Twisted Metal: Black
- December 5, 2015
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
Twisted Metal: Black is a car combat game now available on PS4, originally released for PS2. It features 1080p up-rendering, Trophies, and other enhanced features. The game follows a group of contestants, plucked from an asylum, as they battle for dominance in a gruesome tournament, while also exploring the horrifying tales behind each character's fractured mind.
Reviews
- The game is highly addictive and offers intense, fast-paced gameplay with a steep challenge that keeps players engaged.
- The graphics and level design are impressive, creating a dark and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The character stories are well-developed and add depth to the gameplay, making it one of the best entries in the Twisted Metal series.
- The controls have a steep learning curve, making it difficult for players to master the gameplay, especially if they are used to other driving games.
- The game can become frustrating when enemies gang up on the player, leading to moments where skill alone may not be enough to succeed.
- Some players find the game can get boring quickly, suggesting that breaks are needed to maintain enjoyment.
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are praised for their impressive level design, though they adopt a consistently dark and moody aesthetic that diverges from the brighter themes of earlier installments. While the transition from PS1 to PS2 graphics is noted, the overall visual experience remains engaging, contributing to the game's unique atmosphere. Despite being older, the graphics still hold up well, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“The graphics in this game are great; the levels are impeccably created and designed.”
“Graphics and audio-wise, this game was awesome when it first crashed onto the PS2.”
“Love all the characters in this game, and even though the graphics are older than newer games, it is still a good game to play either by yourself with the computer or with someone else to make it a little competitive.”
“The theme for this one is not as cheery looking as the other ones did, and it lost the polygon feel from PS1 graphics to the big jump onto the PS2. The graphics are quite dark, seriously, it's mostly dark like nighttime 24/7. I guess that's why they call this Twisted Metal 'Black'. The graphics are constantly dimmed down to match the fact that there are clouds rolling by all the time, thus blocking off the sun.”
“The theme for this one is not as cheery looking as the other ones did, and it lost the polygon feel from PS1 graphics to the big jump onto the PS2. The graphics are quite dark, seriously, it's mostly dark like nighttime 24/7. I guess that's why they call this Twisted Metal 'Black'. The graphics are constantly dimmed down to match the fact that there are clouds rolling by all the time, thus blocking off the sun.”
“The theme for this one is not as cheery looking as the other ones did, and it lost the polygon feel from PS1 graphics to the big jump onto the PS2. The graphics are quite dark, seriously, it's mostly dark like nighttime 24/7. I guess that's why they call this Twisted Metal 'Black'. The graphics are constantly dimmed down to match the fact that there are clouds rolling by all the time, thus blocking off the sun.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is intriguing and features dark, compelling narratives centered around themes of murder, madness, and vengeance, making it suitable for cinematic adaptation. However, players may find the campaign becomes repetitive and challenging, suggesting that taking breaks between character arcs can enhance the experience. Overall, while the storyline is engaging, it may lead to fatigue if played continuously.
“In addition, the style of the storyline is very interesting and worth looking at.”
“A film studio can easily pick up every character's story and do a movie about each one of them.”
“The storylines following each of the drivers take a sharp descent into starless, disturbing tales of murder, madness, and of course my personal favorite: vengeance.”
“However, the game does get boring rather quickly, so I would suggest that after the second character's story you complete, take a small break just to refresh yourself for the next character you want to play.”
“A film studio can easily pick up every character's story and make a movie about each one of them.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered decent, but technical issues such as frequent skipping and freezing detract from the experience. Players who typically keep game music low may find it particularly frustrating due to these problems.
“The music itself isn't bad, but I generally keep the volume low since I'm an MVC2 fan, and as many of you know, the music in that game is an atrocity.”
“The disc is heavily scratched and freezes very often; if it even decides to load, the music skips a lot.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is consistent with previous installments in the series, making it appealing primarily to fans of the franchise. Reviewers highlight it as one of the best entries due to its engaging mechanics, detailed character narratives, and the introduction of new characters.
“This is one of the best installments in the Twisted Metal saga because of its great gameplay, detailed character stories, and the incorporation of several new characters.”
“If you don't like the gameplay typically, you won't like this one, as it has a similar feel to the others in the series.”
“The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through levels.”
“The gameplay lacks innovation and feels repetitive, which makes it hard to stay engaged.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a dark and seedy feel, enhanced by the frequent use of black, grey, and brown color palettes, which many users find appealing.
“The frequent use of black, grey, and brown color palettes gives the atmosphere a dark, seedy feel, which is awesome.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“The attention to detail in the environment design really enhances the atmosphere, making every corner feel alive and filled with history.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development, featuring compelling stories and impressive character design that contribute to an engaging experience. Players appreciate the depth and uniqueness of the characters, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezing, loading problems, and audio skipping, likely exacerbated by a heavily scratched disc.
“The disc is heavily scratched and freezes very often, if it even decides it wants to load, and the music skips a lot.”