you master the power slide and handbrake turning (tapping X and then holding O while steering into the direction of slide as you hit the apex of your turn is key) you can cruise around the maps flawlessly.
This is in stark contrast to TM3 and 4, where the controls are slow, laborious, clunky, sluggish to execute, and only serve to consistently hamper the game play experience.
Am I alone in thinking Darktooth really isn't all that difficult?
Get him to chase you, turbo, rear-fire, and use the map to your advantage by taking those 90 degree turns when he gets close.
If you find yourself in trouble, hang out inside a subway entrance, facing out, and when he tries to drive up on the subway just unload on him and watch how fast his health falls - he so big and bulky that he can't turn to face you, so he's practically helpless.
Finally, I think the input delay you're experiencing with special moves may be emulator based, I can't recall encountering that problem when using original hardware.
funny you say that TM3, and especially 4, are slow, laborious and clunky compared to 2. I find that it's the exact opposite. I agree that TM3's car-flipping issue is annoying, but, as you said with TM2, you can master the physics and get flipped over less with more practice.
I don't see what your issue is with TM4. I think they had the state of the art car physics for their time, having easily the most smooth driving of the original four games. Sure, it's still not perfect, but you don't get stuck like a turtle in TM3, and you don't slide around on an ice rink like TM2. Also, this probably just a preference thing, but I feel like the ability to use the analog sticks (which weren't usable in TM2) made the next two easier to control.
One last thing regarding input delay. I play TM2 on a Playstation 2, and I do notice the exact same issue that Nick has with trying to use the special movies like shield and freeze. Sometimes I have to do the code 5 times in a row to get the effect, and often times that is too late to save myself. TM3 and 4 work instantaneous every single time, and without a second of delay.
it is the best because it is more FUN. the maps and characters are just more iconic, cartoony and detailed.
I have yet to watch the whole video, and learned that I need to give only ONE reason, so here is why I think it is the best.
The Variety: Like TM2 stands out the most compare to all the other games is due to how unique it is in its cast of characters, level designs, weapon pick ups and soundtrack compare to other games.
Like nothing against TM: Black or Head-On, but I can tell the characters and levels apart in TM2 compare to the other two games
I thought i was going insane with how I felt about the game. All of these gripes I felt and thought I was the only one who felt this way about the game. It really does feel like you're sliding on ice. I loved Hammerhead in TM1 and tried him in 2 and just got destroyed. It's like you barely get any chance to recover from being bumped or making a wrong turn or hitting a wall or something. With 1 I remember escaping so much easier.
Something I've noticed in a lot of game series is that for many of them, the second game in the series is a refined version of the first game. The first game tends to be the purest yet unrefined version of the original concept that brought it to fruition. If it does well enough to warrant a sequel, then that's where they get to take that original concept and do a mulligan on whatever didn't work or what they didn't have the budget for in the first game, plus they get to expand upon the original concept in a way that feels more awesome than the well it sprang from.
If I'm allowed only *one* reason, then that'd probably be mine because Twisted Metal 2 embodies that to me like Gran Turismo 2 did for me in racing sims, and what Crash 2 did for me in platformers. Other than that, I just find it fun as fuck/scratches an itch that no other game in the series does for me.
TM2 is my third favorite in the series behind Black and 2012, and if I had to sum up why I love TM2 that much in one point alone, I think it just so well encapsulates what TM is supposed to be - at least to the best that the PS1 in 1996 could accomplish within SingleTrac's engine. TM2 followed on from what '95 founded to definitively refine and cement the identity of the franchise. The mixed tone of the game between the bright, colorful, cartoony surface and the dark, grim undertones, the roster of characters being my personal favorite of any game, and the great music all mix well to define what TM is and should be.
David Jaffe has said somewhere before that TM is supposed to be like rock n' roll - and what I take from that is that it's not supposed to be perfect, clean, or polished, it's supposed to be energetic and full of personality, which is what TM2 accomplishes more than anything else. Any messiness or jagged edges, any jankiness in the controls and physics I feel like can be excused as long as the personality of the game is never sacrificed, and everything from the level and character designs to the way the AI behaves is full of memorable, defined personality - personality that once learned can be used to predict and overcome the AI. TM2 is a game that wears its heart on its sleeve; you can see 100% all the passion that went into designing and making it.
To specifically defend the level codes point, a lot of games in that mid-90s time period used a level password system instead of save or retry systems, such as in the original Crash Bandicoot for another game I can specifically remember as well - level codes that it freely shows you to write down to use later any time you pause the game, so it's not as if you need to look online or anywhere to find the codes. It never hides them, so to me they don't feel like "cheats" at all when you need to use them in a playthrough. They're meant to act as checkpoints, not cheats, for a time period before actual checkpoints were normal and common. Setting aside all my subjective feelings, objectively I totally get and understand a lot of the complaints made against TM2, but using level codes as checkpoints to your progress isn't one that I understand as a complaint.
In the end, TM2 was the first of its kind I played as a kid so a lot of my feelings may come from pure nostalgia, but it must've done plenty right for it to grab me at 5, 6, 7, however old I was at the time and made me fall in love with not just it but the entire series beyond it to the degree that I have. If TM2 didn't grab me and hook me in the way it did when I was a kid, I may not be here on this channel as a passionate fan of TM today!
4:00 Yes, it is the emulated version you are playing. It also seems to vectorize some images like explosions and Axel's special, which makes them look off.
6:00 I would say the vehicles are "floaty".
I don't think the balance is really so far off, but Grasshopper is certainly my worst character and it's always been a challenge to beat the game with her.
16:00. Ehhhhhh, that's why it gives you the passcode just before every match. Just be cognizant and write it down before starting.
The only game I didn't play at release was TM1. I think nostalgia factors in for all the games and why the franchise is one of my favorites. I own all of the games, yet I don't even have a gaming system anymore.
Why is TM2 my favorite? It finds the right balance for me of action, camp, quirkiness, and style. Black is the better made game, yet 2 is more fun to me. I think Calypso looks best as a man in a suit with a burnt face. 2 was before the series focused on Sweet Tooth and I've become tired of everything revolving around him. I also associate the title to have multiple meanings, such as the soundtrack being Metal and orchestrations only and Twisted being the sense of humor the game has.
the game is very much of it's time. i still think there's alot of fun to be had with it even with frustration. the game isnt very polished, but there's just something magic about it that clicks with me, sometimes its something i can't
even really explain. i just love this game, its pure fun to me. like it's rough around the edge's on a technical level. but it just has this spirit about it i geuss.
i really think the best games in the series is 2, black, and HO. none of these game's are perfect or that technically sound. but they just have that character and are just the most fun imo.
Twister's AI is a nightmare to go up against on some maps. If she catches you in an enclosed area say goodbye to 75% of your health.
This, of course, doesn't apply to the player because we can't spam 10 specials in a row but you get the idea.
So I think I know why the controls in TM1 and 2 feel more stiff. I think it’s the frame rate/ engine. This is also why the freeze and shield don’t work if you press it too fast since the game is only 20 fps, you need to press the buttons like you are doing combos in the old Tekken’s. If I could say 1 reason why TM2 is the best is because of the art style and charm. I feel like blaming the controls doesn’t only apply to TM2 but all the TM’s. I’ve trying to learn 2012 right now and the controls feel bad for me. It is probably because I’m not use to it yet.
You will get the hang of 2012 it's a very slippery game basically it has the least committal movement in the series you can go from moving forward to backward in less than a second it feels like driving becomes way easier when you get used to that because in tm2 if you do a powerslide you have to wait until you can move again but this game the delay might be one second at most until you can move again. Characters to avoid first will be characters like kamikaze they just feel slippery for no reason and are really fast
@@7dogguy I’ve won a few matches on hard but I can’t last on Twisted for over a minute lol.
@@BigSlick98so like playing on a map like skid row is brutal in this game if you play like an XL map it becomes much less brutal
@@7dogguy I tried Sunsprings full and got hit by Reaper and died in the first 10 secs lol.
@@BigSlick98
You can’t explain why it’s a great game by giving one example
1. The character selection and their specials were top notch
2. The levels had excellent designs with great replay value
3. The endings were great and had you wanting to play everyone to see them all
4. The high level of violence was in the endings and gameplay throughout the entire game
The people who grew up on this game don’t have an issue with the controls because the only other option at the time was TM1. What is harder for the younger generation, because of the better controls in the newer games, wasn’t difficult for us because we had to master it. Lastly, I don’t understand why people complain that every character isn’t equal and how certain characters are “cheap”…I just feel like that’s an excuse for people who can’t run through it with ease.
Great video, btw. These videos bring the community together, even though there are disagreements. Well done 👍🏻
For sure TM2 has a lot of issues with the controls, handling and crazy physics but for me I have TM2 high in my list of TM games just because of the childhood memories , I remember I used to play TM2 specifically a lot. I had TM1, TM3 and TM4 but as a kid I remember if whenever I got bored with TM4 I'd pop TM2 in to the PS1 and just enjoy it , the music the colors the design of vehicles is just awesome , it gives the TM games just a different vibe. yeah, it's hard to play specially as you've said it before Moscow sucks but then you have levels that are very cool like New York and Antarctica that can be brutal but have some cool dynamics like parts of the level falling off even Paris is awesome. so that is the reason I love TM2
I won't say it doesn't have it's defects but it's one hell of a game.
Edit: I really respect your criticism and they are very valid points hahaha
I'm writing before watching most of the video to answer the question.
I grew up playing all the Twisted Metal games. All of them. As a kid I played 2, 3 and 4 the most. In my teens I played Head On, Black and 2 the most. 2 is the one that's always been there, and I still play it a lot alongside 1, Black and HO. It's easily my most played game.
I would say the reason is the sense of danger. I know I am cheating a little bit because this entails many aspects that require explanation lol but here it goes.
TM2 is the first TM game I played, even before I had my own PS1, my very first memory is watching my friend getting destroyed by about 3 cars of the AI within 30 seconds after starting LA. When I got my own PS1 I loved the variety of vehicles and that they had their own special attacks that were so unreal. Being so used to go with my dad on the road, and looking at all the regular cars, imagining something like TM2s cars was fascinating. But it was the sense of danger that made me attracted even beyond enjoying the gameplay, it was not only enjoyment, but a very reaction on the emotional and aesthetical side, I'd say. This includes how hard the game is, but this goes alongside something like the sound design. For instance, you have Axel's sound when he makes the special, which on itself is sort of ominous, but when you're a kid, still not very good, and he comes to you, rams you, and keeps spamming the special, repeating the sound, until you're dead or with very low health if able to run away, it was kind of scary, I remember my sister screaming in terror a few times lol.
Then comes maps like New York or Antarctica. Both have very moody and also memorable soundtracks, add to that that you can fall off the stage, watch your vehicle falling all the way down, and lose a life. That was scary too, especially if you hear in the background a combination of Warthog's and Shadow's special attacks launching, and maybe not even aiming at you, but you know they're there and it can get intimidating, something like that.
Another thing that maybe sounds absurd is that the game doesn't require a memory card, so you're always at the risk of losing everything and having to start over. I know there are passwords, but when using them you have to start with only two Fires and a Napalm as a weapon. This probably applies mostly when I was a kid.
It's a game that keeps you on your toes. Knowing how to avoid attacks and receiving the least damage possible is as important as causing damage to your enemies. I know that the fact that opponents don't fight against each other is criticised by many, and they keep bringing this complaint because this makes sense with TM being a free for all tournament, but from a gameplay standpoint I find it very dumb, it's way more satisfying to kill everyone else yourself, and it has been a deliberate decision from the developers, not an issue with the AI, never has been an issue.
I love other stuff like the consistent and integrated artstyle, the fragmentary world building with unanswered questions (especially when related to Calypso, Minion and Marcus), the stories for the characters, and the gameplay design, but I'd say the sense of danger is my main reason to still love the game because it involves all the rest, and even to this day it's hard when playing on hard.
Sorry for the very long winded answer, but I bet it doesn't bother you when people comment XD. TM is probably my favorite media thing, and love your videos!
Strategic challenge - TL;DR Every vehicle has its own play style. TM2 is really a fighting game first, not a car combat game
I think this game stands out in particular because at its core it is not a car combat game, it is a fighting game in cars. Most car combat games including most of the other installments in the Twisted Metal series, you pick up weapons and unload into your opponents head on and you can use this play style for any vehicle. Twisted Metal 2 will punish you for this mentality, each vehicle has its own play style that you have to figure out; charging headlong into combat is rarely the best option. I have been playing this game for over 20 years and I still don't have all the vehicles' strategies nailed down yet. There are tactics, AI patterns, and overall genine challenge that other games just lack (I don't really have a great way to put it into words but it keeps me coming back in a way no other game has managed to do). The physics may not be the best but they are predictable with experience and can be mastered (unlike TM3...Just no...lol)
Also, landing ricochet shots from banking them off corners like a well calculated pool shot or leading a target with a well timed power missile are just so satisfying and that feeling isn't really captured in any other installment.
And by the way, using the codes to get back to level you were on isn't discouraged by the developers, you get the code at the start of each level/puasing the level. Instead of just having a "replay level" button you are awarded a code that you can get back to that point any time you want; say the next day because your mom made you turn off the Playstation and go to bed.
I respect a lot of your points here Nick. I've flip-flopped on this game at least several times for 25 years now. Im 35 btw.
Imo, the PS1 version of this game is borderline unplayable. If you play the PS1 version & PC version back to back, you'll notice how clean & infinitely better the PC alternative operates. Idk why, but for some reason there's split second lag on PS1. Lag in turning, lag on braking, lag with special moves, lag everywhere. The PC Twisted Metal 2 has no such downsides. Everything is extremely responsive & operates as intended.
Unfortunately, most people choose the PS1 version due to the PC version's primitive controller mapping. If you use the joypad mapping scheme, it doesn't let you do your special inputs. However, if you download a key mapper, like say Xpadder, you can use the keyboard mapping scheme & it's just like playing it naturally. _I tried explaining this to Kong once but I think he lied to me about it_
Don't get me wrong though, the PS1 version has some advantages like upscaling & that gameshark code that allows you to lock a higher framerate. But it still doesn't fix the response time, which shall forever be a curse for the PS1 version. I'd say, if you ever decide to play Twisted Metal 2 again for whatever reason, give the PC version a chance. It's THAT big of a difference.
Okay I saw the video. Just a few things lol:
1. About the physics. They're jumpy, too unique, very different from everything else that I know. But I don't think they're a hindrance more than an advantage. For instance, if you go full speed and there's a bump in the road or any terrain elevation the car will fly, but you will still go in the same direction at the same speed, the change will be vertical (unless you bump something, but in TM2 there are not many level obstacles), and this is actually very good if you're trying to run away because this will allow you to dodge stuff. Altitude changes are good to dodge stuff, and the AI does it a lot too! Also, I don't agree that TM3 or 4 have better physics for vehicular combat, they're too unpredictable. TM2 cars, regardless of how high you jump, whether it's from the ground or a high place, the car will unrealistically fall on its wheels and retain the position and direction, this will allow you to stay on the run. The cars in TM2 really don't turn over, they will roll at most but never stay on their roof. Another thing is that the minor terrain change on 3 will make the car spin if you go moderately fast, which will stop you, and if the terrain change is big enough it will turn you over, which is even worse lol. I feel like I have way more control in 2 because the level design really fits the physics, they allow you to keep moving. Also, the cars are slippery, but this is useful because you can dodge an attack and then drift to launch your own attack, stuff like this. Physics make the combat more dynamic. Also, Grsshopper slides more than anyone, and it works to dodge, drift to face the opponent, and hit the special. I guess, the point is, TM2's physics allow to attack while not running directly into opponet's attacks, and also allow you to defend yourself, in many ways, this creates many combat situations in very dynamic ways, in turn making the game more deep and "new" something that can't be said for 3, 4, or something like Vigilante 8.
2. The game is definitely not balanced, no one is going to deny that. Axel is OP, but Sweet Tooth is OP too, actually, it has good armor, the special makes good damage, you can store about 5 or 6, and it regenerates fast, you can ram almost everyone, and ST's not fast but not that slow. Also, ST as an enemy, likes to hit with Homings just like in TM1, and it's annoying haha, Homings in TM2 really get you off balance.
3. Regarding Moscow, what you can do is save some weapons from LA, because it has almost none. You can also save a remote to blow up one of the four ramps because they have weapons inside. One strategy is to leave the remote in the ramp, and one of the enemies will eventually drive over it, causing a lot of damage or even killing them. This is another advantage of TM2 over 3 or 4, you can save your weapons from the previous level, and save as many as 24 with the distribution you want. You can go with 12 homings and 12 powers from one level to another lol.
4. Also, Paris has a good amount of weapons, you can jump from the Louvre's high section into the rooftops, and you will find plenty weapons up the, and be protected too.
5. Regarding Dark Tooth, even in hard there is a way to cheese him with the mines. You can go to the street section where there is a taxi with the health inside or the section with the taxi with the Fire inside (they're in symmetrical sides of the map). When there, opponents always come from the side that's nearer to the water. So, you can leave a trace of mines in the street and DT will run through all of them. This is not that fun, but makes it way easier.
Finally, I woudn't understand why someone would hate on you Nick! Like you don't bitch for the sake of bitching, nor you speak with a valley girl accent XD. And I won't admit it's nostalgia lol, I have huuuge nostalgia for 3, 4, Vigilante 8 (1 and 2) and many other games, but after a few moments of playing them nowadays it wears off in a few hours. TM2 is more lasting.
Weapons not respawning is one of your most strong arguements trust me thats not a nitpick its an actual problem it nerfs lightweight fast vehicles and makes the game way move favorible to ramming characters
It came out when I was a kid and it was just tons of fun. My friends and I played it constantly and the controls get "better" through repetition. Its basically being able to anticipate the jank. You learn how to steer into the physics to flip around in air and so on.
The reaches taken here would make rock climbers jealous
Please elaborate old wise one, for I seek your infinite knowledge
Reason TM2 is the best in the series. "Nostalgia"
At around 15:00 or so you're talking about the password system instead of a SAVE. I think this deliberate choice, as at the time the PS1 was still relatively new and not everyone could convince themselves/parents to purchase memory cards.
A Password system gets around that. 'retry' option would be nice sure but, when you turn the game off - You'd have to start over.
Nostalgia for me. So in that vein sweet tooth and twister kept me hooked.
Hate the A.I. though
Twister is my absolute fave; Amanda Watts has a compelling story, and her special move is a trip!
The thing with Twister is that once you're in her special tornado, you can't shield. That's probably why Twister is vulnerable when a victim is in her special weapon
I feel like I need to go ahead and play TM1-4, TMB, and TMSB. As someone who never grew up with Twisted Metal only ever play 2012 I’m about as unbiased as possible about all the games my only ranking I got is based off the story stuff which I know pretty much all of.
The level button codes are included in the pause menu as well as the loading screen for each level when you play them in the tournament mode, aside from Minion and Sweet Tooth of course. It's not as though your only option for progression is to stop what you're doing, pull out your phone and look up the passcodes online. If you have a pen and paper or just a good memory, it can be quite easy to bypass. To argue that "you're not meant" to use these codes when they're so easily accessible to the player is just a poor attempt at criticism in my opinion even if you acknowledged it as a nitpick. I never felt guilty or wrong about using the codes when I played through the game. To me, they always just felt the same as loading a save file. With that being said, this was still a well made video and I appreciate you for going against the grain with this one even if I disagree.
While i can argue this game has the worst gameplay (it really aged poorly, even compared to the 1st game), and while endings arent necessarily the best, every else for me is A tier. The regular weapons who all are useful, new and fun vehicles, levels which almost all of them are spectacular, the bosses who arent easy, the music which is best for me of any other TM game, all of this gives it a addictive replayability that games like 3 & 4 dont have (even Black doesnt have that for me, and that game has great gameplay). Part of me is Nostalgia talking since this was the first game i played, but i also played 4 as well since i was 6, and i see many problems with that game as well.
Overall, it is a "diamond in a rough" kind of game, and this came in an era where the story-driven games are still in their infancy, so games with addictive gameplay (even if it is rough) were always welcome.
Can I just apologise real quickly for only just subscribing, I’ve been watching since you were at 900ish subs, much love keep up the grind. Loving all the TM content
Haha no worries at all! Thank you for enjoying the content! :)
The mayhem and destruction and as melvin said TWISTED METAL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Nostalgia. Fond memories! Love the content brother!
flying through the air is part of what makes the game as fun as it is. kind of like rocket league aerial moves
I was about four years old when I first saw Twisted Metal 2 on the Playstation. I didn't play, but I watched with interest, because this game was different from everything that was on this game console.
When I was about ten years old, I accidentally found the PC version and thoroughly examined this game. Despite its colorfulness, this game is mystical and infernal, the sounds and character cards are brutal. The game design is beyond compare, it is second to none, I know that there have been many vehicular combat games. But they all just look like Power Rangers next to Batman
As for the imbalance of characters, then there was no such understanding of games, especially at my age, I believed that a specific character was to blame, not the developer. And you know, I think it added interest to the game.
I also remember us running a level with skyscrapers and playing hide and seek against one Mr. Slam. The real Freddy Krueger of this game, lol. Laughter, screams, adrenaline, a lot of fun.
I really can't give just one reason. But to try and condense it all into one reason, it has the best characters/vehicles. Not necessarily from a gameplay perspective, but from a general cool and fun perspective 😎. And that made it all worthwhile for me growing up. Especially with those end scenes. I hope that all counts as "one reason".
The feeling of IMPACT of every attack and ram as your jostled around, that goes both ways! It has never been replicated after TM2.
The directional inputs are an emulation issue. If you play it on a PS1/2 with a wired controller, the input delay/drop is eliminated.
It's my favorite of the series, not to say it doesn't have issues. i think if the enemy AI was fixed , the bug that happens when you try to freeze a car and it doesn't work was fixed and fixing some of the wall damage you take Personally , I think they should have took at least another five months to play test the game Also I don't understand why you can only play the two levels from twisted metal 1 in multiplayer only in twisted metal 2
For me it’s the improvement on all systems. The controls were trying to be somewhat realistic and arcadey but after you get used to it, you can rolled through the game fairly quick. I rather play 2 then go through 3-4 again with how slippery or too sensitive it’s controls can be or the speed of small brawl which kills it for me after a tourney playthrough.
Moscow can be really fun if you destroy all the pillars activate God Mode, and only shoot Ricochet bombs everywhere. Holland is super fun, because it is not a level where you sit still and is drive by chaos.
As someone who's dissected this game on Hard difficulty and played this game an unhealthy amount learning all the in's and out's here's answering your question or responding to the criticisms (and yes, I watched the whole video):
Oddly enough the physics and the way you handle your vehicle is very engaging to me mostly because it plays like an arcade game and it's intentionally designed to not be steered remotely normally (which I've noticed with other people's gameplay. They try to steer "normally"). You essentially have to assume angles and pull 90 degree or 45 degree turns while also holding the "hand break" and allow yourself to slide into position (You can even see me steer Hammerhead without hitting too many walls). You also have to press down when turning so it's essentially a 3 button press to turn properly.
The handbreak really isn't much of a handbreak anyway. The game doesn't teach anybody how to actually pilot these vehicles
The crunchy heavy weight ram physics gives these vehicles the "feeling" of tank weight, and was something I missed in TM3 and TM4 (which I absolutely think is the most enjoyable overall on the PSX), that and the fact that vehicles barrel roll instead of flipping upside down.
The knockback in this game sadly enough is intentionally designed to screw the player over which I hate so much. It doesn't simply just knock you in the opposite direction you were hit, it actually is meant to knock you directly into the nearest threat (Weapon spam, or set you up in position to get rammed to death). Ricochet bombs actively try to "home" in on your positioning which is the worst thing imaginable. This game's way of killing you doesn't give proper feedback as to why you died, it just randomly has to kill you (If you were to see what goes on behind the scenes it even looks like I struggle skill wise).
Action commands not working during crunch time is a given. Although I've noticed they're more prone to screw up when certain vehicles are around (Sweet Tooth, Thumper, Spectre) I have no idea if it's just me but I've found Thumper to just murder me even if I pressed the inputs slowly.
This game operates worse than an arcade game because at a certain skill level the game has to justify its passcode system. It often just has to use it's swarm AI coding just just kill you with either little feedback or BS reasons. Also the physics purposely seem to go haywire along with knockback to set you up to get murdered (I noticed I'm more prone to slide when dangers around the corner).
The Swarm intelligence AI in this game is unnecessarily brutal at random. I actually like the arcade concept of everyone just going after you, but the way the game randomly murders the player even if you've outplayed an opponent is inexcusable. The game actually reads the players input and position so it actually knows what you're doing all the time, which wouldn't be too problematic if there wasn't so much BS and favoring the AI too much (This game is an example of questionable almost bad Artificial difficulty). Granted without the brutal AI, the game wouldn't be as much fun for Veterans since it actually does force you to learn everything possible (which is a plus in my eyes).
I can't comment on wall damage since that barely effects me, and I've never had more than 5% of health lost from running into one. That's the wonky hit detection which does in fact favor the AI in many instances.
Not having enough weapons I can't comment on aside from the game not having a proper tutorial or even tips on how to combo and deal the most damage since I've only had inventory issues on Moscow and Holland. Basically at a certain level of understand when and where to use weapons it's down to the RNG being nice or a dick.
I'd say to fix the sliding issues I think the turbo mechanic should've had a slide breaker feature where you regain your traction if you double tap turbo as it would solve a lot of issue people have with steering (I don't have that problem, but this not only would solve that issue, it creates another engaging mechanic).
Sorry, for the big read, but I felt I could really answer this video because of my TM2 deathless playlist that got a fair amount of attention.
TM definitely comes from the Arcade mentality but Jaffe & Giam also played a lot of Mario Kart & Rock N Roll Racing as Study.
It has Depth, a great Soundtrack & Characters but the Physics r like driving an Ice Cube & the A.i. is Cheap.
Lots of people chimed in with good answers so I'll add one that I haven't seen yet and contradict one of your points. This game can be janky but it's just the perfect amount of difficulty once you learn the ins and outs. It's difficult but completely fair. Learning the physics, AI behavior, power up location and general strategy will make you a pro. Much like Dark Souls, it makes beating the game incredibly satisfying. I also have a lot of fun attempting no death runs and speed runs.
Also, twister is a beast. Top 5 character. Use drop mines and napalm when you get em in the tornado.
Hey Nick! Great content, enjoying it a lot, and was wondering if you plan to make RT or V8 content in the future? Would love to get your take on those.
The color, music, the roster, cars, the levels, And a lot of people play this one over the first one. You probably like three or four more because it was the 1st one you played. Everybody has a special place in their heart for their first game that they played.
I love this game out of partial nostalgia and it’s soundtrack, but man I am so glad you brought up the traction and damage. I remember HATING losing a chunk of health rounding the corner the wrong way, or being smacked into a wall when I was a kid.
I’ll still call this one of my favorites but yeah, that long in development, you don’t have a lot of excuses for how broken some of it was.
i started off with tm3 and 4, about a month or 2 ago was my first time playing tm1 and 2 on emulator. tm1 was difficult, and the physics weren't the best, but for some reason, it wasn't infuriating to play, i was having fun with it. tm2 was easier in controls, and the physics were slightly better, but still very floaty. it honestly wasn't that bad, it already felt familiar, the only big difference was ram damage (which can be broken) and when running into walls. soundtrack is absolutely amazing, the stages aren't too bad, Moscow is, in my opinion the only one i dont like because how small it is. i actually loved Holland, the soundtrack for it fits the field of screams, and its supposed to be a crazy battlefield. the passwords, i also didn't really mind, the one with hong kong and dark tooth, dark tooth has a different password from Hong Kong. i can see why people would have issues with it, but overall for me, its decent, not the best for me, but still fun
My favorite is the endings
It was amazing at the time, there was nothing like it. Also, as kids, we get easily impressed and it is easier to have fun with simple stuff.
I think it is its asthetics, world, characters. When I watch videos about it, I feel like playing imediately. But than I start playing and get reminded why I was not playing it and should play another one in the series. I can play a couple of levels at most and drop it. Gameplay has not aged well at all, Imo. Also The AI breaks imersion and fun to me.
I don't really have any issue with twister when I use her special Sure I may take some ram damage But it's never really that bad
thank you for your videos, my man!!
Coming from someone who thinks TM2 is overrated:
1. The soundtrack - just like TM1 and the original tracks for TM3, the music IS Twisted Metal - 80’s inspired 90’s metal, metallic onslaught, harmonic chaos!
2. The characters/cars - although I hate that Crimson Fury is absent, the characters and cars are peak Twisted Metal. Best depiction of Calypso!
3. Levels - these levels are insanely creative (a step up from TM1, tho I also love its level design)
4. Scare factor - the game is fun, but also very intense and frightening. This version of Dark Tooth scares the shit out of me! Deadly af!
Now, the negatives:
1. The color schemes/low graphics give me a headache
2. Can I have ANY LESS CONTROL over my vehicle!?
3. Cars seem to lose power when you play as them, become broken when playing against them
TM:HO would be my favorite in the series. It’s a remake of TM2 that combines the graphic quality of TMB with the best aspects of TMSB.
Agreed!
Agree, TM:HO is a better version of 2
Personally I think that Twisted Metal 2 is one of the worst games in the series another reason why it's popular is literally just because of nostalgia because it was either the first or second game that most fans played
4:20 I have that issue with all of the TM games, my inputs are way too fast for it to register unless I think about it and go slow
I pretty much only love twisted metal black and the 2012 twisted metal reboot
But i think the main reason is the soundtrack, of you did play when it came out, that main menu design and soundtrack just hit you like a truck
All time classic 🎉
Twisted Metal 2 used to be my favorite TM Level design & character/vehicles are dope for me than i replayed it on ps5 my problem is the controls has not aged well way worse than Black & 2012 i do still prefer it over TM3 & TM4 tho
Hi. I agree too. I have always had the most fun with TM3.
To me, as someone who has never played a TM game but only watched them on youtube (through great content makers like yourself), I find TM2 the game I get the most enjoyment out of watching. I think it might be because of the speed as it's not as fast as black but faster than some of the other games, and I can easly understand whats going on on the screen.
Nostalgia
Honestly this games mechanics are on par with everything on Playstation at that time, even stands up to this day and will be nostalgic for most. The levels were amazing, the sound track was epic. Character designs were awesome each vehicle had its own weight armor speed ect. so when people bash it with saying it feels wonky or the driving drifting lack of items ect this game was based for and arcade feel vehicle mortal kombat so skills map layout knowing vehicle stats all had a play. The button inputs were great and always worked like freeze jump shield mine minion special. When you say the inputs are slow I laugh so I'm guessing you never played Mk back when button inputs of 15 made you a pro. Not like the watered down version we have today with a 3 button combo to do 5 hits. The new generation want everything spoon fed to just basicly 1 hit button instantly kill end game. There's no challenge. Also these games were great for multi-player tho having a split screen sucked but what can you do for 90s games lol
100%
i love this game i played this 10 years straight with a friend almost daily. The bright colors and the quirky stories for each character made it my best twisted metal. i disagree with your take on the controls i think they can be mastered. iv slung minion, warthog to mr grim around tokyo. More specifically i feel that the handling characteristics match the type of charachters well. eg: mr slam or axle are both pigs to master. Finally on your point about drifting i always found that when sliding or drifting you can manage the by using the turbo to counter the momentum. Maybe im being to much of a fanboy but its totally best one.
For me, the best part of this game is the brutality! You can ram and run over other vehicles to death in seconds, fire weapons or push other vehicles to their falling death quite comically, and land on other vehicles to cause damage: example ( driving off a building in Paris level and land on the roof of an opponent.
People are just blinded by nostalgia.
So when I was a kid I played this and part one as well with my brother he’ll even took off school days to play and get better at the game as far as part two it’s the best in the series because it’s got everything done right I c u said u can get damage if u hit a wall but that’s just more realistic so it makes us want to drive the cars better some cars are harder to handle but that’s ok they r good in there own ways axal is the best in 2 and yes the physics can b off at times or freeze or special spam but I think this makes the game more challenging and the fact yes that the other cars just go after u is ok too if u wait in some levels and hide or stand at a somewhat distant they will actually fight one another yes the development time was longer but this is the late 90s man things can’t b perfect but it’s perfect for Whst this game is and it’s more just a all around great game not more frustrating it’s more challenging to me
Yes,there has ALWAYS been delay in the special abilities. Always. Its very disappointing. Honestly,I have always loved twisted metal. Every one of them. Two,I love it,but it is still just disgusting. The way you can be frozen to death even on normal,and seeing a hailstorm of sweet tooth cones is just miserable. ESPECIALLY on Holland or Moscow. I love a challenge,but they messed up severely with this game. I see cars sharp turning to dodge a freeze when I put it in cause of the delay,even when I lead the shot. That aspect is okay with hard mode on any game. Every other aspect of hard is just miserable. I still love it,but the lack of proper coding is just pathetic. I think slam was supposed to freeze until they actually freeze you to perform the slam. They messed up so bad,he doesn't even realize he froze you so he keeps dumping them out until you die. You can tell because he still freezes your car until you spawn back. I could name 50 problems with this game but its still awesome.
I do have to disagree with the popular opinion that grasshopper is terrible. Grasshopper is good,but 2 armor instead of 1 would have made sense. Twister,I agree almost completely
I don’t understand how TM2 is praised as the pinnacle of the car combat genre when it’s only out in the second year of its’ existence.
& then Vigilante 8 came out....
If I had to pick one thing
The endings aren't complete bullshit like in twisted 3 or 4
I just think people look at this game and compare it to much to games that came after it. I actuallly liked every tm game released and played them all while younger, including small brawl. Tm2 is just simply fun. The characters are fun and funny. The wishes are just nonsensical. The cars are colorful and creative and the levels are all classics with destructable enviroments. The fact that falling off certian levels in the right spot cab give you cheat codes adds a level of exploration to the game that you wouldnt typically find in a ps1 game from back then, especially a car based game. Its not perfect but it was perfect for the time. Oh and tm2 was made in like 11 months itself if im correct
You can google it, TM2 had 16 months of development time. One of the longest dev cycles in the series!
@twistedvicariousnick I thought I heard 11 months so that's my bad. I just got to the point where you mentioned passwords for levels. I liked having then back in the day and I believe the reason why they were was because using memory cards was a new concept and many family's didn't have them. Using the password system was a way to let people continue a game like a save without having to buy a new expensive memory card. I do wish they allowed both methods though. But they always gave the code for the next level after a battle and me and my brother would have pages of codes for all the different codes you needed in this game. It was good times😂
Personally, twisted metal black is my favourite, but growing up playing twisted metal as a child, twisted metal 2 was my favourite out of all the twisted metal games to exist on the original playstation, the voice acting, cutscenes, the roster, and maps is what made tm2 so memorable to me, twisted metal 1 doesn't feel different from 2, but twisted metal 1 felt like a beta, while 2 felt like the final product, every weapon does damage and feels like it has an impact including ram damage, at the time I believed people weren't bothered by the controls much, we just got used to it and mastered the controls + physics from there.
And I believe for most players when they went from twisted metal 1&2 to 3&4 it felt like an entire different game with the same roster and same weapons, but it didn't feel like "twisted metal" but more like a spin off, because of the lack of ram damage, the endings for every driver in twisted metal 3 just has no happy or interesting resolution, the maps in 3 felt like it tried to do what 2 did, but worse, characters didn't feel likable after 989 took over, every ending turned them into a joke with their wishes (although 4 ended up doing better with endings) the gameplay overall is what I personally still enjoyed in 3 and 4, felt like I would never run out of weapons either, but there were some that felt useless (rain, napalm, rain 2 not so much but, the flame damage felt minor, speed missles the damage regular bullets do in black, mortar isn't really useless, but frustrating to land hits with cocnsistently) another thing to add onto it is, it did feel the time to kill in 3&4 was a lot higher compared to 1&2, the soundtrack wasn't bad for all four titles, I believe that's preference to the user cause I enjoyed the soundtrack in almost every twisted metal game.
The bossss in the first two games felt terrifying to fight as well, while in 3 they didn't feel like a "boss" character just an extra opponent, but in 4, every boss is just an extra opponent (including minion who used to feel like a major threat in 1&2), until you face sweet tooth who just has the strongest special to ever exist at the time (I don't think that's a con though, boss characters should be difficult to defeat)
Overall, though, I don't believe it's nostalgia that carries twisted metal 2, but more because of the characters & vehicles that feel like they would become a staple to the franchise, along with the music choices for it, the weapons, stages, story and ending for each character, and it's art style. They all come into play that allowed people to overlook the cons that twisted metal 2 has, so once they go from twisted metal 2 to what 989 released, it didn't feel the same, despite having better controls.
I enjoy it for what it is, but once TM black released, it felt difficult to enjoy previous twisted metal titles. To this day, I still believe twisted metal black is the best title in the franchise, and 2012 TM could've been that, but it felt like it was designed to be a multiplayer game first and single player being a last thought. Because the gameplay for 2012 is great, but the story and it's staple characters like drivers for spectre, axel).
It's not the best game but my favorite one because my best friend and I used to play it as kids he passed in 2015 and it's just special to me but the best no sir 😆
To be honest when most tm Fans love 2 So much, why is head on then not there favourite? Its literally, a tm2 remake.
i remember as a kid when i played this game and i thought "fck, this game is very hard" then, i kept playing it, but for awhile, then, turn off my ps1, put TM4 and the sensation was very different, i rather play TM4 than this one.
I have no idea how my Brother and I beat this game with every character. We liked 3 & 4 but they also felt like a knock off and we were too young to even know there were two different developers haha
If you were old enough to play the game when it was first realeased, then TM2 is most likely your favorite. Most people that hate on it are too young to have the nostalgia of playing it as a child. I personally like the level design and characters, and the whole design of the game. The physics are trash tbh, but the game came out in 1996 when all games had bad physics and controls.
I'm 30 so I'm old enough to remember playing TM2 back in 1998 with my olde brother and even back then I disliked it. People do seem to get clouded by nostalgia when looking at TM2 and forgetting all of its massive faults
I really like this game for the overall presentation. It's like a really bad local punk band that I still enjoy for some reason. This gameplay is like a moshpit, you just sorta jump in and start crashing into each other. I also love how classic it feels even compared to my favorite in the series, Small Brawl. The garage band esthetic the first 2 games have are definitely carried by a nostalgia bias i admit, but i definitely get it. The first 2 games honestly kinda suck lol.
You had to be there
Agree with you 100% idk why it's so loved. And im so sick of the I grew up with it or you had to be there to understand. It's like I was there when it came out i played it. I played this so much as a kid. I only really have fun when being Axel cause he's broken and can be the easiest. I can't stand the control I actually like TM1 better i feel the controls are more grounded. I have more fun playing TM1. And don't get me started with the Enemy cheating. Screw freeze spamming and special spamming. I hear from "fans" that oh it's worse in games like 3 and 4 no the spam cheating is worst in TM2. I just don't really have fun playing TM2 unless playing as a broken character but still have issues.
against black, the only thing 2 can outshine it in is the maps, maybe the soundtrack, and I guess the fact that it has color(I dont agree with those last two things being better then black for me bbut thats just my opinion) when it comes to the PS1 alone,I think its because its tm game with more, beter stuff then the first game and it dosent have 3 and 4 physics. yes, a lot of people like the hot wheels cars on crack physics more then cardbord rc car physics of 3/4. any further then that and it boils down to it dosent have X problem from 3/4/SB with story, art style, and tornament pacing(of cource they might not of played or know about small brawl to begin with).
To me, I think it's the best game in the series in the sense that it caused the games' popularity to skyrocket, which allowed Sony to continue the series and thus gave us the ACTUAL best game in the series, Twisted Metal 4!
I want to really like this game but the gameplay isn’t for me..yet I love Twisted Metal 😅 I guess you had to be there to know..I mean it makes sense cause the levels, stories, and cars are cool but the gameplay is annoying
Honestly this was my introduction to twisted metal for the longest I thought this was the first game 😂 (way back before youtube). I have to say that going back to it other than nostalgia there's nothing keeping me playing the game other than a little nostalgia high
The physics are horrible and the specials don't register most of the time (freeze or shield), it never fells like you driving
Those weren't CHEAT codes. 2 was made before memory card were an wide spread thing, that's why the game gave you the password for every level. Yeah, it's annoying to have to exit to the main menu and use the code whatever you lost all your lives, but that isn't such a big issue as you made it to be.
Moscow is amazing for PVP. Holland is by far the worst level in all twisted metal games.
They are passwords (aka CHEAT CODES) yes, you aren't cheating in order to use them to get back to where you left off, but it always made me feel like I was. I understand what you're saying, but my point still stands. It's not necessarily a bad thing to use level passwords to get back to where you died, but it's clear the game devs created the game to be completed in one playthrough without level passwords being used. Otherwise they would have also had lives reset after each level (which has nothing to do with memory cards)
@@VicariousNickk It's not cheating if the game literally gave the code to you. It was just the only way to have any sort of "save state" before the memory cards. Twisted Metal isn't the only game from that time period to do it. Crash Bandicoot 1 comes to mind.
You're only looking at the specifics (which I agreed with you on), but you're ignoring my point lol@@OrdemDoGraveto
@@VicariousNickk Yeah, it's clear the designers INTENTION was for you to have 3 lives throu the entire playthrou... But their itentions don't matter if the end result is that you can start every level with 3 lives no matter how many you lost on the previous stage by using the password the game GAVE to you.
In the end it's annoying having to exist the game and imput the password. But it isn't such a big deal.
The other points of your criticism are valid thou. It's just this bit that I felt you were exagerating how much of a problem it is.
hate the artic freeze level and sky scraper level
love tm2 soundtrack
TMB and 2012 are better than TM2 in my opinion. But TM2 has a lot of good things going for It. The level design is among the best in the series, the soundtrack is amazing, the storyline and art style is great, the character roster is really good and the gameplay has some positives.
There are a lot of issues with the gameplay. The cars don’t control the best consistently, the inputs for the shield and other special attacks don’t work frequently, the balancing could be a lot better, and there are some other wonky things going on.
TM2 has a lot of good things but certainly is rough around the edges
Excuse me Mr. Nick I actually love Twisted Metal Black much more than Twisted Metal 2.
And yes it has everything to do with the fact that id played TMB and PS2 much more than i did TM2/PS1
Sorry Nick. I can't.
Do you dislike the game? If so, that's okay! Why do you dislike it?
@@VicariousNickk I don't describe it like dislike, more like Meh. Main reason: not enough weapons on stages
Paris
It was the video game that made me buy a Playstation.
That's like asking why people love beautiful women or beautiful cars or a pretty sunset or good food. It's a very silly question to even ask.
You gotta be joking 💀
@@VicariousNickk nope. You people that don't like this game are the extreme minority
@@davidmuir405 cringe
@@davidmuir405the way your mind works is very ... hum... fascinating.
@@VicariousNickk Nick it's like asking why I love a BJ on a beach during a breezy day... Juggernaut noobs wouldn't get it.
tbh control this game is dated but to me compare to other game I'm played on the series I'm found this game is fun but it's flawed. The best thing this game to me it's game let you combo other weapons while use special for example (mr. slam grasshopper or twister) it's make all character feel unique on it's own. also tm 2 special weapon they are unique even special weapon missile it's not a same.
i never played TM2 😭
The reason Twisted Metal 2 is regarded as the best is very similarly mirrored in how Mortal Kombat 3 is regarded as the best. It was that final, most polished iteration where it was still a labor of love and still built on that secret sauce DNA that started it all
TM3 strayed from the original DNA the way MK4 did. It wasn't a massive change but you could feel the soul wasn't quite there anymore. Later games just felt like a franchise obligation and a far cry from the labor of love that were the originals. Twisted Metal 2012 also mirrored Mortal Kombat 2011. Both were undoubtedly better games than the originals, both were reboots that took you back to the roots of the games and both were widely enjoyed by their audiences. But there's just something in that original yet refined flavor of TM2 and MK3 that can't be duplicated and keeps players coming back decades later even with far superior modern alternatives
A lot of people hated Vanilla MK3. UMK3 was when people started praising it.
@wallaceshawn-zk8iw I'm just lumping them all together there for the sake of simplicity and comment length. But you are correct and I was absolutely thinking of MK3 Ultimate when writing it
@@thelaborpeasant No sweat bro 👍
@wallaceshawn-zk8iw Another interesting note is UMK3 also suffers from a lack of balance the way TM2 does. How did anybody play test Noob Saibot and go "yeah, this is fine" with a legitimately straight face 😆
But it was a different era back then and balance wasn't a big issue. In those days a game was just a game and not to be taken that seriously. Even if a tournament was held and balance became an issue they'd simply ban the use of that character, move or tactic deemed OP and move on. There weren't huge cash prizes on the line and tournaments weren't being streamed or televised. Gamers were gaming for fun. Honestly, cracking down on game balance is a pretty modern thing (at least modern by us old folks' standards 😅)
@@thelaborpeasant Yep, even early Tekkens weren't balanced especially 1