Twisted Metal: Black is a 2001 car combat video game created by Incog Inc. Entertainment and released by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was the first game developed by Incog Inc. Entertainment, a company formed by former members of SingleTrac. This game is the fifth in the Twisted Metal series, following Twisted Metal 4 (1999), and it started the franchise over again. A multiplayer-only version called Twisted Metal: Black Online was later released as a free version. Critics praised the game, and it was considered for several gaming awards.

It was also the first Twisted Metal game available in PAL regions since Twisted Metal 2. Both Twisted Metal: Black and Twisted Metal: Black Online were later released again as part of Sony’s Greatest Hits program. A downloadable version of Twisted Metal: Black was included with the first copies of Twisted Metal for PlayStation 3, marked by a "Limited Edition" tab near the top of the cover art. In December 2015, the game became available for the PlayStation 4 through the PlayStation Network.

Gameplay

Twisted Metal: Black is a game where players compete in a demolition derby. Players can use bullets or explosives during the game. They choose a vehicle and a location, such as a series of arenas in the story mode, to battle other drivers. Power-ups scattered around the arena give players access to different weapons and upgrades. The goal of the game is to be the last driver remaining.

The story follows a similar structure to previous games. A character named Calypso runs a contest involving cars, though the contest is not named Twisted Metal in the game. Competitors risk their lives to win a prize: a single wish. Each driver has different endings based on their wishes. Characters who make harmful wishes usually get their wishes granted directly, while those who make kind wishes, like Agent Stone, often see their wishes changed or misunderstood.

Each character in the game has their own story, told from their perspective. Calypso visits each character, learns what they want, and offers them a chance to get their wish by winning the contest. Every main character has a scene halfway through the story that shows more of their background through a dream and an ending scene that shows the results of their wish.

The game takes place in a city called "Midtown," where most competitors come from a mental hospital named "Blackfield."

Twisted Metal: Black includes both new and returning characters, some of whom look very different from earlier versions. There are fifteen characters players can choose. Ten are available at the start, and five must be found and unlocked later.

Release

Animation S4, a company that makes 3D and Flash animations, created a series of six original Flash "webisodes" (short online videos) to promote the release of Twisted Metal: Black. The webisodes include "No-Face," "Billy Ray Stillwell," "Sweet Tooth," "Dollface," "Bloody Mary," and "Mr. Grimm."

The game was released for the PlayStation 2 on June 19, 2001, in North American regions. It received the highest score out of any Twisted Metal game on the site.

Reception

Twisted Metal: Black received "universal acclaim" from Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews. Daniel Erickson of NextGen wrote, "The best car combat game in history is also the most creative. Go get it." Dan Elektro of GamePro stated, "If you've lost your taste for Twisted Metal, this is the game that will bring back your appetite. Twisted Metal: Black is car combat action at its best."

Many critics praised the game’s dark and unique storylines for each character, as well as its wide selection of weapons and special items that players can unlock. However, some critics noted that the way players control the cars did not change much from earlier versions of the game, and that the difficulty levels were uneven. Maxim gave the game five stars and called it "a road rager's dream come true." Playboy gave it a 90% rating and described it as "fun for the whole family!" The Cincinnati Enquirer gave it four out of five stars and said, "It's a fight to the finish, so it's important to keep moving and to quickly learn how and when to use each of the weapons."

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

By July 2006, the game had sold 950,000 units and earned $31 million in the U.S. NextGen ranked it as the 61st highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube between October 2000 and July 2006 in that country.

Legacy

A follow-up game called Twisted Metal: Harbor City was planned but was not officially announced. The project was later canceled. Information about the game was found in the PlayStation 2 version of Twisted Metal: Head-On, Extra Twisted Edition. Harbor City was intended to have connected levels to create the feeling of a single, connected world, unlike the separate stages in the main game. Four completed levels from Harbor City were included as a bonus feature in the game, called Twisted Metal: Lost.