The Rise and Fall of Twisted Metal

Built by a team with limited experience in the gaming industry, the original Twisted Metal raced on to PlayStation in 1995 and revolutionized vehicular combat games. A short single-player campaign and weak graphics left much to be desired, but these flaws were easily overlooked considering fun, high‑octane gameplay and a competitive Duel Mode kept players engaged for hours on end. Sony found repeat success with Twisted Metal sequels, which released at a relatively brisk pace well into the 2000s. Not all installments were created equal, though. Developer SingleTrac helmed the first two entries, with Sony imprint 989 Studios leading production on Twisted Metal 3 and 4. 2001’s Twisted Metal: Black rebooted the property after the original creators re‑teamed for a comeback. In 2012, yet another reboot hit store shelves in a PS3 title directed by series co‑creator David Jaffe. Its commercial shortcomings, along with the waning popularity of the genre, raised questions about whether the market still craved the likes of Twisted Metal. Sony’s later attempts at resurrecting the car combat space proved futile, resulting in the cancellation of an unannounced live‑service game. However, instead of succumbing to what seemed a final death blow, the franchise reasserted its relevance through a hit TV series on Peacock’s streaming platform. Twisted Metal’s future in the interactive medium may have a bleak outlook, yet series faithful can at least find solace in knowing that Sony will resist letting it fade into obscurity like so many other tentpole properties introduced during the PS1 era.