Twisted Metal 2 is a vehicular combat video game developed by SingleTrac and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The second game in the Twisted Metal series, it was originally released in 1996 for PlayStation and Windows.

The Story Behind Twisted Metal 2

Ultimately, Calypso decides that the world itself shall serve as a battleground. After defeating all the opponents in Amazonia, the player must face Minion before proceeding to New York City. In addition to the remains of Los Angeles, drivers will also battle in Moscow, Paris, Amazonia, New York City, Antarctica, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

The Dark Tooth boss fight takes place after the player defeats all the opponents in Hong Kong; once Dark Tooth (and his flaming head) is defeated, the driver meets with Calypso in New York to receive their prize. Due to the success of the original, Twisted Metal 2 was allotted 16 months for development, much longer than the previous game. It also features multiplayer mode over a modem line or Internet.

How Twisted Metal 2 Plays

There is no ending if the game is completed in co-operative mode. A variety of weapons are obtainable by pick-ups scattered throughout the stage. The objective of the game is to be the last remaining player.

In 2006, Los Angeles is in ruins and its citizens left to struggle for survival after the conclusion of Twisted Metal, a brutal contest held by Calypso, exactly one year earlier on Christmas Eve. It also features multiplayer mode over a modem line or Internet. Two player duel mode makes a return from the first Twisted Metal, and a co-operative mode allows players to fight through tournament mode with a teammate.

Why Players Still Load It Up

GamePro opined that "intense gameplay is what saves, and makes, the game - especially in the two-player head-to-head mode." Crispin Boyer wrote in Electronic Gaming Monthly that "I wasn't all that crazy about the first Twisted Metal, but this sequel is worlds better, even though it looks like the same old thing at first glance. However, they were divided about the graphics. GamePro said the graphics are better than the first game but still mediocre in absolute terms, citing bland and featureless buildings, pixelation, and breakup when close to walls, while Next Generation claimed, "TM2 shows significant improvement with sharper textures, a significant reduction in clipping, and even an improved frame rate." Both GameSpot and Next Generation attested that the essential nature of the gameplay was unchanged from the original, and that no change was needed.

Twisted Metal 2 was both a financial and critical success. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled against the trademark claims because they were either too generic or were unlikely to cause confusion among consumers. Twisted Metal 2 was a runner-up for Electronic Gaming Monthlys Action Game of the Year (behind Die Hard Trilogy).

Twisted Metal 2 — Frequently Asked Questions