As the innovator of
vehicular combat (though it could be said that the 16-bit classic Rock & Roll
Racing actually invented the genre, Twisted Metal brought this genre to the
masses), Twisted Metal has gained quite a following over the years. The
unfortunate drop in quality thanks to the utterly pathetic third game in the
series may have tarnished this reputation, but the fourth has revitalized the series and
brought it back from the dead. It's still not the best game in the series, actually far
from it, but it's a sign that series can still hang with the best. The main problem with the third game, the arduous turning controls that flipped your car over at the tap of the D-pad, has been addressed. Your car will still roll if you take a corner at high speeds, but the controls have definitely been revamped. Sweet Tooth's weapons have never been easier to use and precise enough to take down even the peskiest enemies.
The graphics have been moderately touched up since our last visit, and the improved frame rate is a blessing. The innovative stages, such as Sweet Tooth's bedroom, show off the best the PS One can offer in it's final days. The spectacular lighting effects make everything glow purty colors, a rarity on this aging 32-bitter. The sounds remain relatively unchanged since the first, retaining the dark, surreal feel these games convey.
A few new features
have been included. The ability to create your own car and select your favorite weapons of
destruction is an all around excellent idea. A minimal frame rate drop is incurred during
the multi-player, a refreshing change from other PS One racers. Very few things are more
fun than building your own cars and taking them into an arena to do battle.
While the game is highly enjoyable, lets hope this is the last of the series on the PS One. Four games is long run for any series and it's going to take an overhaul to make this series the original masterpiece it once was. Other games in the genre, like Vigilante 8, have eclipsed Twisted Metal in both style and gameplay. This is a nice send out to a great series on a classic console, but lets hope the next generation of consoles can re-invent the franchise.
