This review, as well as all of my reviews on this forum, are seriously condensed thanks to the forums text limit as well as the inability for most members to actually fully read all the garbage I type out carelessly anyways. If you want intricacies on battle systems or the backstory, feel free to look up a decent PREVIEW on the net and then come back here and read about the good and bad sides of the game. Anyways, on with the "review"...
Twisted Metal Black
Presentation:
Usually, the first thing I do when I get a new game is tear off that plastic wrapping covering the case and examine the disk art. Once I absorb the picture on the disk or the colorful motif presented, I generally utter the word "cool" or "meh, I could do better," but for the first time in a long time, something else caught my eye other then the disk and that something else is the manual. The word "Journal" is printed on the face of it in a nice Brush Script font with a spiral binding printed on the spine. As you open up the book, much like that of the Se7en Special Edition DVD, it actually looks like a journal! The insides are artistically covered with some photos and demented poetry and shortcomings of the combatants in the game. Although the manual design is purely for aesthetics, but it really does add to the whole design and atmosphere of the game and its package.
Other then the manual, the only other design that is truly original is that which represents the in-game menus. The menus all swing and twist with each new selection. For example, when the game boots up, you are treated to the guitar intro to the famous Rolling Stones song "Paint it Black" and are lead into the main menu. From here, you can pick one of the many modes of play, which conveniently takes you to another menu painted in blood on an ice cream truck side called "Today\'s Flavors." After this, you are immediately swung into the sky and onto the player select screen. The music in the background resembles the Se7en extended version of the famous Nine Inch Nails song "Animal." It honestly feels like an interactive menu on some high budget DVD release. If only every player select screen looked and sounded this damn good.
Moving right along, the story cinemas are fun to watch and every character has their own dark past and wish to fulfill. Each one is chilling in its own right and each wish is a definite mystery that every person deserves to see. The easy to navigate menu system and each character’s intriguing story is plenty reason enough to just watch the damn game.
Graphics:
When some screens of this game were released, naysayers quickly began bashing the game for its apparently jagged look. However, these naysayers must now eat their own words and I\'ll be plenty happy to hand them a flaming barrel full of ketchup to let it all go down nice and easy. These graphics are crisp and smooth in every right even when displaying multiple players and multiple actions on-screen. The 60FPS silky smooth framerate is nothing to scoff at as soon as you see just how much is displayed on-screen at one time and just how far into the distance you can see on the overly massive levels.
Each car can transform and move with each weapon displaying some truly original techniques when deploying your arsenal. Side panel doors open outwards to reveal homing missiles and cars transform to perform special attacks, even small antennas raise from the car to perform radio transmissions which effectively manipulate the environment much to your enemies dismay. All the animations performed by your machine to unleash havoc is truly amazing and a joy to watch giving each car its own personality and style.
Speaking of personality and style, each level is absolutely jam packed with innovative ways of revealing all new battlegrounds. Much like the second level, which takes place in Russia, in Twisted Metal 2, huge areas can just be utterly obliterated to reveal all new area to battle on. If you thought the Ferris wheel looked amazing in the videos, just wait until you get into the later levels and begin exploring the varied terrain and therein lies the true innovation of the title. No game on the PS2 allows this much free-roaming area while keeping a super constant framerate all while allowing the area to change in such significant proportions without a single spec of slowdown.
Sound:
Do the words "horror movie" come to mind at all? They should because the sound effects are really haunting. With each fired weapon and each car crunching smash, you twinge in your seat hoping your health stays high enough to stay alive and to fire that last missile and pray for a kill. Speaking of praying, you\'ll be doing a lot of that in this game because this is one tough mother, but I\'ll discuss that later on.
Plus, as mentioned before, the music is just awe-inspiring. As enemies draw closer, the music changes to accommodate the action, but when they are a few leagues away, the music is a bit calmer and less noticeable. In essence, the music practically feeds off of your emotions and vice versa. There\'s nothing like increasing the ol\' blood pressure by feeding off your aggressive feelings. The music and sound effects are really impressive and show just how much care was taken in developing this title.
Gameplay:
Once you are taken to the character select screen, you are going to be hard pressed in choosing an alter ego. It\'s easy to see how a newcomer to the series would have a hard time choosing just who would be the best driver on the field suited to their style of playing. The stats alone set each character apart enough and choosing the right character is incredibly crucial since this game is terribly difficult.
That\'s right, it\'s most likely the first PS2 game that requires you to really excel at every ability in order to truly win a round. Just after a short loading screen, you are immediately thrust into the first arena crawling with six opponents of differing difficulty. There are those that you should approach with varying levels of caution while there are those that you can just utterly get in their face and completely squash under your boot, or tire.
Each character, in addition to its already large array of weapons, has the ability to perform special maneuvers with a few presses on the D-pad. You can freeze an opponent in his tracks, turn invisible, jump, or even encase yourself in a time-lapsed energy shield. Each special weapon requires the use of your special weapon energy bar and each weapon requires different amount of that bar. Consider it your own little super combo meter that gradually refills overtime.
Not only that, but knowing your environment is also a huge factor in your killing success. Running the map is an intricate part to holding onto the best weapons, best power ups and health, which is essential to your car’s survival. There are only 3 lives for you to deal with and essentially 5 since you can use a full-life restoring device twice on the normal difficulty. Each power-up and each health-restoring item is as necessary as the next since cars tend to converge on your position to destroy you again and again.
With intuitive controls, huge environments, and lots of powerups, how can anyone not love playing this game?
Lasting Appeal:
In a word, huge. TM:B is filled with tons of levels and lots of different players to choose from with each varying greatly in weapons, handling, and speed. In addition, many brand new characters can be unlocked and each, in addition to the standard characters, has their own storyline and purpose for joining the tournament. Not only that, but the 2-4 player modes have great replay value as well.
Players can defeat the game, sans story, in a 2-player co-operative mode. The game is already pretty difficult in itself, but there\'s nothing like cornering an enemy with you and your friend dishing out some serious pain. Plus, there are many other huge maps specifically for the 2-4 player deathmatch modes, which vary from the tiniest of areas, to the largest of plains. Many new and varying characters in addition to a large array of maps to battle on filled with powerups and loads of secrets is plenty reason enough to buy a multitap and enjoy this game at parties.
Bottom Line:
Play the story mode and unlock all the different characters. Then, bring over a friend and show them just how great this game is. Then, pick up a multitap and show them all just how great this game is and have a 4-player showdown filled with lots of murder and mayhem. It\'s a virtual tour\'de mayhem and no one among you or your friends will be disappointed with just how much fun this game truly is. Buy this game now.[/i]
Final score: 9.7/10
Not an average
