Twisted Metal: Black

Did You Know?

• Animation S4 created a series of six original Flash "Webisodes" to promote the release, beginning with No-Face.
• A sequel project, Twisted Metal: Harbor City, was planned but never officially announced and later scrapped.
• The four completed levels of Harbor City were included as a bonus feature in the PlayStation 2 port of Twisted Metal: Head-On, Extra Twisted Edition, entitled Twisted Metal: Lost.

Gameplay

In Twisted Metal: Black, players take control of heavily armed vehicles and battle opponents in arena-style combat. The story revolves around a tournament hosted by the enigmatic Calypso, who forces a group of deranged asylum inmates to fight each other. Most game modes require players to eliminate a set number of enemy drivers, usually six to eight, within a single level to progress. Each level starts with two lives, and health can be restored at limited-use repair stations scattered around the arena. Multiple control schemes are available, including a classic setup that assigns weapons to the shoulder buttons, as well as Run and Gun and Control Freak layouts. The left analog stick typically controls steering, while the right stick handles acceleration and braking. Pressing the analog sticks activates turbo boosts and tight turns. Vehicle performance varies widely: lighter models like Mr. Grimm’s motorcycle emphasize speed and agility but have weaker armor, while heavier trucks like Darkside are tougher but less nimble.

Combat relies on a range of weapons and limited-use specials. Every vehicle comes with an unlimited-ammo machine gun that can overheat if fired too long, requiring a cooldown. Players can pick up additional weapons scattered across levels, such as homing missiles, power missiles, fire missiles, ricochet projectiles, incendiary gas cans, and multi-missile Zoomies. Some weapons demand precise timing or sustained targeting, like reticle-locked volleys or delayed satellite strikes. Each character-vehicle combination has a unique special weapon that regenerates over time. For example, Brimstone’s followers, strapped with dynamite, latch onto enemy cars before exploding, while Sweet Tooth can transform into a rocket-launching form. Beyond these, players can perform special moves using directional pad or analog stick inputs, powered by a regenerating energy bar. These moves include jumping, freezing opponents, deploying shields, turning invisible, or dropping mines.

Reception

Twisted Metal: Black earned a "universal acclaim" rating on Metacritic. NextGen's Daniel Erickson called it "the best car combat game in history" and "the most creative," urging readers to buy it. GamePro's Dan Elektro described it as car combat at its peak, saying it would rekindle interest for anyone who had grown tired of the series. Critics widely praised the game's dark, distinctive character storylines and its broad selection of weapons and unlockable content. However, the hover-style controls drew criticism for feeling too similar to earlier installments, and the difficulty was noted as unbalanced. Maxim awarded the game a perfect five stars, labeling it "a road rager's dream come true." Playboy gave it a 90% score and called it "fun for the whole family!" The Cincinnati Enquirer rated it four out of five stars, advising players to keep moving and quickly learn how and when to use each weapon in the "fight to the finish."

The game received nominations at The Electric Playgrounds 2001 Blister Awards for Best Multiplayer Console Game and Best Console Driving Game, but lost to Halo: Combat Evolved and Grand Theft Auto III, respectively. It was also nominated for Best Shooting Game at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 Awards, an award that again went to Halo. GameSpot ranked it ninth in its Top 10 Overall list. A year later, the online version of the game was nominated for Best Online Game on PlayStation 2 at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002 Awards, losing to SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs. At the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the online version was nominated for Online Gameplay of the Year, which was awarded to Battlefield 1942.

By July 2006, Twisted Metal: Black had sold 950,000 units in the United States, generating $31 million in revenue. NextGen ranked it as the 61st highest-selling game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube in that country between October 2000 and July 2006.