Software:Twisted Metal 2

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Short description: 1996 vehicular combat video game

Twisted Metal 2
North American PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)Sony Interactive Studios America
SingleTrac
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Writer(s)David Jaffe
Composer(s)Chuck E. Myers
Lance Lenhart
Tom Hopkins
SeriesTwisted Metal
Platform(s)PlayStation, Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: November 8, 1996[1]
  • EU: February 1997
Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Twisted Metal 2[lower-alpha 1] 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 Microsoft Windows version features slightly cut-down graphics compared to the PlayStation version but doesn't require a 3D accelerator video card. It also features multiplayer mode over a modem line or Internet.

Two years after its release, Twisted Metal 2 was re-released as a PlayStation Greatest Hits game, however under the developer 989 Studios instead of SingleTrac. It was also released for download on the PlayStation Network in Japan on July 26, 2007[4] and North America on November 1, 2007.[5] On July 18, 2023, it was then made available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[6]

Gameplay

Roadkill in Paris colliding with Mr. Slam and throwing its special weapon

In concept, Twisted Metal 2 is a demolition derby which permits the usage of ballistic projectiles. Players choose a vehicle and an arena—or a series of arenas in the story mode—to engage in battle with opposing drivers. 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. 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. There is no ending if the game is completed in co-operative mode.

Plot

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. Aboard his airship (running the ticker "CALYPSO RULER OF THE EARTH") in the skies over the destroyed City of Angels, Calypso wonders where the next Twisted Metal will take place; fourteen of the world's best drivers are already assembled to compete for whatever prize they desire. Ultimately, Calypso decides that the world itself shall serve as a battleground. 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.

After defeating all the opponents in Amazonia, the player must face Minion before proceeding to New York City. 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.

Development

SingleTrac began brainstorming ideas for a Twisted Metal sequel in late 1995.[7] Due to the success of the original, Twisted Metal 2 was allotted 16 months for development, much longer than the previous game.[8]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS) 86.44%[9]
(PC) 49.50%[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame(PS) StarStarStarStarHalf star[11]
(PC) StarStarStarStar[12]
Edge(PS) 7/10[13]
EGM(PS) 8.25/10[14]
Famitsu(PS) 26/40[15]
Game Informer(PS) 8.75/10[16]
GameRevolution(PS) B+[17]
(PC) B[18]
GameSpot(PS) 8.8/10[19]
(PC) 6.4/10[20]
IGN(PS) 7.3/10[21]
Next Generation(PS) StarStarStarStar[23]
PC Gamer (US)(PC) 80%[24]
Play(PS) 88%[22]

Twisted Metal 2 was both a financial and critical success. The PlayStation version sold 1.74 million copies in the United States alone.[25] The PlayStation version has an aggregate score of 86.44% on GameRankings, based on eight reviews.[9] The PC version averages 49.50% on the same website, based on two reviews.[10]

Critics generally regarded the game as an improvement over the original Twisted Metal due to its larger, more intricate levels[14][23] and better cast of characters.[19][26] However, they were divided about the graphics. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly said that the original Twisted Metal had mediocre graphics and the sequel made no improvement.[14] GameSpot's Jeff Kitts agreed that there was no improvement but felt the graphics still held up well.[19] 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,[26] while Next Generation claimed, "TM2 shows significant improvement with sharper textures, a significant reduction in clipping, and even an improved frame rate."[23] Both GameSpot and Next Generation attested that the essential nature of the gameplay was unchanged from the original, and that no change was needed.[19][23] GamePro opined that "intense gameplay is what saves, and makes, the game - especially in the two-player head-to-head mode."[26] 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.[14]

Twisted Metal 2 was a runner-up for Electronic Gaming Monthly's Action Game of the Year (behind Die Hard Trilogy).[27] The following year EGM ranked the PlayStation version number 64 on their "100 Best Games of All Time", commenting that "The sheer amount of different vehicles, levels and weapons available at your disposal makes for awesome multiplayer matches."[28] In 2003, Twisted Metal 2 was inducted into GameSpot's list of the greatest games of all time.[29]

Frosty Treats, a major ice cream truck company, filed a lawsuit against Sony contending that Twisted Metal 2 infringed on the company's trademarks through the use of the phrase "Frosty Treats", as well as similarities between the video game clown Sweet Tooth and the company's own safety clown. In Frosty Treats, Inc. v. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc., the U.S. 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.[30]

See also

  • List of Sony Greatest Hits games
  • List of best-selling video games

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Europe as Twisted Metal World Tour

References

  1. ↑ "Sony PlayStation: Twisted Metal 2 Press Release". http://www.sepc.sony.com/SCEA/hot/press/tm2.html. 
  2. ↑ Staff (November 13, 1997). "Now Shipping". http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-11-10.html. 
    "Sony Interactive has released Jet Moto and Twisted Metal 2 for the PC. Both are ports of popular PlayStation games."
  3. ↑ Sony staff (November 13, 1997). "Sony Interactive Studios America Unleashes Jet Moto And Twisted Metal 2 For The PC". TheFreeLibrary.com (Press release). Farlex, Inc. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ Spencer (July 26, 2007). "Wild ARMs on Japan's Playstation Store". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2007/07/26/wild-arms-on-japan%E2%80%99s-playstation-store/. Retrieved September 10, 2012. 
  5. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (November 1, 2007). "PlayStation Store Update: Twisted Metal 2, Y'All". Kotaku. Gawker Media. http://kotaku.com/317924/playstation-store-update-twisted-metal-2-yall. Retrieved September 10, 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Classic Twisted Metal Games Return on PS5 and PS4 Before TV Series Release". July 12, 2023. https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/twisted-metal-games-ps5-ps4-release/. 
  7. ↑ "Twisted Fan". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (79): 137. February 1996. 
  8. ↑ "Twisted Metal 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (86): 80. September 1996. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Twisted Metal 2 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199136-twisted-metal-2/index.html. Retrieved September 10, 2012. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Twisted Metal 2 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/199135-twisted-metal-2/index.html. Retrieved September 10, 2012. 
  11. ↑ House, Michael L.. "Twisted Metal 2 (PS) - Review". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2343&tab=review. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  12. ↑ House, Michael L.. "Twisted Metal 2 (PC) - Review". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6188&tab=review. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Testscreen: Twisted Metal 2". Edge (41): 89. February 1997. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Review Crew: Twisted Metal 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (90): 72. January 1997. 
  15. ↑ Famitsū staff (September 5, 1997). "新作ゲームクロスレビュー" (in ja). Weekly Famitsū (ASCII Corporation) (455). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11874&redirect=no. 
  16. ↑ "Twisted Metal 2". Game Informer (44). December 1996. http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=dec96&doc=tmetal. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  17. ↑ Fletcher, Irwin (November 1996). "Twisted Metal 2: World Tour Review (PS)". Game Revolution. http://www.game-revolution.com/games/sony/twistedtwo.htm. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  18. ↑ Anderson, Tom (January 1998). "Twisted Metal 2 Review (PC)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/twisted-metal-2. Retrieved March 12, 2014. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Kitts, Jeff (December 9, 1996). "Twisted Metal 2 Review (PS)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/twisted-metal-2-review/1900-2550030/. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  20. ↑ Mooney, Shane (January 12, 1998). "Twisted Metal 2 Review (PC)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/twisted-metal-2-review/1900-2535384/. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  21. ↑ IGN Staff (January 7, 1997). "Twisted Metal 2 (PS)". http://www.ign.com/articles/1997/01/08/twisted-metal-2. Retrieved March 13, 2014. 
  22. ↑ Niholson, Graeme (February 1997). "Review: Twisted Metal 2". Play UK (16): 40–42. https://archive.org/details/play-016/page/n39/mode/2up. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "Twisted Metal 2". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (30): 120. June 1997. 
  24. ↑ Williamson, Colin (March 1998). "Twisted Metal 2". PC Gamer 5 (3): 154. 
  25. ↑ "US Platinum Videogame Chart". The Magic Box. December 27, 2007. http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml. Retrieved September 11, 2012. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Major Mike (January 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Twisted Metal 2". GamePro (IDG) (100): 94. 
  27. ↑ "The Best of '96". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (92): 88. March 1997. 
  28. ↑ "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (100): 120. November 1997.  Note: Contrary to the title, the intro to the article explicitly states that the list covers console video games only, meaning PC games and arcade games were not eligible.
  29. ↑ "The Greatest Games of All Time: Twisted Metal 2". Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071017062938/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-11.html. 
  30. ↑ Arnold, Morris Sheppard (25 July 2005). "FROSTY TREATS INC v. SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC". FindLaw. Thomson Reuters. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-8th-circuit/1237198.html. Retrieved 30 August 2015. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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