Sony's new PSP seems to be the system of choice for reviving an old series, and Twisted Metal is certainly a series in need of rejuvenation. After hitting its peak with Twisted Metal 2, the series rock-bottomed with the subsequent sequel. Some redemption was found in Twisted Metal Black for the PS2, but that was more of a dark re-imagining of the series than a genuine return to form. Luckily, Twisted Metal: Head On has now arrived, and fans are likely to receive it as a breath of fresh exhaust fumes. It returns to the light-hearted art and gameplay style of Twisted Metal 2, and it even includes a few levels from that game. Updating old franchises for newer generations can be a dicey proposition, but Head-On succeeds by adding enough new content to make the trip worthwhile.

If you've played Twisted Metal, the concept shouldn't be anything new to you. Vehicular deathmatch is the best way to describe it. Twisted Metal takes the Demolition Derby concept and adds guns, rockets, upgrades, and undead bikers. The gameplay formula isn't anything special, but it's a lot of fun in practice. Players can choose between ten classic characters at the outset, and there are also a few more hidden within the game. Head-On looks and plays great on the PSP, though it is a bit difficult to get used to. The analog stick is very sensitive, and this leads to a bit of a learning curve for controlling the vehicles. After a few matches, though, you should be able to exercise the right amount of pressure on each turn and dominate the competition. The graphics look fantastic, complete with awe-inspiring weapon effects and great-looking levels-each of which features tons of destructible and interactive content. A rock soundtrack does a great job of setting the mood, and the sound effects will all be familiar to fans of the series-including Sweet Tooth's signature laugh. It's a very impressive launch title for a handheld that has barely wet its feet, and it's exciting to imagine what the future will bring if this is just the beginning.

The most obvious new feature is the online multiplayer, which adds tons of replay value to the portable title. If you have access to a wireless network, you can play Twisted Metal online in a variety of modes. The online portion supports Deathmatch, Last Man Standing, Fox Hunt, and Collector modes, as well as team-based variations of each. Deathmatch and Last Man Standing are fairly self-explanatory, but the Fox Hunt and Collector modes are new. Fox Hunt is a bit like the game of tag, with one character designated as the fox and gaining points for each second he spends without losing the title. Collector is more akin to Capture the Flag, except the flags have been replaced with "relics" and there are multiple relics hidden throughout the stage. Obviously, the first player to collect the required amount of relics wins the battle. The concepts aren't anything special, but they're plenty of fun, especially with online arenas available to those without a handy opponent nearby. It can be difficult to locate a suitable arena, since bad pings and unreliable players abound, but the game works online very well once it gets started. There is an impressive lack of lag, though this could change with a bad host. For those without a wireless network, Head-On supports ad hoc versions of the same modes, as well as a wireless two-player cooperative mode. Both infrastructure and ad hoc modes allow players to set different modifiers, such as unlimited weapons, vehicle upgrades, relics, and destructible environments. These options are going to vary widely with tastes, so it's nice that Sony included an option to tailor the game to individual needs.

There are also plenty of options for the single-player enthusiasts among us. Story mode allows you to fight through the various arenas in the Twisted Metal Tournament or set up a challenge or endurance match against computer-controlled opponents. Challenge mode is basically a bot match, and you can choose which victims you'd like to fight against. Endurance is a bit different, however. It pits you against an endless rush of enemies in a test to see how many you can take out before being eliminated. Challenge and Endurance offer a nice distraction, but Story Mode is the meat of Head-On's single player allotment. Playing through the story mode unlocks new levels and enemies, and there are also a few mini-games hidden throughout that will unlock content, as well. Twisted Metal's characters all follow the same basic storyline through this mode, but different endings for each character give some incentive to play through with each.

Overall, Twisted Metal is a great title and a terrific showcase for the PSP. The graphics are excellent, and it's a ton of fun to play through some of the best levels from Twisted Metal 2 in online deathmatch. Online co-op would have been nice, but the WiFi option is sufficient and the amount of hidden content increases the replay value substantially. Load times aren't bothersome, with about 20 seconds between levels and ten seconds before each menu. Considering the amount of time spent on each level, this downtime is hardly a deterrent. As with other PSP games, Twisted Metal allows players to put the PSP to sleep and restart at any time, so it's possible to pop in and out of a long deathmatch between classes or bus stops. For those who have been saying Twisted Metal has been dead since 1996, Sony now has a game that would beg to differ.

Mar 28, 2005 | 0 comments
Matt Conzen